Complaint Review: Schiel& Denver Publishing Ltd.

     I had finished my book manuscript around July 2011 and did a lot of research on various self-publishing companies.  I eventually narrowed down my final pick to Schiel and Denver.  I got the Maestro Package which was cost me $900 (I eventually during the process added more things such as proof-reading, Amazon Kindle, etc..... which cost me an additinal $1200). 

     There was one charge of $675 they charged me just to change the book size from their 6x9 format to my requested 5x8.  I thought in the contract I could pick my size and no no notified me of such and they went ahead with the changes thus charging me.  As I told them if I had been notified I would have fore gone the added expense and stayed with the 6x9 format.  My editor Brad Hudson was nice about the situation and after pressing him I was able to speak with his boss Todd Wainer who asked what it was that would correct the problem.  I responded with either a partial re-payment or some free books, to this date neither of the two were fulfilled.

     As stated above my editor Brad was great, got back to my calls or e-mails, changed my cover as discussed and various other little matters.  My book was finally completed on December of 2011 and I was quite happy with the outcome and cover.  My main reason for this report is that since this time I haven't been able to contact the company to inquire about my royalties and how many books have been sold.  Every quarter royalty checks are to be sent out, and as of today which is March 11th, 2013 I haven't received one penny, and don't know how many books have been sold (I do know that several family and friends have purchased the book over almost the last year and a-half).  

     I have signed into my author mailbox/system where several e-mails were sent with no response.  I have called the phone number and have left messages with no response  (I did get a secretary once who was suppose to have left a message for Brad but I never did get a call from him).  I have continued to call at different times and most recently keep getting a voice messsage that the phone number is temporarilly disconnected.  

     I was glad to see the recent report by Chuck who seemed to have some of the same problems as I, and if there are others please post.  I hope there is an attorney that would take them on and start a class action suit if there are numerous others that have been betrayed or just ignored.  As Chuck stated in his post authors, writers, and novelist be aware and don't trust this company with your hard work and dreams.