Brann Publishing

[dkvet]

I have just had a book published with Brann. It is available at their website at brannpublishing.com. It is a revised, abridged copy of "The Golden Gems of Life" by S.C. Ferguson and E.A. Allen. The original book was copyrighted in 1880.
My experience with Brann has been good. They formatted the book for me and we went through about 6 revisions. My daughter designed the cover.
I corresponded with them via e-mail and always heard back the same day, sometimes the same hour. Bo, who was my adviser was wonderful to work with and made several helpful suggestions.
Brann is a new company, but one that I would recommend.

Doug

 

[writingmom]

Great News !

Hi I would love to hear more about this new co, so please send me some info, and Good Luck !

 

[dkvet]

What would you like to know? I would encourage you to go to their website and browse, then you can ask me questions or contact them directly.

Doug

 

[james1611]

clearly vanity

Brann seems to clearly be a vanity publisher, although they claim not to be. They want you to publish by purchasing packages, and they do no editing unless you purchase it from them.

I don't know what they think a vanity publisher is, but this is exactly what a vanity publisher is--you pay them to publish your book--you do all of the work and pay all of the money.

James

 

[veinglory]

Indeed. Perhaps a recommendation stating the author had made a financial proit would be more convincing. Otherwise this is a somewhat unremarkable case of someone making a manuscript into a book for money.

BTW, how much money? Even to compare with other vanities/self-publishing providers you need to know both the benefits and the costs.

 

[dkvet]

Wow, I had to double check there for a minute and make sure I wasn't in the self-publishing forum. This IS the POD forum-- right-- where people pay a publisher to publish their work? I know people on the self publishing forum think it is ludicrous to do what I did. Hey, that's fine with me. I did a lot of research before committed to Brann and knew what I was getting into. I didn't republish the book in order to make a living writing. I did it to get the book back into print into a much shorter and different formatted version. If I don't make a profit, so be it. I wonder how many people on this forum publish a book with the intent on making money at it? I wonder how many do it mainly to get what they have to say in print for whoever to enjoy or learn from? I would dare say that most people who post to this forum realize that the odds are against them to make much money, if even break even, publishing POD. I realize that some people do make money at it and that's great.

Not everybody wants to try and go the traditional route or form their own publishing company and self-publish, not to mention having the time to do it.

 

[dkvet]

I need to apologize for my previous thread as it has been some time since I visited this forum and my interpretation of POD was wrong. I understand that POD is the technology--the process, etc. and has nothing to do with who actually uses it. The reason I made the comment about the forum I was posting to is because the last time I was on this forum most of the post were about what some of you are calling "vanity" publishers. I am also aware of another forum specifically for people who want to self-publish.

The point I was trying to make is that I am aware of the difference between paying someone to help you with the process of getting a book published and those who decide to go at it alone. I had thought about the "Published by You" deal with LuLu, but it looked like my cost would be greater per book and I would have to price the book what seemed like astronomically high to make any profit at all. I realize that self-publishing allows you to make the most profit, but it also requires you to do some of the things that I paid Brann to do. Granted, I could have done it less expensively, but it would have required more time than I was able to commit to the project.

 

[veinglory]

Although I am not self-published but I run a website about self-publishing and I review self-published books; I support the self-publishing model when it is appropriate, honest and cost-effective. That doesn't mean I think all self-publishers are created equal. I don't think enquiries about the exact cost and success of a projects are in any way unreasonable in response to someone specifically endorsing a self-publishing service. That has nothing to do at all with being pro or anti self-publishing per se. Self-publishing doesn't require in criticial cheerleading any more than third party or e-publishing does.

 

[writingmom]

James1611

Hey thanks, I think I got a clear idea on what you are saying

 

[james1611]

I don't mean to criticize your decision to self publish, not at all. Your reasons are your own. However, I did not notice you mentioning that Brann was a vanity press and the fact that they claim NOT to be a vanity press, when in fact they are, should raise a red flag to people.

Also, people should realize that POD does include small or medium traditional independent publishers. They use the technology and then are also responsible to pay the author royalties for their books as they sell and they are responsible for the editing and production costs for producing the work.

I've personally had first novel published in this fashion. I had no personal cost for the production of the book and I've received royalty for all of the copies which have been sold. It's traditional publishing but the [POD] format does have a drawback. Amazon.com will sell your novel, but brick and mortar bookstores will not...at least not unless returns and discounts are offered, and usually only if your publisher has a distribution network which sells to their chain.

This sort of publishing may be another avenue to consider for your work before going with a vanity who insists you pay them to publish your work?

There are a number of small presses you might consider...example: www.breakneckbook.com or www.velluminous.com or www.lbfbooks.com ...etc.

James

 

[veinglory]

Your book in question is an edited version of a Victorian book? Brann publishing's listing of it doesnlt make that at all clear. It might pay to add that to the synopsis to attract interested readers?

 

[dkvet]

Wish I had read this long ago.........

I published my first book with Brann Publishing which the editor and probably owner is Bo Savino. She did a great job formatting the book and getting it in print, but I've not received a dime in royalty payments. In fact, I only received one royalty statement since it was published in Sept, '07.
I've had the same problems communicating with them eg. unanswered e-mails, promises that the royalty checks will be mail "next week, etc." I even called the number on my contract and Bo answered and seemed shocked that I had called her. Her excuse was that the royalty checks of all but 5 authors must have gotten lost in the mail. She even supposedly gave me the check number for my check as she was "looking it up." She promised that she would mail another check right away. That was about a month ago.

It appears to me that she has been involved with at least 3 publishing companies and they all only last a short time, perhaps just long enough to get a few authors to fork over some money and help them get their book in print and then shut down and start another publishing company, etc.-- apparently never intending to pay any royalties, etc.

Yes, I learned my lesson with POD publishing, especially a new company.
Any idea how to force the issue about royalties???

Thanks,
Doug

 

[IceCreamEmpress]

Yes, I learned my lesson with POD publishing, especially a new company.
Any idea how to force the issue about royalties???

Take her to small claims court.

 

[Deb Kinnard]

Better minds than mine will answer you on this one.

However, one thing I've tried with non-publishing business problems is to write a snail-mail letter. On the bottom, put cc: Joe Blow, attorney at law (or whatever the name of your real attorney is -- I wouldn't advocate making one up) and send it forth. Although you may not choose to send a copy to your actual legal counsel, the cc: thing intimates that you have.

Who knows? It costs the price of your time and a stamp, and it may just shake your royalties loose.

 

[dkvet]

Thanks for the info. Anybody know how to take somebody to small claims court that lives in another state?

What are my options from here? They supposedly will stop printing and selling my book. Therefore, eventually it will show up as out of print.

Should I try and sell the book myself? Transfer to another POD?

If I choose to sell the book myself, since it is already formatted, etc. (guess I would have to take out their name on the copyright page as the publisher and I'd need to get another ISBN), could I use Lightening Source as a fulfillment option? If I stock the book myself and distribute it, how do I let the printer and Books in Print, etc. know?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[dkvet]

Have never received one dime in royalties from this company, so I'm cancelling my contract with them. What are my options now?

Transfer to another POD?
Take my already formatted book and get my own ISBN and sell it myself? If I do this, how do I let the right people know it is back in print and who do I get to print it?

Thanks,
Doug

 

[JulieB]

That might not be a good idea, but having your book go out of print and having your rights reverted to you are two different things. Perhaps I've missed something (takes forever for the coffee to kick in some mornings!), but before you take it to another publisher or sell it yourself you need to be sure that all of your rights are back in your hands.

 

[veinglory]

Did you sign a contract with them and does it have a fixed term or cancellation clause?

 

[citymouse]

I took a look at website. I also searched for their contract. I couldn't find a copy of the entire document but then I really didn't look too hard. Anyway, I did find that they have the standard "non-exclusive" clause.

You say you haven't received any royalties. Have any copies of your book sold?
C

 

[dkvet]

Julie, it is a non-exclusive contract.

I guess one other question I would have is can I use the manuscript that they formatted? I don't think there is anything specifically in the contract about that.
Angela Hoy at Booklocker read what the contract said about cancellation as well as whether it was non-exclusive or not and she interpreted it to mean I can sell it anywhere I want to.

Doug

 

[dkvet]

Yes, they sent a royalty statement for the last quarter of '07 earlier this year with a note saying the royalty checks were going out that same week. I actually called Bo Savino and talked with her about a month ago and she claimed that many of the checks got "lost in the mail" and that she would reissue a check and that the royalty statements for the first quarter haven't gone out yet (late). After about 2 weeks, I had not received a check, so I e-mailed her. She replied that it would be going out the next week. I still haven't received a check and she is now not responding to my e-mails.

Since they haven't lived up to the terms of the contract as far as royalty goes, I just don't have a good feeling about it.

Doug

 

[citymouse]

Doug, You have every reason to feel uneasy. This is not standard. I have three books with POD companies and I've never not gotten a royalty check. I avoid the "lost in the mail" issue by setting aside a checking account for direct deposit for my book royalties. No problems after 6 years.
My guess (and it's only a guess) is you probably could cancel your contract w/ Brann and re-issue your book through another POD outfit like Book Surge or iUniverse. You'd have to have it come out as a Second Edition and get another ISBN. As for online catalogs, they probably would show both the Brann I.D. as well as any new publisher. Customers who try to buy using the Brann tab would be shunted to another page. This can be a little unsettling for customers who don't know the story but as far as I know online catalogs don't remove listings due to Second Edition Status.

Good Luck,
C

Yes, they sent a royalty statement for the last quarter of '07 earlier this year with a note saying the royalty checks were going out that same week. I actually called Bo Savino and talked with her about a month ago and she claimed that many of the checks got "lost in the mail" and that she would reissue a check and that the royalty statements for the first quarter haven't gone out yet (late). After about 2 weeks, I had not received a check, so I e-mailed her. She replied that it would be going out the next week. I still haven't received a check and she is now not responding to my e-mails.

Since they haven't lived up to the terms of the contract as far as royalty goes, I just don't have a good feeling about it.

Doug

 

[dkvet]

Citymouse and others,
I have decided to republish it myself through Lightning Source. My question is this: The contract was cancelled 2-3 months ago. My book is still for sale on Amazon, etc. How do I know they lived up to their contract and the book is listed as "out of print?" This was supposed to happen within a month of receiving my certified letter of cancellation.

Thanks,
Doug

 

[fullbookjacket]

dk,

I don't know where you're located or if you're interested, but Bo Savino will be at the Florida Writers Association conference in November. She's representing Aisling Press. The website for Aisling mentions their other arms, including Brann.

 

[priceless1]

Citymouse and others,
I have decided to republish it myself through Lightning Source. My question is this: The contract was cancelled 2-3 months ago. My book is still for sale on Amazon, etc. How do I know they lived up to their contract and the book is listed as "out of print?" This was supposed to happen within a month of receiving my certified letter of cancellation.

Thanks,
Doug

Doug, often what happens is Amazon still may have one or two copies, so the title is still active. Once those books are sold, the Out of Print or Title Unavailable goes up next to the title. If you PM me, I can check with Bowker to make sure the ISBN is listed as being out of print. It's possible you could check with Bowker - I'm not sure. If you can't, let me know, and I'll email them for you.