What is Helium

Is Publish America a legitimate publisher?

Results so far:

No		59%	146 votes	Total: 249 votes
Yes		41%	103 votes	Total: 249 votes

No

1 of 12

Publish America has been one huge disappointment for many would be authors, including me. Like so many other people being new to writing, new to Internet scams, new to publishing I set myself up for failure with Publish America. I had thought myself lucky to have avoided the so called vanity press publishing companies. You know what, if they advertise they are a vanity press or a self publisher at least they are being honest. Publish America sells a lot of hype and uses all the carefully worded sales pitches it takes to lure the writer in.

Being an honest person I still believed that an ethical company would not accept a book just to trap the writer into spending money. I thought they would read the story, send it back with editing or re-writes and help a writer produce a market worthy book. They are a traditional publishing company so, of course, they want the highest quality of book unlike those vanity presses; imagine how people feel when they realize the truth.

My book was a story inspired by an actual event but my creative mind took the story into conspiracy, murder and intrigue. Publish America said it was worthy of publishing. They sent me the contract and I had a local attorney look it over. The attorney said it was very vague but not bad. So I signed it, I have been trying to get them to let me out of the contract for several months now or at least get them to edit my book! The impasse is I can't sell the book in the current status, not edited; they won't let me out of the contract because they say it is marketable as is.

From all the email contacts with Publish America while working on the book I had been duped into believing they were actually editing my book. I had edited with spell check, grammar check and had friends read it. I sent in hundreds of change/errors as I tried to edit my own writing per Publish America's instructions. Still I assumed it would have a final edit by the "real" editor for the company. I never dreamed that a big publishing company would allow material full of errors out with their name on the cover!

Publish America is not a traditional publishing company. This company feeds off thousands of writers, would be writers as well as a few pretty good authors. The business is sign them up and get them to pay Publish America's inflated book prices plus not get any royalties on books purchased by the author. The books are so riddled with typo's and errors they are not suitable for serious marketing by anyone. Even in my small town the local bookstore owner had already had her fill of Publish America's books, she did allow me to have book signing but as time passed, ultimately, I became embarrassed by how pitiful my book was edited, I stopped trying to sell it.

The story line is good, people liked it and not all the readers are people known to me that purchased my book. My book has over 300 errors, mostly commas, some misplaced words and still a few misspelled words. I had a man go through it line by line, page by page, to prove my point. I asked that Publish America make the changes and they flatly refused in an arrogant note back to me. They told me that all books have mistakes in them even best selling authors make mistakes.

My own personal press releases on-line have had a combined total of almost a thousand hits but as far as I can tell no books were so sold. The publisher's reputation alone makes your book difficult to impossible to market. The price is enough to keep any sane person from purchasing most Publish America author's books. You can purchase hard back books from many companies for under $10.00 in all kinds of stores. Most paperback books of unknown authors don't rate a double digit price tag.

My 185 page book is priced from $19.97 to over $20 for tiny paper back, available from on-line sources only.( I challenge anyone to find the book in stock in any book store, it just doesn't happen with a Publish America book.) The book came out March 2008 my largest royalty check has been $46.00 and that, with the first check of $2.79, puts me in the hole by nearly a $1000.00. Just do the math and remember that they say they are the fastest growing publisher in America.

As an author with Publish America you have no way to know if or when a book is sold or where it was sold. They do not market, they use a so called press release that goes no where, that is the extent of their marketing, plus a web page on their site.( Who would go to Publish America to find a book, only family or friends?) Save your self some grief, check out all the negative sites about publishing companies, sorry, Publish America is just one of many scams out there.

If you have been duped by Publish America send a complaint to the Attorney General of Maryland as well as your own state. Send a complaint to the Better Business Bureau in Baltimore, Maryland. The more voices the faster we can get something done about this scam. Publish America has a mean side and they are not above pulling all kinds of dirty tricks on authors that want out of the contracts.

The contract is a seven year agreement worded carefully in favor of Publish America. Novice writers do not see the opportunity to use the vaguely worded agreement against them but it is a carefully devised tool for Publish America to use in case there is dissent and disagreement.

Always do your homework before you sign a contract. Many of us didn't and we are paying for it now. The best advice is stay away from Publish America!

Learn more about this author, S. Linda Jensen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Yes

1 of 11

by Loretta Murphy-Birster

Publish America is indeed a legitimate publisher. As an author whose first novel has been published through PA (as well as one who regularly writes for Helium), I stand by my publisher. Prior to my decision, I researched my options. In the end, after weighing the pros and cons, I took the risk on PA.

In the year since publication of my novel, THE PIPES ARE CALLING, I have not regretted my choice.

Traveling the writers forums gives a reader an education. People love to beat up on the underdog. Publish America takes its licks from various disgruntled sources. There are lots of folks out there telling authors to stay away from PA. That's fine. This is America and we've all got free speech.

Critics out there who point fingers at Publish America, however,need to make sure they have their facts straight. Having read some of the NO articles, let me say that there is misinformation present. Everyone has a right to their opinion but facts are facts. Let me correct a few of the glaring errors if for no other reason than setting the proverbial record straight.

There is a big difference between Print on Demand and Publish on Demand. Publish America is a Print on Demand publisher. Copies of my novel are not sitting in a warehouse awaiting shipment on purchase. Nor are they sitting in bookstores collecting dust until one day they wind up in the sale bin. Now, don't get me wrong - I've found some good buys in those bins - even books by well known authors (imagine that). But it doesn't make sound financial sense.

Taking part in various forums has given me insight into the various pitfalls of the publication world that all authors face. There are millions of books out there, all competing for readership. Scroll through Amazondotcom if for no other reason than to marvel at the magnitude of books and authors. There is no room at the top except for the creme de la creme. Authors like me are thrilled if I stay a million and under. At least it means I'm selling.

Heck, last night I checked in for the first time in weeks and got a nice surprise. THE PIPES ARE CALLING was at position 103,400. Will it stay there? Nah, but it feels great while it lasts.

One critic accuses that PA publishes books with the pages falling out, with clip art covers and so on. This is absolute rubbish. My novel has a beautiful cover and has received many compliments on the cover art. The novel is a trade size paperback. It is as sturdy as any other trade size novel on the market. Check on the bookshelves at any book store. Some of the covers from those "traditional" publishers other writers are so proud to get a nod from are downright silly. But that's not my problem and frankly, it was up to those authors to fight that battle with their ahem, traditional, publisher.

Discrimina tion is an ugly word. Yes, there are reviewers who won't give PA authors the time of day. Shame on them for judging a book by the wrong means. But again, that's their choice. PA authors are used to it. We find other ways to have our novels reviewed. And in the end? A satisfied reader is, in my humble opinion, one of the best reviewers an author can have.

Granted, as in all areas of the publication world, editing is fraught with errors. PDF technology has made it so easy to publish that scanning, skimming, and spellcheck are taking the place of human eyes. Publish America has several editing options but they make it crystal clear to their authors what can be expected. My novel had some errors in the first printing which PA graciously fixed as soon as they were pointed out.

But hear this - I read extensively and there are LOTS of errors in novels, short stories, magazines, the newspaper, textbooks and advertising. Publish America, I am afraid, can only take the rap for PA published novels. If blinders don't permit PA critics to see the forest for the trees, it is my hope they take them off before they drive into one. Poor editing is a problem that says more about the state of the publishing industry than about any one publisher.

Witch hunting is a messy business. So much evil, so little time.

There are other criticisms of Publish America. They don't do marketing. True. Neither do vanity presses or publish on demand outfits, like Lulu. Yesterday at a multiauthor book signing, I was next to two self-published authors. My novel was one of the few that was purchased by the bookstore through the publisher NOT from the author. Both paid a couple thousand dollars for their novels to be printed. Both had to edit it themselves or have it done. They still found errors in their manuscripts. They also had yet to make any profit.

My novel is in several bookstores. I did not, as one critic professes, have to 'beg' to have it put there. Sure, I wish one day I'd wake up and be rich enough to afford an agent. I even have dreams, big dreams, that one bright golden day my writing will reach the pinnacle of success that enables me to write full time instead of go to my day job.

Sigh. Back to the real world.

THE PIPES ARE CALLING is also on all the dotcoms - Amazon, B&N, Waldenbooks and so on. It is available through Ingrams as well as Baker & Taylor. My publisher took care of that. Publish America also provides promotion through its website. A lot? No, but it is a small publishing house. They live up to the bargain they made with me in my contract. That is good enough for me.

To correct another fallacy, THE PIPES ARE CALLING is also returnable. No, I don't get the royalties if it boomerangs. But are you aware that those REAL publishers who pay advances, don't give their authors any royalties until the advance amount is paid off?

My novel pays royalties. I receive checks twice yearly. I am also free to market my novel independently thus attend many festivals and book signings on my own time. The books sold at these events are purchased directly from my publisher. It is fairly lucrative process. THE PIPES ARE CALLING has done well since its public release last January. Yes, I have done the lion's share of the marketing and promotion. But from what I understand, so are most authors - no matter who is publishing them.

We can't all get the red carpet treatment like Nora and JK. Maybe my next book.

If readers think Publish America produces substandard novels, that is a crying shame. They will be missing some wonderful stories by excellent authors. Are they all top notch? I can't say since I haven't read them all. But through my own reading, I have experienced ho hum books as well as absolute crap that came straight from the big publisher presses. Amazon - like all booksellers - is a jungle of publications that range from treasure to trash. A reader simply won't know until they check it out for themselves.

Please don't judge a book by its publisher. Those who have read my novel often approach me or leave messages on my guest book. It is satisfying to know that they loved my story and want more. Many have asked for a sequel. We'll see. Two other manuscripts of mine need to be completed first.

In conclusion, let me say that yes, Virgina, Publish America is a legitimate publisher and I one of its many legitimate authors.

Don't believe me? Read my book.

Learn more about this author, Loretta Murphy-Birster.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.