Yes

by Joseph Sturgill Jr.

Created on: November 22, 2009

My book was published with PA. Every question that I had was answered right away. The first book I submitted was a children's book, and they couldn't provide illustrations, so I just let that go. I thought about self publishing, but these companies want way to much money. I do think that the rumor that PA publishes just about everyone is true, because my first book I sent in was not very good at all. PA makes dreams come true for new beginning authors.

Do i think that veteran writers, and professional writers should go with PA? The answer would be no, because they are pretty slow processing, and getting your book done. I mean, it's taken 2 months to edit my short story, and still no proofs. I don't know how well their marketing is, if there is any at all, but most of these scam alerts on the Internet bashing them is more of people being lazy, and expecting to get everything free, and not promote anything. Some authors expect to sit on the couch, and not lift a finger to sale their own work.

You hear about the "Atlanta Nights" hoax all the time, on every forum, and complaint. All I have to say is look at how many authors that had, and still are going with PA as their publisher. If you look on the internet, their is a scam report for just about every company there is. I certainly don't want to spend thousands of dollars on subsidy companies, and these authors are complaining over spending a couple hundred dollars on their books to promote, which PA clearly says that you're not obligated to do. Like any business, it is trying to make money. They publish your book for free, what do you expect?

I do think the $1.00 advance is a bit embarrassing, but at least they give you something as a new author, and they also send a nice letter with it. I can see how this could be a scam, because I've seen a lot of them, but they have never asked for my credit card, or anything, and not to mention some of the celebrities that have signed with PA, that is something nobody ever mentions. The screenwriter for the movie "The Amityville Horror" is an author with PA.

PA treats their authors with professionalism, and respect, and they have proven that to me, but you have to be patient with their process, because they are accepting, and working on a bunch of crappy, and good books out there, lol. Have you tried to be accepted by a fanxy publishing company. You will need money, an agent, a almost perfect book, and great odds to be accepted. PA is not a vanity press, or a subsidy company. Yes, the books are a little higher on their website, but their making money back for developing the book. The royalties are not the best percentages in the world, but how can you complain with a free process.

I will tell you a true scam is poetry.com. They will accept your work, and send you a generic certificate, so you feel all professional, and then they will try to sell you stuff with your poem on it. I know this, because I told my cousin that I got a certificate for being poet of the year 2007, and she said she got one like that too, which was so embarrassing considering that I told a lot of people about it. That company is messed up, plus I called the lady, and she cursed at me in a foreign accent.

PA has not gave me a reason to talk bad about them. You hear bad stories, and you hear good stories, but 40.000 authors, and only a few bad forums out there, it's not that bad. You can check Wal-mart on the ripoff report. The Internet is somewhere people are going to vent on things. PA accepts your work, they create it free, you got to sell it. That's the terms in the contract. If you want to be a lazy fool, then spend a couple thousand dollars, and let the companies do everything for you. I can tell some authors never worked a day in their life, because they will spend all their day complaining on the Internet about the dumbest things possible.

I mean there was a lady calling the police, because a fast food chain didn't give her a hamburger. You should try PA, it's not like their contract says that their going to eat you up, and spit you out, and take your whole life. It's a basic contract. Here the pro's and con's that are factual, and not what some complainer out there is blowing.

Publish America PROS

Communication

FREE

Will accept about any work you send them

A small gift of $1, which is more likely to be framed then cashed, but the check has an eagle on it, and the statue of liberty which is attractive.

Author has options

There are books from PA that are sold on Barnes & Nobel, Waldenbooks, Amazon. If you type Publish America, you will see.

Will publish short stories at 4.000 words, which most companies want 15.000 words or more, or poetry books of 50 poems or more for FREE

Their cover designs are amazing

They set up book signings for you

Provides you with a website of your own, and it's pretty user friendly, but kind of cheap looking

Forums, with other actual authors talking positively about PA

Thousands of testimonials

They make your dreams of being a first time author come true

They stay in business even though winers keep complaining all the time.

They are willing to publish a crappy book "Atlanta Nights" risking their business to make a dream come true, you got to respect that.

Publish America's CONS

Advance is embarrassing

Their phone number is always tied up, and their message mailbox is always full

I highly doubt they actually read your book, they probably just scan over it.

They use automatic messages to you sometimes, which is annoying.

When ordering a book on their website. Their is some insecure items on the payment page, which is at risk of a high jacker stealing your information. (Kind of strange)

They are slower than a turtle at getting your proofs back, and developing a book.

They feed you some stupid lines about having to pay $45.00 to get your book at the front of the production line, so your book will be published faster, in which after you tell them no, they constantly say your book is almost done.

They send you an e-mail wanting you to buy your own books at a discount.

They do not offer you a complimentary book

Their contract is 7 years long

Sometimes they will never reply to your e-mails if your mean, or you ask a brilliant question

The website they offer you looks pretty generic.

Their editing department is questionable

There reputation from haters on-line is not very good obviously

Book prices are inflated

Royalties are kind of low

You have to promote and market your own book

They do provide illustrations, but for like $500.00 or more

They do come off as a scam at first

They don't have the most brilliant staff in the world, but they are nice

I have seen PA administrators on-line make fun of some authors complaining on their message boards.

PA has flaws like every company has. If you are a first time broke author like myself. I would recommend this company, but if you have enough money to self publish with Lulu.com or author house, you should go with that route. If you just want a book in your name, and it's free. PA is a perfect solution as well. I'm pretty excited about my first book with PA, but I would never send in a novel, because their service is too slow. I would just send in short stories.

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