Self-purchased books at PA

DaveKuzminski · Mar 6, 2005

How many copies of your own book did you purchase from PA? This is of interest because we're gathering more information to find out just how many books PA is actually selling to real customers rather than their authors. Please participate.

Keep in mind that you don't have to do anything more than post. We're not looking to hold anyone up for embarrassment, so there's no need to make a separate post below the actual poll.

Renee · Mar 6, 2005

Hum..I think I purchased about 30 of Tangled Web. Purchased zero of Break the Chain.

Ok, and I just voted in the poll, I didn't even see it the first time! lol..

Lisa Y · Mar 6, 2005

Dave,

I purchased 50 once, got 10 for free and royalties on the 50. That was my biggest royalty check. The rest of my sales (maybe 16 or so) were due to the people that got the order form pretending to be an announcement (in other words, friends and family). "My fault" I guess as I stopped trying to market when local papers wouldn't review it and local stores wouldn't stock it.

astonwest · Mar 6, 2005

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=109912&postcount=8885

As I stated in the post linked above, my total purchased was 143. I stopped trying to sell them many months ago (along with trying to market my book at all), and still have over forty copies left...ugh...

Have only received three requests around here for copies...very strange.

pasoroblan2003 · Mar 6, 2005

I've bought about 120 altogether, over a three year period. The last batch I bought was a special offer deal last July...I had my concerns about PA before then, but that was the end of it all for me. And the 50 books I bought are still in the boxes...I did manage to sell most of the 70 before that, but I've also given some away, sent some out as review copies, etc. Buying our own books to resell is pathetic and sad. But I bought into the whole "you have to market yourself" baloney. Now I have books and no one to sell them to.

Savannah Blue · Mar 6, 2005

I haven't bought any, thank goodness! I asked friends and family not to buy them after I found out what a scam PublishAmerica is. I'm sorry I ever sent them one name. I'm further sorry to learn I had sold 7 copies when my statement finally came yesterday. I hate the fact that the company has profited one red cent off of my work and I hate that people were fleeced out of $16.95 for what could barely pass as a rough first draft. Most of all I just purely hate PublishAmerica!

Geeze, sounds like I need a chill pill, huh?

Sher2 · Mar 6, 2005

I haven't bought a single copy, nor will I. I'd rather kiss Willem, Larry, or Moe-randa. :roll:

bluwinteryfox · Mar 6, 2005

My husband suggested we purchase 10 copies just in case the 10 the book store ordered for my signing didn't arrive.

Kevin Yarbrough · Mar 7, 2005

Sherry, Willem here. I know you bought copies, I have the edited figures to prove it. So I will be awaiting that kiss. Please come by the ofice at your conveience. Since I am on the verge of a publishing revolution I do accept email kisses but they must be attached to the body of the email so as I can see who it is sending the kiss.

If you have any questions feel free to email me @authorsupport.com

Willem Meiners

PS- Please do kiss me. Miranda and Larry aren't getting any prettier, not to mention the mustache is tickling me. Thank God Larry shaves.

SeanDSchaffer · Mar 8, 2005

To tell you the honest truth, Dave, I think I've bought about 6 to 10 copies -- I generally buy them two-at-a-time because of my low income.

I'm thinking about possibly purchasing one more copy because it has a new cover now, but with the lack of marketing I've experienced, I'm thinking I'll probably have to see if PA will be willing to terminate my contract; I simply don't have the ability with my income (I'm a Social Security Disability Recipient) to actively market a book through purchasing copies of it to sell on consignment.

Besides that, I was never exactly totally pleased with the book as I had submitted it to PA. I didn't really give it a well-thought-out title; the cover I designed was not exactly the best work I've ever done as an amateur artist; and the story was a difficult read in many places due to stinted writing. I would love to be able to give it the complete overhaul I've always wanted to finish it up with and try to publish it again under a different title and with a more reputable house.

It's a tough road to have to follow, but like people always say, you live and you learn. After my first royalty check and the fact I sold maybe six books through PA's site within a period of six months, I think I'm learning an awful lot right now. One thing I've learned is that I chose the wrong publisher for my book.

I will give PA this, though. I've been able to hold my own work in my own hands in a format other than computer-generated manuscript. And for that small bit of emotion -- as well the framed dollar bill hanging on my wall above my computer desk -- I'm decently happy.

DaveKuzminski · Mar 9, 2005

No one has to apologize. There are plenty of valid reasons for buying your own books. We're interested in numbers only.

Please encourage any friends of yours who are PA authors to participate. We need a sampling of more than 35 authors.

DaveKuzminski · Mar 14, 2005

Remember, we need facts. The facts we need can come only from PA writers, both current and former. If you know any PA authors, ask them to come here, participate in the poll, and look around to see that there's a wealth of information on writing and publishing that's free for them to use.

DaveKuzminski · Mar 17, 2005

Okay, now we're getting responses again. Let's get the word out there that this poll can be answered without revealing your identity. We need to double the number of respondents, so please urge other PA authors to participate.

Keep in mind that this is also a way for every PA author past and present to gain a look at the true picture of where PA gets its money. Believe me, that's important to know, particularly for those writers trying to break free from PA.

Moondancer · Mar 17, 2005

given some of the information on the big thread it might be interesting to find out where the ordered books came from... considering some thought perhaps there is another small press that PA uses for printing books.

I know they tout Lightning Source as the printer but if they are using another small press, it's not a big leap from the lie of stating only Lightning Source to hiding the numbers printed through the other printer to fudging royalty numbers.

Renee · Mar 22, 2005

I thought there would be more replies to this by now. There are alot of ex-PA'ers over here.

astonwest · Mar 23, 2005

Renee Bagley said:
I thought there would be more replies to this by now. There are alot of ex-PA'ers over here.

I imagine quite a few probably don't want to admit to how many they bought...but that's just a guess on my part.

DaveKuzminski · Mar 23, 2005

Well, I suspect that PA gave us some valuable information when they admitted that over 1,000 books never sold a single copy. That means that just under a tenth of all their writers didn't self-purchase. I'd guess that an equal number self-purchased a couple of books to give as gifts to family members and close friends. However, that would imply that the rest, or approximately four-fifths, of the PA authors bought 50 or more of their own books.

It just occurred to me that there's one other question that needs to be asked of those who self-purchased. Did they purchase direct from PA or from a store in order to prime the pump in the hope of getting that store to stock some on its shelves?

In the meantime, remind everyone that participating in the voting portion of this topic doesn't reveal their identity. Only they will know whether they voted and how.

SeanDSchaffer · Mar 23, 2005

Answer to Dave Kusminski's new question

DaveKuzminski said:
It just occurred to me that there's one other question that needs to be asked of those who self-purchased. Did they purchase direct from PA or from a store in order to prime the pump in the hope of getting that store to stock some on its shelves?

In answer to your question, Dave, I bought my books from the PA bookstore itself. Besides not having an account with Amazon or other such places, at the time I thought it would be cheaper to buy direct from the Publisher.

Renee · Mar 23, 2005

astonwest said:
I imagine quite a few probably don't want to admit to how many they bought...but that's just a guess on my part.

That's probably true! But no one knows who voted unless they post here saying that they did. So hopefully others will realize that and go ahead and vote!

astonwest · Mar 25, 2005

SeanDSchaffer said:
I bought my books from the PA bookstore itself. Besides not having an account with Amazon or other such places, at the time I thought it would be cheaper to buy direct from the Publisher.

Ummmm, but wouldn't it have been cheaper still to purchase your books through their phone number (not through their online store)? I was always under the impression that was the only way to get the author discount......

I suppose it depends on how many books were purchased, taking into account royalties and whatnot...

astonwest · Mar 25, 2005

Renee Bagley said:
So hopefully others will realize that and go ahead and vote!

Hopefully...

T42 · Mar 25, 2005

Renee Bagley said:
That's probably true! But no one knows who voted unless they post here saying that they did. So hopefully others will realize that and go ahead and vote!

I would rather choke then buy any of my books from them. I have sent letters to all friends and family members telling them not to buy any and I have posted a review on amazon with my book stating the truth and welcome anyone who wants to post facts (info) to feel free. Jenna put the link to the book up but it's on the pa post. Just search Memory McDermott

You all have a nice Easter Weekend!

Renee · Mar 25, 2005

I'd rather them choke, Mem..lol..*PA*

And Big Daddy a.k.a. aston: Yes, hopefully, but still the poll isn't moving fast enough for me!

:guns:

Pull out the big gun folks: vote, save a life: It could be one of our own! :Guitar:

Really though we all need to stick together and get something done about PA. Things like voting can only help.

T42 · Mar 26, 2005

Renee Bagley said:
I'd rather them choke, Mem..lol..*PA*

And Big Daddy a.k.a. aston: Yes, hopefully, but still the poll isn't moving fast enough for me!

Pull out the big gun folks: vote, save a life: It could be one of our own! Really though we all need to stick together and get something done about PA. Things like voting can only help.

That was good Renee, I need to get over here more often. :roll:

Renee · Mar 26, 2005

T42 said:
That was good Renee, I need to get over here more often.

I have my moments, Mem.. :wag:

Self-purchased books at PA

How many copies of your PA book did you purchase?

1 to 50 copies

51 to 100 copies

101 to 200 copies

201 to 500 copies

501 to 1000 copies

Over 1000 copies

0 copies

Preditors & Editors

Picked last in gym

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

None

Auroraless ExPAtriate

fun's my middle name

Will write for peace of mind

SeanDSchaffer

Preditors & Editors

Preditors & Editors

Preditors & Editors

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

Preditors & Editors

SeanDSchaffer

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

Herb Lady

Herb Lady