PA and the Guinness Book of World Records.

wizzy812 · Apr 2, 2010

PA boasts they are in the Guiness Book of World records for having the largest book signing event. Is this true?

What do you think? I think someone should contact Guiness and suggest they list PA as the worlds most critisized publisher. I really think that would be a good idea.

merrihiatt · Apr 2, 2010

It could be true, but it's not saying much if the books are overpriced, unedited and not available in a bookstore, or even online right now.

James D. Macdonald · Apr 2, 2010

What it means is that they called the Guinness people. PA is only the record holder in a very narrowly defined way. The record is for "Most authors signing their own book simultaneously." Romance conventions and science fiction conventions routinely have larger signings (more authors, more books, more books signed, more books sold). They don't call the Guinness people because it doesn't look like an achievement to them--it looks like ho-hum, business as usual.

If someone at a romance convention wanted to beat that record, all they'd have to do is call the Guinness people and have a judge drop by.

benbradley · Apr 2, 2010

For another world record (I don't know if this is in Guiness, but these big events were in the news decades ago) you can google:
mass wedding record
At least those marriages appear to be legally recognized.

PA books are only recognized at "published" in that its "publication" of the manuscript uses up the first publication rights of the book. The author isn't considered published by the industry.

And I'm guessing "most criticized" anything might not be a category Guinness would want to have.

Jersey Chick · Apr 2, 2010

True story - the town next to mine was once listed in Guinness for "Most bars per square mile."

Oh, the glory days...

moral of the story- just because it's the most of something, doesn't necessarily make it a good thing.

BenPanced · Apr 2, 2010

Guinness also used to have a category for most cigarettes smoked simultaneously, so, yeah.

CatSlave · Apr 2, 2010

Too bad there isn't a category for most requests to have a book contract rescinded.
That would be feather in their cap, honestly earned for a change.

wizzy812 · Apr 3, 2010

I wish there was a way somehow to convince Guiness to make a category for "most hated" publishers. I almost went with them just because they were in the book of records. I thought that meant they were reputable. Luckily I found this website and read up on them. I'm sure if it wasn't for AW I would have signed a contract.
If Guiness is going inadvertantly make PA look reputable they should have a listing of the most hated.
Thanks everyone for having a discussion board about PA. You saved me.
Todd

CatSlave said:
Too bad there isn't a category for most requests to have a book contract rescinded.
That would be feather in their cap, honestly earned for a change.

allenparker · Apr 5, 2010

I was at the convention and book signing. The record was real. The Most Authors From A Single Company Simultaneously Autographing Books, or something similar. For what it was worth, we were in a small Mall in Frederick, packed like sardines, and selling books mostly to other authors. If it wasn't for authors, there wouldn't have been many sales.

just a thought...

Sarashay · Apr 5, 2010

allenparker said:
I was at the convention and book signing. The record was real. The Most Authors From A Single Company Simultaneously Autographing Books, or something similar.

Does anybody know a decent press who would be interested in trying to beat that record just to knock PA off of that pedestal?

M.R.J. Le Blanc · Apr 5, 2010

I have to wonder if anyone would really care.

wizzy812 · Apr 6, 2010

AW members ought to schedule a book signing event and break the record. Does the record have to be beaten by a publisher? Can't a book club beat the record?

DeleyanLee · Apr 6, 2010

James D. Macdonald said:
PA is only the record holder in a very narrowly defined way. The record is for "Most authors signing their own book simultaneously."

If that's what the record is for, then it has nothing to do with publishers or even in the same location (though it would be easier for a judge to confirm that if it was). All authors just have to sign their own books.

Anyone have a "honey do" list open?

Sarashay · Apr 6, 2010

"Most authors signing their own book simultaneously"

How many authors are in the habit of signing OTHER people's books? *puzzled look*

By that phrasing, they don't all have to be with the same publisher. So people could organize something at, say, DragonCon and beat this record if they really wanted to stick it to PA.

Not that it would be worth all that effort for just a little schadenfreude. Truly.

wizzy812 · Apr 7, 2010

Sara I say we do it. I just about sign a contract with PA. We don't have to buy each others books.

PA and the Guinness Book of World Records.

wizzy812

merrihiatt

Writing! Writing! Writing!

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

Jersey Chick

Up all night to get Loki

BenPanced

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

CatSlave

Mah tale iz draggin.

wizzy812

allenparker

Naked Futon Guy

Sarashay

Shut Up and Write

M.R.J. Le Blanc

aka Sadistic Mistress Mi-chan

wizzy812

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist

Sarashay

Shut Up and Write

wizzy812