Published on March 7, 2021
author, author scams, book marketing, pod complaints, Print on demand, self-publishing, writing career advice, writing scams
Author Andy was so excited! His new book was finished and he’d just approved his print galley. It was time to start selling books! His publishing company put his book up for sale on their website and sent him the URL where he could send people who wanted to purchase his book.
Andy didn’t have his own website or blog, but he didn’t think that would be a problem. Unfortunately, it was, on several fronts. And, while Andy and the other authors below are fictitious, the scenarios are based on real complaints we’ve received from authors over the years. In every case, had the author had their own website or blog, he or she would have lost few, if any, sales.
Published on February 19, 2021
author scams, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writing scams
They are simply luring in authors, and then upselling them on worthless services.
Published on February 5, 2021
author, author scams, writing career advice, writing scams
Authors must pay more than $1,000 to be included. It costs even more if the author wants his or her name on the cover…
Published on January 13, 2021
promotional pitfalls, self-publishing, writing scams
An author recently asked his webmaster to complete a publishing contract on his behalf (which was, of course, not legally binding). What the author learned later, however, was quite disturbing…
Published on December 31, 2020
author scams, book marketing, book signing advice, bookstores, promotional pitfalls, self-publishing, writing scams
I received an unsolicited phone call from a senior marketing consultant at a company that displays books at book fairs. She said her company was only taking 10 books to a book fair in Europe and they chose mine…
Published on November 5, 2020
author scams, complaints, Complaints about specific publishers, tate, writing scams
PLUS: The Oklahoma Attorney General’s files about Tate Publishing have “mysteriously” vanished in the past week! Why?!
Published on October 29, 2020
amazon, author scams, complaints, Complaints about specific publishers, copyrights, writing scams
“I was able to break the contract before they went out of business. However, my book is still advertised on Amazon Children’s Books, with all of the previous information, pricing, etc…”
Published on October 15, 2020
author scams, specialty markets for writing, writing career advice, writing scams
“In early September, a firm contacted me through LinkedIn, and asked me to submit an article to their online (medical) journal…”
Published on September 17, 2020
author, author scams, book marketing, pod complaints, Print on demand, self-publishing, writing scams
Q – Hi Angela, Is it possible for me to find out about how many of my books have been sold? It was published almost a year ago as an ebook and print book on the major sites. Up to now, according to the publisher, only 1 print book and 2 ebooks had been sold. […]
Published on August 27, 2020
author scams, book marketing, writing career advice, writing scams
First, please know that, if a so-called “publicist” is soliciting business via telemarketing methods, THEY SUCK at what they do…
