Re: Another Unhappy 9000-And-Something Happy Author
Okay…it’s taken awhile to get to this primarily because my wife and I started our vacation last week and we’ve been rather quite busy since then. Nevertheless, I wanted to post this just in case there might be that aspiring writer out there looking for the perfect publisher to come along and sweep them off their feet—beware of this one, however…PublishAmerica.
If I don’t respond to anyone ASAP, it isn’t because I’m rude, it’s because I’ve returned to my vacationing…but there’s always the chance that I will.
By the way, my name’s Tim Johnson. It’s been great to see everyone taking the time to help people make sound decisions. All of you have been wonderfully informative and compassionate.
Anyhow, I just wanted to pitch in on giving some info. Here’s where being associated with a so-called “traditional” publisher has gotten me thus far—it’s been about two years now, I believe.<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/image/posticons/pi_cry.gif" />
My most recent e-mail to a PA employee:
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<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/image/posticons/pi_sharpteeth.gif" />To Whom It May Concern:
If all rights to my novel, Twisted Oak: Eyes of Discernment, are not returned to me within two weeks, I will submit complaints against PublishAmerica to the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI, the BBB, the Maryland AG’s office, and any other organization or site on the World Wide Web that I can possibly find.
In short: I want you to stop publishing my book, and I want you to give it back to me—no strings attached.
As of now, you have a choice. Both completely return the rights to my book over to me and remove it from all databases and catalogs so that it doesn’t show up as being a PA book. Either do this, or I will make good on the promise above and be just one more voice among the vast many that have filed complaints that PA is a scam and has deceived many.
If you try and threaten me in any way concerning my book, I will aggressively follow through with my promise.
Sincerely,
Tim Johnson
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<img border=0 src="http://www.absolutewrite.com/images/EmoteShrug.gif" />The PA employee’s response:
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<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/image/posticons/pi_bigsmile.gif" />Dear Mr. Johnson,
Do not address us in such a tone. For now, in the absence of any reasons,
your contract termination request must be denied, and your contract remains
fully in place.
Also, there are not now, nor have there ever been any "vast many"
complaints of any kind. There is no problem, nor has there ever been. While
the Internet can present you with a vast wealth of information, it has also
been littered with misconceptions and myths by less than honest individuals.
Normally we don't even respond to occasional preposterous bits of comedy
that may show up on the web. To refute them implies that they are credible,
which they are not. Negativity on the web may be found concerning all
publishers.
Various industry pundits, literally dozens of lawyers, and 9000 very happy
authors disagree with the information you have chosen as fact. We have not
heard such issues from any credible source. Our name is probably "up in
lights" in the press somewhere each and every day, and all of it is positive.
Our reputation in the industry is, and always has been, stellar, and we
cherish our authors, as their number steadily grows. We have had,
throughout our history, very few problems of any kind. In our hundreds of
thousands of business transactions, we have had an extraordinarily small
number of complaints, and to our knowledge, all have been resolved. We are
growing rapidly, with upwards of a million books sold, in physical brick
and mortar bookstores and elsewhere.
We would, however, be interested in coherent reasons for your making such
an unusual request. Depending on your reasoning, and your level of
politeness, we may reconsider your request at our next review meeting, to
be held at our leisure. Please email your polite query to
[email protected]
<hr />
<img border=0 src="http://www.absolutewrite.com/images/emoteHammer.gif" />I’ve heard all of this before, and it’s getting old. I also wanted to add that I’m one of the many that signed the petition, and I’ll be forming some other letters to send to the appropriate authorities very soon.
Well folks, I’ve got to be going for now. Take care everyone.
Sincerely,
Tim<img border=0 src="http://www.absolutewrite.com/images/EmoteHeadbang.gif" />