Comments on: An outside look at Publish America http://www.fictionforum.net/writers/toolbox/an-outside-look-at-publish-america-243.html where fiction lovers come to play Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:36:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Michelle L. Ross http://www.fictionforum.net/writers/toolbox/an-outside-look-at-publish-america-243.html#comment-914 Michelle L. Ross Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:32:48 +0000 http://www.fictionforum.net/?p=243#comment-914 Publish America is indeed one of the biggest scam artists out there. Unfortunately, many authors know full well what they are doing when they submit to PA. I spoke to one just the other day trying to warn him about what he was getting into. His response was he knew about the complaints against them but he needed to get a book published to increase his chances of getting into graduate school (Creative Writing Major). He'll find out, the hard way, that the university won't be any more impressed by that publication than they would be if he had chosen to self-publish. In fact, I would say they would be more impressed if he had self-published. It's a very sad business. However, there is one thing I would like to clear up. Over and over again I see people say PA books don't make it into brick and mortar stores. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they do make it into brick and mortar stores. I've not yet seen them in Barnes and Noble, but Hastings carries PA books and so do some Indie bookstores. It shocked me the first time I saw some of their books on a store shelf and had to look at the "About the Author" section to see if it was a local author. That would have made sense at least, but no, they aren't local authors. Check your own Indies and Hastings (if you have one) to see if they shelve PA books. Of course, shelving does not necessarily equal selling. Just my two cents. Happy Reading and Writing, Michelle L. Ross Publish America is indeed one of the biggest scam artists out there. Unfortunately, many authors know full well what they are doing when they submit to PA. I spoke to one just the other day trying to warn him about what he was getting into. His response was he knew about the complaints against them but he needed to get a book published to increase his chances of getting into graduate school (Creative Writing Major).
He’ll find out, the hard way, that the university won’t be any more impressed by that publication than they would be if he had chosen to self-publish. In fact, I would say they would be more impressed if he had self-published. It’s a very sad business.
However, there is one thing I would like to clear up. Over and over again I see people say PA books don’t make it into brick and mortar stores. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they do make it into brick and mortar stores. I’ve not yet seen them in Barnes and Noble, but Hastings carries PA books and so do some Indie bookstores.
It shocked me the first time I saw some of their books on a store shelf and had to look at the “About the Author” section to see if it was a local author. That would have made sense at least, but no, they aren’t local authors. Check your own Indies and Hastings (if you have one) to see if they shelve PA books.
Of course, shelving does not necessarily equal selling.

Just my two cents.

Happy Reading and Writing,
Michelle L. Ross

]]> By: arcilia http://www.fictionforum.net/writers/toolbox/an-outside-look-at-publish-america-243.html#comment-856 arcilia Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:58:35 +0000 http://www.fictionforum.net/?p=243#comment-856 This is sad, very sad. I recently sent a query letter via e-mail, and in three days received a message saying that they would like to see the full manuscript. Of course I hadn't done my research correctly, and am just finding out about their incompetence. Well I haven't send the full manuscript, and am hoping not to see my work somewhere else. This is sad, very sad. I recently sent a query letter via e-mail, and in three days received a message saying that they would like to see the full manuscript. Of course I hadn’t done my research correctly, and am just finding out about their incompetence. Well I haven’t send the full manuscript, and am hoping not to see my work somewhere else.

]]> By: Lisa Wexler http://www.fictionforum.net/writers/toolbox/an-outside-look-at-publish-america-243.html#comment-846 Lisa Wexler Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:19:48 +0000 http://www.fictionforum.net/?p=243#comment-846 number of copes of a book ...? Did you mean number of copies? What was that you were saying about editing Dave? Here is your sentence that needs a correction: They also claim to be an advance paying publisher. Advances typically represent the number of copes of a book that a publisher believes it will sell number of copes of a book …?

Did you mean number of copies?

What was that you were saying about editing Dave?

Here is your sentence that needs a correction:

They also claim to be an advance paying publisher. Advances typically represent the number of copes of a book that a publisher believes it will sell

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