Feedback please regarding Authorhouse, etc.

[OneGrassRoot]

I'd appreciate any feedback you may have regarding services offered through companies such as Authorhouse, Booksense, etc. Specifically, they charge on average $750 for a press release and to send it out to appropriate contacts. They advertise that they have an "in" with the necessary channels and their press releases get read more than independent submissions.

I've been told their press release themselves are fairly basic, most of these places essentially use a template. I am very comfortable writing press releases, yet have only begun the process of finding contact lists (book reviewers, publications, etc.) for mailing press releases for non-fiction books.

Anyone have any experience, first-hand or second-hand, regarding using this service through self-publishers? Or any experience in doing it yourself and whether or not that's recommended?

Many, many thanks....:-)

[BigMcLargehuge]

1. publishers pay you, you don't pay them

it's a scam.

Blog entry about them
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/another_publish.html

SFWA article about them
http://www.sfwa.org/beware/services.html#Marketing

another blog entry (comments in this one are very telling)
http://grumpyoldbookman.blogspot.com/2005/05/new-thinking-by-bookseller-world.html

comments from a lit agent's blog
http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2005/10/more-on-pod-people.html

description from "Preditors and Editors"
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peba.htm

AuthorHouse (formerly 1st Books): Not recommended. A vanity publisher.
5/17/06 - If you don't know by now, AuthorHouse lost a libel suit in court. It seems that the courts and jury decided that a publisher couldn't disavow itself of what it published. In other words, AuthorHouse should have vetted what it accepted before publishing. Now they owe several hundred thousand dollars and may have to pay even more in punitive damages.

more useful info from P n' E

http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubwarn.htm

Some General Rules for Spotting a Scam Publisher

Openly advertises for writers in print or online publications or both.

Openly claims that it's not a vanity or subsidy publisher.

Claims that it has a new business model that will bring success, but never explains why other successful publishers aren't utilizing it.

The publisher gives no or very low advances for books it buys.

The publisher's books are rarely in any bookstores, particularly the large chain stores that carry books from just about all reputable commercial publishers.

The publisher's books have never been seen on a bestseller list published by a reputable source such as the New York Times, especially when said publisher claims to be large.

The publisher's books rarely sell more than 5,000 books to readers in individual purchases and more often fail to reach that number.

The publisher refuses to release even approximate sales figures for its own bestsellers.

When confronted with very low or non-existent sales, the publisher refuses to release the book from contract.

Books it claims to have published were actually published by another publisher, now defunct, that used the same business name.

Its contracts contain provisions that prohibit complaints by its authors about its service and product.

Postings in online forums never seem to include anyone who was rejected.

Online forum criticism is frequently immediately responded to by a defender of that publisher.

Acceptances usually take place in less than a month. Even less than a week is not unusual.

Acceptance letters tend to be identical when compared with what other authors received.

Contract provisions are specific as to how termination can be invoked, but the publisher disdains using anything other than some other method of communication.

Communications from the publisher are frequently unsigned by any individual using a department address so that no one can be pinned down as responsible for any comments made to the author.

The publisher never gives a direct answer to any direct questions. Instead, the publisher points to others who are satisfied with policy, procedures, contract, or sales as proof that everything is fine.

The publisher has a no return policy on its products.

The publisher threatens to blacklist its authors within the industry should they mention leaving.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. A huge thank you and another question

Thanks so much for that info. I've been finding similar things about these "vanity press" sites.

The reason I'm asking about all this is that a friend had a book "published" (I should refer to places like Authorhouse and the like as printers) through Authorhouse, and I was amazed that they charge for every single service.

She's specifically concerned about getting a press release out, and I kept telling her that I can't believe they charge for that. It should be included in what she's already paid. I naively said, "I'm sure I can find a list of appropriate contacts and send a press release myself."

So, that's my next question: Anyone have any links for proven, reliable contact lists for non-fiction book press releases? I see there are scam news sites which offer to send your press release to thousands of contacts, but that's obviously a scam. I realize AP and Reuters and such have propriety databases - and I highly doubt the Authorhouses of the world have access to those, but I could be wrong?

I'll quit rambling now. If anyone has any feedback about the next step of sending out press releases on your own, I'd be grateful.

Thanks again BicMcLargeHuge!!!! Your help is greatly appreciated!!!

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. if she's published through a vanity press...

the best advice I can give is send a press release to her hometown paper, include a copy of the book and any relevant marketing material (assuming there is some).

But they won't review it.

If you send press releases to regional or national news organization they will go unceremoniously into the circular file and you'll have wasted postage.

She could also approach smaller local bookstores and ask them if she can hold a reading/signing and stock a few titles. If you try this at Borders or Barnes and Noble, they won't, but a small indie store might. However, be certain to tell them that she will handle unsold returns personally, and within a given time frame, say 3 months. Have her bring a few dozen copies with her to the reading/signing (that she will, of course, have to pay Authorhouse for in advance and wait for them to print and ship).

Vanity press publishers are a black hole that sucks money from naive writers and offers virtually nothing in return. Also, publishing through a VP will more than likely short circuit her chances from ever getting published through a traditional publishing house (i.e. one that pays them and not the other way around) or from being represented by an agent.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. A BigMcLargeHuge thank you to you! n/t

[Finder]

5. RUN! lol n/t