Writer, Beware! 4 Companies Indie Authors Should Avoid
I mentioned in my previous post about indie publishing that the self-publishing community is very open and supportive. However, just like in any industry, there are some snakes you need to be aware of. Here is a list of 4 companies that have been known to take advantage of authors.
Writers Beware!
Author Solutions, also known as AuthorHouse, Xlibris, and iUniverse, was once owned by Penguin Random House. This self-publishing press was set up as a response to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. However, Author Solutions had a very different idea of how to help independent authors and line their own pockets in the process. Author Solutions offers “all-inclusive” and way-overpriced packages along with mostly fraudulent claims about everything they can do to make your book a success, including promises that successful books might be picked up by editors from traditional publishing houses. Most of these claims aren’t true or simply won’t live up to their bloated expectations. Author Solutions has very few repeat customers, so they rely on taking advantage of authors that are brand new to the publishing scene. They’re pretty underhanded and aggressive about it, too. Trust me, if anyone suggest Author Solutions, they are likely getting paid to do so. Beware!
Indie Author David Gaughran wrote a fantastic article detailing exactly how Author Solutions takes advantage of writers. You can find that article HERE.
America Star Books, formerly known as Publish America, has a different tactic for taking advantage of writers. Unlike Author Solutions, which charges exorbitant fees for services that can be done cheaply or freely by authors themselves, America Star books promises no upfront fees. Their website says, ” We charge no, as in: zero, author fees in our standard contract.” This sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it is. American Star Books will provide authors with editing services, cover art and design, the whole works for free. Then they’ll turn around and price your 300-page paperback book at $24.97 or something outrageous like that. They rely entirely on you and your family to make the book sales in order to recoup what they have put in to your book. That’s right; you are the target audience for your own book. That’s bogus. As an indie author, you should maintain the control to set reasonable prices on your books. Worse, America Star Books requires writers to sign a contract giving the company the rights to their book for seven or more years. If you want out of the contract early (because surprise, surprise, it isn’t selling with that outrageous price tag), be prepared to pay hundreds of dollars to buy back the rights of your own book. Beware! And always be extra careful when signing ANY contracts. PublishAmerica changed their name to America Star Books after being sued at least twice by authors who made the mistake of working with them.
See more information HERE.
Author Marketing Ideas, and many other similar companies, take advantage of authors by charging them ridiculous upfront fees in order to promote your book. Whether your book is actually ever promoted after paying for their services is debatable. They might use buzz words like “web optimization” to scare and confuse authors into paying for services that might be inexpensive or even free for the author to do on their own. These services might include setting up Facebook pages, setting up websites (but charging extra for hosting), and adding your book to existing newsletters and websites. If companies such as these aren’t completely clear about exactly what services they are providing or are overly aggressive in their marketing, they’re probably scams.
See more information HERE.
The America Library of Poetry specifically targets poets, teachers, students, and parents. This so-called poetry competition is actually a thinly veiled “anthology scam.” They make their money by selecting “winners” of made-up prestigious poetry contests, putting the poems into a volume, and then charging the poets and their families to buy the anthologies. Companies such as this one are plentiful, so do your research before you enter their contests. Many of them are just trying to sell your poem back to you. “Winning” the right to be in their books isn’t even worth mentioning in resumes. The awards literally don’t mean anything, since they accept most poems that are entered. And you’ll find yourself paying upwards of $30 for a book with only one little poem in it written by your. These books are almost never actually marketed to anyone except the families of the entrants.
These are only a few of the companies to look out for as you embark on your self-publishing journey. Keep these things in mind before you decide to work with any company:
If you don’t know exactly what you are paying for, don’t pay for it.
If the business is not willing to answer questions, they are either a scam or have poor customer service. Avoid these companies!
If a company makes promises that seem too good to believe…they are.
Research every company before you choose to work with them.
ALWAYS read the contract. If it seems fishy, ask questions. If it gets fishier, run!
