I’m aware that this post is old but I was signed with this company and I would like to share my experience with them. First thing to note is they claim to have a brick and mortar building, but they’re really paying seventy dollars a month for a virtual address. I don’t know how common that practice is, but with the way they treated me, I find it very suspicious.
The second thing to note is my cover was made from a royalty free photo while it seemed every other author on their website had an original cover made. Once again, not sure how common, but suspect nonetheless.
The copy editing process consisted of the editor puking up stupid phrases on my book, one particularly stupid and confusing line about Chuck Woolery, rather than finding the comma splices or misspelled words.
The developmental editor just had to introduce herself as international best selling multi award winning author, and if it wasn’t for the superiority in her tone, I think I would have liked her more, but all I got from my interactions with her was “how come I’ve never heard of you?”
I know that’s childish but I don’t care.
When developmental edits were done that was when the proofreading started. Started is such a funny word since we went from March to October saying we were going to be done soon only for me to get mad and demand something be done about it.
In March they sent me an old version of my manuscript that needed edits. The last round of developmental edits was in January and I patiently waited until March before inquiring about the book.
So I sent the proper version to the proofreader and then it got buried in the pandemic emails and she never checked in and I thought it would be impudent for me to check in. So, we started going in late April. And then I needed to edit something. I did as they asked and from May to October it was me checking in and then getting told “I’ll get back to you”
When I finally got mad and said I wanted results, they said they wouldn’t let me down and then ignored me from October to January. I reminded them that I was still waiting for them to finalize my book on the twentieth of January and they acted like they didn’t know what I was talking about, but a week later I get an email saying that they had an outside source take a look at my book, and there were just still way too many errors spelling grammar and otherwise and they would not be going through with publishing the book. They dissolved my contract stating that the bulk of a two-year contract has been taken up by edits and blamed me and said I was the incompetent one even though I was prompt with my responses. This outside source had checked the book one time in October absolutely no times in November or December. I know because Google Docs tells you when an edit has been submitted. And the edits weren’t even edits. It was just more stupid phrases. None of it was actually editing. And the kick in the teeth was that the outside source had the same last name as the proofreader. Not really much of an outside source if you had your husband look at it. And I tried to defend myself and state my case but ultimately they said that the delays were entirely on my end and it doesn’t matter that I have screenshots begging to be acknowledged in emails. According to them everything is entirely my fault. My fault that the proofreader sent out the wrong thing at first, my fault she never got back to me properly and my fault I was ignored for three months. And I think she’s wrong about the edits she made me do after proofreading was already underway. Isn’t it after a character says a quote you don’t capitalize he or she because they aren’t proper nouns?
The cherry on top of this lovely poop cake, is that two times a year the developmental editor would have a book come out, both through this company and through another company. Every year a woman who worked with foster emby would have a book come out. And they’ve got more than just the three people that they claim to have on their website. Stay as far away as you can. Learn from my mistakes and don’t be too eager to go and be with a company. As much is this makes my book sound like crap they value quantity over quality, and themselves over the authors they’re supposed to help. I wasn’t as problematic as they made me seem and I was silent on this for so long, but I don’t owe them that.
Also, after much thought I am sticking to my quantity over quality idea because my book is good, but it was buried under a bunch of crap. I’m a horrible self saboteur and put in jokes and dumb stuff that I should have gotten a revise and resubmit for. That is my part in this whole travesty. I have Shane Dawson syndrome and I think it’s funny, but it makes others uncomfortable. I’m working on that.