- Almost every print on demand publisher takes all rights to their authors’ files. (BookLocker does NOT.)
- Publishers are going belly-up in staggering numbers. Their authors don’t have copies of their files and their books can no longer be sold.
- Authors are getting smart, and demanding the rights to their production files UP FRONT!
- WritersWeekly’s Author Service Center connects authors with creative professionals who have agreed to give authors ALL RIGHTS to their files.
- DO NOT pay your publisher for cover design, editing, illustrating, or anything that THEY will own later!
Just a short note this week. I’m waaaaay behind because I’ve been finalizing WritersWeekly’s Author Service Center. We are connecting authors with creative professionals in the publishing industry who give those authors ALL RIGHTS to their files. Our competitors are NOT happy that we have launched this service!
Since print on demand publishers and publishing service providers are going out of business in staggering numbers, we are offering authors the opportunity to take complete control of their books.
BEFORE PRINT ON DEMAND PUBLISHERS STARTED TO TANK…
Many years ago, the only problem associated with your publisher owning your production files was the time and expense associated with moving your book to another publisher or printer. Most publishers back then would happily “sell” your production files to you…for a few hundred or thousand dollars (on top of the fees you already paid them to create those files). Almost every firm still in business charges authors exorbitant fees for their production files (BookLocker does NOT), or refuses to give up the files altogether.
THINGS ARE EVEN WORSE NOW!
However, when a publisher abruptly closes their doors, which is happening more and more, those authors don’t even have the opportunity to purchase those files. Tate Publishing is one example. They abruptly closed, and offered to sell the production files to their authors. But, they got into trouble for that (they allegedly told some authors their files would be destroyed if they didn’t buy them). Also, the “contract” associated with that file purchase prohibited the authors from suing Tate later. Tate then simply stopped responding to requests for files. They were arrested, and are currently awaiting trial on several felony counts.
THIS ARTICLE details 23 other publishers that have gone belly-up.
Some publishers won’t sell (or give) the files to their authors at all, even if they do go out of business. Perhaps they think they can sell those books and contracts to another company…but that isn’t likely happen. Eventually, they disappear altogether.
Authors of defunct publishers are left with no files, and no book to sell. If they want to get their book back on the market, they must pay for everything all over again – editing, cover design, interior formatting, illustrations, etc., etc. And, unfortunately, they may find themselves in the exact same spot a year or two down the road if their new publisher goes belly-up as well.
In recognition of this growing (sinking?) trend in the industry, we created the WritersWeekly Author Service Center where you can hire creative professionals who have all agreed, via a contract with WritersWeekly, to give authors ALL RIGHTS to the files they create, including (of course) copies of those files to use at any publisher or printer they choose in the future.
That means these authors never need to give up any rights to a publisher in the future, and they can quickly move to a new publisher or printer if their publisher bites the dust, stops paying royalties, has a decline in quality or customer service, or raises their book prices beyond what the market will bear.
WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONALS for the WritersWeekly Author Service Center:
- Audiobook Creators
- Illustrators
- Artists
- Ghostwriters
- Book Trailer Creators
- Audiobook Creators
- Website Designers
- Translators (multiple languages)
You can apply RIGHT HERE.
We have a stringent screening process, requiring several work samples and references, which will be checked. And, remember, you must agree to assign all rights of the finished product to the author who hires you through WritersWeekly’s Author Service Center.
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WritersWeekly’s Author Service Center
Freelance Editors We Highly Recommend
Original Cover Design at a FANTASTIC PRICE!
Got questions about Print On Demand and Self-publishing? Ask Angela Hoy.
About The Author
Angela Hoy is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the author of 19 books, and the co-owner of BookLocker.com (one of the original POD publishers that still gets books to market in less than a month), PubPreppers.com (print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish), and Abuzz Press (the publishing co-op that charges no setup fees).
Angela has lived and traveled across the U.S. with her kids in an RV, settled in a river-side home in Bradenton, FL, and lived on a 52 ft Irwin sailboat. Angela now resides on a mountaintop in Northwest Georgia, where she plans to spend the rest of her days bird watching, gardening, hiking, and taking in all of the amazing sunrises.
WritersWeekly.com - the free marketing ezine for writers, which features new paying markets and freelance job listings every Wednesday.
BookLocker.com - According to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is: "As close to perfection as you're going to find in the world of ebook and POD publishing. The ebook royalties are the highest I've ever seen, and the print royalties are better than average. BookLocker understands what new authors experience, and have put together a package that is the best in the business. You can't go wrong here. Plus, they're selective and won't publish any manuscript just because it's accompanied by a check. Also, the web site is well trafficked. If you can find a POD or epublisher with as much integrity and dedication to selling authors' books, but with lower POD publishing fees, please let me know."
Abuzz Press offers FAST and FREE book publication, but only accepts a small percentage of submissions, and only works with U.S. authors.
PubPreppers.com - "We Prep, You Publish!" Print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish. Offers formatting and design services only, and then provides simple instructions for authors on where to sign up to have the print and ebook editions printed/listed/sold. Cut out the middle man. Keep 100% of what bookstores pay for your book!
Angela's POD Secrets Revealed Series can be found HERE.
Have a POD Book with another publisher? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. (BookLocker offers "disgruntled author discounts" to those who want to move from other POD services.)
See BookLocker's publishing packages HERE.
ANGELA ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/AngelaHoy
BOOKLOCKER ON FACEBOOK - Provides links to free excerpts!
https://www.facebook.com/booklockerbooks
ANGELA ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/angela.hoy.750
ANGELA ON LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahoy/
Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/
Read More Of Angela's Articles HERE
How wonderful that you are offering this service. I compliment you for requiring such a comprehensive screening process.