Read Books by AWers!

Welcome! The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write

If this site is helpful to you,
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses.

Visit the AW chat room!
If you have an IRC program, just visit the #AbsoluteWrite channel on StarChat
Some helpful chat tips.

Save an extra 10% on one item with coupon C3R3URC! See site for details.


Go Back   Absolute Write Water Cooler > Discussion > Bewares and Background Check
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 10-11-2007, 02:37 AM   #1
CaliGirl85
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Smile Roval Publishing

Anyone ever heard of Roval Publishing? If so, thoughts? I can't find any information about them out there and I'm wondering if they're a trustworthy publisher, a POD publisher, etc. Thanks!

CaliGirl85
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2007, 03:01 AM   #2
Chicken Warrior
Ahead of Your Time
 
Chicken Warrior's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: At My Computer
Posts: 1,293
Chicken Warrior is a glorious beacon of lightChicken Warrior is a glorious beacon of light
Hi CaliGirl and welcome to AW

This is definitely POD, and definitely vanity, if you're talking about: http://www.rovalpublishing.net/

How decent they are, I have no idea.
Chicken Warrior is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2007, 10:48 PM   #3
absitinvidia
AW Addict
 
absitinvidia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 131
absitinvidia is on a distinguished road
Well, they've apparently agreed to publish an obviously plagiarized work, so I wouldn't consider them a very good option.

For more information, including links to the "new" version:
http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007...r-plagairists/

Here's the original work: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...45494788&itm=4, scroll through to the first page of the story.

Sorry if this is an inappropriate post here, but it seemed worth mentioning.

Last edited by absitinvidia; 10-11-2007 at 10:50 PM. Reason: clear up wording.
absitinvidia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 07:31 PM   #4
James D. Macdonald
Your Genial Uncle
Absolute Sage
 
James D. Macdonald's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 14,157
James D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Roval Publishing is, based on my reading of their Marketing Guide (a free download at Lulu.com) an utter waste of time and money.

They have one book published so far, and they've printed it via Lulu. What the foo the author needed them for, I don't know. He could have saved himself some time, money, and mockery by going to Lulu directly.

Back to their marketing guide: They sell bunches of services.

These include business cards at $79 for 150, bookmarks at $79 for 100, and postcards at $199 for 100.

They'll send spam e-mail at $995 plus $495/month for a half-a-million addresses.

Wait, there's more! If you manage to sell 3,000 copies of your Roval book (and, at the same time, the Devil goes ice-skating and you have to carry an umbrella because of the flying pigs) they'll become your agent! That's right, they'll make sure a legitimate publisher picks up your book and they'll do it for free!

These guys are, in my opinion, somewhere between clueless and scum. Stay very far away.
__________________
Put the 800 pound gorilla on a diet. Don't link to or buy from Amazon.
James D. Macdonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 09:26 PM   #5
J. R. Tomlin
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oregon
Posts: 599
J. R. Tomlin has a spectacular aura
A "book publisher" that does business cards--class act all right. *nod nod*
J. R. Tomlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 09:51 PM   #6
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,599
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
Jim,

Were you aware that the bulk of the text used to sell their book review service came from here and here?

I didn't download the entire file, so perhaps he acknowledges sources - as this site did. There is no evidence of that in the preview.

Then perhaps he considers it fair use, or simply homage. Oy.
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-14-2007, 09:59 PM   #7
Queen of Swords
Can't sleep. Editing.
 
Queen of Swords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: in the shadow of winter
Posts: 4,636
Queen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsQueen of Swords is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by James D. Macdonald View Post
These include business cards at $79 for 150, bookmarks at $79 for 100, and postcards at $199 for 100.
Holy Christmas. I'm fairly the bookmarks the PA authors make or buy are cheaper.
Queen of Swords is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 12:44 AM   #8
Christine N.
studies Library Science
 
Christine N.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Where the Wild Things Are
Posts: 6,889
Christine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsChristine N. is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Heck, I can print 1250 myself for $10, just by buying a ream of cardstock. It's not hard to make bookmarks if you know how to set up a table in Word.

Sheesh!
__________________
Christine

Young Adult Fantasy Author

The Mirror of Yu-Huang (The Library of Athena, Book Three): coming in 2010

I tweet
Christine N. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 01:39 AM   #9
jamiehall
Bereaved Snarkling
 
jamiehall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,380
jamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admiration
Quote:
Originally Posted by JulieB View Post
Jim,

Were you aware that the bulk of the text used to sell their book review service came from here and here?

I didn't download the entire file, so perhaps he acknowledges sources - as this site did. There is no evidence of that in the preview.

Then perhaps he considers it fair use, or simply homage. Oy.
So this other book has possible links to plagiarism too? Ouch. Only two known books associated with Roval: one plagiarized unpublished book, and one lulu-published book that, from evidence seen so far, is possibly plagiarized.

Not a good record, even for POD self-publishing vanity operations.
__________________
You could read my blog on LiveJournal.

You're really that curious? Then see all about me.

(Also I made entirely too many websites about monsters and mythical creatures.)

Last edited by James D. Macdonald; 10-15-2007 at 06:03 AM. Reason: Link corrected
jamiehall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 02:22 AM   #10
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,599
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamiehall View Post
So this other book has possible links to plagiarism too? Ouch. Only two known books associated with Roval: one plagiarized unpublished book, and one lulu-published book that, from evidence seen so far, is possibly plagiarized.

Not a good record, even for POD self-publishing vanity operations.
I've not seen any evidence that the second book you mention is plagiarized. Am I missing something?

Last edited by James D. Macdonald; 10-15-2007 at 06:03 AM. Reason: Link corrected
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 03:24 AM   #11
jamiehall
Bereaved Snarkling
 
jamiehall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,380
jamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admiration
Quote:
Originally Posted by JulieB View Post
I've not seen any evidence that the second book you mention is plagiarized. Am I missing something?
I thought that's what you were saying here. So, then, what are you saying? I'm completely confused.
__________________
You could read my blog on LiveJournal.

You're really that curious? Then see all about me.

(Also I made entirely too many websites about monsters and mythical creatures.)
jamiehall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 03:40 AM   #12
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,599
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamiehall View Post
I thought that's what you were saying here. So, then, what are you saying? I'm completely confused.
I was referring to the Marketing Guide that Jim was talking about. That book is essentially an ad for Roval's services.

The other book, as far as I'm aware, is a book by a marketing professor (also a priest, apparently), and I have no reason to believe that book contains any plagiarized material. The author may come to regret his choice of publisher, but I certainly don't mean to cast any aspersions on him for I see no evidence that he's done anything wrong.

I can see how it's easy to be confused as there are two titles for sale - one called Responsible Marketing and the other called Marketing Guide.
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 03:54 AM   #13
Deirdre
AW Addict
 
Deirdre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Posts: 460
Deirdre has a spectacular auraDeirdre has a spectacular aura
Oh, man, anyone got any popcorn? I'm going to need a lot.
__________________
dsmoen.livejournal.com and sff.net/people/deirdre
Pledge: 9 subs this year, currently at 8.
Viable Paradise (VI and VIII) and Clarion (2002)

Deirdre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 04:11 AM   #14
brianm
Brian Boru
 
brianm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The desert of S. California and the coast of N. Ireland.
Posts: 2,845
brianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by JulieB View Post
I was referring to the Marketing Guide that Jim was talking about. That book is essentially an ad for Roval's services.

The other book, as far as I'm aware, is a book by a marketing professor (also a priest, apparently), and I have no reason to believe that book contains any plagiarized material. The author may come to regret his choice of publisher, but I certainly don't mean to cast any aspersions on him for I see no evidence that he's done anything wrong.

I can see how it's easy to be confused as there are two titles for sale - one called Responsible Marketing and the other called Marketing Guide.
He just linked to the wrong book. Perhaps you could have corrected his link the first time?
__________________
"This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." Sigmund Freud (about the Irish)

"Opera singers have resonance where their brains ought to be." Anna Russell
brianm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 04:17 AM   #15
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,599
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
I thought that's what I had done. Sorry to add to the confusion.
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 05:39 AM   #16
James D. Macdonald
Your Genial Uncle
Absolute Sage
 
James D. Macdonald's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 14,157
James D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJames D. Macdonald is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
While the fellow who wrote Responsible Marketing may (and bloody-well ought to) come to regret his choice of publisher, it's the publisher itself and its Marketing Guide that I want to look at.

Look at some of their services and prices:

Quote:
Placement in Distribution Channel.....$495
+10,000 online bookstores
+ includes Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Baker and Taylor, Borders
That's Lulu's distribution package (though I'm not 100% sure Roval knows what Baker and Taylor is), with a bit of a markup included. Lulu charges $150 for the ISBN and distribution. The other $345 is pure profit for Roval for doing zero-point-no work.

Let's see, what else does Roval offer?

Quote:
Author Signing Event...... $1,495
4 to 6 month turn around
Wow. For $1,495 I hope they include a limo to drive the author to the event, a big bottle of champagne, and a massage to help him relax after it's over.

Quote:
Retail Store Placement ................. $1,995
6 month to 1 year turn around
Or, perhaps, the horse may talk*.


---------------------

* That's the punchline to a story.

A man was condemned to death by Caesar. He threw himself on the ground and said, "Mighty Caesar, if you will but spare my life for one year, I will teach your horse to talk!"

Caesar, intrigued, said, "Very well. You shall have the year. But if at the end of that time my horse does not speak you will surely die."

The man went off. Soon after he was met by a friend who said, "What were you thinking of? You don't know how to teach a horse to talk any more than I do."

The man replied, "That is true, but many things may happen in a year. I may die. Caesar may die. The horse may die. Or, perhaps, the horse may talk."
__________________
Put the 800 pound gorilla on a diet. Don't link to or buy from Amazon.
James D. Macdonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 06:44 AM   #17
herdon
AW Addict
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 897
herdon has a spectacular aura
I'm sure somewhere in little print there's a (per store) in there.
herdon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 09:32 AM   #18
Popeyesays
Now departed. Rest in peace, Scott, from all of us at AW
 
Popeyesays's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,462
Popeyesays is a glorious beacon of lightPopeyesays is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by James D. Macdonald View Post
While the fellow who wrote Responsible Marketing may (and bloody-well ought to) come to regret his choice of publisher, it's the publisher itself and its Marketing Guide that I want to look at.

Look at some of their services and prices:



That's Lulu's distribution package (though I'm not 100% sure Roval knows what Baker and Taylor is), with a bit of a markup included. Lulu charges $150 for the ISBN and distribution. The other $345 is pure profit for Roval for doing zero-point-no work.

Let's see, what else does Roval offer?



Wow. For $1,495 I hope they include a limo to drive the author to the event, a big bottle of champagne, and a massage to help him relax after it's over.



Or, perhaps, the horse may talk*.


---------------------

* That's the punchline to a story.

A man was condemned to death by Caesar. He threw himself on the ground and said, "Mighty Caesar, if you will but spare my life for one year, I will teach your horse to talk!"

Caesar, intrigued, said, "Very well. You shall have the year. But if at the end of that time my horse does not speak you will surely die."

The man went off. Soon after he was met by a friend who said, "What were you thinking of? You don't know how to teach a horse to talk any more than I do."

The man replied, "That is true, but many things may happen in a year. I may die. Caesar may die. The horse may die. Or, perhaps, the horse may talk."
The story goes back further than that--to the day of Daryoosh, the Shahinshah of Persia.

The thief offered to teach the king's favorite horse to sing a hymn of praise to Ahuru Mazda. The end line is pretty much the same: "Perhaps the horse will learn to sing!"

Regards,
Scott
__________________
Okay, damnit, I blog http://cscottsaylorsbooks.blogspot.com/
Sword of the Dajjal e-book, Published by BooksForABuck.com May, 2007 ISBN: 978-1-602-052-2 http://www.booksforabuck.com/sfpages...rd_dajjal.html
Out in print early 2008 from Blu Phi'er
Jars of Doom out mid 2008 from Blu Phi'er
http://www.bluphier.com/
Popeyesays is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 10:15 AM   #19
herdon
AW Addict
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 897
herdon has a spectacular aura
Quote:
Originally Posted by Popeyesays View Post
The story goes back further than that--to the day of Daryoosh, the Shahinshah of Persia.

The thief offered to teach the king's favorite horse to sing a hymn of praise to Ahuru Mazda. The end line is pretty much the same: "Perhaps the horse will learn to sing!"

Regards,
Scott
Actually, it goes back further than that, and the end line was "If this mockingbird won't sing..."
herdon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-15-2007, 07:38 PM   #20
jamiehall
Bereaved Snarkling
 
jamiehall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,380
jamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admirationjamiehall has earned our admiration
Quote:
Originally Posted by JulieB View Post
I can see how it's easy to be confused as there are two titles for sale - one called Responsible Marketing and the other called Marketing Guide.
Ah, yes, that's why I was confused! Thanks for pointing that out. I couldn't figure out what was going on and I felt like a real idiot until you pointed that out.
__________________
You could read my blog on LiveJournal.

You're really that curious? Then see all about me.

(Also I made entirely too many websites about monsters and mythical creatures.)
jamiehall is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-23-2007, 07:05 PM   #21
CaliGirl85
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Thanks

Wow! Didn't realize I'd get such a response. Thanks for all the good info!
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2007, 08:03 AM   #22
silverjoy
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 24
silverjoy is on a distinguished road
[quote=CaliGirl85;1713922]Anyone ever heard of Roval Publishing? If so, thoughts? I can't find any information about them out there and I'm wondering if they're a trustworthy publisher, a POD publisher, etc. Thanks!

CaliGirl85[/quote

So thats how the quote button works....
But Seriously, on another thread under share your work in the childrens category people were talking alot about childrens literary Agency and I wrote a message about roval publishing and xlibris giving some very good and useful info about them. I also spoke of how I went about publishing my own childrens books right down to the perfect glue binding. And it cost alot less than the print on demand and vanity publishers. If you want to know more info then let me know cause now I can't find even the post I wrote, or anything that the other people wrote about that childrens literacy agency. Does anyone know how it disappeared or how I can find it if it is still there? Well Happy Writing! God Bless
silverjoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2007, 09:59 AM   #23
brianm
Brian Boru
 
brianm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: The desert of S. California and the coast of N. Ireland.
Posts: 2,845
brianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsbrianm is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverjoy View Post
So thats how the quote button works....
But Seriously, on another thread under share your work in the childrens category people were talking alot about childrens literary Agency and I wrote a message about roval publishing and xlibris giving some very good and useful info about them. I also spoke of how I went about publishing my own childrens books right down to the perfect glue binding. And it cost alot less than the print on demand and vanity publishers. If you want to know more info then let me know cause now I can't find even the post I wrote, or anything that the other people wrote about that childrens literacy agency. Does anyone know how it disappeared or how I can find it if it is still there? Well Happy Writing! God Bless
They were moved here.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/...t=8286&page=10

Roval is a pay-to-play publisher and not a good option if one were to choose to use a pay-to-play publisher. A much better option would be Lulu.com.
__________________
"This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever." Sigmund Freud (about the Irish)

"Opera singers have resonance where their brains ought to be." Anna Russell

Last edited by brianm; 10-24-2007 at 10:19 AM.
brianm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-24-2007, 06:40 PM   #24
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,599
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianm View Post
Roval is a pay-to-play publisher and not a good option if one were to choose to use a pay-to-play publisher. A much better option would be Lulu.com.
Especially since they appear to use Lulu as a printer and mark their services up considerably.
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2007, 12:42 AM   #25
JulieB
I grow my own catnip.
 
JulieB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Deep in the heart o' Texas
Posts: 1,599
JulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of lightJulieB is a glorious beacon of light
I just perused this publisher's web site. They need to have a talk with their copywriter - before another POD publisher or two has a talk with them.
JulieB is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Custom Search
Bellacor - Free Shipping and Handling  Grasshopper - The Entrepreneur's Phone System MacConnection iRobot - 10% Off All Parts & AccessoriesGo Green with OfficeMax! Environmentally Friendly Office Supplies, Technology, Paper & More.


All times are GMT +4.5. The time now is 02:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.