Complaint Review: Publish America - Frederic Maryland

Authors from all over the world are being victimized by Publish America LLLP Maryland. In numerous letters written to the Maryland authorities, including but not limited to the District Attorney's Office, State's Attorney, The Better Business Bureau, the Commissioners Office of Frederick, The Attorney General's Office, The Federal Trade Commission, and the Maryland Consumer Affairs Department, the writers' requests for an investigation into this massive scam perpetrated by Publish America were ignored. Despite an international petition offering not only the signatures of numerous victims, but also offers of documentation, evidence and testimony concerning the illegal activities of Publish America. Victimized authors are at a loss of where to turn for help.

In October 2002 I signed a contract with Publish America agreeing to allow them to publish my novel. It was a mistake not to seek legal advice before signing but I liked what they had to say. Dragon's New Home was released May 2003, so I didn't expect much from the royalty check that August. The second check in February was also small. But the advertising and reviews I arranged had been just been released.

However, when the August 2004 check was even smaller after all the promotions, interviews and good reviews I received I began to question. I did some research and was able to prove I sold more books than I was paid for.

Publish America promotes itself as a traditional publisher, yet its business practices are more like a POD or vanity press. It denies it a Print on Demand, while claiming that POD is the future of publishing.

While traditional publishers do most of the marketing, PA authors are responsible for their own advertising, promotion, finding reviewers and for placing their books in brick and mortar stores. PA promotion is limited to having the author make out a list of friends and family, which PA uses to send out order forms. In addition Publish America's policies of paying at the time of the order and no return make it difficult for their author's to find placement.

Although they will list them on their online shops, independent bookstores and major chains refuse to stock their books because of both policies. PA also prefers and actively encourages their authors to buy their own books and resell them, which is contrary to most traditional publishers' policies. However it is financially beneficial for PA to do so; selling to the authors nets PA a minimum of 20% more per book. Even when an author does arrange for placement, PA makes ordering difficult and delays shipment.

Authors who ask questions are harassed and subject to personal attack. According to the contract, authors are entitled to a full accounting of royalties. However, it is not given at the time of payment and nor will PA sent the information. Instead authors are told they may view the information at their office in Maryland. To quote an email from PA, Let us know when you request to appear, with giving us at least seven business days notice, and we will give you directions at that time.

Many authors have questioned the accounting practices of PA; their questions have been ignored or dismissed as ignorance of the publishing business. The 30, 60, 90-day payment practice of traditional publishers does not apply to PA due to their immediate payment and no return policies. According to Ingram, their major distributor, they give PA a complete accounting of every book sold through them monthly.

By industry standards, PA editing is poorly done, the books are over priced, their art is amateurish and their business practices are questionable. They promote themselves as traditional, but what they are in fact is an author mill with an estimated 10,000 authors contracted to them. They treat their authors with contempt and do not support the books they publish.

I have three reasons for contacting you. I want Dragon's New Home to be released, all royalties to be paid, and other authors to be warned about Publish America's business practices. I believe you can help me with both goals.

Contacts for PublishAmerica

(240) 529-1031

Miranda Prather, Executive Director

Willem Meiners, President

Street address: 230 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD

Mailing address: P. O. Box 151 Frederick, MD 21701

Theresa

Traverse City, Michigan
U.S.A.

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!