I happened across this the other night, sent out an email with some preliminary questions. An email response came in today and there are some red flags. I sent another email to clarify a bit ago so awaiting the clarification.
Here is my initial email:
The response follows:
Timothy,
In answer to your questions.....
Red flags popped up on answer 3, 4, 5, not so much 8, 9, 10, 11 seems legitimate, but still vague.
None of the titles that are on their blog or website bookstore are even available through any online or on bookshelves of Barnes and Noble or other major and minor book chains.
Anyone else ever dealt with them?
Here is my initial email:
I happened across your website while on craigslist for possible writing assignments.
According to your website, you are offering full publication to those whose works you would like to represent. Therefore, as an interest in submitting a possible manuscript for your consideration, there are some questions that I hope you are able to answer.
1) How long have you been in business?
2) Are you a POD Publisher?
3) What are your book return policies for stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, and other traditional bookstores?
4) What titles have you published that are available in bookstores?
5) Is there a way to contact authors whom you have published so that I could ask them of their experience working with you and your publishing company?
6) How many titles have you published a year?
7) What professional organizations, affiliations, or groups do you belong to?
8) What type of editing services to you offer upon acceptance and is this service something the author has to pay for in addition to the publication process?
9) What publication rights are you seeking?
10) What is the time frame from acceptance to when the book is published and available for marketing?
11) Do you also offer marketing for an author’s works? Or, is this fully up to the author themselves?
I ask these questions because there is no information on your site as to how many books you publish a year, titles already published, and authors you have published.
Thank you for your time in answering these questions.
The response follows:
Timothy,
In answer to your questions.....
1) 15+ years as a printer, 7+ years in book related printing and binding, 2+ Years in publishing.
2) No.
3) Returnable. Note: B&N & Borders do not take books unless via distributor or wholesaler.
4) See the GDP bookstore at http://www.graydogpress.com/bookstore. All shown there are available in local and regional bookstores and other venues.
5) I can have any of them call you. But, I'd have to have an interest in what you have first.
6) This year we will have completed 16 titles and helped another 10 on self-publishing theirs.
7) Not disclosed.
8) For titles we publish, full editing is done by us. However, if the manuscript is a mess then the author needs to get it up to an acceptable point before we would accept it. Whether they do it themselves or by someone else is up to them. In these cases it's rare that the content is useful anyway. If the author cannot understand basic sentence structure and punctuation it's rare that they have a useful manuscript. For self-published and non-published titles any editing we do is a time related charge.
9) Our standard contract covers rights of print publication and ebook publication for a minimum of three years. Other rights such as video, audio and screenplay are not addressed but we do negotiate to include them when the manuscript may have that level of potential.
10) Depends. Some have happened in as few as 6 weeks, most about 4-5 months, one took 2 years before it was released. Currently, any new manuscripts submitted are in an evaluation queue that has about a 3 month backlog. (I've got about 15 waiting evaluation right now)
11) We, like most publishers, depend on an author's interest in promoting the book via personal appearance, signings, reading, etc. We provide all ARCs, Galleys, promotional materials, and coordinate local and regional appearances and media announcements. An author that is either unable or unwilling to promote the book is one that most likely will not get published anywhere.
Hope that helps.
Russ
Gray Dog Press
2727 S. Mt. Vernon #4
Spokane, WA 99223
P/F: 509.768.6206/509.533.1897
mailto:[email protected]
www.graydogpress.com
SAN: 857-7250
Red flags popped up on answer 3, 4, 5, not so much 8, 9, 10, 11 seems legitimate, but still vague.
None of the titles that are on their blog or website bookstore are even available through any online or on bookshelves of Barnes and Noble or other major and minor book chains.
Anyone else ever dealt with them?