author

Lori's story

I wrote a novel in 1999. I queried a number of agents and publishers, and received one rejection letter after another. I became very discouraged, and after a year and a half, I was about ready to give up, when I tried one last publisher. The publisher was called Erica House. I found the listing in the 1999 Writer’s Market, a reputable publication.

When I received an acceptance in 2001, I was naturally thrilled. I checked out the website for Erica House, and at that time, it seemed quite professional. Not too long after that, the website changed to the red, white, and blue motif, and Erica House became Publish America. My book, however, was printed under the AmErica House imprint.

I looked over the contract carefully. It seemed fine to me, but of course it was the first book contract I’d ever seen. I signed it and sent it back in October of 2001. From there, everything seemed to progress quite smoothly. I fulfilled all the requirements PA requested, even though I did think the list of 100 friends’ & family’s addresses a bit odd. No matter, I was well on my way to success as a published author. When I received my proofs, though, I was surprised to find so many errors; did I really miss that many mistakes? I had gone over my manuscript at least twenty times, and I’d had a friend proofread it as well. Yet, somehow, there were over 200 errors that needed to be corrected; but of course I did so, and sent my proofs back. I remember when I received the cover art, I thought it was fantastic, and I am still happy with it. It turned out to be the best thing that came out of my PA experience.

My cover art even showed the price of my book at $24.95. That sounded fine to me, that was the going price of hardcover books at the time, so no red flag warning there. I was told my book would be released in May of 2002. I anxiously awaited my author copies. When I received them, in April, I couldn’t help but be disappointed. The cover was great, but the books were not hard cover as I had assumed (silly me), they were trade paper. Nowhere in the contract did it say my book would be trade paper. I had no idea.

I tried to make the most of it. I joined the author’s message board and asked questions and picked up tips from other authors. I knew I would have to do a lot of self-promotion, but I was ready. I remember the first time I walked into a bookstore in my hometown to ask them if they would (1) stock my book, and (2) set up a book signing. The manager took one look at the price and rudely said, "I can’t sell a paper back for $24.95!" I was so embarrassed. I tucked my tail between my legs and left the store. But that wasn’t going to stop me, oh no! I believed in my book. I set up interviews with the newspaper and got some really great coverage in my area. There was a storeowner who agreed to sell copies of my book (I had ordered some for myself, of course, for promotions and for making some sales on my own), and she even set up a book signing for me. I also went outside of my area and convinced a manager of a Barnes & Noble in Reno, Nevada, to set up a signing for me, and she agreed. She did say that I should bring my own books, and I agreed. The store did a great job and made up flyers, posters, etc. My book signing was a total flop. I sold two books, and those were to two other PA authors who happened to live in the area. One of them mentioned to me that she was having trouble with PA, but I thought she just wanted attention, and she seemed a little bit screwy, so I was polite to her but ignored what she said. What a mistake that was.

I did find it odd that I was an author buying my own books to resell, but what the heck? If PA didn’t have a marketing/promoting budget, then I would do it myself. I made my own bookmarks, I sent out copies of my book to reviewers, celebrities, Oprah of course, anyone I could think of to get some national attention. When I got my first royalty check, I was a bit disappointed, but it wasn’t too bad, really. It was for $80 something dollars, although of course in my dreams I was expecting thousands. I guess I had to work harder.

I appeared on a local cable television show, but not much came of that either. My sales had stalled, and I had books sitting in boxes. I stopped promoting. I was very discouraged. But I had other things to do, a family to raise, and I was moving to a new area.

Once I moved, I though I’d give it a shot again. New area, maybe some new publicity. I did get a book signing, a small one for an indie bookstore, but they did stock my book. Then, it came time for PA’s convention. I decided to go. I spent a lot of money to fly from California to Maryland. But I was excited to meet some fellow authors. I shared a cab ride with a wonderful woman, and we had a great time together. There was a lot of confusion at the hotel, but we all pressed on. So many people I got to meet from the message boards! There were workshops and tours... I got to meet Larry Clopper, and had my picture taken with Willem. I even got to meet the young woman who designed my book cover. Wow, we did have some fun. And it all ended with the world’s biggest book signing! PA did provide the books, and I think I may have sold two? But I swapped with many other authors, I couldn’t wait to read their books.

After we all got back, there was a horrible smear campaign against one of the authors on the message board. I could hardly believe how badly this woman was treated. I had just met her and spent time with her, all of the terrible things that were being said about her just couldn’t be true. And PA did nothing to come to her defense, one of their own authors, and they let her be crucified. A number of authors left the message board in disgust, and that is how I found out that there were other message boards out there, ones that said nasty things about PA. I just couldn’t believe it. I was so naïve.

So I started reading the other boards, but I still couldn’t believe it. Had I really been duped? Was PA really a scam? At the same time, I started reading some of the books I had swapped during the convention. Most of them were awful, I mean really awful. I was beginning to believe PA really did just publish anyone. Of course, I’d had a tiny concern all along (subconsciously I guess) that PA could be an author mill. I mean, really, boasting about having thousands of authors? My thought was, how could they possible attend to the needs of so many? Still, I pressed on. Of course, at this point, my royalty checks were dwindling. After having my book out for just about two years, I’d made less than $200 in royalties. And I’d spent probably close to a couple thousand trying to promote my book and ordering my own copies.

Then I received a call from a local newspaper in my new town. They wanted to do an article about some local authors. Wow! I was so excited - more press! Maybe now my book would be discovered. I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. When the article came out, it was about authors who were self-published. I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t self-published, PA was a traditional publisher, wasn’t it? The truth was beginning to emerge. I started doing some investigation and reading more message boards. Then, I did a very foolish thing. I ordered some books on a special promotion because I was going to an author’s book faire and hoping to sell lots of books. This new promotion said that not only did we authors get a discount, but we also would get royalties on the books we ordered! Great! I shelled out another $900 dollars. Then guess what? I didn’t get paid the royalties for those books. (I hardly sold any books at the book faire, either, and those boxes are still sitting in my garage.) I think my next royalty check was for a dollar and change. I was outraged. I emailed author support, and was ignored for three months. I sent a total of seven emails over three months, and then I finally heard back from PA. They told me to stop harassing them. I made a stink on the message board about not receiving the royalties due me, and they deleted my posts. There was also the infamous post where PA called its authors "zoo animals." I blew up. More of my posts were deleted.

Then the article in the Washington Post came out, and I sent PA a scathing email about how they called the reporter a liar. They had also started a smear campaign against Dee Power, and of course there was the horrible incident with the police showing up on Kevin Yarbrough’s doorstep. PA responded to me with a "tone" letter and also a veiled threat. Then they banned me from the message boards. I did, finally, get my royalty money on those 50 books I ordered, but only because I made such a fuss about it.

Now it is four and a half years after I signed my contract, and I wish I had never heard of Publish America. Thank goodness there is so much more information available to warn people about them. Back in 2001, there wasn’t much of anything, and we were all taken in by them. They prey on people, smash their dreams, and ridicule them at will. I read and heard that some people were financially ruined as a result of signing with PA and trying to promote their books. I guess the only good thing I can say about this entire ordeal, is that at least I’ve learned a lot about what real publishing is and isn’t. I readily admit I was in denial for a long time. I am embarrassed beyond belief that my book is not even considered a publishing credit. I am angry and bitter, and I would like nothing more than to see PA closed down so that they can no longer take advantage of authors.