At book events throughout the year, I’m
often approached by new writers who are seeking advice about becoming
published. These folks aren’t only asking about finding a traditional
publisher, but how to self-publish or find a publishing service.
There are all kinds of publishing services,
some straightforward who deliver exactly what they’ve promised. And then there
are others. For instance, did you know that the infamous PublishAmerica,
which received numerous public complaints from unhappy writers is now known as
America Star Books?
You might have heard that Barnes &
Nobles launched a self-publishing platform called Nook Press in October. They
offer editing, cover design, and limited print-on-demand. But did you know that
this platform is actually operated by another infamous publishing service
called Author Solutions? This revelation comes from the folks at Lets GetDigital. They also claim that Barnes & Noble didn’t mention the connection
in their press release or on their website. If this is true, then yikes! How
would you feel about signing a contract with one company only to realize that
it’s actually being operated by an outfit with a terrible reputation in the
writing community?
Publishing scams are so prevalent that
Indies Unlimited is devoting the month of March to informing authors
about these and other things. They will be exploring options for getting your
book and/or money back if you’ve been scammed, and to let writers know that
there is a writing life after a bad experience.
Publishing choices can be tricky, but it helps
to listen to others who’ve been through both good and bad experiences. The
goal, as always, is to make an informed choice, so it might not be a bad idea
to take a look at Indies Unlimited this month, but do your research. Take a
look at other viewpoints and options as well.
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