Check this out....
...its posted on the PA boards, and I know it will be gone before you know it - wild!
tiffdog97
3/10/2004
01:36:09
Subject: My email correspondance with PA
Message:
This is a real eye opener. As authors published by this company, you need to read my following e-mail correspondance with PA. Please post replies as soon as possible, as the last time I posted on this subject, my post was promptly removed by the PA website. If company policy is not changed to remedy this current situation, and a law suit ensues, the more of us that band together, the greater our chances that we can hit this company where it hurts. I already have an attorney who is willing to represent other PA authors in this matter and represent us as a group. Since I am certain that they will remove my post again, please feel free to e-mail me directly at
[email protected] Here are the e-mails:
To whom it may concern:
My name is Roger L. Welton, DVM, author of "Canine and Feline 101: A Complete Guide for Selecting, Training, and Caring for Dogs and Cats." I have worked very hard getting local promotion with good results. On my latest campaign, I had the local newspaper in the municipality that I grew up (with 60,000 plus readers), do a full page article about me and my book. This was a huge step in the right direction. I was extremely disappointed,
however, when I was recently contacted by several old acquaintances,friends, and family, all indicating that they were unable to purchase the book from major book sellers like Barnes and Noble, B Dalton's, and Waldenbooks; even by special ordering with the ISBN number. The reason that was given in every case is that there were no books in distributor
warehouses in stock to order.
I have accepted the fact that Publish America provides its first time authors with zero promotional budget, and does nothing to help promote the author's book, besides sending book announcements to people whose names are provided by the author. I have also accepted the fact that we, as authors,carry all financial and manual responsibility for getting our books noticed and sold, even though we get only 8% of the revenue. However, when I work rigorously, mailing book copies and letters to countless media sources,only to have my efforts made useless by Publish America not making my book available to major book sellers, I cannot help but feel extremely disappointed and even angry.
When I first contacted the local Barnes and Noble where I live and was told by the manager that they do not carry any non-returnable titles (and therefore will not carry my book), I e-mailed author support concerned and disappointed. I was placated with a generic song and dance e-mail saying that, not all book store managers are created equal, and that I should not be deterred by the statements of just one manager. I will not accept such an e-mail again, since this a a real problem that I am now appreciating from MULTIPLE book sellers, based on reports from many who have tried to buy my
book.
If I do not receive a satisfactory explanation and solution to this
problem, I will pull the plug on all promotional attempts, as I will not have my time and money wasted any further.
Sincerely,
Roger L. Welton, DVM
Author - Canine and Feline 101: A Complete Guide for Selecting,
Training,and Caring for Dogs and Cats.
Dear Mr. Welton,
>
> Unfortunately, that is a problem a lot of our authors are running
> into.There are a few ways to get around this however. You can have
> bookstorescarry your book on a consignment basis, or a bookstore
> can have customers
> pre-pay before they order your book. If I can be of any further
> help please
> do not hesitate to ask.
>
> Thank You,
> Jessica
> Author Support Team
>
[email protected]
Dear Jessica:
Let me tell you the problem with your solution. First, the author discount that you provide us with is only 30%, but we also pay for shipping. All bookstores that I have discussed consignment selling with, keep 50% of the retail, leaving the author with a negative profit when it is all said and done, since you do not pay royalties on author purchased books.
Second, major book sellers do not sell on consignment, period. I know, I've asked.
Finally, I am an author, not a book distributor. It is the respopnsibility of the publisher to make the book available to book sellers, NOT THE AUTHOR. I do not have the money, time, or resources to personally stock the nations book stores with my book.
Basically, there is absolutely no benefit to getting published with Publish America. It is actually a liability. Had I self published, I would have to personally make the book available, fund and work my own promotion just like my current situation; but at least I would make 80% of the profit for all my work.
Your company is a scam, preying on honest authors that dream of getting their work published. You tell us to promote like crazy, send copies of the book to all kinds of media, making a nice profit on all the books WE PERSONALLY BUY!!!!!!! Then, after we are successful in our promotion and people want to buy the book, they can't because you don't make it available to book sellers.
And then when I call you out on the matter, all that you can reply is that this is a common problem that PA authors encounter!!!!!!!!!!! Your solution is for me to purchase more books from you, and personally stock all the stores myself - AT NEGATIVE PROFIT once the math adds up.
As of right now, my promotion STOPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will not line your pockets, buying and sending my books to media, so that people who subsequently want it will be told by book sellers that they can't even order it. I want a reply to this email from one of the higher up executives of your company. If a reasonable solution is not offered, the e-mail correspondence stops. The next contact we have will be through my attorney. Incidently, on his advice, I am keeping a record of all of our correspondance.
Sincerely,
Roger L. Welton, DVM
Author, Canine and Feline 101
P.S. I liked how your website promptly removed my post, detailing my last e-mail to your company. I guess freedom of expression does not apply with Publish America when they are exposed for the fraud that they are.
LAdams
3/10/2004
03:39:38
RE: My email correspondance with PA
Message:
This should be between you and PA privately.