Return of a Man Named PAMB and its Quotes

Manuel Royal

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Hello, Esteemed AUTHOR

I am writing to you in earnest because of the potential of earning millions of US Dollars for your book, "TITLED WORK." I am the son of Mr. Zamir Rimaz, recipient of the Supreme Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Sorbonne in Boston, U.S. I have been authorized to offer you the millions of potential US dollars for TITLED WORK as your name has come to my attention through a network of reliable persons who have completed the qualifying task of obtaining an e-mail address.

Please respond to me immediately with a check in the amount of $560 so I may hire a detective to locate any quality in TITLED WORK, which may, God willing, earn millions of US dollars in the next year.

God Bless You,
Mizar Rimaz Zamir
Millions of US dollars? I can't afford not to do this! How do I make out that check?
 

Unimportant

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Oh, no. What is this "paid to have my book sent to Canada"?

Just paid to have my first book sent to Canada since there are a lot of Boulets in Canada and where my ancestor Robert moved to upon leaving France. I hope it does well. Thank you Publish America!

Adding: I'm guessing it's one of their many paid services. I took a look but was feeling pretty sick to my stomach after the first page. Get a PDF version of your manuscript: $99. Get a copy of your contract: $50. Get your name sent unsolicited to media outlets: $399. Have your book converted to Kindle: $59. Have your book converted to Nook: $59. Have us write your book proposal (WTF?): $89. Change your back cover text: $49.
 
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Marie Pacha

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Willem has a new message to PA authors in which he discusses the BBB and not in a complimentary manner. In his message, he states that PA is not a member of the BBB, and they are not now. They used to be. They used to advertise it on their website until their rating fell to an F. Willem forgot to mention that.
 

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The subject header reads "Thank you for talking my book to Harlequin" but it might just as well read "Thank you for taking my money and doing sod-all for it."

I paid for the banner and Harlequin for the book expo in NY. If Harlequin wants my book that would be awesome and i'd like them to re-edit it for punctuation if they do.
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My second book will be ready in a month or less and I hope to have it publish as well.
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Words fail me.
 

Miss Plum

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Just paid to have my first book sent to Canada since there are a lot of Boulets in Canada and where my ancestor Robert moved to upon leaving France. I hope it does well. Thank you Publish America!
I envision boxes of books addressed to "Canada, North America" with insufficient postage.
 

Richard Falk

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A disgruntled author writes:

People; Publish America authors: How many of you are making money on book sales. I'm at zero with my three books. Is Publish America staying in business by selling our books to Aliens on another planet?

No, my friend. If you want to see who buys PublishAmerica's books and keeps them in business, consult your nearest mirror: it's you and your fellow authors.

Another writer agrees, stating:

I have made no money and have had no statements but it could very well be my fault.....I have not done one thing to promote either of my books....

You're not the only one who hasn't done a thing to promote your books. Your putative publisher hasn't, either.

At least one author on the thread seems pleased — although unsurprisingly, PA don't seem to have had any kind of a hand in her modest success:

I had my first novel published in Oct 2011. As of this date I have sold over fifty copies. I know this because I am the one who ordered them, set up signings, and sold them. I purchase them during the discount offerings @ under $10.00 and resale them for $13.00. Not a big profit but they are out there and being read. Is this the way it should be done . . . I don't think so.

Well, neither do I. But with a PA book, it's just about the only way it can be done.
 

ResearchGuy

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Need link(s) to contract cancellation offers

Can someone provide link(s) to contract cancellation offers? I know PA has had several, but I see no sign of where I'd find them at their site. (Please skip the judgments. I'm simply seeking information for someone who asked me.)

Thanks.

--Ken
 

Gillhoughly

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I purchase them during the discount offerings @ under $10.00 and resale them for $13.00. Not a big profit but they are out there and being read.

Did you figure in the 3.99-6.99 shipping per copy? Your gas to get to the signing? The food? If so, then you made no profit at all.

But PA sure as hell did.
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ResearchGuy

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Richard Falk

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Another author adds her woes on the PAMB thread about poor (or non-existent) book sales:

I have had verey few sales but I chalk it up to the economy. People need money for necessities right now. Maybe books would be splurging for them.

At PA's inflated prices, it would indeed. Not that there's a huge market for barely-edited slush without any meaningful distribution in the first place.

And no, I sold no books at the book signing after the convention but I'm not disheartened yet. I'm hanging in there.

Since this is the author to whom the Infomonster was so notoriously rude a couple of years back (barking out "quit the crap!" at her when she'd speculated that her inability to get PA on the phone could mean they'd slipped into liquidation, then banning her from the PAMB when she demanded an apology for that discourtesy) it's amazing that she still feels positive about her "publisher". Then again, there are plenty of people in dysfunctional relationships who stay loyal to the partner that abuses them.
 

Richard Falk

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And the sad tales just continue:

i'm also in the same boat.

I have promoted the book, on the internet, in person.

I dont know what else to do.

Only solution I can think of is to write another book and place it with a legitimate commercial publisher.

I donated a copy of my book to the library, I have no idea what ever happened to it, since it was never put on the shelf.

Sadly, I suspect it was donated again — to the waste bin.
 

Gillhoughly

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Yanno, most of their victims could have avoided all of this by reading just a couple books from their library's 808 section to learn how publishing is supposed to work.

I only say most, instead of ALL, since there's always going to be a few who think they can beat the system.

Vegas casinos love them too.
 

RedRajah

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Yanno, most of their victims could have avoided all of this by reading just a couple books from their library's 808 section to learn how publishing is supposed to work.

I only say most, instead of ALL, since there's always going to be a few who think they can beat the system.

Vegas casinos love them too.

Yeah, but even Vegas knows enough to protect themselves by being aware of gambling addiction and referring problem cases to be aware of Gamblers Anonymous to get help. (can't get money if the pigeons are bankrupt).

PA makes them pay for the abuse and doesn't want them to get any help. :(
 

Jill Karg

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Dang been gone for a while and PA hasn't changed it tune and get this they made my book now 34.95 I laughed so hard and said a couple of words that can only be described as f&*# and so forth. Here I thought I hadn't been spammed for a while too and then remembered sent their spam straight to trash were all their correspondence should go. Still counting down years until I can tell them to shove it. Miss you all and I'll try not to be a stranger.