The Newer Never-Ending PublishAmerica / America Star Books Thread

Scribe4264 · Feb 6, 2012

PVish said:
One attendee posted pictures of PA's convention in his FB album here.

He's published two books (100 pages, 90 pages) with PA.

What a waste of an Ivy League education.......

twm · Feb 6, 2012

What's the difference between a "director of operations" in the picture and an executive director (Prather)?

Gillhoughly · Feb 6, 2012

Prather can't be fired?

She knows where the bodies are buried and that her chances of finding employment elsewhere in publishing (considering her attitude and lack of skill with English) are slim to none.

Sirion · Feb 6, 2012

Scribe4264 said:
The comments the guy posted with each photo would depress a hyenas.

This mad me smile... in a sad way. Somehow.

Scribe4264 · Feb 6, 2012

Gillhoughly said:
Prather can't be fired?

She knows where the bodies are buried and that her chances of finding employment elsewhere in publishing (considering her attitude and lack of skill with English) are slim to none.

Not to mention that little incident in New Mexico....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_Prather

With that little bit of history on her resume I damn sure wouldn't hire her to mop the floor, much less anything else, if I were still working in the news biz or at a publishing firm.

PulpDogg · Feb 7, 2012

PVish said:
One attendee posted pictures of PA's convention in his FB album here.

Wow ... this is just sad. I only heard about PA after I joined here and I am still baffled that they can continue doing business. Why is nobody able to involve authorities and shut them down?

Don't answer ... it was a rhetorical question ... kind of.

DeadlyAccurate · Feb 7, 2012

Would someone mind giving a brief description of those pics for those of us without a Facebook account? When I click the link, it doesn't allow me to see the pics.

ResearchGuy · Feb 7, 2012

PulpDogg said:
. . . Don't answer ... it was a rhetorical question . . . .

Good, because the question has been asked and answered to death on these threads for years.

--Ken

Stacia Kane · Feb 7, 2012

DeadlyAccurate said:
Would someone mind giving a brief description of those pics for those of us without a Facebook account? When I click the link, it doesn't allow me to see the pics.

A bunch of pictures of PA authors sitting at round tables in a small conference room, looking at (presumably) a stage. A few blurry shots of speakers on that stage. A few shots of the Facebook profile owner with his "Literary Agent and Cover Designer," who is wearing an untucked white PA-logo polo shirt and plain black pants. A few shots of Willem's wife giving a "motivational speech." A few shots of the famous helicopter, and one of Willem's wife boarding her helicopter. Willem's signature in the "Why We Wrote" book.

I think that was it. I can't bear to look at them again, they make me too sad.

Gillhoughly · Feb 7, 2012

PulpDogg, Like any cockroach, they operate in the cracks. They hate us because we turn on the lights and try to keep the food out of their reach.

Unless they personally tick off someone with enough clout to shut them down (I'm rooting for the IRS) they will keep misleading people into thinking they're a legit publisher.

What they do is not illegal. While it's filled with author hostile crap, no one is forced to sign the contract.

No one forces the writers to buy their own books at an inflated price or pay for those useless and increasingly silly promotional schemes.

That's why, when an angry, soon-to-be ex-PA writer figures out she's been had, PA smugly says "Read the contract."

What we say is, "Read the contract, then run like hell."

Scribe4264 · Feb 7, 2012

Stacia Kane said:
A bunch of pictures of PA authors sitting at round tables in a small conference room, looking at (presumably) a stage. A few blurry shots of speakers on that stage. A few shots of the Facebook profile owner with his "Literary Agent and Cover Designer," who is wearing an untucked white PA-logo polo shirt and plain black pants. A few shots of Willem's wife giving a "motivational speech." A few shots of the famous helicopter, and one of Willem's wife boarding her helicopter. Willem's signature in the "Why We Wrote" book.

I think that was it. I can't bear to look at them again, they make me too sad.

The captions the guy wrote to go along with them are even sadder. Some examples:

"Powerhouse Alice Meiners giving an inspirational speech at the PA Convention, 2012. — at Hagley Museum and Library."

"Pilot Alice Meiners gives an inspiring speech on her experience as an aviator, and the pursue of one's purpose in life without doubting while always taking the risk. — at Hagley Museum and Library."

"PA Director of Operations, Bryan Winfrey, gives a detailed break-down of the publishing process and its channels, at traditional publishing houses such as PublishAmerica, followed by a Q&A session. — at Hagley Museum and Library."

Traditional publishing houses such as PublishAmerica?????

Pardon me, my lunch is coming back up....

vomit-boy01-vomit--sick-smiley-emoticon-000652-large.gif

Gillhoughly · Feb 7, 2012

Okay, it's sad, but remember that the author of those captions is going to feel picked on (at the least) by the posts here. How would you feel if a bunch of strangers made comments on work of which you're proud?

The writer does not know that PA is not a commercial publisher in the sense that the rest of the industry understands. So far, they're just great. That may change when there are no book sales.

But he or she won't be compelled to listen to anyone here if all they see is people putting down their FB posts.

Trash PA all you want, they deserve it, feel badly for the writers, they don't deserve the likes of PA, but let's not harsh on them or their words.

Scribe4264 · Feb 7, 2012

Gillhoughly said:
Okay, it's sad, but remember that the author of those captions is going to feel picked on (at the least) by the posts here. How would you feel if a bunch of strangers made comments on work of which you're proud?

The writer does not know that PA is not a commercial publisher in the sense that the rest of the industry understands. So far, they're just great. That may change when there are no book sales.

But he or she won't be compelled to listen to anyone here if all they see is people putting down their FB posts.

Trash PA all you want, they deserve it, feel badly for the writers, they don't deserve the likes of PA, but let's not harsh on them or their words.

I hear you. But that dude needs to lay off the PA kool-aid.

Gillhoughly · Feb 7, 2012

He has to find his own way. If he comes here, we celebrate.

James D. Macdonald · Feb 7, 2012

There have been warnings about PublishAmerica since 2003, at least. I'm certain there were earlier ones, but don't have the links easily to hand (if the discussion boards even exist any more).

PVish · Feb 8, 2012

In PA's "author interview" from the recent convention—posted on their website and on You-Tube, they're careful not to show much of the crowd (or maybe lack thereof) on the video. And they don't ask any in-depth questions to the few authors being interviewed.

Don Davidson · Feb 8, 2012

PVish said:
In PA's "author interview" from the recent convention—posted on their website and on You-Tube, they're careful not to show much of the crowd (or maybe lack thereof) on the video. And they don't ask any in-depth questions to the few authors being interviewed.

Argh!!! That is so sad watching these people tell their stories and their dreams for their book, knowing their dreams are soon to be crushed by PA.

It's like watching someone falling off a cliff. You know this won't end well, even if they don't. But what can you do? :Shrug:

PulpDogg · Feb 9, 2012

James D. Macdonald said:
There have been warnings about PublishAmerica since 2003, at least. I'm certain there were earlier ones, but don't have the links easily to hand (if the discussion boards even exist any more).

This is what baffles me ... This goes back so many years and is still going on.

But yeah ... rhetorical and all. I am just glad I'll never end up in their clutches ...

Scribe4264 · Feb 9, 2012

PulpDogg said:
This is what baffles me ... This goes back so many years and is still going on.

But yeah ... rhetorical and all. I am just glad I'll never end up in their clutches ...

Yep. I just wish I'd had dug a little deeper into PA before I signed that thrice-accursed contact in 2006. At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel (328 days until PA Freedom Day

)

I feel sorry for the ones that are still getting sucked in and will have to wait seven years to break free.

Sirion · Feb 9, 2012

Gillhoughly said:
Some of those people are not lazy, irresponsible or stupid, just inexperienced.

They type in "book publishers" and up come links to the Big Six. Those sites keep the "submission guidelines" links in the fine print, so most miss them. If they can find them, they discover they have to have an agent. They've heard agents can be dishonest and that the best of them take money for doing nothing, so let's keep moving.

What's up next will be the vanity houses--yikes, they want money to publish!

And then there's PA with its flag waving promise that they will pay writers. Words like "traditional" and "old fashioned" are carefully calculated to reassure them and hey, look at ALL the Christian books in their store! All their books are available to stores and they're not a POD, whatever that is.

The target market misses the red flags, falls for the sales pitch and bookmarks the page. No need to google them, just hit the bookmark link.

A few might do a search about the company--often after they've signed the contract.

So, no, not all of them are stupid, they just don't know any better. When you think you have to pay to publish then PA starts looking like a godsend. And everyone knows that once you get a book into print that you'll get instantly rich.

Yup, PA wants them to think that. In the meantime Willie is probably still shopping for yachts, Miranda has a racehorse to feed and board and I suppose Larry is busy stuffing a mattress with cash he'd rather the IRS never finds.

PA reminds me of one of those Nigerian 419 scams. Something that, with enough research, most people would be able to avert--but, like coming into a large sum of money, the idea of getting published by a 'traditional' publisher overwhelms the skepticism of an otherwise reasonable writer.

And even after decades of the 419 scams, they still manage to swindle people out of their money.

PVish · Feb 10, 2012

PA has posted another video of the convention here. However, other than the music soundtrack, there's no sound. But there are several speakers shown speaking. And some people shown sitting. It doesn't seem like there was a big turnout.

DaveKuzminski · Feb 10, 2012

Wonder if everyone profited or only PA?

amergina · Feb 10, 2012

Looks like there were twelve tables or eight, so 96 seats, if all were taken.

agentpaper · Feb 10, 2012

Did anyone else notice how they're holding ANOTHER convention in March in NC? Really? What convention is held once a month?

James D. Macdonald · Feb 10, 2012

DaveKuzminski said:
Wonder if everyone profited or only PA?

You need to wonder?

The Newer Never-Ending PublishAmerica / America Star Books Thread

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