I called her back and talked to her, but I have a hearing problem and so have difficulty understanding people with accents. I have been contacted by Blair Mason of New Reader Magazine. Some massively prolific vanity presses you may wish to avoid include: Page Publishing Xlibris Author Solutions Some scammers even masquerade under the name of Big Five imprints. 1. the state or quality of being vain; excessive pride or conceit. In the ocean of publishing, vanity presses are the sharks. Your book has been partially reviewed by our 3rd party research team based on location , genre, and category, and we would love to work with you on this one since your book is one of the 5 projects were considering as an option to be forwarded to our film partners for a movie adaptation. I recently was contacted by Dream Books Distribution for a screen play based on my recently published book. I had nearly 1K titles. I knew just by that they were going to try and steal my images for their own purpose. Our clients are and will never be forced to sign a contract. Basically dont do business with them unless you have a lawyer look at it and any legit company wanting to make your book into a film will not make you pay up front. My dilemma is that I dont know whether this offer is legitimate or a scam. I texted back and said my book was self-published in January 2018 and that it was currently being sold through the printers online bookstore, Amazon and eBay. And are they legit? I 99.9% sure Im going the self publishing route now. Every single freelancer I contacted, probably 10-12, were all, a) in Nigeria, which should have sent off bells, b) submitted totally unprofessional work that they obviously did not know how to do, and c) will try very hard to convince you to up the price, prophesize. I could see my entry as well in latest ebook, with my attached name and Bio(that I submitted). Im hesitate to send back a signed contract. They want $4600 up front for my share of the partnership, they cover the other half. Seriously? I might pay them a visit to see if I was wrong. Yup. So far, my book sales almost hit the figure they guaranteed, but its a far improvement from my previous publisher. In my opinion, a new author has two sensible choices when it comes to publishing a book. ALLi has a whole slew of people just ripping them apart. Today is April 4, 2019 and they are still advertising my book on their website, plus its at Amazon.com, Books-A-Million.com and many others. With an abundance of e-books or titles available for download online, one can We want to ship you a copy of our new book for free (just pay shipping and handling). Founded by Todd Bottorff, Publisher at Turner Publishing Company, Keylight Books publishes 12 fiction titles annually with character-driven stories and compelling perspectives. Im glad I did. Beware of scam agents who prey on new authors. So. It can often amount to thousands of dollars. I have submitted 3 poetries to SilentSpark press, out of which they updated me with SMS, that one of them has been accepted. They are not at 100 church st.. You can also ask for references from authors who used the services of the publisher. These are all normal expenses. The cost to work with a hybrid publishing house is likely to fall somewhere between $1,500 and $50,000. Ive had many offers like this. I Googled one company that wrote to me, only to find many bad reviews and dissatisfied customers. For example, they say money back guarantee, however, according to the agreement, they may cancel, or, change the terms of the agreement at any time with or without cause. I currently have two projects with New Reader Magazine, the first one this June 2019 it will be one year, hopefully when they finish the book trailer the movie agent lands a film contract. They also contacted me and I have to say they were very professional and convincing. I went on to tell him that at Book Fairs, my book will be sitting under a tent, just like dozens, maybe hundreds of other publishers promoting their clients books. I never believed the man but I still got his email which showed their address in CA. Hi, no. She said she worked for New Reader Magazine, but that the magazine was just one part of an international marketing and PR firm. We will be able to reinstate your investment MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. VRM is offering to promote my book, which it selected from many others. I steer clear of them. New Reader Magazine reached out to me about my self-published book. You might be at the earliest phase of your book project, desperate for help finding the way forward. If it sounds real good it more likely RUN the other way! Now, they are 8 years in business and have 51-500 employees. Michael, This is Christian Smith from New Reader International. Related: Traditional Publishing VS Self-Publishing. On top of all these considerations, there is the publishing world of today. 2. ostentation occasioned by ambition or pride. Its also the worst possible publishing path to take. There are, of course, a lot more nuances this definition makes it easy to mistake legitimate self-publishing companies for scammers. If they do provide you with a name, get more than one, Then ask to get in touch with the authors and asked them about their experience and if they had to pay more than what you have already been told; were they satisfied, etc.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Our reach is from coast to coast with some international distribution. Just Publishing Advice For Writers and Authors, a comprehensive list of publishers and service providers, how to spot publishing scams for the Huffington Post, self-publish and enjoy the learning curve, Book Publishers To Avoid And Nasty Author Scams, https://justpublishingadvice.com/the-best-publishing-companies-that-you-can-rely-upon/, How To Find The Best KDP Keywords For Kindle Ebooks And Books. They also seem to target alot of older people. She hung up on me twice, and both times when I called back, I got her voicemail. Im sure they will fulfill all the services that they promise, but at a price. You will be getting seventy percent of the money stipulated in the film contract. "Our capabilities include title acquisition and development, editorial, design, promotion, sales, warehousing, and distribution. Assisted self-publishing services. None of the book stores had ever heard of New Reader or had ever done any business with them. However, when I checked out their website they seem to offer this side business of Appraisal where authors can submit the first 10,000 words for some honest even brutal review of their work according to the lead editor. Kevin told me that his editor had read my book, liked it very much and wanted to include it in an exclusive promotion that New Reader was going to be running on DIY books for the first quarter of 2019, that they already had three authors selected, that they were seeking two more, and I was one of these two lucky individuals. Turner books are currently being sold in over 55 countries & continuing to grow. Xlibris s part of Author Solutions and has been flagged on AlLis list of publishers to avoid for a very long time. Submission guidelines All he said is he got my email and responded to it and then went on to say that they are very interested in representing me its a Book Expo in New York. Of course, not every publishing company is a vanity press, and there are plenty of legitimate ways to get your writing into the world. If you want to just get your book published you can, 1.Hire a book cover designer 2.Hire a book formatter 3. Well they wanted mevto pay $2000 for corrections with no guarantee it would be accepted.!! Dont allow scam agents to fool you. It seems that all or part of conversations that I have had with anyone there sound like Indians the kind from India. But I have to say that while it might be a scam, there is no proof of criminality. I am considering the opportunity to be reviewed by the Trifecta Review. Eileen. They were interested in one of my books (I have 16, with two publishers, 90% ebook sales) and wanted to get it into bookstores. Have you heard about the Al Cole CBS Radio interview? But i have decided against NRM. Those are often small press. I got an email and phone call wanting me to do an interview. Turner Publishing Company is an award-winning, independent publisher of books. Legitimate agents dont ask for payment up front. Personally, I believe that these publishing companies are preying on the egos of previous published writers. Vanity presses are frequently substandard publishers and incompetent marketers but they are masters of manipulation. Is It Peeked, Peaked Or Piqued My Interest? I was just contacted by New Reader Magazine as well and offered a Partnership. It requires its authors "to commit to purchasing, during the life of the agreement, up to 2,500 copies [of . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To prevent spam, all comments are moderated and will be published upon approval. She was back and had almost nailed me. As important as your book idea is to you, for plenty of predatory organizations like the vanity publishers that riddle the industry, it's nothing more than the chance to make a quick buck at your expense. Thank you. When you opt for a subsidy or vanity publisher, you end up overpaying to have a substandard book created. Youre over-the-moon with the news that youre manuscript has been accepted by the so-called publishing company. Why would a casting director do that? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The woman caller identified herself as Reese Elton and said, quote: We are interested to invest and partner with you on your book. Reputable publishers and literary agents all have huge slush piles. You also understand this isnt the route you want to take. DO NOT pay for amateurs in the publishing world. It doesnt matter how well-known or established vanity publishing is or if it goes by a new name. Learning to self-publish is arguably the best way to get your book out there. They talk about getting my work on Amazon etc. Writer Beware not only helps to protect authors from vanity presses and other scammers. All lies from this company they will not refund you. Ive just had a message from the same company, my publisher said hes never heard of them and to be cautious. After that, then have your book published and promoted by one of the large publishing houses. As a new author, if you receive an offer that is too good to be true, it surely will be. This cost does not typically include marketing a book other than that it will possibly be available on the vanity publisher's website. I understand another person did some research and contacted these libraries and there is no banner and magic shelf in their libraries. Anyone got any advice or same experience here? Vanity presses are the #1 trap for new authors. Our books are available to the public wherever books are sold, including: Our Website, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, mass market retailers, specialty retailers, gift stores and fine independent bookstores nationwide. Business Profile Turner Publishing Company, LLC Vanity Publisher Multi Location Business Find locations Contact. I am ready to sign a contract but want to know the results of your experience with them. Thanks for the great article. Arrange and pay advertisers for your book advertising directly with reputable and well-known advertising service providers. But the 2 agent was very patient, I asked that they send me a copy of a contract, the contract had scam written all over it. Also, check that the online book retailers pay royalties to you directly. They also want my book?? It was also $24,ooo to get a screenplay written to be sent to the powers that be, to make it into a film. There are costs involved for reputable services such as Facebook advertising, Google Adwords, paid blog posts, or an advertorial in a local newspaper. At first they were good, gave me a web site and displays in some stores, but then I started to see communication taper of bit by bit. I think they may be legit but their price is way to high and what theyre offering is too little. although, as long as my work isnt being stolen, Ill take this win. The publisher operates out of Meadville, USA and Toronto, Canada and caters to authors of positive, uplifting books in line with Christian morality. No matter what promise a vanity publishing press makes, they are likely to make it by finding your pain points and targeting them with persuasive marketing. I was contacted by Todd Adams, he has a Philippine accent and says he grew up in Mexico but does not speak Spanish. Anyone know how much an international call to New York is? One of the companies even sent me the same, poorly-written (verbatim) form letter they sent to a friend of mine, a fellow writer. But for new writers, it is not very easy at all. They said there was companies already interested in making my book into a film but they needed a script or treatment. Be careful. Vanity presses, otherwise known as "self-publishing companies" or "subsidy publishers," will publish any book written by anyone with a large bank account and a spendthrift attitude. I've written several times in this blog about Morgan James Publishing-most recently in 2018-regarding its repeated inclusion on Publisher's Weekly's annual list of fast-growing independent publishers.. Morgan James may be "independent," but it's also a vanity publisher. In fact, when theyre unhappy with the service/s provided, we proactively offer a refund without hesitation. Kevin Wilson Senior Business Development Associate. It also becomes clear that the vanity publisher is not selective with which books they publish, so long as you, the author, can pay the price. Turner Publishing, Inc. is the quintessential American success story. I will avoid like the plague :-), Thank you i just received call today from these people saying they wanted to adapt my book into either movie or a tv series she gave her name as Reese Elton but i couldnt find Reese Elton that work for new reader magazine and she told me i she would call again tomorrow to discuss more details and i would have to pay 5000 to get started even though they want my book. Relax now while I go off and turn your book into a bestseller and blockbuster movie and give you all the money.. Thank you. Then I spent phenomenal money advertising and promoting my book and copies went very fast at book fairs when I was autographing them and giving them away. But there are still quite a few large vanity publishing houses around. Has anyone any comment. Even if they advertise on TV, I received another email from one of the agents, I had contact with in my journey on finding a good Publisher, I could not believe he would try to connect with me again. That was in September 2010. A number of Hemmingways books were not very successful until much later on. Whats the key warning sign that you are dealing with a vanity press? They do not have any relationships with Hollywood, if you decide to do business with them I promise you will regret it. Signing a contract with a traditional publisher means giving up the rights to your book. The initial cost was $6000 to giving false hope . How to avoid vanity publishing scams Vet Hybrid Publishers. Turner Publishing provides a respectful work environment for capable, motivated individuals who are dedicated to publishing and marketing the best books. It sounds like a good deal to me, but my daughter told me it sounds like a scam. There has been calls & emails that promise results with 3 easy payments, after this last loss to new readers , only good faith could make me think the owner might have a conconcious , we will see , ALIVE has been a true story about love , lies & addiction. Unfortunately, it's really hard to tell the difference between a hybrid publisher and a vanity press. It is so easy for them to scam because the staff are so professional, the website is flawless and they have impeccable customer service but they are a whole entire fraud! US$200-250. In this guide, well cover everything you need to avoid scammy vanity publishing companies if you want to become an author, and show you better options instead. In self-publishing, you, the writer, control every stage of the process; with a vanity press, they do. No, I have never heard of them, Sonia. However, they don't edit, which is usually a sign o. They made me a website but I could have just made that myself. This is very alarming to me because cancellation or modification clause supersedes the guarantee. Try to find and work with a literary agent or a reputable small press publishing house. Wed like to point out that New Reader Media has always been doing its best in providing a good experience for every client we work with which is why wed like to explain our side in this matter. It can often amount to thousands of dollars. The program we offered is good for a 6-month preparation in production before we launching it. Yeah they make these responses on the internet so that others reading this will see it as them working and still have somewhat of a good reputation. I have received this call about taking a little course for $9.00 per month then if they like my stuff that they would publish and something about editing etc. Well thats not going to happen. You can reach me at xxxxxxxx. So I looked at two similar books that they have also selected and featured in their magazine, and from what I can see their promotion has done nothing for book sales. Publishing a book today is easy with self-publishing services that are generally offered for free online. Im not yet convinced its the right route but Ill let you know how the process goes once Ive been through it. It will involve sending submissions to a lot of agents and then waiting and hoping. Very poor customer service certainly wont get them new business. Our criteria for a traditional deal is pretty tough: . RR got a job as a news paper reporter right out of high school. Sorry, but you have been scammed and will never see that money again. The guy gave me some mumbo jumbo and never answered the question. Turner continues to expand their titles by acquiring innovative content from existing and debut authors worldwide. If I didnt get my film deal I was supposed to get a refund after 2 years. I got next to nothing in royalties and in 2016 Xlibris asked me for $15,500.00 for a publicist and I would have ABSOLUTELY no way of knowing if the were just going to take my money and say they got a publicist then just give me a little bit of money! Yes, Judith. We apologize about this experience you had. Free or at least very cheap, depending on preparation costs. Yes. I contacted the BBB. The storyboard is being done also, the script is also done, at any moment it will be done, negotiations begin with a movie agent representative to all the production companies that are interested, I will give everyone the results, In June Im being featured as a contributor on the magazine full articles. They will tell you things, but remember the old saying, Beware the one in the fine suit. This project is at its end in June its going on one full year. Hi! I was once pestered with almost daily phone calls for over two months by one of the most well-known vanity publishers. Founded in 1985, Turner Publishing is an award-winning, independent publisher based in Nashville, Tennessee. Please call me back. She didnt divulge the name of the company she was calling from. A lady who published her book on escaping an abusive relationship set up a website stating that she was scammed! Vanity publishers are cunning. Or some combination of all of these. I agreed to this if course for film deal. For authors who are new to electronic self-publishing, it will be a learning curve. Then check out the websites listed for more information. ;), The art of irony is not lost, it would seem, Chris. Im working on my first book of poetry and Im learning a lot in the process of looking into where publish it. Self-publish and share your stories to the world. Wanted to market my book and so decided to give it a go. Well, they suck! Turner Publishing Company Imprints Award Winning Books Millions of copies sold Great Prices Great deals daily Shop Here And authors win big Easy Returns 30 Day Guarantee Shop the New Releases Table Stranger Things Psychology Travis Langley $21.99 $19.99 Badass Stories Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt $15.99 $13.99 One Potato Tyler McMahon $17.99 $15.99 I immediately asked to not be called ever again. While most vanity publishers are NOT promoting themselves as trade publishers, many people not familiar with the publishing industry simply don't know the difference and may feel duped, and some . . Its not always clear cut. It helps us to not be labeled a "vanity press," and keeps us connected to agents, reviewers, awards programs and more. So whats the difference between a hybrid and a vanity publisher? I am sure there are honest Nigerians doing this work, I just never found any. There are some situations where legitimate done-for-you services resemble those found at vanity presses. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thank you. Unfortunately thats as far as it went! You need to approach literary agents with the hope of signing a contract. Then their MP Russell Spencer is a very moody person, and he looks down to others and when he knew I got to know they are non-existent and are not a true publisher, he created quarrels and decided not to respond to my email totally, having got his money. I didnt get the Dances with Wolves bit. He would have never received any advance. for $4100. I let Jerry Bilson talk me out of $3000 for a book campaign that never happened. ( vnt) n, pl -ties. She had decided to submit on her own, too, and didnt want to duplicate efforts. But I read in the intetnet that they too are scascammed Has anyone been contacted by Archway? I plan on calling Mr. Givens back just to hear what he has to say. Id be willing to bet that I will continue to receive calls from Global Summit House in the future. A reputable company surely will have testimonials. I said I dont like dealing with outsourced call centers and wanted to speak to someone from their office in New York, but she had no way to transfer me. They also contacted me. I just realized that I had been taken by [emailprotected] She played a convincing part in pretending to manage marketing for my book with ALA and ACLR events in 2019. Thanks for the post. Turner Publishing is a fully integrated publishing company. There are pirates in our publishing seas, arhgg! You may also conduct business by calling (615) 255-2665. I tried contacting you but I couldnt reach your number. Graywolf Press Review Should You Join the Pack? You can reach out to them with a copy of your manuscript here. Vanity publishing has been frowned upon for a long time. They just contacted me as well about my self published book. What is your best phone number ? It is when the publisher finally asks you to pay a considerable amount of money up front to publish your book. Much appreciated. If you opt for POD, you retain direct control over how your print copy will look. If anyone knows of any other company that does this type of work tell everyone dont stay silent, authors, and the literary world to share valuable information for guidance to others, thank you. The company retains a A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Business hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm (AUS) . Copyright 2023 SelfPublishing.com : The #1 Resource For Self-Publishing a BookAll Rights Reserved. Neither pays the author an advance, and both charge the author for publishing costs. That sounds just like the text I received from Kelly Smith at NRM. If a film company or agent like a work and wants to turn it into a movie, they will PAY YOU for the rights. To get a convenient, color-coded guide on the reputation of any organization, check out the searchable Watchdog table.