Publishers To Avoid

[Sylvetra_Snake]

When i was younger, about sixteen, i had finished my first novel, typed it up and had a 1st person book of around 119,000 words. I sent it out to many publishers but to no avail until i got accepted by a company called American Publishing. I never ended up going with them as i heard many bad things about the company. I was just wondering if i was wrong about the company, and if i was right, what other publishers should be avoided, due to exploitation of authors, like making them buy their own copies for family and friends etc. I know vanity publishing is certainly not one to go for due to the money involved.

Or are there a few things to watch out for if a publisher says yes?

[John Jarrold]

There are threads on every writers forum, including this one, about publishers to avoid. Do look for them. And one basic rule: the money only flows one way, from the publisher to the author. If you are asked for ANY money, for production, editing or anything else - that is not a bona fide publisher. In one way or another, it's a vanity press, and you are wasting your time and your money. No vanity press deals with the mainstream book trade, your books will simply sit in the warehouse. They make their money from the authors and their friends and family, who are usually the only people to buy copies, at inflated prices. Do not approach them.

If you decide to self-publish, then obviously you'll be spending your own money, that is different. I think the people you are referring to are PublishAmerica - as I said, you'll find specific threads on this forum, and others, about them. Here you go:

How good is PublishAmerica?

[Sylvetra_Snake]

Thanks for the link. I am so glad i didnt go down that route lol.

[Tirellan]

Further information about many publishers and agents can be found here.
Bewares and Background Check - Absolute Write Water Cooler

[chopper]

blimey, that's one heck of a forum there, tirellan. i just joined up on the spot....

[David Gullen]

AbsoluteWrite is one of the best forums - a great place for news.

[Meadowhawk]

Another resource to check with is Preditors and Editors

[Michael01]

Wait ... legit publishers don't charge for anything? You mean even after the author receives the initial free copies that he or she can just keep asking for free copies whenever they want? How do publishers supply copies for book signings and conventions? I suppose they might sell them to the bookstore for signings, but what about conventions? It's obvious that I have no idea how this works, and I really would like to know.

[wildwolfpublishing]

Michael, legitimate 'traditional' presses do not charge for anything because they make their money from selling your books. That does not mean to say that they would supply you with any more than a small number of free copies for you personally from the initial print run. Any additional copies that you may want after that would usually be charged at a wholesale price. They would of course be responsible for supplying review and PR copies, but copies for book-signings and conventions are usually supplied by the individual bookstore or convention (usually bought through distribution at the usual wholesale prices).

[Michael01]

Ah, okay. Thank you.

[chopper]

somewhat more technically:

the stock may be supplied by the distributor on "consignment", which in effect means the stock turns up in time for the event, then is uplifted back to the supplier afterwards. the difference between what is supplied and what is returned is charged to the retailer. this helps the retailer in that they may not be guaranteed to sell all their supplied copies when the event has finished, and means the supplier can farm the same stock to several places in succession (in hopefully dwindling amounts!).

(this is the model for PAs at HMV, anyhow.)

[CSK001]

Hi,
Thanks for this useful information. I'm a new one in this forum. I must appreciate the tools provided by you. Please keep updating me in this regard.
CSK