The Newer Never-Ending PublishAmerica / America Star Books Thread

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan
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I hope some of them find it odd why any publisher (nevermind Random House) would reprint a book that's already under contract and 'published'?
 

circlexranch

Terri Coop has been known to write
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Hey PA Authors, for a limited time only!

When I was in college, my physics professor was Tom Hanks' cousin. Yes, it is absolutely true! So, send me two books and I will send them onto Professor Hanks and he will see that Big Tom gets them at the next family reunion.

Avoid the publicist and the secretaries and all those pesky people who might just throw those packages in the trash. I happen to know that Professor Hanks doesn't have a secretary (cuz I've been in his office), so your package will go into his 'IN' box.
-----------------------------------------------

Okay, the part about my physics professor being a cousin of Tom Hanks is TRUE

Okay, the part about my having been in his office is TRUE (usually begging for more time to finish a project)

However, let me say that this was sarcasm. Please don't send me books . . . I won't send them to Prof Hanks. I like Prof Hanks and believe he liked me (I got good grades in Optics anyway), I'd like to keep it that way!

::Shaking head in disbelief::
 

James D. Macdonald

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If you can find a cheesy "testimonials" page on the Random House site, I will line edit your book and write a glowing letter of recommendation, complete with cover quotes.

Gee, Gil!

http://careers.randomhouse.com/Inte...-Programs/Testimonials-of-Summer-Interns.html

http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/tenspeed/job-hunters-resource-center/index.php?page=testimonials

http://www.randomhouse.com/sylvanlearningbookstore/info.php?page=testimonials

I'm working on a book right now!

I'll let you know when it's ready for a line-edit.
 

Gillhoughly

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:Hail: YOU WIN, UNCLE JIM!

:Hail: YOUR GOOGLE-FU IS SUPERIOR GOOGLE-FU.


And it would be my pleasure, though I don't expect you'd need much in the way of editing. OTOH, I'd get to read your book way ahead of everyone else!
icon10.gif
 

TheTinCat

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Random House, Inc. does not accept unsolicited submissions, proposals, manuscripts, or submission queries via e-mail at this time.

Well at least that part won't be a problem, as I doubt PA will send them anything anyway.
 

merrihiatt

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I received my 1099 in the mail today from PA. I received a whopping $10.19 in 2009 in royalties. I believe I am in the company of many PA authors who received the same, or even less, in royalties.

PA lurkers, you and your book deserve so much more!

Oh, and I thought I'd note PA's mailing address on the 1099:

PublishAmerica, L.L.L.P.
PO Box 151
Frederick, MD 21705-0151
 

ResearchGuy

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I hope some of them find it odd why any publisher (nevermind Random House) would reprint a book that's already under contract and 'published'?
While it is extraordinarily improbable for a vanity-published book (PA for example), it is not particularly odd otherwise. A book I know well was first published by a very small, regional commercial press, and then a far larger independent NY publisher (Soho) bought the rights to publish a new edition, and promptly did so. Not a "reprint," though -- a redesigned, newly typeset edition with photographs added, new cover, new title.

Dover Publications specializes in republishing out-of-print books.

Etc. The only question for a publisher is whether the book looks like a profitable venture that fits into the publisher's catalog.

--Ken
 

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan
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Oh that I could see. It's just that some of the PA authors (before the Random House threads got zapped) were under the impression they would be reprints.
 

James D. Macdonald

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Dover's an odd duck in a lot of ways. All of their books are reprints, often of public-domain works. And ... their books are non-returnable.

But they're republishing standard texts, where the bookstore has a good idea how many will sell, month after month and year after year. And, they're sold at an incredible discount.
 

narcolepticgi

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Random House promotion-PA

Your Book Published By Random House?‏
From:<IMG id=P___1722525687 style="DISPLAY: none" webimdisplayStyle="inline"> PublishAmerica Author Support Team ([email protected]) Sent:Tue 2/23/10 11:35 AMTo: [email protected] ([email protected])
Dear Author:

PublishAmerica will submit your book to Random House!

Random House, the publishing company? Yes. We're submitting your book to the world's most famous publisher so they get a chance to read it and see if they want your book.

Every writer dreams about becoming a published author. Once they have reached that goal, as you have, many dream of the next step up: to become a Random House author. Random House is one of the most prestigious publishing names. Their extensive operation a few miles from our own headquarters makes them virtual neighbors.

We will submit not one, but up to five copies of your book to Random House's acquisition editors, so that they can also pass the book around their imprints if they want. They may do anything they choose with the books. We will alert you immediately if Random House shows interest, and in that case we will do everything we can to ensure a smooth transition. Since PublishAmerica is not affiliated with Random House or its owner Bertelsmann, we would totally share in your pride.

Here's how we do it:

If you want to have books on hand, order now, and we will donate up to five copies
to Random House. And you receive a 50 pct discount!


Go to www.publishamerica.net, find your book, click on it, then add to cart, indicate quantity, and use this coupon: Random50. Then click Recalculate and finish the transaction. Minimum volume is 10 copies.


By using the coupon you are authorizing us to donate the books to Random House.
You may also request that we ship five FREE books to you instead.


Full-color and hardcovers excluded. Offer expires this weekend on Sunday night.


Thank you,
PublishAmerica Author Support Team:rant:



 

circlexranch

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Their extensive operation a few miles from our own headquarters makes them virtual neighbors.

Neighbors? Maybe in the alphabet . . . probably not a lot of 'Q' entries.

Maybe Random has a warehouse or distribution center nearby, there is a legit legal publisher across from PA . . .

I have this vision of a PA intern trundling boxes of books on a handcart to the front door, ringing the bell and running . . . .
 

Kweei

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If Random House is being named now, can they come back and make a statement against PA? Or is it not worth their time?
 

IceCreamEmpress

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If Random House is being named now, can they come back and make a statement against PA? Or is it not worth their time?

Alleging what? That they don't want the books, and aren't going to read them? PA carefully doesn't say that anyone at RH is going to read the books; they just say that PA will send them.

And RH will send them back unopened or throw them into the trash unopened.

I mean, if they send them. If they don't send them, then maybe someone has the basis for a fraud action. But if they do send them, then there's no basis for a fraud action--they did what they said they would do, even though what they say they're going to do is completely pointless and will only annoy the mailroom folks at RH.
 

CatSlave

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Random House has a distribution center/warehouse in Westminster, MD which is northwest of Baltimore.

Not exactly cheek-to-jowl with Frederick, MD.
 

IceCreamEmpress

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Yes, good point CatSlave! The RH distribution center is 30+ miles away from PublishAmerica's evil headquarters. THEY'RE NEIGHBORS!

And the folks who work there are absolute sweethearts to deal with. They're aces at shipping and inventory and problem-solving around fulfillment of orders.

But there is absolutely nobody there who has any connection to editorial in any way. (As you and everyone else on the thread already knew, I'm sure!)