I wonder if anyone has heard of this publisher Libros International. The publisher says it's a startup by two authors and it's a POD, but they make you purchase 100 of your own books.
Is this legit even?
Is this legit even?
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Libros International / Wild Cherry Press
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As a publisher? No, it's not legit in any way.
If you mean is that a legitimate codicil in a contract to have the book printed? Sure, it is perfectly legal if you sign off on it.
Regards,
Scott
Oy. This from the site:
Libros International was formed in 2006 by two authors frustrated by the lack of publishing opportunities available to new authors. Both were rejected by agents stating "we don't deal with unpublished authors" and inevitably by publishing houses claiming "we only deal with agents." A classic catch 22 to use Joseph Heller's immortal title.
Having gone through such negative channels, they set up their own company in order to give new authors that seemingly elusive opportunity of 'being published.'"
Could it be that they submitted their mss. to scam agents? Or, maybe, they sent their mss. to legit agents who weren't taking on new clients (and somehow misconstrued what was written in those rejections). I mean, if they've read agent blogs, like Rachel Vater's or Kristin Nelson's, they would've seen that they're taking on new writers. Legit agents take on unpublished authors all the time, for heaven's sake (unless, as mentioned before, agents decide they have enough clients to deal with at the moment).
Ooo, and publishing houses "claiming" to only deal with agents. If they'd done their research, they would've found this was true for most of the biggies, although you can still submit directly to places like Tor (and expect to wait about a year or more to receive back a reply).
Then there's this:
And there's what they say about buying 100 books:
"The author must ‘expose’ their own book to as many people as they can. This can be via reviews, gifts to radio personalities, book clubs, newspaper columnists etc. Libros will be doing a similar exercise. It’s all about exposure and that one book passed onto a friend of a friend of a friend may just find its way to a certain Mr Speilburg or end up with the paperback reviewer from the Mail on Sunday or The New York Times."
Huh? Author, you have to trust to luck or the Fates in order for your book to gain the limelight. Or something.
I'm sorry, but if that's the best this "publisher" can do, I'd say no and move on to the next publisher (or start querying agents).
One last thing. If you're claiming to be a publisher, little things like spelling mean a lot: It's Spielberg. Sorry, but nothing gets me more irked when I see spelling mistakes like this. Doesn't give me much (if any) confidence as to their editing abilities.
~Nancy
"A Publisher run by Authors
Libros International was formed in 2006 by two authors frustrated by the lack of publishing opportunities available to new authors. Both were rejected by agents stating "we don't deal with unpublished authors" and inevitably by publishing houses claiming "we only deal with agents." A classic catch 22 to use Joseph Heller's immortal title.
Having gone through such negative channels, they set up their own company in order to give new authors that seemingly elusive opportunity of 'being published.'"
Could it be that they submitted their mss. to scam agents? Or, maybe, they sent their mss. to legit agents who weren't taking on new clients (and somehow misconstrued what was written in those rejections). I mean, if they've read agent blogs, like Rachel Vater's or Kristin Nelson's, they would've seen that they're taking on new writers. Legit agents take on unpublished authors all the time, for heaven's sake (unless, as mentioned before, agents decide they have enough clients to deal with at the moment).
Ooo, and publishing houses "claiming" to only deal with agents. If they'd done their research, they would've found this was true for most of the biggies, although you can still submit directly to places like Tor (and expect to wait about a year or more to receive back a reply).
Then there's this:
"What makes us different?
- We will not reject any author because he or she is previously unpublished.
- We accept all genres of writing.
- When you send us your manuscript, WE WILL READ IT."
And there's what they say about buying 100 books:
"The author must ‘expose’ their own book to as many people as they can. This can be via reviews, gifts to radio personalities, book clubs, newspaper columnists etc. Libros will be doing a similar exercise. It’s all about exposure and that one book passed onto a friend of a friend of a friend may just find its way to a certain Mr Speilburg or end up with the paperback reviewer from the Mail on Sunday or The New York Times."
Huh? Author, you have to trust to luck or the Fates in order for your book to gain the limelight. Or something.
I'm sorry, but if that's the best this "publisher" can do, I'd say no and move on to the next publisher (or start querying agents).
One last thing. If you're claiming to be a publisher, little things like spelling mean a lot: It's Spielberg. Sorry, but nothing gets me more irked when I see spelling mistakes like this. Doesn't give me much (if any) confidence as to their editing abilities.
~Nancy
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Yet Another Vanity Press run by the clueless.
And a 100 books via POD would be mighty $$$.
And a 100 books via POD would be mighty $$$.
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They better watch out or Victor Cretella will soon be sending them threatening letters. That's PA's pitch.
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It always makes my heart skip a beat and brings a tear of joy to my eye whenever I see another couple of writers, who could not get published, open a publishing company.
It's a vanity press run by two guys who probably have good intentions but lack the knowledge, contacts, experience, and funding it takes to become a commercial publisher.
Like Uncle Jim says, "Money always flows towards the author."
It's a vanity press run by two guys who probably have good intentions but lack the knowledge, contacts, experience, and funding it takes to become a commercial publisher.
Like Uncle Jim says, "Money always flows towards the author."
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Guess what!?
I know Libros. How? Because I'm a new writer and I joined a local writing circle. Libros approached the circle in order to use the members to review their manuscripts!?! My eyebrows were well-raised, but the other members (mostly British pensioners, I live in Spain) seemed to be all for it. So, this random group of amateur writing individuals are reviewing these manuscripts. For free! It's astonishing.
They have also been pushing their services onto the group.
Next thing, today, I hear they have targetted local school children by running a writing competition. They picked 100+ winners (!) and will be publishing the collection. Thus, parents and family will buy this collection.
Not good. Not good at all. Skullduggery abounds.
I know Libros. How? Because I'm a new writer and I joined a local writing circle. Libros approached the circle in order to use the members to review their manuscripts!?! My eyebrows were well-raised, but the other members (mostly British pensioners, I live in Spain) seemed to be all for it. So, this random group of amateur writing individuals are reviewing these manuscripts. For free! It's astonishing.
They have also been pushing their services onto the group.
Next thing, today, I hear they have targetted local school children by running a writing competition. They picked 100+ winners (!) and will be publishing the collection. Thus, parents and family will buy this collection.
Not good. Not good at all. Skullduggery abounds.
here's the article about the kids competition
Note they won't be giving the winners a book for free. They have to buy it!
http://www.costablancaleader.com/news/article.php?article_id=12090
Note they won't be giving the winners a book for free. They have to buy it!
http://www.costablancaleader.com/news/article.php?article_id=12090
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Sorry to disagree, but no way is this run by people who have good intentions but lack knowledge. These guys know how to make money out of wannabe writers - even from innocent children. They even charge per head for entry to the awards ceremony for these kids to receive their diploma and a contract. A contract which, if signed by a parent or gaurdian, means the sale of a lot of books directly from Libros. Work it out. A minimum of 50 compelled to buy books from 105 child authors equals a fair amount of revenue into Libros's coffers.
I know something about Libros because I subbed to them in order to find out what they are all about. When they accepted my book and sent me a contract, I declined and rejected them.
When you find yourself dealing with a director who has multiple personas, and responds to your contract queries with evasive non-answers from a hotmail address, you can see the writing on the wall and know it's time to back-pedal.
When you find yourself dealing with a director who has multiple personas, and responds to your contract queries with evasive non-answers from a hotmail address, you can see the writing on the wall and know it's time to back-pedal.
Is he sure?
Does this bloke know what he's talking about. I've heard that Libros International may be a new company but that they are providing a first class service and a lot of support for up and coming authors. How can that be a bad thing?
Does this bloke know what he's talking about. I've heard that Libros International may be a new company but that they are providing a first class service and a lot of support for up and coming authors. How can that be a bad thing?
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Care to state who you heard this from? PA authors run amok on the internet proclaiming the virtues of Publish America. That doesn't make PA anything other than a scamming vanity press.
JCT
Banned
The sour grapes comment may be obvious, but look at the previous comments. Seems to me it's obvious because it's probably true!
From Libros International's FAQ page:
Bollocks. Professional publishers do pay advances to unknown authors because 'proper' publishers have books on sale in bookshops, which they sell to the public for a profit. Advances are calculated by professional publishers against the volume of books they think that they will sell.
I've heard of publishing companies adapting hooks/synopsis briefs produced by agents or authors, but the publishers are the ones who work out internally what to use.
That's because publishers will decide on marketing campaigns to promote your book, work on cover design, print setting, deals with physical booksellers and setting up distribution chains to get them to physical book stores.
Yes - marketing helps. Professional publishers do this without "expecting" their own authors do buy 100 copies and give it to people just on the off-chance. Professional publishers have a plan that involves book fares, discussing with book store's buying departments, providing review copies for free to reviewers etc etc. Professional publishers aren't banking on authors using six degrees of separation to get Senor Spielbergo to make a film out of it.
Jill - as an author published with Libros International, can you tell us whether you bought 100 copies of your book? If not, have you bought any copies of your book? How you earnt any royalties from sales? Do you know how many copies have been sold roughly?
Give me a frickin' break. They'll be advising authors to use lollipop stands next.
Wow - from 100 to a potential 125 copies that authors are expected to buy (on the assumption that this isn't covered in the author's first purchase of 100 copies). Again, professional publishers will have marketing departments who will liase with local radio and tv stations but professional publishers know it's more important to get the product onto physical bookshelves.
The key word here is available - that doesn't mean that it's actually physically present on book shelves in your local book store.
Great. They spam for your benefit. Can someone tell me what the Cloaked Dagger award is, please. I know what the CWA Dagger Awards are but Google isn't turning up anything about Cloaked Dagger awards. Also, a mate of mine interned on Richard & Judy - the show's inundated with requests from professional publishers, many of whom have editors who know the producers - how do Libros International plan to break through to the coveted Reading List?
Which charity benefits from the proceeds and what proportion of the proceeds have been verifiably paid to that charity? Talented children who want to learn to write are better off honing their skills and submitting to reputable agents and publishers, not to amateur operations that sell the books back to their own parents. That's just wrong and frankly, pretty sick.
Also, before you bat around the yawn-inducing libel and sour grapes accusations, perhaps you should check out the profiles of some of the posters of these thread - they're people who are published with real publishers that get their book put on shelves - not people who've gone with a vanity press that targets children.
MM
Bollocks. Professional publishers do pay advances to unknown authors because 'proper' publishers have books on sale in bookshops, which they sell to the public for a profit. Advances are calculated by professional publishers against the volume of books they think that they will sell.
I've heard of publishing companies adapting hooks/synopsis briefs produced by agents or authors, but the publishers are the ones who work out internally what to use.
That's because publishers will decide on marketing campaigns to promote your book, work on cover design, print setting, deals with physical booksellers and setting up distribution chains to get them to physical book stores.
Yes - marketing helps. Professional publishers do this without "expecting" their own authors do buy 100 copies and give it to people just on the off-chance. Professional publishers have a plan that involves book fares, discussing with book store's buying departments, providing review copies for free to reviewers etc etc. Professional publishers aren't banking on authors using six degrees of separation to get Senor Spielbergo to make a film out of it.
Jill - as an author published with Libros International, can you tell us whether you bought 100 copies of your book? If not, have you bought any copies of your book? How you earnt any royalties from sales? Do you know how many copies have been sold roughly?
Give me a frickin' break. They'll be advising authors to use lollipop stands next.
Wow - from 100 to a potential 125 copies that authors are expected to buy (on the assumption that this isn't covered in the author's first purchase of 100 copies). Again, professional publishers will have marketing departments who will liase with local radio and tv stations but professional publishers know it's more important to get the product onto physical bookshelves.
The key word here is available - that doesn't mean that it's actually physically present on book shelves in your local book store.
Great. They spam for your benefit. Can someone tell me what the Cloaked Dagger award is, please. I know what the CWA Dagger Awards are but Google isn't turning up anything about Cloaked Dagger awards. Also, a mate of mine interned on Richard & Judy - the show's inundated with requests from professional publishers, many of whom have editors who know the producers - how do Libros International plan to break through to the coveted Reading List?
Which charity benefits from the proceeds and what proportion of the proceeds have been verifiably paid to that charity? Talented children who want to learn to write are better off honing their skills and submitting to reputable agents and publishers, not to amateur operations that sell the books back to their own parents. That's just wrong and frankly, pretty sick.
Also, before you bat around the yawn-inducing libel and sour grapes accusations, perhaps you should check out the profiles of some of the posters of these thread - they're people who are published with real publishers that get their book put on shelves - not people who've gone with a vanity press that targets children.
MM
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Emily2 - would you like to let us know who told you that? Are you connected with Libros International? Do you work for them? Are you published with them?
What sort of support do Libros International give authors, beyond advising them to print business cards with their book jacket on it and expecting authors to buy the first 100 - 125 copies? Why do you think that support is a good thing? Do you have any experience yourself in the publishing industry that helps to support why you view this as a good thing?
I see they also expect authors to pay out to have web domains set up. In fact, I see a lot of their suggestions mean that authors will spend a large amount of money (based on the cost of 100 books at an average cover price of £8.99 according to Amazon UK) and all that to get only 7% or 8% royalties and no advance. Yeah, that's a really good deal for new authors ...
MM
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I'm a Libros author and have no complaints. They may not be a major publishing house, and an agent is obviously the best way to go, but what if you submit to a million agents and no one even reads a single page of your work? You could be the best author in the world and never get read. It's at least one way to get your proverbial foot in the door and get their name out there? You act like it's so easy, just send it out to an agent, you're better off. Not that easy, Jack. And you don't have to pay to have them set up a website, you can create your own, that's what I did. It's just one option. And they don't force you to buy anything, they merely make suggestions. If you people are so smart, why don't you publish my book, or find me an agent? And it's a little bit Hypocritical that you are so quick to dump on Vanity Presses (which Libros is not) and yet they are advertised all over this site.
You go back and look at your query letter and work to improve it. You take another look at your manuscript, join a critique group (on line or in a local college). You write the best thing you can write, then whilst that's doing the rounds, you write your next book.
If the only people buying your book are your friends, family and strangers you solicit directly, how are you getting your name out there?
No, it isn't easy at all. It's bloody difficult and there's a lot of heart ache. Check out the Rejection Forum here - there are loads of people in the same boat as you and whilst I have nothing against self-publishing via legitimate avenues like Lulu (which are up-front about what self-publishing is) entities like Libros International are not helping you in the slightest because they're pretending to be something that they're clearly not and worse, have clearly got v. little idea about the publishing industry.
Professional publishers with clear business plans and established avenues into book stores don't need to make "suggestions" that you buy your book. It wouldn't even cross their mind because their business is to sell to the public, not to the author, their friends and relatives.
There's a pointed response I can make to that, but I'm not going to.
Look at the disclaimer at the top of the site regarding advertising content.
Like I said to Jill - can you tell us whether you bought 100 copies of your book? If not, have you bought any copies of your book? Have you earnt any royalties from sales? Do you know how many copies have been sold roughly?
And to add to those questions - how much of what the Marketing and Publicity Department of Libros has done has resulted in actual sales of your book and how many of your sales have resulted from your own marketing activities?
MM
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On another board, I ran into an agent who placed books with Libros. After researching Libros, I was unimpressed with either Libros or the agent. I would not recommend either.