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Hello;
A am a writer and another published Author turned me on to Preditors & Editors about two months ago and I find it to be a wonderful site for information. However, imagine my shock and utter disgust (with myself) and my book's publisher; when I read all the negative feedback left on your site about PUBLISH AMERICA. I was shocked to see all the abundance of negativity that is on your site about one company. They chose to publish my book last Dec and it came out in May of this year. I was lead to believe that they are a "Real-Deal, Traditional Publisher" Why was I lead to believe this??? Because that is exactly what they promise to be on their website. But nothing could be further from the truth!!
I worked my tail off to make connections with book store managers in such stores as Barnes&Noble, Walden Books, Books-A-Million and more. I had nearly a dozen book signings lined up for Aug, Sept and October; due to my hard work and persistence. But when these managers realized who my publisher was, they all dropped me like yesterdays garbage! They are the ones who shined light on the fact that my book was published by a print-on-demand publisher, that my book was non-returnable if not sold, and that my book was priced too high!! I continued to put pressure on P.A. for answers; but they are very vague and deceitful. They denied all my and managers claims. Why would a dozen bookstores all tell me the same thing and lie??
And then I saw all this information on your website. I saw testimonies from past P.A. authors and I decided to complain to the Better Business Bureau. I asked them to tell P.A. that I wanted to be released from my contract due to the fact they published me under "FALSE PRETENSES" and I feel they are fraudulent. The BBB accepted my complaint and took my case. But alot of good it has done; As P.A. refuses to respond. They have been reminded twice and their time period to respond was even extended and they still refuse to respond.
My book is a wonderful, absolutely awesome chapter book for kids about bullying in school. It is a story that needs to be told! But it is going nowhere very fast because I have a horrible publisher. I don't even understand why they took me on. They are doing absolutely nothing to promote me or help me to sell books. So what is their motivation, I ask. They will not respond to my e-mails either. *The last time they did respond, however (a month ago) they totally changed my e-mail to suit their purpose and then they responded to a bogus e-mail in which I did not write!! Who does this? I tried being nice, and then I tried being ugly to them and all I am asking is to be let go; so I can find a real, trustworthy publisher to make a difference in the world for kids. This publisher, PUBLISH AMERICA,(located in Fredricks, Maryland) robs trusting and talented authors of so much. I am actually loosing sleep over this mess. *If anyone out there has any suggestions for me, or if you have been through this too and can help me figure out what to do next, I would love to hear from you. *If you are a writer and looking for a publisher for your manuscript........I beg you; STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM PUBLISH AMERICA as you possibly can and warn everyone you know!!
They have had 70 complaints brought against them in the last three years; and I believe they have only been in business for seven years. Don't be fooled! P.&E. Please post my cries for help/ warning on your site, so as to help others avoid the mistake I made, by not checking them out better before I signed the contract.
You may also post my e-mail address. (P&E has chosen not to post her email address. If anyone has a response, P&E will forward it to her subject to appropriateness.) Thanks for your wonderful website!
Bio: Candy J. Beard is the author of Please Don't Do That and Please Don't Cry, Cheyenne.
P&E has chosen not to edit Ms. Beard's opinion because we feel its current condition more accurately reflects the strain and frustration caused her by her dealings with PublishAmerica.