The Old Neverending PublishAmerica Thread (Publish America)

Re: an oldie but a goodie...

Who are you leading authors at the moment and what has been the key to their success through Publish America?

Our best selling authors wrote interesting stories with tight plots and developed characters. Readers have responded accordingly. Second, they believed in their work. Their enthusiasm infected others. We often say that the author is the best sales tool for any book, and these authors have proven that time and again.

Click to expand...

they forgot to answer the 'who' part of the question...skirting the issue yet again.

"Best-selling authors? Hell, we have best-buying authors. Is that the same thing?"

Best buying authors....

....PA Davidians, etc. - it's almost like we are developing our own lingo here.

Re: Best buying authors....

lol. Pavidians.

Re: All kidding aside, what does getting into "Independ

"But mostly how...at least the way I see it...
One could look at a prime example of bad delivery/bad reception from a few months ago."

We could look at a few from a few days back but we won't ... because it wasn't a PA author delivering it.

"I was under the impression that PA only used an ISBN barcode..."

Not really any difference. They want something their scanners will pick up. You can buy software that will make your own bar codes.

"But see, if you attempt to tell folks that (especially on the PA board), a number of things will possibly happen."

If people ignore the facts thats one thing. But keeping the facts silent because it's better for your ego to warn about possible sexual content, please.

emerald:
' "Best-selling authors? Hell, we have best-buying authors. Is that the same thing?" '

Not the same thing. You misquoted them. They said "Our best selling authors" which you interpreted as "Best-selling authors." Two totally different meanings there.

Navigator:

"lol. Pavidians."

This is a prime example of why PA authors don't leave the PA message boards and don't listen to those "outside."

Typical schoolyard mentality.

DJ

"PA authors" don't leave...

...the confines of their bulletin boards because the truth hurts, and because they can't offer anything factual up to back their claims. I've lost count of how many questions have been posed here about the Library of Congress, returns, actual book sales figures, etc., that have never been responded to.

Let's face it, raffling off electric guitars at book signings and paying a bookstore/seller $100 for the right to hold a book signing is laughable, and it just exposes PA for what they are. For the record, I attended several major book conferences last fall (Southern Festival of the Book, SEBA, the Atlanta Literary Festival, and the St. Petersburg Festival of Reading), all paid for by my publisher, and the PAs/iUniverses/Xlibris' and the like were consensus regarded as the bottom feeders of the publishing industry. iUniverse was charging their authors $100 for a 1-2 stint in their booth in Atlanta, and some guy was singing and strumming his guitar outside their booth in Nashville - nevermind that he was off key and people were openly laughing at him, he'd paid iUniverse his money for the privilege - you can imagine the comments.

James, you have every right to your opinions, and I hope your claims of having a lit agent and all are true - it is always good to see someone move up and succeed. Absent more substantiated proof, however, to me you look like another PA hack who's trying to tote the leash for his masters. Meiners must be proud.

Re: All kidding aside, what does getting into "Independ

"Not really any difference. They want something their scanners will pick up. You can buy software that will make your own bar codes."

I went and looked up some info on EAN barcodes...and no, there isn't any difference (PA does have an EAN barcode)...so in that, I was mistaken...

www.infinitygraphics.com/...otext.html
(the links in the text below didn't come through as links here, in case anyone wanted to research more)

"Bookland EAN (European Article Number) bar code symbols have become a requirement in the U.S. book publishing industry. They are used to represent the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) of publications.
Bookland EAN bar code symbols begin with "978" followed by the first nine digits of the ISBN. The last digit in the symbol is the check digit, which is calculated automatically by our system.

United States publishers may obtain ISBN numbers from the ISBN Agency R.R. Bowker.

For detailed information and/or specification guides regarding Bookland EAN symbols and their use contact Book Industry Study Group.

The International ISBN Agency provides a comprehensive ISBN Users Manual in pdf format."

"The 5-digit add-on symbol generally is used to represent a price or sometimes for data determined by a publisher's internal control procedures.

When used to show pricing, the first digit of the add-on is a currency designator. A 5 represents US dollars.

The remaining four digits represent the suggested list price. Leading zeros are used for prices less than $10. The price designator 9999 is used when the price is greater than $99.98. Below are some examples:

PRICE in US Dollars 5-digit add-on
$5.00 50500
$29.95 52995
$129.00 59999
Unknown at time of publication 90000

It is required that the number 90000 be used when the publisher has no particular information to represent.

When the add-on is used for internal reasons, the publisher may choose any number between 90000 and 98999.

[[I'm kind of curious as to why (which reason) my book had an 'unknown 90000' add-on code, when the price of the book was placed directly on the back cover prior to publication (so I wouldn't think there would be 'no particular information to represent', and I'm not certain what is meant by 'internal reasons' (versus external)...looking at a few other PA books I've purchased, they all seem to have it...very strange.]]

Numbers between 99000 and 99999 have been reserved for book industry-wide use. The Book Industry Systems Advisory Committee (BISAC) already has assigned part of this range to the National Association of College Stores (NACS). NACS has exclusive use of the add-on numbers 99990 through 99999, and has chosen 99990 as their "used book" designator and 99991 for "desk copies.""

"If people ignore the facts thats one thing."

It's not that people are ignoring the facts...it's that certain businesses are wanting to squash the facts...and have become quite adept at doing so (at least to their own folks).

"But keeping the facts silent because it's better for your ego to warn about possible sexual content, please."

I guess I didn't understand this one...I have a feeling you're referring to Dave...so will pass it on by...

Big Daddy West
:hat

On a side note, I thought Navigator's Pavidians comment was pretty funny...

On a related note, I have to say that it sort of works both ways...folks outside the PA board may call names and such...but PA authors are just as guilty, both on their board, and when they tend to venture out to defend their publisher. I don't believe it to be the main reason folks don't venture off the PA board, I think that has more to do with hearing truths that are contrary to what you've been led to believe...

Re: All kidding aside, what does getting into "Independ

"I don't believe it to be the main reason folks don't venture off the PA board, I think that has more to do with hearing truths that are contrary to what you've been led to believe..."

actually, I put a lot of it down to intentional ignorance - you look on the boards any day and you'll see a flurry of request for legal information; website design, grammar assistance and editing help going back and forth - and these people don't usually have any qualifications beyond being in the PA stable! Instead of doing a little bit of research and moving out of the safety of the circle they depend on each other not only for reviews, but for everything from website design (usually at a price...) and so forth.

True, there are qualified authors at PA who will gracefully give their help but I shudder when I see a post asking for grammar help or legal interpretation et al... instead of punching the question into a search engine or going to one of the many writing sites, they depend on their own for help - and that's not good.

I surf to about three or four writing sites daily; I'm sure most authors do the same. I doubt most of the PA authors have anything bookmarked other than the PA boards and their fellow authors' websites. I doubt any of them subscribe to the magazines and publications that would answer a lot of their questions and I sincerely doubt that many of them want to hear anything detrimental about PA. They wallow in their ignorance and want to remain there because it's safe and secure and they can huddle with their friends and exchange Amazon reviews and not discuss things like no-return policies (which don't exists, obviously - Infocenter said so!) or overpricing of their books. Fear is hard to get past and these people are just plain afraid.

Re: "PA authors" don't leave...

"James, you have every right to your opinions, and I hope your claims of having a lit agent and all are true - it is always good to see someone move up and succeed."

And I keep moving.

"Absent more substantiated proof, however, to me you look like another PA hack who's trying to tote the leash for his masters. Meiners must be proud."

And that's exactly why PA authors stay in their stable. It has nothing to do with the arguments, but everything to do with the treatment.

You know, some of us would actually just like to have a conversation about writing.

DJ

Re: "PA authors" don't leave...

You know, some of us would actually just like to have a conversation about writing.

Click to expand...

Those are ongoing in the writing forums. This is the "Bewares" forums. You aren't going to have a writing conversation here.

Re: "PA authors" don't leave...

DJ:
break loose from your chains and come visit in the novels section. plenty of writing talk going on there. everything bewares and everything pa is on the lower levels of the board. join us...join us...

[plays hypnotic music]

And we did make you happy...

Re: "PA authors" don't leave...

"break loose from your chains and come visit in the novels section. plenty of writing talk going on there."

Inevitably, due to the mentality seen above, someone learns my book is out from PA and the insults start flying.

PA authors don't venture out to these boards because those who are against PA can't see that the authors are not their enemy.

I've learned my lesson and I don't venture where I am not welcome.

DJ

Re: "PA authors" don't leave...

Canada James,

I don't think anyone here is AGAINST the authors of PA. I think they have a problem with those who feel the need to blindly defend PA, which, personally, I never saw you as doing.

Even before I felt I was lied to, I never felt the need to "defend my publisher". I don't think a publisher or any company you work for should need defending by its people. A publisher or company should stand on its own for its people.

I love the fact that anyone who says anything bad about PA is a "naysayer". That's great. Really slams those ears shut. Now anyone who doesn't agree with PA is "bad", "wrong", "trying to bring us down," "jealous", "has sour grapes", "is probably a disgruntled PA author". Add the "non banning" policy (where authors can read but not respond or defend themselves) and PA is a perfect society. Were I inside, I wouldn't want to come to this board either.

Just great.

Lisa

Someone from PA dared post on another board....

....and Mr. Marcus is reprimanding them per the below posting on the PA boards:

HBMarcus

2/15/2004
21:53:44
Subject: Linda and Tracy

Message:
What is your deal girls?
I got an email today saying we were being scuttled. When I check on it I see both of you singing the praises of mindsquat. I don't care what you do. It's none of my business.

I just want you to know that what is professed over there as a free forum was proven a joke a few months back. A few months back I made a bunch of unproven claims on their board and got thrown off their board. GUESS WHAT? That's exactly what they say about PA! I did it because I knew how the host would react. WHOOPS!

So, keep in mind that there are a few authors here who don't want our books diminished by what gets said over there. Keep in mind also that it's a free forum over there unless they're called upon to practice what they preach. So why fan their flame? You're only burning yourselves and us.

I think he is referring to the Mindsight Series boards, which, in my opinion, are an excellent source of writing and publishing information. I think HB has slipped a cog, now he's patrolling other boards, giving out reprimands, etc. Meiners must be slipping him a buck or two, or else he must not have a whole lot to do. I sure hope he enjoys PA, because he will never publish anyplace else of consequence, a real publisher would be an idiot to take him on given these types of tirades.

Re: Someone from PA dared post on another board....

well, now that he's decided he's the PA monitor of All That's Good About PA...

considering most of the biggest complainers here are ex-PA authors, I find DJ's claim to be rather curious...

Re: Someone from PA dared post on another board....

well, HB is always welcome here to come and discuss the merits of PA. We won't throw him off. but of course, his position would be weakened by a place where he could actually be forced to preach to anyone but the believers. he probably won't be back to talk with us anytime soon.

Re: Someone from PA dared post on another board....

Well, gee, Dodgem James, you could counter those insults by releasing your sales numbers.

Besides, I thought you came to this board to hang out with real writers. Now you don't want to talk about writing? That seems strange.

Re: Someone from PA dared post on another board....

www.publishamerica.com/cg...e/2414.htm

For those interested in following along (at least until it gets pulled...if it does)...

I was kind of curious why he went after Tracy as well...I saw the post in question (yes, he's referring to Mindsight), and all she did was thank someone for a good review...yes, others joined in later, but her post was rather innocent, I thought.

I wonder if he means "Lynn" instead of "Linda"...I didn't see any Linda person posting around there...

It's typical HB venom, however...how dare they even step foot over there...they're a bunch of whiners and losers, etc. (both of which he's used about Mindsight in multiple instances)...how dare they leave the confines of the PA board, where all is right with the world, and no one can upset the pirate ship...after all, "there are a few authors here who don't want our books diminished by what gets said over there."

Please......

(Hopefully it will stir up a nest of "do you mean we can't visit other writing boards?" commentary from the general population, leading to (voila!) more people realizing the troubles with PA...haha)

Big Daddy West
:hat

Re: Someone from PA dared post on another board....

well, at least one of them has the balls to tell HB to back off...

*chuckle*

it's funny how he feels personally slighted if anyone dares to post elsewhere... like somehow it's upon his shoulders if PA succeeds or fails...

if it were a public company, I'd say he has stock....

When you're the chief....

...PAvidian, the load you carry is a heavy, heavy one.....

Re: When you're the chief....

well, it seems that HB has pulled a disappearing trick for the moment; letting that post die. Too bad, I was hoping for him to take Lynn on about the entire "defend PA or die!" mantra...

ah, well...

*chuckles*

Gee, now it's 6000 authors

The follow is quoted from the PublishAmerica forum as a service to writers who may wish to discuss the claims it makes:

Subject: E-mail from PA


Message:
I recently e-mailed PA, letting them know of the guestbook slammer. Here is their response:

We will remove the thread that you mention.
Unfortunately, there will always be a disgruntled clown or two who will say, or do, anything to try to make other people's lives as miserable as their own. We do not know why someone would spread rumors known to be untrue. What we do know is that this person can never silence the mass choir of happily published author voices that they see on our message board.
The disgruntled's is a lonely voice, and never has anyone made a credible complaint about us at any time, anywhere, about any issue. Our track record is impeccable.
You want to keep in mind that PublishAmerica is revolutionizing the publishing industry. Change always comes with an occasional detractor, because such is the nature of change. The same pathetic voice that you mentioned in your message also tried to disparage PublishAmerica's authors four or five years ago, with no effect whatsoever.
Rather the opposite has been, and continues to be, the case: last year more than twelve thousand authors knocked on our doors hoping to join you as PublishAmerica authors, and roughly twenty percent of them are passing our tests.
Today, with more than 6,000 authors whose books we are making available to a nationwide audience in rapid-fire fashion, we have become America's largest traditional publisher. We are making the dreams come true of people such as yourself, at no cost to them, in numbers greater than the world has ever seen!

Ok, slammers! Slam that! Just thought ya'll might want to read PA's response to me. Isn't it grand!

Cynthia Hickey
Pursued by Evil
publishedauthors.net/cynthiahickey

Re: Gee, now it's 6000 authors

well, can't be talking about me - I've only been a PA victim for a year now...

*snicker*

Re: Gee, now it's 6000 authors

you hear speeches like that coming from all kinds of people...zealots, dictators, etc.

i'll repeat:

"and we did make you happy."

Re: Gee, now it's 6000 authors

Ah, those lonely disgruntled's. My heart goes out to them.

- Victoria

Re: Gee, now it's 6000 authors

"We do not know why someone would spread rumors known to be untrue."

Unless, of course, they happen to be about people who don't follow the PA party line...