Complaint Review: Authorhouse Publishers

Mar 30, 2010:  I just hung up the phone after ending a contract negotiation with Becka Wagman (Director of Maketing) from AuthorHouse in Bloomington, Indiana, on a bad note.  I was trying to negotiate what would have been a $50,000 deal with them to handle everything from the printing and publication to the sales and marketing of my book, leaving virtually no stone unturned in all the features and options they can offer a new author for the publication and promotion of a new book.  However, last night I was perusing the internet and came across this blog and some others about bad service, royalties being lied about and stolen, editing incompetencies, delays in the publication process, mistakes that were being made by AuthorHouse, etc. etc.  So, I copied and pasted four of them which troubled me the most and sent them to Dan Heise (my Marketing Rep) and Kevin Weiss (President and CEO), asking them to clarify some of these things for me, because I didn't want to get into the same situation and have the same kind of things happening to me.  Much to my surprise, I received a response back from Kevin at 10:00 last night telling me the following: 

David in a nut shell I think that you should take another route for publishing your book. We would not have become the worlds leader in self-publishing by cheating people out of royalties! It is ridiculous. We do not cheat people period.  

He never answered any of the other questions I listed, but simply told me to go somewhere else with my project.  I responded this way: 

Kevin, I suppose that is okay.  If it easier for you to tell me to take my business somewhere else than to try to clarify these things for me as I requested in my last e-mail, then I suppose I would rather work with a publisher who was interested in communicating with me than telling me to go somewhere else anyway.

This morning I received another call from Becka Wagman (Director of Marketing), as I don't think she was aware of the fact that Kevin had already told me to take my business somewhere else, but had simply spoken to my Marketing Rep, Dan Heise.  I told her that this entire thing could be cleared up by simply giving me a few references from some other authors who had spent approximately the same amount of money I was and were happy with their services.  If I could simply talk to some people who have invested heavily and had a good experience with AuthorHouse, we could probably clear this whole thing up and move forward.

She told me to read the testimonials on their website, because that's what they were intended for.  I responded that testimonials were easy to reproduce and in fact, I had already been scammed once before for several thousands of dollars by another company who had wonderful testimonials posted all over their website.  What I needed was real references from real people who have already invested in AuthorHouse's services and were happy with what they got.  If she could provide a few references for me to talk to, then we could probably move forward in spite of the issues that were outlined in my previous e-mail. 

She refused to do that and told me very clearly that they cannot and will not take the time to try to meet that kind of request.  It really surprised me.  To think that a company would ask a person to make a $50,000 investment and refuse to present even one quality reference for their services is completely unbelievable.  But that is what happened and there was no way to move past their refusal to present a few references for me to talk to.  So, the negotiation process ended right there.

What became clear is that their, "don't care about the author, only about their money, attitude," resonates from the CEO all the way down to the rank and file in their organization.  I cant help but believe they are either hiding something or all the negative press you are reading about them on the internet really is true.  In my case, they wanted me to sign a $50,000 contract without asking any questions or talking to any references, and simply take it on blind faith that they were going to deliver on their promises.  I dont think anyone should do that, so my advice is to test the waters and see for yourself if this is true before you sign a contract with them.  Ask for some references.  My guess is that if they werent willing to provide them for someone who was willing to invest $50,000 in their organization, they certainly arent going to do it for someone who is looking to invest less than ten.

I'm sorry to have to say that I don't believe in "Joe" or his rebuttal. I've worked with writers (published and unpublished) for many years, and I've never met one of them who'd had a run-in with AuthorHouse and was happy about it afterward.

AuthorHouse misrepresents their services, giving writers the impression that they'll will put real work into selling their books. That doesn't happen. The work AH does on the book itself is minimal and slipshod at all stages, as likely to damage the book as help it along. Also, they don't just charge authors to publish their books; they don't always give the authors the copies they've paid to publish.

Worst of all, AuthorHouse tells authors that the way they do business is standard publishing practice (which is absolutely untrue), and miresthem in hopelessly ineffectual promotional schemes to sell their unsaleable books. The authors wind up wasting all their time and energy on book promotion, instead of working on their writing, and submitting their work to real agents and publishers.

Writer Beware, which is one of the best-respected sites offering advice and warnings to aspiring authors, has put AuthorHouse on their short and very select Worst Publishers List. That isn't just a matter of their opinion. Writer Beware comes up with the names on their list by counting the number of complaints each publisher has received. AuthorHouse richly deserves its place there.

I am an author who has published two books with Authorhouse (the first book was when the company was called 1stbooks).

I was pleased with the product and services and received exactly what I was expecting, and even beyond, when I was presented with the final product. My books still sell on Amazon and other online bookstores. I do get a small royalty which depends upon the royalty agreement that the author agrees to. I preferred to go between medium to low to keep the price of the book down.

I was impressed with the graphics team whom with I did a conference call to discuss the look of my book. I was very pleased and had carefully chosen my options to get the best deal. Since I did not expect Authorhouse to market my book, other than send out press releases, I was not let down. I had sent their press release to my local papers, etc. and got some attention that way. I very carefully chose my package options and asked many questions which where honestly and promptly answered.

True, this is vanity publishing. But more people have read my books than before now, even if it's a only 100 people; still better than just me. My satisfaction is that my ideas are now a actual product, with a Library of Congress number and listed in book buyers catalogs (these are packages, you decide). I can also market my books and send them off for review. Being unknown; it is a challenge. As a result, I was asked to speak at an elementary school when they had an art & literature day.

I think some people might have gone in with unrealistic expectations. I can't say for sure. Considering that I am virtually unknown, I could be doing worse. I managed to get my book out in the most frugal way, something I would not have been able to do 20 years ago. Sure, you can spend $3,000.00 for a $6,000.00 ad in the New York Times. Authorhouse does offer that, but I did not because I don't believe it would have made much difference.

I am an author who has published two books with Authorhouse (the first book was when the company was called 1stbooks).

I was pleased with the product and services and received exactly what I was expecting, and even beyond, when I was presented with the final product. My books still sell on Amazon and other online bookstores. I do get a small royalty which depends upon the royalty agreement that the author agrees to. I preferred to go between medium to low to keep the price of the book down.

I was impressed with the graphics team whom with I did a conference call to discuss the look of my book. I was very pleased and had carefully chosen my options to get the best deal. Since I did not expect Authorhouse to market my book, other than send out press releases, I was not let down. I had sent their press release to my local papers, etc. and got some attention that way. I very carefully chose my package options and asked many questions which where honestly and promptly answered.

True, this is vanity publishing. But more people have read my books than before now, even if it's a only 100 people; still better than just me. My satisfaction is that my ideas are now a actual product, with a Library of Congress number and listed in book buyers catalogs (these are packages, you decide). I can also market my books and send them off for review. Being unknown; it is a challenge. As a result, I was asked to speak at an elementary school when they had an art & literature day.

I think some people might have gone in with unrealistic expectations. I can't say for sure. Considering that I am virtually unknown, I could be doing worse. I managed to get my book out in the most frugal way, something I would not have been able to do 20 years ago. Sure, you can spend $3,000.00 for a $6,000.00 ad in the New York Times. Authorhouse does offer that, but I did not because I don't believe it would have made much difference.

I am an author who has published two books with Authorhouse (the first book was when the company was called 1stbooks).

I was pleased with the product and services and received exactly what I was expecting, and even beyond, when I was presented with the final product. My books still sell on Amazon and other online bookstores. I do get a small royalty which depends upon the royalty agreement that the author agrees to. I preferred to go between medium to low to keep the price of the book down.

I was impressed with the graphics team whom with I did a conference call to discuss the look of my book. I was very pleased and had carefully chosen my options to get the best deal. Since I did not expect Authorhouse to market my book, other than send out press releases, I was not let down. I had sent their press release to my local papers, etc. and got some attention that way. I very carefully chose my package options and asked many questions which where honestly and promptly answered.

True, this is vanity publishing. But more people have read my books than before now, even if it's a only 100 people; still better than just me. My satisfaction is that my ideas are now a actual product, with a Library of Congress number and listed in book buyers catalogs (these are packages, you decide). I can also market my books and send them off for review. Being unknown; it is a challenge. As a result, I was asked to speak at an elementary school when they had an art & literature day.

I think some people might have gone in with unrealistic expectations. I can't say for sure. Considering that I am virtually unknown, I could be doing worse. I managed to get my book out in the most frugal way, something I would not have been able to do 20 years ago. Sure, you can spend $3,000.00 for a $6,000.00 ad in the New York Times. Authorhouse does offer that, but I did not because I don't believe it would have made much difference.

I am an author who has published two books with Authorhouse (the first book was when the company was called 1stbooks).

I was pleased with the product and services and received exactly what I was expecting, and even beyond, when I was presented with the final product. My books still sell on Amazon and other online bookstores. I do get a small royalty which depends upon the royalty agreement that the author agrees to. I preferred to go between medium to low to keep the price of the book down.

I was impressed with the graphics team whom with I did a conference call to discuss the look of my book. I was very pleased and had carefully chosen my options to get the best deal. Since I did not expect Authorhouse to market my book, other than send out press releases, I was not let down. I had sent their press release to my local papers, etc. and got some attention that way. I very carefully chose my package options and asked many questions which where honestly and promptly answered.

True, this is vanity publishing. But more people have read my books than before now, even if it's a only 100 people; still better than just me. My satisfaction is that my ideas are now a actual product, with a Library of Congress number and listed in book buyers catalogs (these are packages, you decide). I can also market my books and send them off for review. Being unknown; it is a challenge. As a result, I was asked to speak at an elementary school when they had an art & literature day.

I think some people might have gone in with unrealistic expectations. I can't say for sure. Considering that I am virtually unknown, I could be doing worse. I managed to get my book out in the most frugal way, something I would not have been able to do 20 years ago. Sure, you can spend $3,000.00 for a $6,000.00 ad in the New York Times. Authorhouse does offer that, but I did not because I don't believe it would have made much difference.