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[Publisher] Aberdeen Bay / Champion Writers

Momento Mori

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IMO they're little better than a self-publisher where you're going to have to do most of the marketing and promotional work yourself in order to get sales for which you'll only receive a royalty percentage.

There's nothing to indicate that they get books into stores - in fact, it's a news event on their website when they do. They only offset print for 'large' orders (no definition given) and POD for 'small' orders - no word on who those orders come from, how they're made or what they relate to. They're not paying you an advance. They talk about you doing marketing and promotion. They grab electronic and print rights.

Really, if that's the route you want to go down, you could get the same thing from Lulu.

MM
 

victoriastrauss

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I've recently seen an Aberdeen Bay contract, and there are some problems...

- It's life-of-copyright, with completely inadequate termination provisions (termination is left entirely to the publisher's discretion).

- The publisher can advertise other books "inside the publication"--no big deal if the ads are just at the back, but I'd want to check to make sure that's all that was intended.

- Royalty statements are posted on the publisher's website, rather than sent directly to the author.

- There's an author good behavior clause, which makes me suspect that Aberdeen Bay has experienced some complaints:
27. Cancellation
The PUBLISHER reserves the right to terminate this publishing agreement or cancel any title as the PUBLISHER deems necessary. Some common reasons for the PUBLISHER to take such action include but are not limited to: unprofessional or irresponsible behavior displayed by the AUTHOR, lack of communication from the AUTHOR, unethical behavior displayed by the AUTHOR, false statements by the AUTHOR and other aggressive or inappropriate behavior displayed by the AUTHOR. The PUBLISHER requires the AUTHOR to display highest level of professionalism at all times. Should the PUBLISHER choose to terminate this agreement, rights to the WORK revert back to the AUTHOR.
- The author discount is just 30%--pretty poor, and often a sign of a publisher that plans to try and turn its authors into customers.

- Authors can choose to make their books returnable in the US only (non-returnable is the default position), but if they do they have to agree to buy any returned books at a 30% discount.

- Victoria
 

johnro

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Another question. The obvious problems with the website seem to have been cured. But a question for those more knowledgeable: AB's prints appear on Amazon. In one case, a 2012 imprint is listed at $9.99 for an electronic copy but $186.00-200+ for paperback. Anybody know what that's about?
 

nkkingston

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That'll be a reseller. Those numbers are often generated by algorithms based on how often people are viewing the page, what other people are selling it for, and how many other people are selling/buying it. Odds are they don't even have the book - the idea is if someone were to buy it for that price, they'd be able to source it cheaper elsewhere and make a profit. And if they couldn't, they'd just cancel the sale.