author

CJ Lewis's story

I was just like most other first-time authors looking to get published. A binder filled with rejection notices, and encouragement from surveys by a beta group, I continued to search. That’s when Publishamerica came into view. I was a little leary of signing with the company, due to some questions I had about their pricing and whether or not their books made it to book stores. I sent them an email, declining to sign based upon my concerns.

What I received was a long, emotional letter explaining how the company had resolved any issues with unhappy authors and that information posted about them was out of date. They emphasized that their books were available in book stores “from sea to shining sea” and that they wanted to give me the “chance I deserved.” They convinced me that their pricing was what the market would bear, and that I had nothing to be concerned about.

As a rookie, I didn’t know any better. I signed.

After first contracting with Publishamerica, I was as excited as any new author. I got to work right away planning out my marketing/promotion strategy. However, after six months, the handwriting was on the wall. I had been duped. Just like during the 1849 gold rush, there was a large contingency of people searching for the nugget that would bring them their dreams. The ones who made their fortunes were those who sold the flour, sugar, and shovels.

I did not start with the idea of becoming wealthy, I just wanted a fair chance to see children holding my book in their hands. Publishamerica does not give an author a fair chance. This is what happened:

The editor did not format the book in standard, proper form. I didn’t know any different at the time, however, I later found out that the chapters should begin on the right-hand side and be consistent throughout. For a children’s book, the type should be larger, and have more leading than an adult book. Mine is very difficult for a young person to read formatted as is. A reviewer mentioned in his review that there were editing errors; however, he gave me a sterling review as to story, character, and writing.

Let me tell you what I did to promote the book, before judging me as just another author who waits for fame and fortune without putting forth effort.

I purchased 1001 Ways To Market Your Books; purchased the Do It Yourself Book Publicity Kit; created my website; purchased a $1200 portable labyrinth as my visual aid for school visits and shows; designed and printed business cards; enlisted an answering service with a toll-free number; purchased 200 copies of my book at over $2000; sent letters to 65 local schools for author visits, with 42 follow-up postcards at the beginning of the school year; mailed out 8 media kits to various newspapers; paid $80 twice at PR Web to send out the press release I created (7,463 sent the first time; 51,476 the second); contacted 30 churches; sent out 41 press releases to targeted radio stations; sent out 37 press releases to targeted newspaper sources; sent 11 press releases with a letter to labyrinth sites in the US; sent queries and/or books to 22 reviewers; contacted two local zoos and children’s museum; sent two copies to entertainers; sent books to 10 library system administrators on the west coast; contacted 14 film production companies; left bookmarks in books at the local libraries; visited all bookstores within a 20-mile radius to attempt scheduling book signings and get it stocked; one radio interview with three re-broadcasts; and submitted the book for the KITE award. This was done during the first six months after release. PA did nothing, not even one press release or news story to my home town, as they indicate they will do.

When The Labyrinth Society based in the UK asked for a review copy from my publisher, it took seven weeks before PA would comply. A film production company made numerous attempts to contact PA to inquire about film rights, PA ignored them. I emailed PA each day until they finally responded to let me know I owned the rights. It took two full weeks before knowing that I could speak to the film company about the project. If this was a “traditional publisher,” they would have been “dead on it” in assisting me land this deal, as it would have resulted in retail revenues.

Many reviewers declined because they considered Publishamerica a subsidy publisher, a POD publisher, or a self-publisher. At each bookstore, the answer was the same. They would not stock the book, and one store said if I wanted a signing, I had to buy back any books at full retail price if they didn’t sell and the minimum order was 25. I could not afford such an arrangement. The book is over-priced. I wouldn’t buy a 140-page children’s paperback for $19.95. I don’t see how anyone else would, either. One manager actually laughed in my face when I told her how much it was.

I did some comparative cost analysis and even showing PA how high their pricing was, they defended their position and would not lower the retail price.

I have since found out myself from Lightening Source (printer/distributor), Ingram (wholesaler), Baker & Taylor (wholesaler), and a book store that Publishamerica sets an extremely low discount that forces the wholesaler to only offer a 5-20% discount for the retailers. A book store WILL NOT order books, returnable or not, with such a bad discount. The industry standard is 40%, and PA knows this. At 5% (like my book is currently listed), even if it sells, the retailer only receives about one dollar. If the book is returned, the retailer only gets 50% of their price back, plus they have to pay for shipping. They lose big time. A handful of authors have been able to place their book on the shelves, but it is rare, and limited to individual stores. Hardly “sea to shining sea.”

The business model for Publishamerica focuses on authors purchasing their own books. PA makes the best profit margin by doing so and there is no risk. Payment is immediate, and there are no returns. Even with this new “returns” policy, their risk is extremely small as stores are not swayed by this new publicity stunt. I suspect that is why they were not eager to assist me in connecting with the film company. A previous major stunt was telling its authors that all sales, including personal sales, would count toward making it to the New York Times bestseller list. This turned out to be a way to encourage authors to buy more books, competing with each other to make it to the list. The list turned out to be an ad PA placed in the paper. This is how PA misleads and misconstrues the truth. The latest stunt was announcing that their books were returnable. In view of the above, book stores will still not stock their shelves, so being returnable is moot.

Only “happy” authors are allowed on the PA message board, and therefore, do not reflect the true author experience with that company. Unhappy authors cannot convince PA to reverse the contract, and we are stuck for a total of seven years. This is how long your dreams and plans are held hostage. Again, this is not an industry standard. Not only are you tied up for seven years, so are your heirs if you should die. Publishamerica continues to hang on when the book is not selling. Their grip does not loosen when your promotion ends once you discover how useless it is to beat your head against the industry wall.

There is no happy ending to the story. However, arbitration against the company has been successful, and a civil suit is pending as of this writing. There may be hope for those of us who have been misled and taken advantage of by using the legal system. We can only hope and pray.