• Guest please check The Index before starting a thread.

Keith Publications (Mary Keith)

Sundance

Registered
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Can anyone advise me about Keith Publications located in AZ and how they respond to writers?
 

MaryMumsy

the original blond bombshell
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Messages
3,396
Reaction score
829
Location
Scottsdale, Arizona
You're in the wrong sub forum. A mod will port you over to bewares and background checks. Please make sure your seat belt is fastened and that your tray table is in the upright and locked position.

MM
ps: welcome to AW
 

Sundance

Registered
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Thanks for correcting my error, but I'm still at a loss in being able to answer my query.
 

DreamWeaver

Shakespearean Fool
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2005
Messages
2,916
Reaction score
403
This is the right place, but if only a few people have experiece with that publisher, it may take a while for you to get answers. Have patience, and welcome to AW!

ETA: I took a look at the Wicked Ink Press imprint at the link CaoPaux gave above. On the New Products page, all the authors are listed as "manufacturer". WTF????? In another strangeness, the cover of one of their new releases clearly shows the title is "Shooting Stars", but the book is consistently listed as "Shoot Stars" thoughout the website.

I then clicked to read an excerpt from "Shoot Stars." In the first two sentences the MC contemplates a locker door (or possibly a mirror on the locker door) which she had twisted into a tight braid that morning. Read about it here: http://www.wickedinkpress.com/excerpts/shootingstarsexcerpt.html

I'm underwhelmed. YMMV.
 
Last edited:

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
From the first page of its Google cache:

Keith Publications
wants your submissions.

That's enough to convince me they're not someone I'd submit to. Publishers should focus on selling their books to potential readers, not trying to recruit writers. Readers are the ones who buy things. If writers are paying, then something's wrong.
 

DreamWeaver

Shakespearean Fool
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2005
Messages
2,916
Reaction score
403
Besides, as a romance publisher that accepts hot romance and erotica, I don't know how they ever resisted wording that as:

Keith Publications
wants your submission.

:D
 
Last edited:

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
13,952
Reaction score
1,746
Location
Coastal Desert
Just a note that they've cleared the hack.
 

SBibb

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
1,573
Reaction score
116
Website
sbibb.wordpress.com
Out of curiousity, I was wondering if there was any new word on Keith Publications? I'm considering working with them creating cover art, but I wasn't sure if anyone's had previous experience with them. I know they do art through royalties and work for hire. I just thought I'd see whether or not they'd been reputable.

Thanks. :)
 

Nigel Gallimore

Author and part-time journalist
Registered
Joined
Jun 14, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Upminster, London
Hi Stephanie:
I've just been offered a publishing contract with Keith Publications - to be honest, I've done my research; and they don't seem to be anything else but a small publisher (founded in 2001) who are waiting, like us, for their big break. I've querried them about a small section of the contract they've sent me; and I'm just awaiting their reply. However, although I'm still thinking this through, I am kind of thinking that I'll go with them.
Don't know if that is any help.
Nigel.
 

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess
Kind Benefactor
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
6,704
Reaction score
1,314
Location
Far from the madding crowd
Website
www.victoriastrauss.com
I saw a Keith Publications contract last year and it had a truly horrible termination clause that, among other things, delayed the return of rights beyond the contract's termination date. Don't know if that's still in the contract, but be sure to check the termination/reversion language.

- Victoria
 

keithpublications

Registered
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Keith Publications didn't start until 2010 not 2001. We did start building our staff in 2009. We are a small publisher, but not a publisher you have to pay to publish your book. We are now doing print books along with our e-books. We might take longer to get a book out, because we have good editors and we want quality not quantity, if it means a book that doesn't look like it's been edited. We have new lines coming out in 2013. KP has three imprint sites and we publish everything from poetry, how-to, children’s picture books, fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, westerns, sweet romance to erotica. This is why we have three imprint sites. WE don’t put erotica with children’s picture books. Our contract, I’m told is a fair contract, from an agent that sends KP lots of work. Yes, we will work with an agent or with the author.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
Keith Publications didn't start until 2010 not 2001.


From your own website:

Keith Publications started in 1985

We might take longer to get a book out, because we have good editors and we want quality not quantity, if it means a book that doesn't look like it's been edited.

Call me old fashioned, but I'd far rather have my books look like they've been edited, and edited well.

We have new lines coming out in 2013. KP has three imprint sites and we publish everything from poetry, how-to, children’s picture books, fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, westerns, sweet romance to erotica. This is why we have three imprint sites.

That's quite a broad sweep of genres, keithpublications. Do you have editors who have worked in and specialise in each of them? If not, how do you know that you're doing the best you can for each of the books you publish?

WE don’t put erotica with children’s picture books. Our contract, I’m told is a fair contract, from an agent that sends KP lots of work. Yes, we will work with an agent or with the author.

Who is the agent who sends you a lot of work?
 

aliceshortcake

Wilde about Oscar
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 4, 2010
Messages
1,633
Reaction score
258
Location
Oop North
Our contract, I’m told is a fair contract, from an agent that sends KP lots of work. Yes, we will work with an agent or with the author.

If Keith Publications is only now beginning to diversify into print books, this agent must have been sending "lots of work" your way when you were solely an e-publisher. Correct me if I'm wrong, but e-publishers don't pay advances. What did the agent stand to gain by sending clients to you?
 

Nigel Gallimore

Author and part-time journalist
Registered
Joined
Jun 14, 2012
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Upminster, London
Keith Publications

It was me, incidentally, who said they started in 2001 - it was obvioulsy my mistake and Mary was right to correct it. I have been offered a number of publishing contracts since my last Blog and I have to say, Victoria, I can't see anything wrong with KP's. I was origionally querrying the copyright clause, which Mary has since explained to me. KP seem to be a very genuine publisher and after a great deal of thought I have decided to go with them. I'll obvioulsy Blog if there are any issues, but I'm just checking the manuscript, one more time as Mary asked in a recent e-mail, then I am going to sign the contract.
 

Ashlynnmonroe

Registered
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Avoid Keith Publications

The contract is horrible. I have been trying to get away since 2010. I have reports from other authors they had similar problems. The company is predatory. I haven't had a statement in so long I'm not sure if anything was sent in 2013. This publisher is a NIGHTMARE! Every author I personally know who is or has worked with them is unhappy. Keith seeks out publishing virgins to sacrifice to the gods of publishers behaving badly. The website was shut down and never even rebuilt. They only publish the books to Amazon. Everything about this company screams stranger danger! I wish someone had warned me off when I was a sweet innocent newbie in this publishing world.