PUBLISH AMERICA UNDER SCRUTINY
November 17, 2004 (Press Release) --
From: "Rebeccaeaston" [Add to Address Book] [View Source]
To: "Rebeccaeaston"
Subject: Publish America Update...
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 17:49:25 +0000
Here are the first 200 words of the article that appeared today in Publishers Weekly Newsline written by Steven Zeitchik Here's the link to the rest of the article. There will be another segment tomorrow.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA480782.html?text=Publish+America
Good job all, BUT we still have work to do. If you haven't sent out your story to the media now would be a good time. It's also not too late to contact Steven. Many newspaper book editors read Publishers Weekly and might pick up the story.
Authors' Allegation: Nothing Patriotic About Publish America I
Publish America sounds vaguely like the name of some book-industry superhero, but it's hardly saving the day according to a number of the authors who are complaining vocally about it.
A not-exactly-widely-known Maryland house, Publish America has been courting authors to sign with it and has been seeking a higher profile through such means as half-page display ads in the NYTBR. But authors are now making sweeping charges against the house. Allegations run the complaints gamut, but basically boil down to this: the company presents itself as a traditional house but acts like a vanity one, and not a very upstanding one at that.
According to the allegations, Publish America sells books to which it no longer holds the rights, offers authors only a 30% discount, doesn't pay royalties it owes, engages in slipshod editing and copyediting, sets unreasonable list prices and doesn't pay marketing costs despite promises to the contrary. While it doesn't charge for printing the books, it does require a list of friends and family from the author and then proceeds to market to them heavily. This on top of claims of non-responsiveness.
It might be an understatement worthy of a comic-book that the authors, about a dozen of whom have contacted PW, aren't happy.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA480782.html?text=Publish+America
Dee
http://www.BrianHillAndDeePower.com
Dee Power Co-author with Brian Hill of
THE BESTSELLER Success Stories from Top Authors,
and the Editors, Agents and Booksellers Behind Them"
Dearborn Trade March 2005
http://www.OvertimeTheNovel.com, Overtime, a novel, 2003
Attracting Capital From Angels, 2002
Inside Secrets To Venture Capital, 2001
szeitchik@reedbusiness.com Steve is also investigating PA and writing an article.
To: "Rebeccaeaston"
Subject: Publish America Update...
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 17:49:25 +0000
Here are the first 200 words of the article that appeared today in Publishers Weekly Newsline written by Steven Zeitchik Here's the link to the rest of the article. There will be another segment tomorrow.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA480782.html?text=Publish+America
Good job all, BUT we still have work to do. If you haven't sent out your story to the media now would be a good time. It's also not too late to contact Steven. Many newspaper book editors read Publishers Weekly and might pick up the story.
Authors' Allegation: Nothing Patriotic About Publish America I
Publish America sounds vaguely like the name of some book-industry superhero, but it's hardly saving the day according to a number of the authors who are complaining vocally about it.
A not-exactly-widely-known Maryland house, Publish America has been courting authors to sign with it and has been seeking a higher profile through such means as half-page display ads in the NYTBR. But authors are now making sweeping charges against the house. Allegations run the complaints gamut, but basically boil down to this: the company presents itself as a traditional house but acts like a vanity one, and not a very upstanding one at that.
According to the allegations, Publish America sells books to which it no longer holds the rights, offers authors only a 30% discount, doesn't pay royalties it owes, engages in slipshod editing and copyediting, sets unreasonable list prices and doesn't pay marketing costs despite promises to the contrary. While it doesn't charge for printing the books, it does require a list of friends and family from the author and then proceeds to market to them heavily. This on top of claims of non-responsiveness.
It might be an understatement worthy of a comic-book that the authors, about a dozen of whom have contacted PW, aren't happy.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA480782.html?text=Publish+America
Dee
http://www.BrianHillAndDeePower.com
Dee Power Co-author with Brian Hill of
THE BESTSELLER Success Stories from Top Authors,
and the Editors, Agents and Booksellers Behind Them"
Dearborn Trade March 2005
http://www.OvertimeTheNovel.com, Overtime, a novel, 2003
Attracting Capital From Angels, 2002
Inside Secrets To Venture Capital, 2001
szeitchik@reedbusiness.com Steve is also investigating PA and writing an article.
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