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Since it seems one of the reasons people sign with PublishAmerica is ignorance of how publishing works, perhaps it would be worthwhile to put together a page of what a newcomer can expect from a publishing company. Topics could include: advances and royalties, editing, and promotion.
There could already be such a page out there. If so, could someone point it out? I just recently updated my Newbie Writer's Resource Page to include information about scams with a link to here and other sites but I'm always looking for other links of interest.
Since it seems one of the reasons people sign with PublishAmerica is ignorance of how publishing works, perhaps it would be worthwhile to put together a page of what a newcomer can expect from a publishing company. Topics could include: advances and royalties, editing, and promotion.
There could already be such a page out there. If so, could someone point it out? I just recently updated my Newbie Writer's Resource Page to include information about scams with a link to here and other sites but I'm always looking for other links of interest.
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Re: Wow,...outselling P.A.'s best.
(p.s. hey, James, you've got your work cut out for you, the index is still at page 210)
Don't remind me. The original purpose of that index was to make it easier for the reporters to find some of the better discussions. In less than a month, nearly 100 more pages... wow.
You know, I'm doing the whole Author thing with Atlanta Nights, repeatedly checking the stats, hoping that it does well ... even though I know it's a dreadful book, it's already served its purpose, and I only wrote a little part of it. That's part of what makes PA's scam so powerful. Authors love their books.
For our new friends from <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25187-2005Jan20.html" target="_new">PublishAmerica</a>, welcome. Look around. Not just at this thread, but at the whole board. This really is a place for writing discussions. Right now, while you're angry with PA, it's also time to write a new, better book and take it to a legitimate publisher. You've all accomplished something rare: You've finished a book. Now do it again, using what you learned from the first experience to improve your craft.
(p.s. hey, James, you've got your work cut out for you, the index is still at page 210)
Don't remind me. The original purpose of that index was to make it easier for the reporters to find some of the better discussions. In less than a month, nearly 100 more pages... wow.
You know, I'm doing the whole Author thing with Atlanta Nights, repeatedly checking the stats, hoping that it does well ... even though I know it's a dreadful book, it's already served its purpose, and I only wrote a little part of it. That's part of what makes PA's scam so powerful. Authors love their books.
For our new friends from <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25187-2005Jan20.html" target="_new">PublishAmerica</a>, welcome. Look around. Not just at this thread, but at the whole board. This really is a place for writing discussions. Right now, while you're angry with PA, it's also time to write a new, better book and take it to a legitimate publisher. You've all accomplished something rare: You've finished a book. Now do it again, using what you learned from the first experience to improve your craft.
Atlanta Nights
One reason I selected Atlanta was because my sole acquaintance with the city has been changing planes there. (At one time I also used a wordprocessor called "PeachWrite," from Peachtree Software.)
Among the many other traps ... the legal department at any real publisher would question naming a software company "Lucent."
I might as well own up ... Chapters 2 and 34 are mine.
Ooooh! Didja know that if I order 100 copies of
<a href="http://www.lulu.com/travis-tea" target="_new">Atlanta Nights</a> I can get it in hardback? Oooh! Oooh!
In the course of the book Bruce Lucent appears as white, black, and oriental. Isadore Trent appears as both male and female. Chapters are duplicated (in two different ways!). Chapters are out of order. Chapters are missing. The writing is bad throughout. This is word soup. Go buy a copy!
<a href="http://www.lulu.com/commerce/addreg.php?fBuyContent=102550">
<img src="http://www.lulu.com/themes/common/images/icons/buynow_blue2.gif" border="0" alt="Buy my stuff at Lulu!">
</a>
Y'know the one thing that bothers me? I'm worried that now the True Believers will start saying, "Look at that bobblehead Jim Macdonald! He's one of those POD authors; he had to get "published" at Lulu.com! Not like us Traditionally Published folks, no sir!"
And now, sob, sigh, I'm one of the naysayers who was turned down by PA. The cliche. Oh, the sorrow! Can I live with the shame? Maybe if the book were better, and I were willing to promote it, PA would have bought it. Do you think?
(Oh -- one more thing. You can add me to the list of successful authors who self-published. Back when I was young, I put together a songbook. A typewriter, a Xerox machine, a saddle stapler. Even used heavier paper for the cover (with my own original artwork on it). Sold 'em for a buck apiece. Sold 'em all (though I think I have a copy around the house here somewhere). So there you have it. Self publishing is the True Path!)
One reason I selected Atlanta was because my sole acquaintance with the city has been changing planes there. (At one time I also used a wordprocessor called "PeachWrite," from Peachtree Software.)
Among the many other traps ... the legal department at any real publisher would question naming a software company "Lucent."
I might as well own up ... Chapters 2 and 34 are mine.
Ooooh! Didja know that if I order 100 copies of
<a href="http://www.lulu.com/travis-tea" target="_new">Atlanta Nights</a> I can get it in hardback? Oooh! Oooh!
In the course of the book Bruce Lucent appears as white, black, and oriental. Isadore Trent appears as both male and female. Chapters are duplicated (in two different ways!). Chapters are out of order. Chapters are missing. The writing is bad throughout. This is word soup. Go buy a copy!
<a href="http://www.lulu.com/commerce/addreg.php?fBuyContent=102550">
<img src="http://www.lulu.com/themes/common/images/icons/buynow_blue2.gif" border="0" alt="Buy my stuff at Lulu!">
</a>
Y'know the one thing that bothers me? I'm worried that now the True Believers will start saying, "Look at that bobblehead Jim Macdonald! He's one of those POD authors; he had to get "published" at Lulu.com! Not like us Traditionally Published folks, no sir!"
And now, sob, sigh, I'm one of the naysayers who was turned down by PA. The cliche. Oh, the sorrow! Can I live with the shame? Maybe if the book were better, and I were willing to promote it, PA would have bought it. Do you think?
(Oh -- one more thing. You can add me to the list of successful authors who self-published. Back when I was young, I put together a songbook. A typewriter, a Xerox machine, a saddle stapler. Even used heavier paper for the cover (with my own original artwork on it). Sold 'em for a buck apiece. Sold 'em all (though I think I have a copy around the house here somewhere). So there you have it. Self publishing is the True Path!)
Hey Ed Williams
I'm in Georgia.
Thanks for the link, that is great! I KNEW that the name
Travis Tea meant something, (have been so busy trying to figure things out that I just didn't take the time to say it right) that is so funny. Buying the book today, I really do hope it sells.
Sher2, wasn't that you who posted to me...about time someone commented about my being brilliant, (and yes a smart a$$ too), I'm proud of myself...:rollin
Edited to try to get the mad face off of here. LOL
I'm in Georgia.
Thanks for the link, that is great! I KNEW that the name
Travis Tea meant something, (have been so busy trying to figure things out that I just didn't take the time to say it right) that is so funny. Buying the book today, I really do hope it sells.
Sher2, wasn't that you who posted to me...about time someone commented about my being brilliant, (and yes a smart a$$ too), I'm proud of myself...:rollin
Edited to try to get the mad face off of here. LOL
Come on in!
Welcome to all the new folks.
Be sure to check out the rest of the site. There's tons of good info here (how to cope with rejection, finding a mentor, getting and handling critiques, etc., etc.) for all aspects of writing.
Welcome to all the new folks.
Be sure to check out the rest of the site. There's tons of good info here (how to cope with rejection, finding a mentor, getting and handling critiques, etc., etc.) for all aspects of writing.
Response from Author Support
I got my response today. I need some help in responding. If anyone would like to help me, drop me a note here, and I'll supply my email address. Super busy today at work, or I'd do it now. Hopefully tomorrow. I'd like to respond as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance!
I got my response today. I need some help in responding. If anyone would like to help me, drop me a note here, and I'll supply my email address. Super busy today at work, or I'd do it now. Hopefully tomorrow. I'd like to respond as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance!
Re: PA editors
I have a friend who, a short while ago, said with great excitement that her friend had been accepted by Publish America. I immediately told her to tell the friend to come here before signing anything.
I just heard that the friend has backed out before signing a contract. A career may well have been saved.
How many times has this already happened that you've never heard about? You all should be proud of what you are doing here.
I have a friend who, a short while ago, said with great excitement that her friend had been accepted by Publish America. I immediately told her to tell the friend to come here before signing anything.
I just heard that the friend has backed out before signing a contract. A career may well have been saved.
How many times has this already happened that you've never heard about? You all should be proud of what you are doing here.
Re: bikrpreacher
it was me that called you a brilliant smart*ss...but thats ok, I get lost in the shuffle here...
I'm from Georgia too
it was me that called you a brilliant smart*ss...but thats ok, I get lost in the shuffle here...
I'm from Georgia too
Re: Atlanta Nights
Jim: of course Chapter 2 is yours. Just yesterday I was within earshot of an editor who was browsing Atlanta Nights, and when he got to that chapter he unerringly identified it as your work -- and that was before he got to the part about LBJ.
Jim: of course Chapter 2 is yours. Just yesterday I was within earshot of an editor who was browsing Atlanta Nights, and when he got to that chapter he unerringly identified it as your work -- and that was before he got to the part about LBJ.
Re: I like this new guy...hurry before he's *poof*
You can tell the guy that no, he isn't looking at a $30 paperback. He's looking at a $40 paperback.
You can also tell him that the public is reluctant to buy a hardcover from an author they know and like if the price is above $28. (Why do you think that Grisham's latest, in hardcover, lists for $27.95?)
Just so we can check back on this fellow when his book comes out, to see what the final price is, he's W. Kyle Hammersmith
and his book is The Legend of Lake Marilee. Perhaps it's a great book. Too bad his publisher won't give it a chance.
You can tell the guy that no, he isn't looking at a $30 paperback. He's looking at a $40 paperback.
You can also tell him that the public is reluctant to buy a hardcover from an author they know and like if the price is above $28. (Why do you think that Grisham's latest, in hardcover, lists for $27.95?)
Just so we can check back on this fellow when his book comes out, to see what the final price is, he's W. Kyle Hammersmith
and his book is The Legend of Lake Marilee. Perhaps it's a great book. Too bad his publisher won't give it a chance.
Ann what page was the original on?
I'll do it, just supply the info.
I'm on it. Time to step up to the plate and hit the home run!
I'll do it, just supply the info.
I'm on it. Time to step up to the plate and hit the home run!
Re: Wow someone went to "Smart Academy"
off the PA board:
Message:
Well I can say about MIZ ST AMOUR which is obviously a nom de plume, (a made up one) she sure picked the wrong one, which means LOVE in french..like in: Miz St love!
Talk about a misnomer!!!
==================
Sigh....
off the PA board:
Message:
Well I can say about MIZ ST AMOUR which is obviously a nom de plume, (a made up one) she sure picked the wrong one, which means LOVE in french..like in: Miz St love!
Talk about a misnomer!!!
==================
Sigh....
Re: Wow someone went to "Smart Academy"
I have to stop reading the PA board. The ignorance just slays me.
Anne
I have to stop reading the PA board. The ignorance just slays me.
Anne
Here goes the POD talk again...just can't shut them up PA
Message on PA message board:
I don't know whether this is a problem shared by others:
Except for a religious book store, there is only one other in our county. The owner declines to handle my book (except on consignment). There is a Barnes and Noble 25 miles away. A letter to the CRM went unanswered. Two local book clubs are using the book, but are having trouble getting it, so pass around copies. (They ordered several from Barnes and Noble and received only one. ?) I'm having a devil of a time trying to get books sold other than by buying them myself and selling them myself. I really am not in a position to become my own book dealer, even though the margin is better than the royalties I might get from sales elsewhere. I honestly can't afford to keep a stock; my husband is nervous about sales tax; I can't travel around the countryside trying to peddle it to the odd gift shop or whatever.
I guess what I really want is to find out whether I have any fellow sufferers. PA has been good, but their imprint is no help when you're trying to sell to bookstores!
Make room for Scribe...
Message on PA message board:
I don't know whether this is a problem shared by others:
Except for a religious book store, there is only one other in our county. The owner declines to handle my book (except on consignment). There is a Barnes and Noble 25 miles away. A letter to the CRM went unanswered. Two local book clubs are using the book, but are having trouble getting it, so pass around copies. (They ordered several from Barnes and Noble and received only one. ?) I'm having a devil of a time trying to get books sold other than by buying them myself and selling them myself. I really am not in a position to become my own book dealer, even though the margin is better than the royalties I might get from sales elsewhere. I honestly can't afford to keep a stock; my husband is nervous about sales tax; I can't travel around the countryside trying to peddle it to the odd gift shop or whatever.
I guess what I really want is to find out whether I have any fellow sufferers. PA has been good, but their imprint is no help when you're trying to sell to bookstores!
Make room for Scribe...
Re: I like this new guy...hurry before he's *poof*
James, you need to hold a contest with an autographed copy of Atlanta Nights going to the first person to correctly identify all the contributors by chapter.
James, you need to hold a contest with an autographed copy of Atlanta Nights going to the first person to correctly identify all the contributors by chapter.
Re: Atlanta Nights
Just yesterday I was within earshot of an editor who was browsing Atlanta Nights....
Two questions: 1) Was he upright? and 2) Was he bleeding from the eyeballs?
Oh, a third question, I guess. Would he like to buy it?
Just yesterday I was within earshot of an editor who was browsing Atlanta Nights....
Two questions: 1) Was he upright? and 2) Was he bleeding from the eyeballs?
Oh, a third question, I guess. Would he like to buy it?
Re: Ann what page was the original on?
Becca, what new form are you talking about? If you don't want to post it here, send me an email and tell me. Inquiring minds wants to know.
Violet >D
Becca, what new form are you talking about? If you don't want to post it here, send me an email and tell me. Inquiring minds wants to know.
Violet >D
Re: Here goes the POD talk again...just can't shut them up P
and there's the rub - unless you're prepared to sink HUNDREDS of dollars into buying your own book and trying to sell them on consignment to make the money back, you're pretty well screwed.
PA may lie like a rug, but the odds are slim that you'll find ANY bookstore who'll order in your books. Independants may take it on consignment, but really... THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB AS AN AUTHOR!
and I'll keep saying it until all the PA authors figure it out - you should NOT be BUYING YOUR OWN BOOKS!!!
and there's the rub - unless you're prepared to sink HUNDREDS of dollars into buying your own book and trying to sell them on consignment to make the money back, you're pretty well screwed.
PA may lie like a rug, but the odds are slim that you'll find ANY bookstore who'll order in your books. Independants may take it on consignment, but really... THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB AS AN AUTHOR!
and I'll keep saying it until all the PA authors figure it out - you should NOT be BUYING YOUR OWN BOOKS!!!
TuppGal, I'm from Macon...
...between you and Chris and I, we are forming a regular little Georgia delegation here.
Wow, another great thing about "Atlanta Nights' - it has already sold more copies to the general public than any of the "PA bestsellers" listed in their New York Times ad debacle. I can just see it now, "Travis Tea shakes off the shame of PA rejection to turn out a hot new bestseller!"
:lol
P.S. Uncle Jim, I am finishing the edits on my current column today and will start on the "Atlanta Nights" one tomorrow. Can I include some quotes from Travis Tea, or would you like to email me a couple? A hot new author like that is going to get bombarded with requests for interviews, we may as well start practicing now...
...between you and Chris and I, we are forming a regular little Georgia delegation here.
Wow, another great thing about "Atlanta Nights' - it has already sold more copies to the general public than any of the "PA bestsellers" listed in their New York Times ad debacle. I can just see it now, "Travis Tea shakes off the shame of PA rejection to turn out a hot new bestseller!"
:lol
P.S. Uncle Jim, I am finishing the edits on my current column today and will start on the "Atlanta Nights" one tomorrow. Can I include some quotes from Travis Tea, or would you like to email me a couple? A hot new author like that is going to get bombarded with requests for interviews, we may as well start practicing now...
Re: Linkage and Google Bombs
I'm still fiddling with the prose, and getting my CSS to work perfectly, but I've posted the following:
A short "Google bomb" post on PublishAmerica.
A post on my other web log about <a href="http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/news/2005/01/atlanta-nights.html"><cite> Atlanta Nights</cite></a>.
I've also a longer page here.
And I've started accumulated links about PublishAmerica here with an RSS feed (so you'll see new links automatically if you use a news aggregator like My Yahoo or Bloglines)
I'm accumulating educational links about advice for writers here. There's an RSS feed for the page here.
Feel free to suggest new links to me using the EZ forum message function or email me
lisa at digitalmedievalist.com
I'm still fiddling with the prose, and getting my CSS to work perfectly, but I've posted the following:
A short "Google bomb" post on PublishAmerica.
A post on my other web log about <a href="http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/news/2005/01/atlanta-nights.html"><cite> Atlanta Nights</cite></a>.
I've also a longer page here.
And I've started accumulated links about PublishAmerica here with an RSS feed (so you'll see new links automatically if you use a news aggregator like My Yahoo or Bloglines)
I'm accumulating educational links about advice for writers here. There's an RSS feed for the page here.
Feel free to suggest new links to me using the EZ forum message function or email me
lisa at digitalmedievalist.com
Re: TuppGal, I'm from Macon...
Ed, you're in Macon, Chris in Jasper and I'm in the Hoschton/Brasleton area, should you not know where that is, how about Jefferson Ga? I'm 11 miles from that little town.
Chris, you ready for this freezing rain that is suppose to hit tomorrow on through Sat?
Jim, I loved Atlanta Nights fun reading book, and yes, I plan on buying a copy.
Violet
Ed, you're in Macon, Chris in Jasper and I'm in the Hoschton/Brasleton area, should you not know where that is, how about Jefferson Ga? I'm 11 miles from that little town.
Chris, you ready for this freezing rain that is suppose to hit tomorrow on through Sat?
Jim, I loved Atlanta Nights fun reading book, and yes, I plan on buying a copy.
Violet
Violet
I was talking about Ann's post. She asked for someone to post it at Writers.net and I said I would, but darn if I cannot find which one of these 304 pages it's on. Fustrating? Definetely!
I'll help when I find it.
I was talking about Ann's post. She asked for someone to post it at Writers.net and I said I would, but darn if I cannot find which one of these 304 pages it's on. Fustrating? Definetely!
I'll help when I find it.
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