Publish America

Recently on a writer's message board, the topic of self-publishing with Publish America came up. Why, some asked, would anyone with any knowledge of publishing actually choose this company to work with?
I had heard a lot about PA, most of it negative. To refresh my memory about specific complaints, I went to Google Search. I searched for "scam Publish America". Oh my, what a lot of complaints there seem to be!

With such titles as:

Condensed: Here are The Reasons We Don't Recommend PublishAmerica ...

Publish America Scam or Not? To Trust or Not To Trust? « Speak ...

The PublishAmerica Scam - A Writer's Life

 

Hmm...there were many, many such links. But to be fair, I had put the word "scam" in my search. Maybe I should just search for "Publish America legitimate?" 

I did, and again many people had adverse opinions--but hold on a sec, here's a lady who answered in the affirmative, and I quote:

PublishAmerica: Legitimate, or a hoax? - Yahoo! Answers

"I must say I'm sum what biased when it comes to this subject. I'm a writer and author and can tell you from experience Publish America is a legitimate Publisher. I did extensive research on the subject before submitting my novellas, "Behind the Red Door" and "Thorns of an Innocent Soul." And, I haven't quit my day job but I've paid several utility bills with my earnings."

 

 I think I would have taken her more seriously if she hadn't spelled "somewhat" as "sum what". Especially after warning authors that they should proofread their books a thousand times.

Another fellow over at:

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178658

also defends Publish America. He says, in part:

PublishAmerica is not a scam

---

Publish America has a particular business model that does not include providing for the most expensive part of selling something, marketing. This does not make them a scam. I published with them 5 and 1/2 years ago and I've just sent them another book which they've accepted. They made a few minor errors in the text even after I corrected it but this hardly makes them a scam. I'm reading Carver and there are typos there as well. I didn't sell any books but how is that their fault?

Another poster answers that question:

Indeed. It is not marketing but called distribution--which is what gets books into stores across the US an Canada. Without distribution to brick and mortar stores there are no significant book sales for the writer.

The stores want the right to return unsold books, which is significant money to any publisher. PA is unwilling to provide that to its writers, therefore, no sales.

 

More on Publish America and other POD publishers in my next blog.

 

 

Is There More Than One Way to Get Published?

That's a definite yes! The path to traditional publishing has almost disappeared for many writers. It was tough a few years ago, now it is almost impossible for new writers to break into the market.

Late in 2008, a round of firings hit the publishing world. Heads rolled and salaries were frozen. A climate of fear pervaded. In that climate, editors became super cautious, refusing to go out on a limb and fight for a book that wasn't a sure thing.

But there's good news/bad news here. Ebooks and audio book sales which had impacted sales so significantly actually offered a way forward for independent authors with sufficient savvy to publish their own work.

There is a way forward. Next time we'll discuss Createspace and Lulu versus other self-publishing options.

What's Happening With Ebooks?

The ebook market continues to grow, sales were at nearly $1 billion in 2010, and may reach 2.8 billion by 2015.

B&N reports that they are selling more ebooks online than printed books, and Amazon's sales are rocketing, too. In a few years, everyone will have a Kindle, a Nook or an iPad to read on. Does this mean the end of books as we know them? Probably not. It just gives readers more options.

It gives authors more options, too. Now writers can market their work directly to readers, at very little cost and with a minimum of hassle compared to traditional publishing.

The catch? Properly formatting, designing and editing the book so that it in no way seems amateurish. Not a job for the faint-of-heart.


Next, we'll discuss the first steps towards getting your book published after it's been written.

When Creativity Hits a Brick Wall

Many writers fight their own demons when blocked at some point in their work.

Most do work through them and move on. Yes, facing the challenges and complexities of the writing life can be quite frustrating. Finding time to write, mastering grammar, punctuation, plot, characterization, dialogue and setting are just the beginning.

Writers who want to see their work in print eventually face even bigger hurdles--querying agents, writing synopses or in some instances, submitting their work directly to publishers.

Sure, it's always been hard to get conventionally published but in 2011, it is almost impossible. But there is a way forward.

Stay tuned.

You Can Be Published This Year!

B&N Book Signing

The world of ePublishing has opened a brave new world for authors and writers who have been discouraged in the past by the hurdles they must jump to get published conventionally.

Self-publishing and ePublishing are now within the reach of most authors, however. Stay tuned.