PAMB and its quotes

CatSlave · Jan 23, 2007

the Kool-Aid must have kicked in

CatSlave said:
from the PA board:

Hi everyone...Hope I have not put my foot in my mouth so to speak.
My cover just came in and it was very confusing and althought I liked the color, the picture was confusing. I sent it to two women and one man and they all agreed about the picture. I related the news to PA. Hope I have not stuck my foot in my big mouth, afterall I owe PA a lot and I am forever grateful to them. Has anyone else ever diagreed with their cover? My first cover was a winner. I even had someone try to steal my large posters of it. It could be because this is such a different style that I was not prepared for it. Anyway, has anyone else ever disagreed
with their cover. I just want to sell, sell, the book.

Oh dear. What to do? Will anyone answer her question?
I think the answer is "yes" - if you complain to PA you end up with a mouth full of feet.

She then answers her own question:

I'll answer my own question....NO, I did not. I let a few negative
people panic me and then several more came into the office and
told me it had a spooky look to it and that is what I wanted. The
colors are beautiful..So, yes, these people at PA know what they
are doing and they are great. So, I am very happy with my cover
and the only thing I can pass on is don't ask negative people their
opinion about your cover, as they will find something to complain
about. Which is true in life, surround yourself with upbeat and
positive people, like you wonderful people here on the board
and at PA.

Oh barf.

zizban · Jan 23, 2007

And a new soul about to wander into the Pit of Doom. I feel bad for her.
[/i]HELP! I just submitted my author questionairre and I am a whirlwind of emotion! Yesterday I loved my book, today I wonder what I was thinking when I wrote it. I know I can't be the only one who has felt this way. (I hope) Any words of advice? By the way, how long should I wait to here a reply after submitting my questionairre?[/i]

Run for your life is my advice.

Gravity · Jan 23, 2007

CatSlave said:
Which is true in life, surround yourself with upbeat and
positive people, like you wonderful people here on the board and at PA.

Oh barf.

PA and PAvidians...why do I keep thinking of the movie Brimstone and Treacle?

Gravity · Jan 23, 2007

Gravity said:
PA and PAvidians...why do I keep thinking of the movie Brimstone and Treacle?

No, I know of a better example: the old Twilight Zone episode (from the classic SF story), It's a Good Life, with Billy Mumy as the cherub-faced monster. But in this case it'll be Meiners who'll send the PA faithful into the cornfield if their praises are too faint.

PVish · Jan 23, 2007

http://bb.publishamerica.com/viewtopic.php?t=19168

I wonder what would happen if a well-known author like Stephen King or Janet Evanovich signed on with Publish America under a fake pen name. No special treatment at all. Would they still rise up to be great authors? Would they sell nearly as many books? Would newspapers print their releases? Would they get as good reviews? Would bookstores stock their books without the author asking for them to be stocked?

Basically, would they still be recognized as great authors if they used a fake name and a publishing company such as ours? It would be an interesting experiment. Maybe if someone would do that, and the secret got out, it would draw more attention to us "lowly" authors. Though, I'm sure there is probably something in their contracts that prevents them from doing this.

Answers to all questions in the first paragraph: No
Answer to question in the second paragraph: No (If the books aren't available in stores, who's gonna "see" them, much less recognize them?)

rihannsu · Jan 23, 2007

Gravity said:
Yes, Winston, I mean Rudy, they're listening. You simply can't imagine how much they're listening. Big Brother loves you, Rudy. Can't you feel his love? Big Brother cares for you. Lies Are Truth. Fear Is Love. Yes, they're listening...

Big Brother just grabbed my ass.

Then he charged me $25 to see the pictures.

LloydBrown · Jan 23, 2007

Why would Stephen King want to not sell books, get shorted on his royalty check, and upset all of his readers with a mis-edited book? Besides, Publish America wouldn't want Stephen King as an author because he wouldn't buy his own books.

TwentyFour · Jan 23, 2007

This one speaks for itself

I just got a reply from PA about publishing my second book. My book Dust on the Saddle has been #1 for the past 7 months on Buy.com PA Westerns and they said they wouldn't publish because it hadn't sold enough copies. Well, I can understand them wanting to make money and that's cool but I really thought it was selling a few from the rankings on all the on-line bookstores. I guess I'll try another publisher and get my second book on the shelf. Might have a better chance of selling some. The price will be a lot more affordable too. Hope you all have the best of luck with your writing. I guess I'll sign off now. Not feeling very happy but don't worry, I'll get over it like always when life throws you a spit ball.

I hope he finds a great publisher.

triceretops · Jan 23, 2007

So do I. Actually, it's probably the best thing that's happened to him. To find a legimate source for his product.

Tri

triceretops · Jan 23, 2007

And yet another:

I just submitted my second book for consideration. It is my autobiography. PublishAmerica decided they couldn't offer me a contract at this time due to low sales on my first book. I am sure this is due to the fact that I am still learning how to market my book effectively. PublishAmerica suggested that I try another comany at this time. So, I was wondering if anyone might be able to recommend a good company.

I appreciate your help.

Tri

James D. Macdonald · Jan 24, 2007

I am sure this is due to the fact that I am still learning how to market my book effectively.

No, my friend. It's because you didn't plunk down your plastic to buy 50 copies of your own book. If you'd done that, you'd have the next contract in your hand by now.

spike · Jan 24, 2007

At least the two people who had their second book turned down are looking for a new publisher.

They could have decided to boost their sales by buying their books. Gives me hope for the PAers.

zizban · Jan 24, 2007

What makes it even worse was that this e-mail didn't come from a bookstore---it came from a person at a library

I knew libraries were the root of all evil on the book business!

zizban · Jan 24, 2007

I heard from the woman in question and she basicly told me "I know what PA is, leave me alone."

So okay. I did all I could.

TwentyFour · Jan 24, 2007

I no longer tell much about what PA is anymore, I just recommend they visit a few other writing boards other than PAMB. I've never had someone say leave me alone.

zizban · Jan 24, 2007

She deleted the entry I made her guestbook, which was a link to our forum here. Oh well.

zizban · Jan 24, 2007

Here is what I wrote her:

I read your post on the PublishAmerica boards and I was saddened. You seem like a nice person and nice people shouldn't get hurt.

The library's response to your question was spot on. It doesn't matter if the librarian loves your book, He wont put it on the shelf unless there is a demand and how does one generate demand?

Despite what the responder said, publishing houses put huge amounts of effort into marketing their books, even unknown authors they published. Why? They want to sell books and they want to make money. Publishers make money by promoting their books in catalogs, sendings sales people out, placing advertisements and sending review copies out, usually well in advance of a book's publication date. PublishAmerica doesn't do any of this. They expect you to do the marketing, it's actually right in your contract that you agree to do the marketing of your book. Traditional houses will send you jpegs of your cover and blurbs to put on your web page and your myspace page but they will market your book. Despite what you hear, publishers are always looking for new talent. Sure, their rejection rate is high but that is because they want good talent they can sell and wont ruin their reputation. If they publish garbage no one will buy any of their titles. if your book is good, someone will buy it.

If you want to see a contrast compare PublishAmerica's site with Random House's. Random House is one of the largest publishers in the world:
http://www.randomhouse.com/

See how they promote their books? You wont see anything about how they treat their authors or a huge link to submissions. That's because they are a traditional house interesting in making money not off you selling your book to your friends and relatives but to the public. Okay, you say, that's a large company, how about a small press?

Check out the publisher I just sold a book to:
www.chippewapublishing.com

They are a small press but just Random House their front page is dedicating to promoting their books.

This is harsh but the truth. My aunt just retired after being an editor at Henry Holt and Company so I have a pretty good idea of what goes on in the publishing business.

Good Luck!

JimmyD1318 · Jan 24, 2007

zizban said:
Here is what I wrote her:

At least you tried to be helpful. That's all you can do sometimes.

xhouseboy · Jan 24, 2007

emsuniverse said:
Some quotes:

"I have received email from authors who watch the boards, both PA authors, and those yet to becomes part of the family, and they read what we say to one another. Who's to say that potential agents, movie execs, and various buyers aren't reading them as well?"

They are. And it's posts like the above that brings them circling. Of course they're not real agents, movie execs, etc - they're predators.

Not too long ago a 'screenwriter' pounced on a PA author who had expressed an interest in seeing her book adapted for film. She sounded ecstatic to be filling his coffers, although she'd been sworn to secrecy over the exact amount. She did however have his permission to solicit any other PA authors who wished to use his services.

zizban · Jan 25, 2007

xxxx,

Welcome to PA. You will find there are many authors here who are willing to assist you.

First, make sure you keep all paper correspondence and emails that you receive from PA. Start a paper file folder and keep everything there. Copy all emails from PA and put them in that folder. You will find that most of your questions will be answered as the process of getting your book published continues. Also, that file will be very valuable in case you have a computer crash. Furthermore, make sure you answer all PA emails that request information from you. Follow their instructions and make sure you meet their deadlines.

You should start a website as soon as possible. Some authors use the website offered by PA but it is somewhat limited, difficult to work with, and it is susceptible to PA bashing spammers. Most authors have their websites with other hosts or have paid to have a website builder create one for them. One of the best free websites available is www.freewebs.com. You can click on that link and take a look-see. It is free, easy to construct, easy to maintain, and has very few problems. You can also upgrade at a very reasonable price and have your own domain name, such as www.tabithaR.com (No, don’t click on that link. It is just an example for you to use should you decide to create your own domain with freewebs or other web host. That link will go nowhere until you create such a site with freewebs or some other host). You may click on my website and see how I designed mine. www.freewebs.com/jamese/

Also make sure you write down all passwords and login names for the PA boards and other websites, and keep them in your file folder.

PA probably will not publish your next book until at least 6 months after your first book. And, that will depend upon the sales of your first book. Your ISBN# will be emailed to you by PA. Don’t worry about your book not being in such places as Amazon, B&M, and other online book stores. It will get there soon enough. Also, don’t get too excited if you find out that big book stores like Books-A-Million and others won’t stock your book. Some will and some won’t. Just work with the ones that will. Many new authors spend too much time fighting people who will win no matter what they do or how loud they complain. Your job is to push your books locally. That means sticking your book in the face of every local library, drug store, independent book store, local newspaper, and everywhere you can possibly get noticed. You will also find that everyone has their own situations that will affect how they are able to market their books. Big cities are different than small towns.

Meanwhile, have fun.

Kind of makes you feel and warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it?

James D. Macdonald · Jan 25, 2007

"First, make sure you keep all paper correspondence and emails that you receive from PA. Start a paper file folder and keep everything there. Copy all emails from PA and put them in that folder...."

You will find them very handy when you take PA to arbitration later.

zizban · Jan 25, 2007

The B&N bookstores are under fire again and not just from PA. Take a look at this link. Seems they are getting it from another direction.

http://www.ucok.edu/facsen/bills/2003-2004/2003-2004-01.pdf

Okay, there are so many things wrong with this:
First, the pdf is a copy of faculty petition to get the campus Barnes and Noble to stock the requested textbooks on time and in the right quantities. She's comparing this to an ordinary B+N which isn't the case at all and this bookstore stocks textbooks from traditional publishing houses, not fiction and certainly not ficition from a vanity press.

Second of course is the fact that this dates from 2003-2004.
http://www.ucok.edu/facsen/bills/2003-2004/2003-2004-01.pdf

Christine N. · Jan 25, 2007

Most college bookstores are now run by B&N; there are probably a lot of requests like this one.

CatSlave · Jan 25, 2007

James D. Macdonald said:
"First, make sure you keep all paper correspondence and emails that you receive from PA. Start a paper file folder and keep everything there. Copy all emails from PA and put them in that folder...."

You will find them very handy when you take PA to arbitration later.

And remember they never, ever delete emails.
Everything you say to them is kept on record.

James D. Macdonald · Jan 25, 2007

CatSlave said:
And remember they never, ever delete emails.
Everything you say to them is kept on record.

Which gives me a wonderful idea for what you should ask for in the subpoenas.

PAMB and its quotes

Mah tale iz draggin.

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

Cat hair collector

Mrs. Bruce Wayne

practical experience, FTW

Your Genial Uncle

Mostly Ignored

practical experience, FTW

THE POPCORN MONSTER!

In the Yellow Woods

Your Genial Uncle

haz a shiny new book cover

Mah tale iz draggin.

Your Genial Uncle