DonnaInk Publications LLC

[Dana_Queen]

Thank you. My son, who is 32 sustained a traumatic brain injury at the tender age of 21. He was working for a car dealership and asked to pick up a vehicle in Big Stone Gap Tennessee from Southern Maryland. I always tell others now . . . when you are buying a car and the dealer doesn't have it but says we can have it tomorrow . . . say no to them because they are going to ask a young man like my son to drive a 16 hour trip often after in-house 8 hours, which is what happened.

There was an impending snowstorm and he hit ice going the speed limit or less. The airbags were not yet activated. He went air-bound 50 feet into the forest and impacted on all sides. Sub-arachnoid bleeds and multiple hematomas. He was in the ICU 2 weeks after medic-vac had to have a shunt, was in a coma 5.2 weeks and in varied therapies for another 11 years.

Much like the publishing industry has had rip-off artists . . . the brain injury community is a hodge-podge of desirous entities wanting survivors with lifetime insurances and they are unregulated, privately owned with no state health oversight whatsoever.

Of course, there are Florence Nightingales. (spelling?)

From this vantage point, I know everyone tells TBI survivors to "write your story" but no one is willing to publish them. Further, other disabled folks really have limited caveats when they are wheelchair bound, etc. Ms. Lanaia Lee made egregious mistakes and true faux pas I know this about Lanaia. She loves to write and whether duped or not previously - she knows I copyscape everything and I've stuck by her knowing one day someone such as these folks here would rear their heads. Business wise it was a bad choice on my part. Human wise it was a good decision I feel in my heart. I know her titles aren't going to be plagiarized from us and I speak freely about this to anyone including her. She has made other "errors" and I instruct her to fix it or else and she's finally shaping up.

Our other disabled authors are not like Ms. Lee regarding their writing and/or history. They are good people.

I find disabled writers require a certain synergy and guidance. I have one author now, he had a dream (he's a Christian) wrote a book he believes is divinely sent and it requires work. When we edit, he gets upset and feels his original text was best - though wrong. I walk him through it all - and he concedes but determines to rewrite himself and forgo the edits. I may wind up putting on a heavy editorial disclaimer, which I do here and there. In fact, we are pulling Paradox Five, Ms. Lee's title for redress - as a proofreader found issues and I have to do this right away.

It is work and it is what I signed up for and I appreciate your support. I determined to proffer their works at $20.00 a piece across the board with the intention to aid these authors because it is an act of love. So far, I may not have a best-selling disabled title but we will have disabled authors who are able to say more than, "I'm disabled."

I believe in giving back and nothing I've said here I wouldn't say to each of the authors. I am very frank and earnest and they know I do not mince words for them. It is the truth.

Q.

 

[Dana_Queen]

I am happy to give you the original if you'd like. I've saved it. After a re-read, I felt it disclosed too much for a public forum . . . but if you'd like a private copy contact me at [email protected].

 

[Dana_Queen]

Dana, I wish you well with your health problems, sincerely. And I hope you can be a successful publisher for all your authors.

But the fact that you're a Mormon neither intimidates nor impresses me, and is interesting only in the way you keep mentioning it. You are no more worthy of respect or consideration than others because you hold a certain religious belief or superstition, nor does it make you morally superior to anyone else with different beliefs or lack of belief.

It also doesn't make you a better or worse publisher, which is the topic of this thread.



Yes, exactly.

Thank you for your positive commentary. As far as being Mormon, I am not attempting to "impress" you. That is one of the issues of your vantage point that I find so very sad. You presume I am attempting to impress you I can only fathom because it is the way you think. I am only trying to provide a level playing field for you to understand what my system of beliefs are that I arrive to this discussion from and how I approach life. You approach it with a bit of cynicism and distrust and apprehension and the contention everyone is out to do wrong (I am certain in other aspects of life you are wonderfully fun and a glorious human being with great qualities) but in this thread, under these constraints you arrive in the aforementioned manner or "appear" to. In fact, the fact I mentioned my belief system, you take offense and even insult while I am not intending to insult you.

We are all our own persons and beliefs or not - we ascribe a lifestyle that can be somewhat measured by our systems of belief. If you, for instance, are agnostic - I may ascribe a somewhat scientific and "open" persona about you, which is not bad. I like those affinities. I find most agnostics very agreeable and they do not have to think or believe like me.

I answer for "me" and you answer for "you." But the fact I am Mormon precludes we hold certain tenets of belief and those may assist you in understanding I'm not the type of person you believed me to be given those tenets. Regardless whether you like Mormons or hate us. I'm happy with my choices in life.

 

[Dana_Queen]

Publisher response

I struggled through that stream of consciousness, but gave up when I got to the three folk and a 'Road Scholar' walked into a bar. I think you mean Rhodes scholar.

I agree with JournoWriter that your comments have provided everyone with some very useful information about your business.

[FONT=&quot]The thing is this about that. These are unedited threads. You, me and a dog named Boo all have typos - if you state otherwise - this speaks volumes about you. Usually, I spell check and re-read. And, stream of consciousness given - fact is - Freudian slips occur. So, you cannot ascertain I do not know the difference therein; just perhaps my "consciousness" went elsewhere for a moment - like to the Road. I dunno . . . Road kill . . . on the Road again . . . etc.

Additionally, this thread is relating data about "scams." I have no "scam." And, the biggest foul is "prose or writing style" solely in relation to Ms. Quesinberry. And, some cover design insults, which are not a "scam." They are covers you do not like. The eBook test? Maybe that title isn't going to be in eBook . . . Many of our releases do not go to eBook - do you folks realize some folks prefer print media?

There is no wrongful act, no illusions, no mysteries, nothing unlawful going on in my publishing house. Having subsidiaries is "legal" and "American Capitalism in its highest form. Are you Socialists? Do you not believe a subsidiary can exist providing services? What is wrong with services? They are consumer friendly.

As a publisher, and I am a publisher, there is not a bone in my body set to dupe, malign, harm, create foul, cause hardship, etc. anyone in life - especially authors. I too am an author.

Further, you folks (one of the group of you) suggest "They appear to be authors writing for authors." First, is that against the law? Is that against the Writer's Bill of Rights? Are you unaware many new publishing houses today are comprised of writers joining to share resources and form a "collective trust" in order to develop a publishing lifestyle they "like?" And, is this wrong? That is not my company, but the fact is . . . it isn't wrong.

I began publishing after years of ghostwriting for political folks, business owners (CEOs, etc.) and others as well as working as Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, Desktop Publisher, etc. I've spent over 20 years in federal contracts and procurement and technical writing for some of the most demanding government requirements known to mankind. Things you wouldn't begin to wrap your brain around unless you've worked in defense, aerospace, medical science or intelligence.

I do not owe you an explanation regarding publishing as a group of pundits wanting to cause ruination wherever you feel the wind blows you. In creating, initially The Book Nook / DonnaInk Publications I wanted to aid the multitude of authors who had written me for years through WritersNet to publish. And, that is what we do. At first, there was a significant learning curve and I'm not too proud or self-imported to state I needed to learn more.

However, the publishing industry altered through the realities of IT infusion. And, in the 1990's as an IT practitioner / technical writer and pundit of my own industry - I worked in the arenas that built the initial IT environ and our lead trends from legacy data mining operations.

I knew the publishing industry - as "all" written communication - was going to redefine due to the Presidential Directives and Acts in Congress for paper reduction and "e" or digital transformation. In the future . . . I do believe written and printed communication will be more in the form of collectible(s) rather than day-to-day slush pile creations. This transformation directly correlated to work I'd completed relative to virtualization of data.

For The Book Nook, I determined to begin data virtualization for our authors and invoked high-end meta work in order to grab (which we do successfully) high rankings for Internet. To be SEO and keyword (now somewhat outdated) rich is essential to marketing books in today's marketplace whether these are audio, digital or print media.

So . . . after literally thousands of potential authors had written me personally for years . . . and following on plans from 1990's to do so - I began a fledgling sole proprietorship with little to no baseline funds. For all authors, at that time I signed, I held nothing back. No hidden fees. No agenda. No lies. Just straight talk. And, most of my authors from that era remaining will state that very fact and this is what they liked about The Book Nook.

At that time, we were not prepared to become a corporation and as a L.L.C. I am still not quite at the corporation level I'd prefer. Initially, I proffered way way way too many services and have learned why publishers often don't provide what many authors hope to receive from them - it becomes extremely arduous.

Also, I supplied an open door policy. I take calls at any time. And, authors being authors, I received calls at 3am, 4am, day, night and weekends too. Typically, without complaint. Additionally, initially we were 24/7/365 - meaning production (editing, development, layout, design, advertising, meta-tagging, socialization, etc.) was continuous. So we grew quickly.

The first set of one of "your groups of grumblers" was a note of actually becoming more than just a fledgling operation. While you contend you are the Watchtower of author snares . . . you are really oftentimes the demarcation of doing more than the next guy. No one notices a nobody. Certainly, no one takes the amount of time you folks have to research and titillate your readers, but still . . . all in all . . . you are only insulting a website and verbiage or prose and book covers. Oh . . . you do have poor Lanaia Lee to vex me with who was referred by an internationally recognized image consultant acting as a volunteer (after begging me for six months to allow her too) who stated she's read the author's work and it was "good." Having proffered to this woman, Dr. Knudsen, a consultant agreement with excellent percentages on all sales earned until a more substantial payment vehicle could be proffered and noting many of your contemporaries support Dr. Knudsen in referencing her professionally and her titles (nine of which I rewrote), I wasn't 100% wrongful to drink the poison and believe in the woman either. After all, better people than I have done so, but I should have researched and Copyscaped and you can hang that ball and chain on me . . . so I do have one thorn in my side. However, I've been training Ms. Lee and educating her as a disabled person with severe deficits on what is appropriate.

What you have done wrongfully - you have slammed me and my company under the guise of "scams," which I could sue Absolute Write for allowing because I have no scam. I make no false claims. I do not hide anything. Your own writs have stated, "They don't hide the fact they have a subsidiary." Of course not, when President Barack Obama was elected he did present a no transparency Presidential Directive, which I support and respect. I believe in transparency as does the United States Government. Additionally, I support the nation, I am a Patriot, I hold the law in high regard and believe in Capitalism.

I'm free to promote authors who I feel are great individuals with good stories, some with excellent writing skills - some with best-selling titles. Do I have a multi-million dollar business? No, but you compare fledgling and startup entities such as mine to major publishing houses and you feel everyone is out to screw you.

It appears, sadly, you cannot get past they must want my money. Fact is, I do not want your money. In the start-up I shared with the authors the intention and business model and trajectory. There was no hard sell. We have never accepted every author.

The one author who was signed on at WritersNet you've mentioned, Ms. Palmer was also referred by Dr. Knudsen and only signed on to WritersNet after the fact. So she was not through the old WritersNet account I have held since the 1990s. My business began in 2011, as The Book Nook. Someone suggested that was a poor name and then it was hedged to The Book Nook / DonnaInk Publications.

Personally, I felt DonnaInk Publications was somewhat narcissistic, but Dr. Knudsen (during our friendship before learning she was conning me) expressed as a world renown image consultant it is not a bad thing to feel comfortable in your own skin and use your name in your business title. I'm somewhat shy and find that somewhat prideful (not a Mormon quality) and it took some persuasion for me to adjust my thinking but I grew to accept her point of view. So . . . Dr. Knudsen, though a keen conwoman, is I presume not all bad. And, while not to 100% fault her - the woman came up in the era of work where women emptied men's ashtrays, carried their coffee and did their laundry at work.

Going forward . . . after learning Dr. Knudsen (my kind volunteer who begged me to allow her to volunteer who "never wanted anything from me" actually desired to usurp the publishing house I was developing due to the rapid growth and upward spiral). She expressed to me, "People love to work with you and you are so hard-working and kind you'll be successful." It is too bad much of her demeanor was a facade and then followed as a true scam and I was such a "mark." Then, learning Dr. Knudsen plagiarized her book, which I initially believed were other authors using her work - I was quite devastated to learn anyone is that underhanded.

Like your group - I understand some people are vicious and underhanded and out to subvert folks and disadvantage them and take their hard earned money. I do understand your thought processes in wanting to aid writers not to be taken advantage of. I am among your ranks and therein lay the rub.

After Dr. Knudsen turned out to be someone intending to bring her husband to my hometown and attempt to strong arm me to make her a President in an organization still a sole proprietorship and not prepared for that level of hierarchy. Stating her husband had a business meeting in Orlando and later learning that was a lie - instead she made him take a business program - and that she in fact did plagiarize work and asked me to hire a couple ladies who she used to support her efforts alone and all the lies documented with proofs . . . I totally understand where each of you are coming from.

Then having Ms. Palmer, who is very well received as an author from the title we re-designed, I rewrote to the case of ghostwriting it, with cover designs I created everyone "loves" a Top Ten Best-seller in YA Marriage and Divorcement (with only 10 books sold mind you and slated as such due to the IT management and genre mining "I" provided); then terminating her for Breach of Contract after she joined Dr. Knudsen in further assassinations and attempts to thwart the publishing house they both LOVED and couldn't say enough good things about until I terminated them. The vicious commentaries of people we had never even heard of. Threats. Wrongful accusations. Etc. I understand your vantage point because it is mine.

After all the drama, my stalwart group of exceptionally great authors, moved ahead with us and the L.L.C. was formed and the sole proprietorship closed.
The L.L.C. is 100% traditional, which is another claim you folks make - suggesting we are vanity. We are not. We do not accept every manuscript and in fact have a one year wait list with then a 270 business day development calendar. Many of my authors are previously published with "major" publishing houses and good success previously therein. We are personable. We speak one-to-one. Recent health concerns have created a backlog between a son with a traumatic brain injury and my own health concerns (i.e.: autoimmune disease, autoimmune liver disease, liver biopsy, pernicious anemia, vitamin B and D non-intake, redundant colon, kidney stone, fibroids, and a need for ocular surgery have taken a toll on productivity).

At one time we were 20 consultants strong conducting varying efforts on a regular schedule. We have approximately 10 now. We also have another 20 plus of third-party assists who develop many service items for us. And, "NO" the authors do not pay them, I do.

As far as salaries I did not take salary year 1, partial in year 2, partial in year 3 and partial in year 4; however, as a Proposal Director I was earning approximately 128.00 per hour as estimation and in the partial years through the publishing house this moved to more like $5.00 an hour for "me." All consultants are paid at fixed rates; however, in working "with us" to aid our authors they've also accepted nominal contract fees. Interns have earned small stipend funds as well.

There is no major overhead; royalties are paid at over $75.00 per quarter for the initial 2 years and now at $150.00 per quarter. Sales were not our focus in years 1 and 2 and authors knew this up front. Growth and Internet positioning were our goals at that time. And, we reached them.

Our authors are promoted exponentially to 250K end users on first pulse, then to 3M on second pulse and finally to 5M on third pulse. 20% plus of our authors reach Top Ten on AMAZON through our methodologies, which work. We are in brick and mortar stores. We are building a composite of book venues for signings. We do have authors on 5 continents in 9 countries. Our authors are receiving awards, such as Indie Excellence. We have been service intrinsic and I am learning it is too much. This is in direct opposition to your presumptions of taking from authors . . . I wanted DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. to provide all the elements other publishing houses charge for "free." And, even the major traditional houses charge for things - they just do it back-end in their offsets against earnings, which is why royalties are standardly 10% for the first 5K books, 12.5 for the second 5K and 15% for the third 5K.

Today, authors want royalties at 40 and 50% regardless of print or digital copy. And, authors want all the frills for no cost. And, they desire promotion and marketing for free. However, a very large segment of the industry is going bankrupt because it is an impossible scenario unless you are positioned previously to have a "true" best-seller making millions. I'd like to provide authors all they desire and try to do all we can to achieve this goal.

Advances are historically derived from receiving a qualitative enough manuscript to promote to distributors and/or others to ascribe promissory fulfillment and used to include a deposit on account. From these monies authors received an advance, because there was money advanced - if not tangibly - contractually. Today, this rarely occurs, excepting the already famous.

Yet, pundits such as me and you suggest promoting and advancing "only" the already famous is bastardizing the industry. Yet, when someone like myself, makes a solid plan of action and trajectory, with builds and milestones and development change management dates and intentions . . . you set out to kill what you suggest you'd like to see happen. Largely due to your presumptions and unfortunate disbelief in the good of humanity.

Why of course I must be attempting to harm authors - who would do otherwise. And, your stance, though understood is so sad.

Of course, in writing as I am now, there's 50 million pull a segment and insult it opportunities for each of you. Why should I waste my time to share the truth, when you'd prefer to nail me to a cross of your own perceptions you have an inability to deviate from?

Varied associations are working with us to be their referred publishing houses, during this process I have learned a lot of requirements they have and we have instilled every one of them to ensure we are compliant. The company is a publishing house not an outfit or operation. I have a rich and fluid history among federal and commercial markets with a solid reputation as an ethical and forthright individual. It is with great offense I am subjected to your commentary. I support the disabled community and I can tell you - knowing the disabled - your ideals not to discuss them or promote them are not heroine moments. To the disabled direct communication is 100% spot on.

I do not hide anything in this company or in life. I'm a 100% open book. I am direct, to the point and long-winded (as you can see). This is not a subconscious stream of data . . . this is earnest information and yes, unedited; it may feature typos . . . sakes alive.

The publishing house is a good grouping of authors, some select or premiere and some not but we determined not to class structure authors. The A, B, C, D, E ratings are good for cataloging and sales marketing to distribution channels but not for personal spirit and we try not to do so.

Have I signed debut authors? Of course, we have. And, I know now why major publishing houses do not like to accept debut authors . . . because they are not experienced and are always desirous of more. Instead of underpromising and over delivering, which looks good to the universe . . . I made the egregious error of overpromising from a good heart and desire to do more rather than not. And, we have worked diligently to do so at every turn.

Today, we are streamlining a little more, but even our less is more than most publishers offer for "no cost." And, while comparative studies from publishing house to publishing house are truly nonconsequential and my estimation . . . publishing isn't about beating a competitor - it does say something about us when in streamlining our processes we still deliver more than average using traditional guidelines and leading IT and business trends.

Part of the goal was to re-enact old school layout and designs - because it is flair I loved in books of old. Also, in developing eBooks we attempt to deliver high-end layout through expert programming in the design - something not foreign to us.

We are now focusing more on sales and marketing - working to have authors achieve the greatest results for their efforts. The reason for streamlining is, we have so much promissory for no cost it is very difficult to achieve and keep on the short production schedules we have had in the past of less than 4 months to galley. In the past year, we adjusted to a 270 business day schedule and do not release in eBook right away any longer.

We are beginning foreign sales and we are also doing translations such as: Slovakian to English (again at no cost, albeit there is a cost to us).

Donna Ink is a flagship company from 1992, which works in government (federal, state, local) and commercial business development, capture planning and procurement (GSA Schedules, Grants and Proposals) as well as technical writing services - often through consultants we "place" with clients; however, I have select clientele whom I work with privately on retainer and these monies typically fund the following:

DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. a small woman-owned traditional publishing house with leading technology trends featuring 50 plus authors and their 70 plus works; and

ZenCon an Art of Zen Consultancy, a small woman-owned sole proprietorship providing varied services such as advertising, marketing and promotion, and writing services.

This is who I am. Again, my company does not belong in your scam and beware segment as we have zero scams, zero bewares. Quite frankly . . . as you have all stated . . . anyone can read this and determine for themselves. However, defamation which is invalid is a serious offense. I would only say to each of you . . . consider your actions as equally questionable. What are your true end goals? Are you publishers yourselves? Are you deflecting competitors? Do you know someone we terminated and are attempting to thwart us out of malfeasance? Is there truly valor in your approach?

If I were to run your information through investigative resources, is your bill of health clean? What skeletons could be in your closet? With my background and resources I can learn who each of you are, learn of associations (if any), learn if you are publishers yourselves, etc. and conduct background investigations and learn all the factoids necessary to disclose any wrongful intent by each of you.

I'm taking the high road to presume you are just a group of pundits wanting to aid authors and disclose wrongful activities but you've barked up the wrong tree. I do know - other such entities have recently been sued and lost. I also know that in those cases the publishing houses weren't scamming anyone or doing harm nor foul as was claimed and hurt their businesses and damages were awarded to those publishers. Also, class action suits are very often the downfall of many a website or aspiring outfit.

I have held respect over the years for Absolute Write and been a member on and off from its beginnings. And, have been involved in threads with complimentary results - a forensics sweep at the bequest of an attorney would convey these facts and some of you (I doubt it) could learn you'd complimented me in the past - at least I know Absolute Write owners have.

I have a lovely publishing house. The only wrongful thing I have ever done is wanting to do too much for too little and that isn't bad. I'm an the opposite of your presumptions and it is glaringly shallow you cannot see the reality of your lack of vision beyond the box of crying foul because it appears to be all you know among yourselves today. Anyone trying to do right and be kind and help the industry is disrespected by folks like you based on predetermined notions.

If you do not like the books, the writing, the authors - go to another publishing house but don't insult the way I speak just to make your day. Many people disagree and we serve them.

Again, though, lastly and finally, there are no wrongful business practices for the industry here. We do not charge. We provide extensive services. We do not sign every author. We are, in fact, downsizing annual acceptances for new authors. We are only accepting a very few debut authors each year going forward. And, we are working diligently to finalize all titles backlogged due to my health concerns this past year and a necessary leave of absence, which is in Heavenly Father's hands not yours.

In closing, yesterday I posted a lot here in sadness, I've been working so hard to support the authors we have and any negative marketing hurts them and I do not want to see my authors harmed in any fashion. They are great people. They do not deserve your commentary and they do vote on website layout and design and approve things as we go along. The website changes frequently and not due to comments - websites change. Actually, we fashioned it somewhat after BN's website - so it is surprising you do not like it. It’s funny; those few books write-ups you hated actually are ones in cue to be refined and were hastily inputted to have them available for pre-sale. A website is never completed and that is the truth. Absolute Write used to have a less attractive website - but you're here.

I extend a prayer for each of you to listen to your inner voice and have faith some people are good people. I am. I am a daughter of God, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am a representative of my father Jack and mother Joan Quesinberry and their good names. I am friends with folks who are in high esteem, which doesn't make me a better person, but does mean I am accountable too to their friendships and reputations. I love this great nation and I am 100% patriotic. I support our troops and Wounded Veterans and love life. I am a pacifist and intend to do my best in living to avail others every way I can. I raised five children as a single adult and attended college and worked 2 and 3 jobs simultaneously to learn the things I do know. I may write funnily I don't know - it is a matter of opinion, but I would never call anyone out in a public forum to ridicule them with the intent of personal defamation as you folks seemingly love to do under the guise of helping others. Certainly, truthful help meeting is to find facts, not assumptions . . . still if you are in your good hearts of all things and truly attempting to do good - I elect to forgive each of you and pray Heavenly Father will attend to your needs in a manner of his own choosing.

I am a good person and I endure and not to spite or due to you . . . because it is the nature God gave me and is what my own parents would anticipate I do.

God bless each of you.[/FONT]


Not a final edited thread comment. All input by the publisher is under copyright and safe harbor. Any comments, which were deleted or shortened are saved and you can write to [email protected] to request them if you feel they are of importance and any facts are hidden from you. Also, feel free to write or call and request more information as needed.


Additionally, no one here in my assertion is better or less than anyone else. We are all human and what is the old saying, To be human is to err but to forgive is divine . . I wish each of you the divine and the best life has to offer.
[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

 

[shelleyo]

Thank you for your positive commentary. As far as being Mormon, I am not attempting to "impress" you. That is one of the issues of your vantage point that I find so very sad. You presume I am attempting to impress you I can only fathom because it is the way you think. I am only trying to provide a level playing field for you to understand what my system of beliefs are that I arrive to this discussion from and how I approach life. You approach it with a bit of cynicism and distrust and apprehension and the contention everyone is out to do wrong (I am certain in other aspects of life you are wonderfully fun and a glorious human being with great qualities) but in this thread, under these constraints you arrive in the aforementioned manner or "appear" to. In fact, the fact I mentioned my belief system, you take offense and even insult while I am not intending to insult you.

We are all our own persons and beliefs or not - we ascribe a lifestyle that can be somewhat measured by our systems of belief. If you, for instance, are agnostic - I may ascribe a somewhat scientific and "open" persona about you, which is not bad. I like those affinities. I find most agnostics very agreeable and they do not have to think or believe like me.

I answer for "me" and you answer for "you." But the fact I am Mormon precludes we hold certain tenets of belief and those may assist you in understanding I'm not the type of person you believed me to be given those tenets. Regardless whether you like Mormons or hate us. I'm happy with my choices in life.

[FONT=&quot]The thing is this about that. These are unedited threads. You, me and a dog named Boo all have typos - if you state otherwise - this speaks volumes about you. Usually, I spell check and re-read. And, stream of consciousness given - fact is - Freudian slips occur. So, you cannot ascertain I do not know the difference therein; just perhaps my "consciousness" went elsewhere for a moment - like to the Road. I dunno . . . Road kill . . . on the Road again . . . etc.

Additionally, this thread is relating data about "scams." I have no "scam." And, the biggest foul is "prose or writing style" solely in relation to Ms. Quesinberry. And, some cover design insults, which are not a "scam." They are covers you do not like. The eBook test? Maybe that title isn't going to be in eBook . . . Many of our releases do not go to eBook - do you folks realize some folks prefer print media?

There is no wrongful act, no illusions, no mysteries, nothing unlawful going on in my publishing house. Having subsidiaries is "legal" and "American Capitalism in its highest form. Are you Socialists? Do you not believe a subsidiary can exist providing services? What is wrong with services? They are consumer friendly.

As a publisher, and I am a publisher, there is not a bone in my body set to dupe, malign, harm, create foul, cause hardship, etc. anyone in life - especially authors. I too am an author.

Further, you folks (one of the group of you) suggest "They appear to be authors writing for authors." First, is that against the law? Is that against the Writer's Bill of Rights? Are you unaware many new publishing houses today are comprised of writers joining to share resources and form a "collective trust" in order to develop a publishing lifestyle they "like?" And, is this wrong? That is not my company, but the fact is . . . it isn't wrong.

I began publishing after years of ghostwriting for political folks, business owners (CEOs, etc.) and others as well as working as Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, Desktop Publisher, etc. I've spent over 20 years in federal contracts and procurement and technical writing for some of the most demanding government requirements known to mankind. Things you wouldn't begin to wrap your brain around unless you've worked in defense, aerospace, medical science or intelligence.

I do not owe you an explanation regarding publishing as a group of pundits wanting to cause ruination wherever you feel the wind blows you. In creating, initially The Book Nook / DonnaInk Publications I wanted to aid the multitude of authors who had written me for years through WritersNet to publish. And, that is what we do. At first, there was a significant learning curve and I'm not too proud or self-imported to state I needed to learn more.

However, the publishing industry altered through the realities of IT infusion. And, in the 1990's as an IT practitioner / technical writer and pundit of my own industry - I worked in the arenas that built the initial IT environ and our lead trends from legacy data mining operations.

I knew the publishing industry - as "all" written communication - was going to redefine due to the Presidential Directives and Acts in Congress for paper reduction and "e" or digital transformation. In the future . . . I do believe written and printed communication will be more in the form of collectible(s) rather than day-to-day slush pile creations. This transformation directly correlated to work I'd completed relative to virtualization of data.

For The Book Nook, I determined to begin data virtualization for our authors and invoked high-end meta work in order to grab (which we do successfully) high rankings for Internet. To be SEO and keyword (now somewhat outdated) rich is essential to marketing books in today's marketplace whether these are audio, digital or print media.

So . . . after literally thousands of potential authors had written me personally for years . . . and following on plans from 1990's to do so - I began a fledgling sole proprietorship with little to no baseline funds. For all authors, at that time I signed, I held nothing back. No hidden fees. No agenda. No lies. Just straight talk. And, most of my authors from that era remaining will state that very fact and this is what they liked about The Book Nook.

At that time, we were not prepared to become a corporation and as a L.L.C. I am still not quite at the corporation level I'd prefer. Initially, I proffered way way way too many services and have learned why publishers often don't provide what many authors hope to receive from them - it becomes extremely arduous.

Also, I supplied an open door policy. I take calls at any time. And, authors being authors, I received calls at 3am, 4am, day, night and weekends too. Typically, without complaint. Additionally, initially we were 24/7/365 - meaning production (editing, development, layout, design, advertising, meta-tagging, socialization, etc.) was continuous. So we grew quickly.

The first set of one of "your groups of grumblers" was a note of actually becoming more than just a fledgling operation. While you contend you are the Watchtower of author snares . . . you are really oftentimes the demarcation of doing more than the next guy. No one notices a nobody. Certainly, no one takes the amount of time you folks have to research and titillate your readers, but still . . . all in all . . . you are only insulting a website and verbiage or prose and book covers. Oh . . . you do have poor Lanaia Lee to vex me with who was referred by an internationally recognized image consultant acting as a volunteer (after begging me for six months to allow her too) who stated she's read the author's work and it was "good." Having proffered to this woman, Dr. Knudsen, a consultant agreement with excellent percentages on all sales earned until a more substantial payment vehicle could be proffered and noting many of your contemporaries support Dr. Knudsen in referencing her professionally and her titles (nine of which I rewrote), I wasn't 100% wrongful to drink the poison and believe in the woman either. After all, better people than I have done so, but I should have researched and Copyscaped and you can hang that ball and chain on me . . . so I do have one thorn in my side. However, I've been training Ms. Lee and educating her as a disabled person with severe deficits on what is appropriate.

What you have done wrongfully - you have slammed me and my company under the guise of "scams," which I could sue Absolute Write for allowing because I have no scam. I make no false claims. I do not hide anything. Your own writs have stated, "They don't hide the fact they have a subsidiary." Of course not, when President Barack Obama was elected he did present a no transparency Presidential Directive, which I support and respect. I believe in transparency as does the United States Government. Additionally, I support the nation, I am a Patriot, I hold the law in high regard and believe in Capitalism.

I'm free to promote authors who I feel are great individuals with good stories, some with excellent writing skills - some with best-selling titles. Do I have a multi-million dollar business? No, but you compare fledgling and startup entities such as mine to major publishing houses and you feel everyone is out to screw you.

It appears, sadly, you cannot get past they must want my money. Fact is, I do not want your money. In the start-up I shared with the authors the intention and business model and trajectory. There was no hard sell. We have never accepted every author.

The one author who was signed on at WritersNet you've mentioned, Ms. Palmer was also referred by Dr. Knudsen and only signed on to WritersNet after the fact. So she was not through the old WritersNet account I have held since the 1990s. My business began in 2011, as The Book Nook. Someone suggested that was a poor name and then it was hedged to The Book Nook / DonnaInk Publications.

Personally, I felt DonnaInk Publications was somewhat narcissistic, but Dr. Knudsen (during our friendship before learning she was conning me) expressed as a world renown image consultant it is not a bad thing to feel comfortable in your own skin and use your name in your business title. I'm somewhat shy and find that somewhat prideful (not a Mormon quality) and it took some persuasion for me to adjust my thinking but I grew to accept her point of view. So . . . Dr. Knudsen, though a keen conwoman, is I presume not all bad. And, while not to 100% fault her - the woman came up in the era of work where women emptied men's ashtrays, carried their coffee and did their laundry at work.

Going forward . . . after learning Dr. Knudsen (my kind volunteer who begged me to allow her to volunteer who "never wanted anything from me" actually desired to usurp the publishing house I was developing due to the rapid growth and upward spiral). She expressed to me, "People love to work with you and you are so hard-working and kind you'll be successful." It is too bad much of her demeanor was a facade and then followed as a true scam and I was such a "mark." Then, learning Dr. Knudsen plagiarized her book, which I initially believed were other authors using her work - I was quite devastated to learn anyone is that underhanded.

Like your group - I understand some people are vicious and underhanded and out to subvert folks and disadvantage them and take their hard earned money. I do understand your thought processes in wanting to aid writers not to be taken advantage of. I am among your ranks and therein lay the rub.

After Dr. Knudsen turned out to be someone intending to bring her husband to my hometown and attempt to strong arm me to make her a President in an organization still a sole proprietorship and not prepared for that level of hierarchy. Stating her husband had a business meeting in Orlando and later learning that was a lie - instead she made him take a business program - and that she in fact did plagiarize work and asked me to hire a couple ladies who she used to support her efforts alone and all the lies documented with proofs . . . I totally understand where each of you are coming from.

Then having Ms. Palmer, who is very well received as an author from the title we re-designed, I rewrote to the case of ghostwriting it, with cover designs I created everyone "loves" a Top Ten Best-seller in YA Marriage and Divorcement (with only 10 books sold mind you and slated as such due to the IT management and genre mining "I" provided); then terminating her for Breach of Contract after she joined Dr. Knudsen in further assassinations and attempts to thwart the publishing house they both LOVED and couldn't say enough good things about until I terminated them. The vicious commentaries of people we had never even heard of. Threats. Wrongful accusations. Etc. I understand your vantage point because it is mine.

After all the drama, my stalwart group of exceptionally great authors, moved ahead with us and the L.L.C. was formed and the sole proprietorship closed.
The L.L.C. is 100% traditional, which is another claim you folks make - suggesting we are vanity. We are not. We do not accept every manuscript and in fact have a one year wait list with then a 270 business day development calendar. Many of my authors are previously published with "major" publishing houses and good success previously therein. We are personable. We speak one-to-one. Recent health concerns have created a backlog between a son with a traumatic brain injury and my own health concerns (i.e.: autoimmune disease, autoimmune liver disease, liver biopsy, pernicious anemia, vitamin B and D non-intake, redundant colon, kidney stone, fibroids, and a need for ocular surgery have taken a toll on productivity).

At one time we were 20 consultants strong conducting varying efforts on a regular schedule. We have approximately 10 now. We also have another 20 plus of third-party assists who develop many service items for us. And, "NO" the authors do not pay them, I do.

As far as salaries I did not take salary year 1, partial in year 2, partial in year 3 and partial in year 4; however, as a Proposal Director I was earning approximately 128.00 per hour as estimation and in the partial years through the publishing house this moved to more like $5.00 an hour for "me." All consultants are paid at fixed rates; however, in working "with us" to aid our authors they've also accepted nominal contract fees. Interns have earned small stipend funds as well.

There is no major overhead; royalties are paid at over $75.00 per quarter for the initial 2 years and now at $150.00 per quarter. Sales were not our focus in years 1 and 2 and authors knew this up front. Growth and Internet positioning were our goals at that time. And, we reached them.

Our authors are promoted exponentially to 250K end users on first pulse, then to 3M on second pulse and finally to 5M on third pulse. 20% plus of our authors reach Top Ten on AMAZON through our methodologies, which work. We are in brick and mortar stores. We are building a composite of book venues for signings. We do have authors on 5 continents in 9 countries. Our authors are receiving awards, such as Indie Excellence. We have been service intrinsic and I am learning it is too much. This is in direct opposition to your presumptions of taking from authors . . . I wanted DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. to provide all the elements other publishing houses charge for "free." And, even the major traditional houses charge for things - they just do it back-end in their offsets against earnings, which is why royalties are standardly 10% for the first 5K books, 12.5 for the second 5K and 15% for the third 5K.

Today, authors want royalties at 40 and 50% regardless of print or digital copy. And, authors want all the frills for no cost. And, they desire promotion and marketing for free. However, a very large segment of the industry is going bankrupt because it is an impossible scenario unless you are positioned previously to have a "true" best-seller making millions. I'd like to provide authors all they desire and try to do all we can to achieve this goal.

Advances are historically derived from receiving a qualitative enough manuscript to promote to distributors and/or others to ascribe promissory fulfillment and used to include a deposit on account. From these monies authors received an advance, because there was money advanced - if not tangibly - contractually. Today, this rarely occurs, excepting the already famous.

Yet, pundits such as me and you suggest promoting and advancing "only" the already famous is bastardizing the industry. Yet, when someone like myself, makes a solid plan of action and trajectory, with builds and milestones and development change management dates and intentions . . . you set out to kill what you suggest you'd like to see happen. Largely due to your presumptions and unfortunate disbelief in the good of humanity.

Why of course I must be attempting to harm authors - who would do otherwise. And, your stance, though understood is so sad.

Of course, in writing as I am now, there's 50 million pull a segment and insult it opportunities for each of you. Why should I waste my time to share the truth, when you'd prefer to nail me to a cross of your own perceptions you have an inability to deviate from?

Varied associations are working with us to be their referred publishing houses, during this process I have learned a lot of requirements they have and we have instilled every one of them to ensure we are compliant. The company is a publishing house not an outfit or operation. I have a rich and fluid history among federal and commercial markets with a solid reputation as an ethical and forthright individual. It is with great offense I am subjected to your commentary. I support the disabled community and I can tell you - knowing the disabled - your ideals not to discuss them or promote them are not heroine moments. To the disabled direct communication is 100% spot on.

I do not hide anything in this company or in life. I'm a 100% open book. I am direct, to the point and long-winded (as you can see). This is not a subconscious stream of data . . . this is earnest information and yes, unedited; it may feature typos . . . sakes alive.

The publishing house is a good grouping of authors, some select or premiere and some not but we determined not to class structure authors. The A, B, C, D, E ratings are good for cataloging and sales marketing to distribution channels but not for personal spirit and we try not to do so.

Have I signed debut authors? Of course, we have. And, I know now why major publishing houses do not like to accept debut authors . . . because they are not experienced and are always desirous of more. Instead of underpromising and over delivering, which looks good to the universe . . . I made the egregious error of overpromising from a good heart and desire to do more rather than not. And, we have worked diligently to do so at every turn.

Today, we are streamlining a little more, but even our less is more than most publishers offer for "no cost." And, while comparative studies from publishing house to publishing house are truly nonconsequential and my estimation . . . publishing isn't about beating a competitor - it does say something about us when in streamlining our processes we still deliver more than average using traditional guidelines and leading IT and business trends.

Part of the goal was to re-enact old school layout and designs - because it is flair I loved in books of old. Also, in developing eBooks we attempt to deliver high-end layout through expert programming in the design - something not foreign to us.

We are now focusing more on sales and marketing - working to have authors achieve the greatest results for their efforts. The reason for streamlining is, we have so much promissory for no cost it is very difficult to achieve and keep on the short production schedules we have had in the past of less than 4 months to galley. In the past year, we adjusted to a 270 business day schedule and do not release in eBook right away any longer.

We are beginning foreign sales and we are also doing translations such as: Slovakian to English (again at no cost, albeit there is a cost to us).

Donna Ink is a flagship company from 1992, which works in government (federal, state, local) and commercial business development, capture planning and procurement (GSA Schedules, Grants and Proposals) as well as technical writing services - often through consultants we "place" with clients; however, I have select clientele whom I work with privately on retainer and these monies typically fund the following:

DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. a small woman-owned traditional publishing house with leading technology trends featuring 50 plus authors and their 70 plus works; and

ZenCon an Art of Zen Consultancy, a small woman-owned sole proprietorship providing varied services such as advertising, marketing and promotion, and writing services.

This is who I am. Again, my company does not belong in your scam and beware segment as we have zero scams, zero bewares. Quite frankly . . . as you have all stated . . . anyone can read this and determine for themselves. However, defamation which is invalid is a serious offense. I would only say to each of you . . . consider your actions as equally questionable. What are your true end goals? Are you publishers yourselves? Are you deflecting competitors? Do you know someone we terminated and are attempting to thwart us out of malfeasance? Is there truly valor in your approach?

If I were to run your information through investigative resources, is your bill of health clean? What skeletons could be in your closet? With my background and resources I can learn who each of you are, learn of associations (if any), learn if you are publishers yourselves, etc. and conduct background investigations and learn all the factoids necessary to disclose any wrongful intent by each of you.

I'm taking the high road to presume you are just a group of pundits wanting to aid authors and disclose wrongful activities but you've barked up the wrong tree. I do know - other such entities have recently been sued and lost. I also know that in those cases the publishing houses weren't scamming anyone or doing harm nor foul as was claimed and hurt their businesses and damages were awarded to those publishers. Also, class action suits are very often the downfall of many a website or aspiring outfit.

I have held respect over the years for Absolute Write and been a member on and off from its beginnings. And, have been involved in threads with complimentary results - a forensics sweep at the bequest of an attorney would convey these facts and some of you (I doubt it) could learn you'd complimented me in the past - at least I know Absolute Write owners have.

I have a lovely publishing house. The only wrongful thing I have ever done is wanting to do too much for too little and that isn't bad. I'm an the opposite of your presumptions and it is glaringly shallow you cannot see the reality of your lack of vision beyond the box of crying foul because it appears to be all you know among yourselves today. Anyone trying to do right and be kind and help the industry is disrespected by folks like you based on predetermined notions.

If you do not like the books, the writing, the authors - go to another publishing house but don't insult the way I speak just to make your day. Many people disagree and we serve them.

Again, though, lastly and finally, there are no wrongful business practices for the industry here. We do not charge. We provide extensive services. We do not sign every author. We are, in fact, downsizing annual acceptances for new authors. We are only accepting a very few debut authors each year going forward. And, we are working diligently to finalize all titles backlogged due to my health concerns this past year and a necessary leave of absence, which is in Heavenly Father's hands not yours.

In closing, yesterday I posted a lot here in sadness, I've been working so hard to support the authors we have and any negative marketing hurts them and I do not want to see my authors harmed in any fashion. They are great people. They do not deserve your commentary and they do vote on website layout and design and approve things as we go along. The website changes frequently and not due to comments - websites change. Actually, we fashioned it somewhat after BN's website - so it is surprising you do not like it. It’s funny; those few books write-ups you hated actually are ones in cue to be refined and were hastily inputted to have them available for pre-sale. A website is never completed and that is the truth. Absolute Write used to have a less attractive website - but you're here.

I extend a prayer for each of you to listen to your inner voice and have faith some people are good people. I am. I am a daughter of God, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am a representative of my father Jack and mother Joan Quesinberry and their good names. I am friends with folks who are in high esteem, which doesn't make me a better person, but does mean I am accountable too to their friendships and reputations. I love this great nation and I am 100% patriotic. I support our troops and Wounded Veterans and love life. I am a pacifist and intend to do my best in living to avail others every way I can. I raised five children as a single adult and attended college and worked 2 and 3 jobs simultaneously to learn the things I do know. I may write funnily I don't know - it is a matter of opinion, but I would never call anyone out in a public forum to ridicule them with the intent of personal defamation as you folks seemingly love to do under the guise of helping others. Certainly, truthful help meeting is to find facts, not assumptions . . . still if you are in your good hearts of all things and truly attempting to do good - I elect to forgive each of you and pray Heavenly Father will attend to your needs in a manner of his own choosing.

I am a good person and I endure and not to spite or due to you . . . because it is the nature God gave me and is what my own parents would anticipate I do.

God bless each of you.[/FONT]


Not a final edited thread comment. All input by the publisher is under copyright and safe harbor. Any comments, which were deleted or shortened are saved and you can write to [email protected] to request them if you feel they are of importance and any facts are hidden from you. Also, feel free to write or call and request more information as needed.


Additionally, no one here in my assertion is better or less than anyone else. We are all human and what is the old saying, To be human is to err but to forgive is divine . . I wish each of you the divine and the best life has to offer.
[FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

tl;dr

Valid points = missed
Moral judgments = handed down
Irrelevant information= max power
Incorrect assumptions = bonus x4
Backhanded insults = mage status
Condescension = level up!

But I'm being flip. It's the cynical heathen in me, maybe?

ETA: I am looking forward to reading the look inside of this $30 book on book marketing when it comes out, though. I'm sure it contains a wealth of expert information from someone who has marketed many books successfully, even though it's the only title under her name. There's probably a good explanation for that right in the beginning.

I wish you well anyway, and in stating that JournoWriter's comment is still the best thing in this thread, I'm out.

 

[ShaunHorton]

I personally find it rather interesting that the President, CEO, and Founder of three separate companies has the time to come in here and write such lengthy harangues rebutting people's opinions, especially with such a laundry list of health issues for herself and her close family.

Honestly, a little research on Mrs. Quesinberry would lead me to believe there are connections in place which an author would find useful, and the fact that you have books available on Amazon for pre-order would give further weight to considering the publisher. (Though I honestly don't know how easy/difficult it is for any kind of real publisher to accomplish that).

If anything, the posts here have driven away any interest I might have had. See my first statement for one reason. Others are:

I'm sorry you and your family have such a myriad of health issues and disabilities, and I understand how they could lead you to focus on authors with disabilities. Outside of that, unless they actively interfere with the running of your businesses (in which case other people should probably be in charge until circumstances change), they are irrelevant. Bringing them up thusly, especially going into the full laundry list and stories of how things occurred comes off as simply pleas for pity and as a distraction tactic.

As well, bringing up your religion and it's tenants is also easily seen as another distraction tactic. Unless your company's focus is your religion, your religion is irrelevant to the discussion of the company. Being part of a religion and claiming its morals doesn't automatically make you a good person and thus we should just "trust you" that everything is on the up and up.

The name-dropping. To be honest, it's not impressive. Especially buried in a huge block of text like you did. Though I did appreciate the chance to look up some of your authors, it also led me to another red flag, which is that in the reviews of your books, certain names show up over and over again, and those names are also found as authors who have published with you. Several of those reviews are also obviously of the cut/paste variety, which just puts further emphasis on the questionable nature of them.

I also looked up the book on Marketing which Shelleyo pointed out. I'm not going to off-hand dismiss it, but I find one author and four editors questionable, as well, I want to point out the list price is actually closer to $50 than the $30 Amazon has it discounted at, which is hideously overpriced for a book reaching only 250 pages. Especially when compared to other books on the subject.

 

[Helix]

It's a bigger problem than the occasional typo, though, Dana. Goodness knows, I make them all the time and am often embarrassed by them. I even avoid using certain words in important emails because emails can't be recalled and edited. These forum posts can be edited.

I checked out the Indiegogo project (also see OP). 'Indiegogo' is written repeatedly as 'Indigogo', the prose is opaque and ungrammatical and what in the world is a 'coup de gras'? A slice of fat?

If poetry and literature are your coup de gras, we have wonderful titles...

I wouldn't submit anything to a publisher who didn't proofread their own funding proposal.

 

[ShaunHorton]

It's a bigger problem than the occasional typo, though, Dana. Goodness knows, I make them all the time and am often embarrassed by them. I even avoid using certain words in important emails because emails can't be recalled and edited. These forum posts can be edited.

I checked out the Indiegogo project (also see OP). 'Indiegogo' is written repeatedly as 'Indigogo', the prose is opaque and ungrammatical and what in the world is a 'coup de gras'? A slice of fat?



I wouldn't submit anything to a publisher who didn't proofread their own funding proposal.

I'm going to guess she actually meant 'Coup de Grace' which I could forgive that, as I would probably write it the same way as I have no idea where to find the a with the mark over it to make it proper.

What disturbs me more is the attempt to use a phrase without clearly understanding what it means, as I have no idea how a 'blow of mercy' fits into the sentence she used it in.

I honestly also find it very strange that with all the claimed connections, they're using indiegogo and that it looks like they failed to get even a single donation.

 

[Helix]

It's a multiple error, because it's a phonetic spelling from a mispronunciation of a term that's been applied incorrectly. (I think the only time I've seen something worse is on another forum where someone referred to a coup de tah, which was a phonetic misspelling of coup d'état, but they meant coup de grâce.) All that aside, it was used in a campaign to raise money for a publishing company.

I've now struggled through the wall of small blue italics, which is possibly the worst typeface to read when you have failing eyesight. I have no idea who Lanaia Lee, Dr Knudsen and Ms Palmer are. I'm not sure why religious adherence is supposed to be a shield against criticism. Ditto for patriotism and political affinity. I don't take kindly to threats, whether thinly-, thickly- or unveiled.

And I think this typo shows why proofreading is your friend.

Of course not, when President Barack Obama was elected he did present a no transparency Presidential Directive, which I support and respect.

 

[Old Hack]

[FONT=&quot]What you have done wrongfully - you have slammed me and my company under the guise of "scams," which I could sue Absolute Write for allowing because I have no scam.

[/FONT]

You could try to sue anyone for anything. You wouldn't necessarily win your case.

Having said that I don't think anyone's said that your publishing house is a scam. It has been pointed out that you're running a vanity publishing company: that's not incorrect, in my view, because you're charging writers to publish them. You might be charging them a fee to join your trust (I'm sorry, I can't remember if that's the term you used and I don't have time to read through your long posts to check), rather than to be published: but unless they join that trust you won't publish them, so you are charging them indirectly.

Note that Jonathon Clifford, who came up with the term "vanity publisher", said that a vanity publisher is one which makes more money from the authors it publishes than from selling the resulting books to readers. It doesn't matter how the publisher makes that money from its authors: just that it earns it at all.

You might have the best of intentions. You have undoubtedly had a hard time, and for that I offer you my sympathies. But with all due respect good intentions and suffering on your part does not make you a competent publisher. And it's your competence as a publisher which we are looking at here.

I know it must be hard to face such scrutiny. But it's not done with the intention of upsetting you; it's done with the intention of helping our members make the best decisions for their work and their career.

 

[PVish]

When I watched the YouTube video 2014 catalogue on the Indiegogo page, I found it interesting that an ad for Outskirts Press (It's time to Self-Publish. Keep 100% of your rights. Keep 100% of your royalties.") was shown at the bottom of the video.

Granted, I only watched 3 minutes of the 30-minute video catalogue, but I wonder if any booksellers would watch a catalogue for that long.

Helix: I checked out the Indiegogo project (also see OP). 'Indiegogo' is written repeatedly as 'Indigogo', the prose is opaque and ungrammatical and what in the world is a 'coup de gras'?

On the same page:

There's some alternative parental submonitions going on in, "How to (rest of title redacted)

What is a "submonition"? The closest to it I could find was "submunition," which has to do with weaponry. Then there's the problem of a comma between a preposition and its object in several places, not just the one I quoted above.

I'm a former English teacher, so I notice these errors. As a reader, I would hesitate to buy any book from a publisher which has so many errors on its website. These errors are easily fixable, so why have they not been fixed?

 

[aliceshortcake]

'Indiegogo' is written repeatedly as 'Indigogo', the prose is opaque and ungrammatical and what in the world is a 'coup de gras'?

Is she thinking of "pate de foie gras"? Your guess is as good as mine. But I'm fairly sure that instead of "submonitions" she meant "admonitions".

I don't give a toss about a publisher's religious/political views unless he or she is on record as being a religious maniac or a neo-fascist loon. I'm not interested in a publisher's health or personal problems as long as they don't interfere with their job, which is publishing good-quality books people will pay to read. But I wouldn't pay to join a "club" in order for my work to see the light of day, because it's thinly-disguised vanity publishing.

Let's talk about some of DonnaInk's books.

Several things about DonnaInk concern me. Firstly, a number of the company's books have already been self or vanity published by people who clearly don't know how real publishing works. Frank Martin DiMeglio, author of the forthcoming Human Being - Self, Desire, and Consciousness, obviously didn't learn anything from his experience with Eloquent Books, who published Human Being in 2008. Eloquent Books was one of the many, many divisions of Robert Fletcher's bogus publishing/agenting empire. DiMeglio is a pseudo-scientist whose rambling, repetitive prose and delusions of genius suggest that he may be suffering from a mental illness:
http://depletedcranium.com/frank-martin-dimeglio-author-great-thinker-ass/?cp=1#comments

If DonnaInk has taken money from him they should be ashamed of themselves.

Sailor's Psychology by Chester Litvin gets an incoherent blurb on the DonnaInk site:

“Sailor Psychology” is the new psychological thriller where we can see the central character is taunting the fragility of life. He insinuated that fragility everywhere because the whole world structure is not stable. Our psychological makeup is a copy of the external world with its extreme vulnerability. Our hero stated that we live in the world with many victims of social turbulence. He mentioned that we cannot hide in our internal world because external world is inviting our psyche and creating crises and our existence is at stake.

No, the book isn't a "thriller" - it's subtitled A Methodology on Self-Discovery through the Tale of a Semite in the Squall. Even if whoever wrote the blurb just skimmed through the first few pages I can't understand why they thought it was a novel - and got the title wrong! If I were Litvin I'd be furious about my publisher's misleading description of my book on their own website. The book was first published by iUniverse in 2012 and the Amazon blurb for this edition is an accurate description of its contents. Bizarrely, the blurb provided for the forthcoming DonnaInk version is for Julie C Morse's iUniverse book Out of the Box! This could well be a mistake on Amazon's part - Morse doesn't appear to have any connection with DonnaInk - but you have to wonder how long the wrong info has been there and why DonnaInk haven't had it corrected.

DonnaInk's forthcoming The Victorious Mindset by Chip Esajian was first published by CreateSpace in 2010. I hope DonnaInk's editors caught the 'forward/foreword' confusion, not to mention this glaring error:

We marched with our band in Ronald Regan's inaugural parade.

Matthew T Cody's collection of poetry Soundings From an Empty Sea has a whopping 64 pages and is priced at $15.50 ($18.45 on Amazon). From the back cover:

Matt Cody spends most of his time wandering. Looking for puzzle pieces that fit. The puzzle is himself. In-between searching there reading and cooking and baking.

Eventually, when he at least find the boarder pieces, he will settle down and fill in the body. These are the works of a future Bed and Breakfast Owner. Enjoy!

Dana, is that your idea of a professionally-produced book cover?

Quite a few DonnaInk books can be pre-ordered on Amazon, but without excerpts I'm not sure how useful this is - particularly when the blurbs are so awful, as in the case of the forthcoming Business Development Enhancement:

Field guide to the ever illusive brand and business development. While there are no one-size fits all sprockets for branding, business development and marketing and public relations - there is a clear path of discovery towards the pathway of a success-driven horizon. G. Lea Rhys aids readers in their accession toward tactical and reflective futures through strategic planning and strategy blueprinting resulting in brand, business management, marketing, and lead trend fulfillment.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/193942531X/?tag=absowrit-20

Another gem of gibberish, this time for The Zen of Business:

A series lead title referencing occupations Zen, with follow-on chapbooks embodying mottled disciplines of commerce. Spotlights business planning, incorporating tactically engineered ethical resolve or sila embracing the ethereal nature of Chi. Adds balance through abundance exercises in all aspects of total self-functionality while growing the business scheme.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939425336/?tag=absowrit-20

*goes in search of croutons to sprinkle on that word salad*

And I doubt if this will encourage anyone to pre-order Renee Smith's Mission For All Mankind:

MISSION FOR ALL MANKIND, a superhero Syfy targeted for those with an inquisitive mind, imagination, seeking a superpower of truth and light to save the Universe of Nebadon with and a mother who didn't understand him Michael of Nebadon was assigned a mission to do the will of his all-powerful father, Bushu, the supreme ruler of the 7 Super Universes. Success of his mission would earn Michael complete and total rule over the local universe of Nebadon. As a Son of Bushu he inherited mega super-powers.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1939425654/?tag=absowrit-20

The most disturbing aspect of DonnaInk, at least in my opinion (or 'opine'), is the company's relationship with Lanaia Lee. How much has Lee paid for the following books to be republished by DonnaInk?

Paradox Five, first published as Paradox 5 in 2012 by Cheryl Pillsbury's amateurish AG Press (with an unforgettably hideous cover by Bonnie Beckeman)

Chamber of Time (AG Press, 2010)

Skulls of Salvation (Author House, 2009)

In the Darkness of Lanaia's Garden (AG Press 2008)
You might want to consider excising the poem 'False Accusation', by the way - it shows Lee in a very poor light and indicates that she learned nothing from the Of Atlantis fiasco.

These books either have no Amazon ranking, which means that not a single copy was ever sold by Amazon, or such low rankings that sales could have been in the tens or twenties. If Lee has 20,00 followers, as was claimed on DonnaInk's Indiegogo pitch, they aren't buying her books. The DonnaInk version of Paradox Five is Lee's bestseller with a ranking of 4,441,018. How many copies of her outrageously overpriced books will Lee have to sell to earn back her investment? And the blurbs for Lee's forthcoming books aren't likely to draw in many customers:

A Thorn Within the Roses:
Slavery . . . no self will . . . death and mayhem. The sweet taste of freedom sought like a rose in a garden seeks to radiate beauty conveys the protagonist seeking freedom. At what cost will she escape tyranny and discover independence?
http://www.donnaink.org/#!product/prd15/1948464945/a-thorn-within-the-roses,-by-lanaia-lee---nc

Resurrection and the Ravaged:
As, the sail boat makes it closer to the pier, Archimedes and Percius make their way here to help with the small sail boat. The two men still don't recognize the special cargo in their small boat, it seems the sun is shining directly in their eyes. Another testament to the Atlantis Saga Series.
http://www.donnaink.org/#!product/prd15/1948455645/resurrection-&-the-ravaged,-by-lanaia-lee---nc

Finally, DonnaInk publishes a children's book entitled They Hide in the Cones. It too has been saddled with an atrocious back cover:

What's the National Writing Examiner, other than a publication with a blithe disregard for grammar, punctuation and coherent English? Well, at least it's a review.

Oh, wait...

*Google search*

National Writing Examiner - Examiner.com
www.examiner.com/writing-in-national/donna-quesinberry
Get the latest news and information on National Writing by Donna Quesinberry, including local information on Books.

Not exactly an impartial review, then!

And Dana, read this thread again from the beginning. No-one has called your company a scam. This sub-forum is entitled "Bewares, Recommendations and Background Check", not "Scammers Who Should Be Driven Out of Business". I sympathise with your misfortunes, but you're an adult and will have to learn to handle criticism.

 

[Dana_Queen]

Response

It's a bigger problem than the occasional typo, though, Dana. Goodness knows, I make them all the time and am often embarrassed by them. I even avoid using certain words in important emails because emails can't be recalled and edited. These forum posts can be edited.

Yes and when edited the presumption from the group is - "Oh my gawd they're hiding something."

I checked out the Indiegogo project (also see OP). 'Indiegogo' is written repeatedly as 'Indigogo', the prose is opaque and ungrammatical and what in the world is a 'coup de gras'? A slice of fat?

Relying on their spell-checker was a bad idea . . . have YOU used it?

I wouldn't submit anything to a publisher who didn't proofread their own funding proposal.

Yes . . . you do have a point - it has since been routed for correction. I'm surprised it was achieved when we were bustling like we were. I guess you choose your battles. And, crowd-sourcing is minor minutia to me as a first slice of "gras."

Is she thinking of "pate de foie gras"? Your guess is as good as mine. But I'm fairly sure that instead of "submonitions" she meant "admonitions".

Actually, submonitions is a word and meant as stated and yes - currently unused; however, not wrong. Again, your word choice is colloquial, which is you.

I don't give a toss about a publisher's religious/political views unless he or she is on record as being a religious maniac or a neo-fascist loon. I'm not interested in a publisher's health or personal problems as long as they don't interfere with their job, which is publishing good-quality books people will pay to read. But I wouldn't pay to join a "club" in order for my work to see the light of day, because it's thinly-disguised vanity publishing.

Not a club, not vanity. And, no loons with spoons.

Let's talk about some of DonnaInk's books.

Several things about DonnaInk concern me. Firstly, a number of the company's books have already been self or vanity published by people who clearly don't know how real publishing works. Frank Martin DiMeglio, author of the forthcoming Human Being - Self, Desire, and Consciousness, obviously didn't learn anything from his experience with Eloquent Books, who published Human Being in 2008. Eloquent Books was one of the many, many divisions of Robert Fletcher's bogus publishing/agenting empire. DiMeglio is a pseudo-scientist whose rambling, repetitive prose and delusions of genius suggest that he may be suffering from a mental illness:
http://depletedcranium.com/frank-martin-dimeglio-author-great-thinker-ass/?cp=1#comments

Yes, Frank's title is a bit of a dilemma, again during the gun of the sole proprietorship and reliance on a world renown persona who didn't deliver what they promised. Now signed. End of story - not yet in print.

If DonnaInk has taken money from him they should be ashamed of themselves.

He is a disabled author.

Sailor's Psychology by Chester Litvin gets an incoherent blurb on the DonnaInk site:

Actually, this is not the formerly published title. It is new. It is docu-fiction, not nonfiction. You are 100% wrong.



No, the book isn't a "thriller" - it's subtitled A Methodology on Self-Discovery through the Tale of a Semite in the Squall. Even if whoever wrote the blurb just skimmed through the first few pages I can't understand why they thought it was a novel - and got the title wrong! If I were Litvin I'd be furious about my publisher's misleading description of my book on their own website. The book was first published by iUniverse in 2012 and the Amazon blurb for this edition is an accurate description of its contents. Bizarrely, the blurb provided for the forthcoming DonnaInk version is for Julie C Morse's iUniverse book Out of the Box! This could well be a mistake on Amazon's part - Morse doesn't appear to have any connection with DonnaInk - but you have to wonder how long the wrong info has been there and why DonnaInk haven't had it corrected.

We are not aware of any blurb such as this . . . is there a quote? Are you reviewing a blog of a quote?

DonnaInk's forthcoming The Victorious Mindset by Chip Esajian was first published by CreateSpace in 2010. I hope DonnaInk's editors caught the 'forward/foreword' confusion, not to mention this glaring error:

This is a second edition not first edition. The foreword should be accurately displayed.

Matthew T Cody's collection of poetry Soundings From an Empty Sea has a whopping 64 pages and is priced at $15.50 ($18.45 on Amazon). From the back cover:

On our website we price $5.00 to $7.00 below third-party retail through the publisher all titles are discounted.

Dana, is that your idea of a professionally-produced book cover?

Quite a few DonnaInk books can be pre-ordered on Amazon, but without excerpts I'm not sure how useful this is - particularly when the blurbs are so awful, as in the case of the forthcoming Business Development Enhancement:

Yes, the write-ups for certain business books are under-representative of the work and undergoing rewrite toward final production; however, in the federal contract business development arena - the blurb is well received and that is the market segment - not general readers.

Another gem of gibberish, this time for The Zen of Business:



*goes in search of croutons to sprinkle on that word salad*

And I doubt if this will encourage anyone to pre-order Renee Smith's Mission For All Mankind:



The most disturbing aspect of DonnaInk, at least in my opinion (or 'opine'), is the company's relationship with Lanaia Lee. How much has Lee paid for the following books to be republished by DonnaInk?

Again, we do not charge authors to publish books.

Paradox Five, first published as Paradox 5 in 2012 by Cheryl Pillsbury's amateurish AG Press (with an unforgettably hideous cover by Bonnie Beckeman)

Chamber of Time (AG Press, 2010)

Skulls of Salvation (Author House, 2009)

In the Darkness of Lanaia's Garden (AG Press 2008)
You might want to consider excising the poem 'False Accusation', by the way - it shows Lee in a very poor light and indicates that she learned nothing from the Of Atlantis fiasco.

These are pre-sale for us and actually - we have pulled some of Ms. Lee's titles.

These books either have no Amazon ranking, which means that not a single copy was ever sold by Amazon, or such low rankings that sales could have been in the tens or twenties. If Lee has 20,00 followers, as was claimed on DonnaInk's Indiegogo pitch, they aren't buying her books. The DonnaInk version of Paradox Five is Lee's bestseller with a ranking of 4,441,018. How many copies of her outrageously overpriced books will Lee have to sell to earn back her investment? And the blurbs for Lee's forthcoming books aren't likely to draw in many customers:

Again, Ms. Lee did not pay to publish.

Finally, DonnaInk publishes a children's book entitled They Hide in the Cones. It too has been saddled with an atrocious back cover:

What's the National Writing Examiner, other than a publication with a blithe disregard for grammar, punctuation and coherent English? Well, at least it's a review.

Oh, wait...

*Google search*

They Hide in the Cones, by Sara Israel is written by a mom for her children, which is fine.

Not exactly an impartial review, then!

And Dana, read this thread again from the beginning. No-one has called your company a scam. This sub-forum is entitled "Bewares, Recommendations and Background Check", not "Scammers Who Should Be Driven Out of Business". I sympathise (misspelled) with your misfortunes, but you're an adult and will have to learn to handle criticism.

Noted the thread title on Absolute Write was changed - it did use Beware, Scams, etc.

Thank you for critical analysis - are you available as an editor?

 

[Unimportant]

Noted the thread title on Absolute Write was changed - it did use Beware, Scams, etc.

The thread title is always the name of the press/agency being discussed; the subforum is "bewares, recommendations and background checks". That does not equate with suggesting all publishers with a thread in the subforum are scams. Or, indeed, that any are scams.

 

[Dana_Queen]

The thread title is always the name of the press/agency being discussed; the subforum is "bewares, recommendations and background checks". That does not equate with suggesting all publishers with a thread in the subforum are scams. Or, indeed, that any are scams.

It appeared visibly different a week ago in a referred link from an author.

 

[Dana_Queen]

[/FONT][/COLOR]

You could try to sue anyone for anything. You wouldn't necessarily win your case.

Having said that I don't think anyone's said that your publishing house is a scam. It has been pointed out that you're running a vanity publishing company: that's not incorrect, in my view, because you're charging writers to publish them. You might be charging them a fee to join your trust (I'm sorry, I can't remember if that's the term you used and I don't have time to read through your long posts to check), rather than to be published: but unless they join that trust you won't publish them, so you are charging them indirectly.

Note that Jonathon Clifford, who came up with the term "vanity publisher", said that a vanity publisher is one which makes more money from the authors it publishes than from selling the resulting books to readers. It doesn't matter how the publisher makes that money from its authors: just that it earns it at all.

You might have the best of intentions. You have undoubtedly had a hard time, and for that I offer you my sympathies. But with all due respect good intentions and suffering on your part does not make you a competent publisher. And it's your competence as a publisher which we are looking at here.

I know it must be hard to face such scrutiny. But it's not done with the intention of upsetting you; it's done with the intention of helping our members make the best decisions for their work and their career.

Again, authors are not charged to publish. The former sole proprietorship had a trust for edits (for unfinished manuscripts) and layout (if not presented appropriately) and promotions; however, when we began the L.L.C. this policy was discontinued.

DonnaInk Publications, L.L.C. does not charge authors to publish and never has. THE BOOK NOOK is closed.

 

[Dana_Queen]

RE

I personally find it rather interesting that the President, CEO, and Founder of three separate companies has the time to come in here and write such lengthy harangues rebutting people's opinions, especially with such a laundry list of health issues for herself and her close family.

Honestly, a little research on Mrs. Quesinberry would lead me to believe there are connections in place which an author would find useful, and the fact that you have books available on Amazon for pre-order would give further weight to considering the publisher. (Though I honestly don't know how easy/difficult it is for any kind of real publisher to accomplish that).

If anything, the posts here have driven away any interest I might have had. See my first statement for one reason. Others are:

I'm sorry you and your family have such a myriad of health issues and disabilities, and I understand how they could lead you to focus on authors with disabilities. Outside of that, unless they actively interfere with the running of your businesses (in which case other people should probably be in charge until circumstances change), they are irrelevant. Bringing them up thusly, especially going into the full laundry list and stories of how things occurred comes off as simply pleas for pity and as a distraction tactic.

As well, bringing up your religion and it's tenants is also easily seen as another distraction tactic. Unless your company's focus is your religion, your religion is irrelevant to the discussion of the company. Being part of a religion and claiming its morals doesn't automatically make you a good person and thus we should just "trust you" that everything is on the up and up.

The name-dropping. To be honest, it's not impressive. Especially buried in a huge block of text like you did. Though I did appreciate the chance to look up some of your authors, it also led me to another red flag, which is that in the reviews of your books, certain names show up over and over again, and those names are also found as authors who have published with you. Several of those reviews are also obviously of the cut/paste variety, which just puts further emphasis on the questionable nature of them.

I also looked up the book on Marketing which Shelleyo pointed out. I'm not going to off-hand dismiss it, but I find one author and four editors questionable, as well, I want to point out the list price is actually closer to $50 than the $30 Amazon has it discounted at, which is hideously overpriced for a book reaching only 250 pages. Especially when compared to other books on the subject.

[FONT=&quot]Yes, I find providing the information behind an assault usually results in assailants returning more of the same rather than less. And, actually, I write probably much faster than you might presume. Often with errors initially (as everyone has noted and noted and noted again - shoot me for [/FONT][FONT=&quot]coup de grâce and a little attitudinal gras citations - just don't step on it; however, I normally I do edit my work. The problem I have with your attitude is you view everything as under the personal microscope of the way you would do something. It would take you a long time to respond here - not me. Transparency is something I believe in and I advocate for brain injury survivors a lot . . . and disclosure is not an issue. You find disclosure . . . difficult to endure . . . I do not. I have health issues and a few extra pounds and can't eat a lot of fruit on Sun.day. As far as myself, I guess with this being "recent" news (my health) - probably I'm in a little "shock" at least I'm just digesting it all and haven't put it all in one paragraph except once (I reused that for other requirements); however, thankfully, it is all able to be mitigated. Lastly, I've been on sabbatical of sorts recently due to a need to take time out - so this caught my attention by referral during an unfortunate downtime.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Yes, there are connections authors find useful. And, a Board of Directors is forming as well as some partnerships (merges) to extend a larger circle of capability wherein we are building on one our strengths and removing weaknesses. Honesty has always been a weakness of mine, plus I talk a lot.

I state things matter of fact . . . there's no poignancy to pity in my estimation. Actually, my health has no relevance whatsoever other than to state in recent month the website was under-represented due to a sabbatical and no matter who is at the helm . . . I still have to approve / disapprove / direct. Again, I speak freely and really do not believe in pity nor do I need to distract anyone. And, the website was revised in January initially I believe.

In discussing my company - you are discussing me, my authors and a lot of folks involved. It is a personal assault in a sense because initially all the notations were focused directly on "me" and not anyone else - even my pseudonyms. So, the thought is, someone ignited this who knew that and only a few folks know that and since it was all of those citations - it leaves a small list of culprits who are the same as other notations and are formerly terminated / banned. Beyond this, speaking of my religion is not right nor wrong. I speak of my religion all the time. I do not stop anyone from speaking about theirs. Your opinion there is noted but in the expanse of humanity - little credos.

As far as good people - to me having no morally driven association makes others questionable as well. Take yourself for instance, who are you? What makes your opinion relevant? Being on Absolute Write makes your findings worth consideration? Just because you are here doesn't make you credible either. Even in fact checking - as in the case of a former world renown personality who served as a volunteer acquisitions consultant and wouldn't accept funding - facts can be misleading - an entire world of disinformation and counter-intelligence is built on solid facts overwriting good intentions. You know what you are presented with.

Your point is lost to me. You don't like religion? That is you. I'm not using your thought process to conduct business or life - you are speaking from your own mirror of consciousness. I am not you.

All authors’ titles are reviewed internally and then externally. And, in searching millions of reviews over the years from millions of authors - most folks have family, friends, and associates reviewing. Many of our authors have Kirkus and other reviews as well. Of course, Kirkus is paid for but the industry applauds them. List your titles, I'd love to review and compare.

Admittedly, I'd prefer all authors on AMAZON have 100 reviews from the general public. Our authors achieve Top Ten 30% of the time prior to any reviews in their genres.

I do not know your age or experience level - I am presuming young and junior. However, the fact is, AMAZON re-prices based on publisher website analytics and in pre-sales they build stock and mark titles down. While pre-sales allows for . . . well . . . pre-sales, the disadvantage is their pricing. Additionally, because the publishing house has begun marking titles $5 to $7 below AMAZON retail, where they used to price close to our prices, we have noted they are now doubling-down on their discounts.

You may not be aware, some publishing houses are removing titles from AMAZON because once you list with them they review publisher retail for direct sales and then typically mark down from there. This normally takes 4 to 6 weeks post-release. We have more titles than average on AMAZON - according to AMAZON. And, with direct association with Executives there - our retail has been getting noted more often.

Lastly, you know the other publishers don't respond. I'm willing to discuss, take your criticism and enact new policies or reformation, which should be your end goal. What is your end goal?

[/FONT]

 

[Dana_Queen]

When I watched the YouTube video 2014 catalogue on the Indiegogo page, I found it interesting that an ad for Outskirts Press (It's time to Self-Publish. Keep 100% of your rights. Keep 100% of your royalties.") was shown at the bottom of the video.

Granted, I only watched 3 minutes of the 30-minute video catalogue, but I wonder if any booksellers would watch a catalogue for that long.



On the same page:
What is a "submonition"? The closest to it I could find was "submunition," which has to do with weaponry. Then there's the problem of a comma between a preposition and its object in several places, not just the one I quoted above.

I'm a former English teacher, so I notice these errors. As a reader, I would hesitate to buy any book from a publisher which has so many errors on its website. These errors are easily fixable, so why have they not been fixed?

The Indiegogo Campaign looks pretty chill, thank you for the dropped "e" notation - fixed. It is appreciated.

Submonition is actually a word and the title refers to communication, "How to Teach Your Kids to Swear" and has aired on national, regional and local news in Canada - it is well received and on sale at Chapters there. The "SUBMONITION" is a play on ADMONITION and SUBMUNITION for "us" as in communication we are suggesting it is a play on words typically anyhow . . . especially regarding swearing. Everyone does - and yet - children receive soap in their mouths.

The word submonition is to gain attention (it is working) - you have all commented on it. It is also for discussion. And, Oxford adds new words annually. However, we did find a dictionary citation prior to using it.

So. . . wrong on this point in the discussion.

_______________
The catalog (American use) or catalogue (British) and used interchangeably in cataloging . . . video is on YouTube.

YouTube posts advertisement on videos, which are keyword intrinsic. Say publish - they place 100% self publish ads. If you don't pay the fee to drop their ads - they are there.

The Indiegogo Campaign is . . . with a YouTube embed - therefore, the advertising remains. And, if you like self publishing, great.

___________________
I used to post on a little known poetry site called, Aesop's . . . forget the rest. It was the 90's early 2000's.

The site was run by English professors and very, extremely, self imported. Much more than say . . . Absolute Write could fathom.

I had a handle and posted and was referred and befriended by one of the Administrators . . . she'd high five my work and the professors loved me, excepting her evil twin the anti=administrator. It was obvious they had another lifetime we were unaware of.

Because she approved my work - everyone in the thread loved my poetics. All proactive and positive commentary.

I lost my login for a spell and posted under an alias until I found it. Then I was trolled like every other dog on their website and did fairly well, but not as when under the represented handle. And, the writing was "the same."

Later, for analysis, I created a third handle and wasn't accepted. I didn't qualify.

I returned to the original handle after remembering the access codes. Fact is, English professors are often political in policing.

And, having fun with English, sometimes bastardizing it, is well Americana at its best; however, as stated herein . . . submonitions was found and passed the pee test.

UNEDITED THREAD

 

[Dana_Queen]

It's a bigger problem than the occasional typo, though, Dana. Goodness knows, I make them all the time and am often embarrassed by them. I even avoid using certain words in important emails because emails can't be recalled and edited. These forum posts can be edited.

I checked out the Indiegogo project (also see OP). 'Indiegogo' is written repeatedly as 'Indigogo', the prose is opaque and ungrammatical and what in the world is a 'coup de gras'? A slice of fat?



I wouldn't submit anything to a publisher who didn't proofread their own funding proposal.

are you coup de grâce (aka decisive acts of mercy on Indiegogo in crowdsourcing new titles)

________________
Shall we discuss how many new uses of language one enacts in writing by revising accepted use? I've accomplished this more than once - have you?


What about cryptic works? How many books have been written cryptically? Of course, with nondisclosure, probably using good or bad grammar?

 

[Dana_Queen]

tl;dr

Valid points = missed
Moral judgments = handed down
Irrelevant information= max power
Incorrect assumptions = bonus x4
Backhanded insults = mage status
Condescension = level up!

But I'm being flip. It's the cynical heathen in me, maybe?

ETA: I am looking forward to reading the look inside of this $30 book on book marketing when it comes out, though. I'm sure it contains a wealth of expert information from someone who has marketed many books successfully, even though it's the only title under her name. There's probably a good explanation for that right in the beginning.

I wish you well anyway, and in stating that JournoWriter's comment is still the best thing in this thread, I'm out.

Come to Florida - get on the beach - I have a suite of folks with signs ranking 1 through 10. Of course, ratings are always discriminating. Personally, if you are not Eastern European, I'd give you less than 5 points but that is me being flip.

As far as marketed books - ghostwritten in Washington DC among well received titles and pseudonyms . . . it isn't my first act of congress.

 

[Dana_Queen]

I'm going to guess she actually meant 'Coup de Grace' which I could forgive that, as I would probably write it the same way as I have no idea where to find the a with the mark over it to make it proper.

What disturbs me more is the attempt to use a phrase without clearly understanding what it means, as I have no idea how a 'blow of mercy' fits into the sentence she used it in.

I honestly also find it very strange that with all the claimed connections, they're using indiegogo and that it looks like they failed to get even a single donation.

The phrase, coups de grâce is meant as a play on words and I do play with language as often as humanly possible. By the way, watch out, you forgot the capital I in Indiegogo.

There was no "fail" in no donation. Actually, at what $3600, what donation. It was a dry intercourse. It was my initial hump at getting a lay of the landscape and for analysis, which does wonders for a real campaign. Yes folks could have donated but it wasn't advertised and I believe the only views were Absolute Write (thank you for the much needed editorial I didn't have time to have conducted apparently) and a few random guests. I believe the visitors numbered well under 50. So truly, it is a good analytic placement, as in running it through diagnostics where it was placed - I have a better understanding of what draw the site itself provides in segment normally targeted and with only a few URL placements, I now know the flow meter of this crowd-sourcing tool.

Further, it is not for publishing, it is solely an advertisement for sponsoring authors at events. Even . . . it suggests to go directly to books and buy the book to aid the author rather than the Indiegogo ad.

It is an advertisement and, of course, the next Campaign will be appropriated toward return on investment (ROI). It has a good appearance though - even with the few misnomers. And, a more appropriate video will address the now understood segment to target in the future for an actual ROI.

Please note: the statistics on crowd-funding / crowd-sourcing good results is very low . . . a test campaign is wise in the world of rankings and meta-analytics to best produce an effective campaign when advertised.

Internet 101 for crowd-funding / crowd-sourcing.

You guys don't like to think outside the box do you?

 

[Dana_Queen]

Thank you!

Time to get back to work. Each of you and your critical analysis has been exceptional! Thank you to each of you for your feedback.

I love feedback. If any of you are seeking website design content management work contact [email protected]! We want to get it right the first time and every time. I could use a few of you as 1099 miscellaneous consultants.

Okay . . . we are making it better to answer your complaints and concerns, which certainly is the intent of this forum for publishers to fix reader issues.

REMEMBER, DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.LC. is 100% traditional at this time. There are NO costs to publish. And, we are merging/partnering in the near future as well as on-boarding our Board of Directors.

Other concerns of yours, such as subsidiaries, reviews, etc. are being remedied as we expand. As with any start-up there are growing pains; however, we are taking your advice and the advice of others and revising policies and practices to the betterment of industry and authors and readers alike with each day that passes. Your findings have been entered into risk mitigation lists and are being remedied. Thank you also for allowing me as a publisher and business owner to respond to each of you poignantly with a sense of humor because I believe the publishing community would be better understood if more publishers spoke openly to readers and complaints. While we may not see eye to eye, there is the common ground of wanting to better an industry undergoing severe issues universally. A lot of your key points directly relate to labor costs, manpower and finances. With a skeleton crew all wearing multiple hats as a start-up (all start-ups have this dilemma) growing pains occur. In fact, in a former life in Washington DC with an investment lender who put millions of dollars on the trades daily and grew exponentially virtually overnight - major things such as lender licenses, bonds, insurance were neglected. No one noticed, everyone was working so diligently and so hard, time flew by . . . fact is . . . like you - I noticed. Of course, we remedied them right away. And, among website policing, there are so many with errors unnoted, it is a dilemma of our fast paced Internet industry. So, additional eyes such as each of yours are always beneficial. Just acknowledge where rights are made and good is done.

No one cited Mr. Powers having been awarded the Indie Excellence Award.

As far as citing multiple editors . . . most authors don't cite editors in their sales posts. We do. If you helped - you are cited.

If you have further notations, submit them to [email protected].

ALL POSTS FROM PUBLISHER ARE UNDER THIS DISCLAIMER: SAFE HARBOR. COPYRIGHT. NOT LEGAL PREMISE. UPON LEGAL ACTION . . . THIS THREAD CANNOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C. THE L.L.C. IS A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING HOUSE WITH ZERO FEES. THE FORMER "THE BOOK NOOK" WAS CLOSED. ALL DISCUSSION AND CITATION RELATIVE TO THE SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP IS ALSO NOT LEGAL PREMISE AND CANNOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MS. D. L. QUESINBERRY AND/OR HER ATTORNEYS. ANY TYPOS, MISNOMERS, INACCURATE CITATIONS, MISSPELLINGS, ETC. ARE DISCLAIMED AS THIS IS NOT A PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT. ALL BUSINESS METHODS / MODELS DISCLOSED REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C. THE TERM "SUBMONITIONS" MAY BECOME TRADEMARKED FOR THE TITLE "HOW TO TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SWEAR." ALL STORIES SHARED BY DANA QUEEN AND/OR MS. D.L. QUESINBERRY (SAME PERSON) REMAIN PROPERTY OF MS. D.L. QUESINBERRY, DANA QUEEN AND/OR DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C. DISSEMINATION, REUSE, DUPLICATION, COPYING, CITATION, ETC. BEYOND THIS THREAD ARE NOT PERMITTED WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C., DANA QUEEN, OR MS. D.L. QUESINBERRY. THIS IS A STANDARD DISCLAIMER AND ANY VIRUSES POTENTIALLY FOUND WITHIN THIS THREAD ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAME. NOTATIONS OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATES AND / OR PERSONAL ASSOCIATES REMAIN PROPRIETARY.

Have a blessed day!

 

[ShaunHorton]

[FONT=&quot]Yes, I find providing the information behind an assault usually results in assailants returning more of the same rather than less. And, actually, I write probably much faster than you might presume. Often with errors initially (as everyone has noted and noted and noted again - shoot me for [/FONT][FONT=&quot]coup de grâce and a little attitudinal gras citations - just don't step on it; however, I normally I do edit my work. The problem I have with your attitude is you view everything as under the personal microscope of the way you would do something. It would take you a long time to respond here - not me. Transparency is something I believe in and I advocate for brain injury survivors a lot . . . and disclosure is not an issue. You find disclosure . . . difficult to endure . . . I do not. I have health issues and a few extra pounds and can't eat a lot of fruit on Sun.day. As far as myself, I guess with this being "recent" news (my health) - probably I'm in a little "shock" at least I'm just digesting it all and haven't put it all in one paragraph except once (I reused that for other requirements); however, thankfully, it is all able to be mitigated. Lastly, I've been on sabbatical of sorts recently due to a need to take time out - so this caught my attention by referral during an unfortunate downtime.[/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Yes, there are connections authors find useful. And, a Board of Directors is forming as well as some partnerships (merges) to extend a larger circle of capability wherein we are building on one our strengths and removing weaknesses. Honesty has always been a weakness of mine, plus I talk a lot.

I state things matter of fact . . . there's no poignancy to pity in my estimation. Actually, my health has no relevance whatsoever other than to state in recent month the website was under-represented due to a sabbatical and no matter who is at the helm . . . I still have to approve / disapprove / direct. Again, I speak freely and really do not believe in pity nor do I need to distract anyone. And, the website was revised in January initially I believe.

In discussing my company - you are discussing me, my authors and a lot of folks involved. It is a personal assault in a sense because initially all the notations were focused directly on "me" and not anyone else - even my pseudonyms. So, the thought is, someone ignited this who knew that and only a few folks know that and since it was all of those citations - it leaves a small list of culprits who are the same as other notations and are formerly terminated / banned. Beyond this, speaking of my religion is not right nor wrong. I speak of my religion all the time. I do not stop anyone from speaking about theirs. Your opinion there is noted but in the expanse of humanity - little credos.

As far as good people - to me having no morally driven association makes others questionable as well. Take yourself for instance, who are you? What makes your opinion relevant? Being on Absolute Write makes your findings worth consideration? Just because you are here doesn't make you credible either. Even in fact checking - as in the case of a former world renown personality who served as a volunteer acquisitions consultant and wouldn't accept funding - facts can be misleading - an entire world of disinformation and counter-intelligence is built on solid facts overwriting good intentions. You know what you are presented with.

Your point is lost to me. You don't like religion? That is you. I'm not using your thought process to conduct business or life - you are speaking from your own mirror of consciousness. I am not you.

All authors’ titles are reviewed internally and then externally. And, in searching millions of reviews over the years from millions of authors - most folks have family, friends, and associates reviewing. Many of our authors have Kirkus and other reviews as well. Of course, Kirkus is paid for but the industry applauds them. List your titles, I'd love to review and compare.

Admittedly, I'd prefer all authors on AMAZON have 100 reviews from the general public. Our authors achieve Top Ten 30% of the time prior to any reviews in their genres.

I do not know your age or experience level - I am presuming young and junior. However, the fact is, AMAZON re-prices based on publisher website analytics and in pre-sales they build stock and mark titles down. While pre-sales allows for . . . well . . . pre-sales, the disadvantage is their pricing. Additionally, because the publishing house has begun marking titles $5 to $7 below AMAZON retail, where they used to price close to our prices, we have noted they are now doubling-down on their discounts.

You may not be aware, some publishing houses are removing titles from AMAZON because once you list with them they review publisher retail for direct sales and then typically mark down from there. This normally takes 4 to 6 weeks post-release. We have more titles than average on AMAZON - according to AMAZON. And, with direct association with Executives there - our retail has been getting noted more often.

Lastly, you know the other publishers don't respond. I'm willing to discuss, take your criticism and enact new policies or reformation, which should be your end goal. What is your end goal?

[/FONT]

Well, that was full of condescension, deflection, and irrelevancy, and did I detect a veiled threat or two?

Make assumptions about me all you want. I'm not running a publishing company. (I would have you know though, you are wrong on pretty much all counts, thanks for playing though.)

My point is that as an author, were I looking for a publisher, the religion of the CEO/President/Owner is irrelevant unless their religion dictates what kind of works they accept. The health of the individual is likewise irrelevant unless their health is poor and threatens the future of the business. You call it full disclosure, many here see is as distracting from the issues brought up about the way your business may, or may not, be run. Were such statements removed from your previous posts, you could likely cut your word counts in half or more. As you say though, you like to talk.

I'm not sure you understood the comment about your book's prices on Amazon though. The issue was not the amount that Amazon had it discounted, rather, the height of the original price. Which is an average of about three times the cost of equivalent books in that subject and page count. I understand you charge more in order to pay your authors more royalties per book, but it seems most of your books are not priced competitively. If you look around Absolute Write, I'm sure you will find a discussion about the comparison of higher price vs. more sales.

Lastly, I want to inform you that I have actually seen representatives from several publishers pop onto Absolute Write in response to these kinds of threads. Some come on and immediately jump to the defensive with (interestingly enough) condescension and irrelevant facts. Then there are the ones who come in, introduce themselves to the discussion and offer to answer questions and ask for specific concerns that people have.

Imagine you're an author looking for a publisher, which of those two would impress you more and make you more likely to submit to their business?

 

[Stacia Kane]

Come to Florida - get on the beach - I have a suite of folks with signs ranking 1 through 10. Of course, ratings are always discriminating. Personally, if you are not Eastern European, I'd give you less than 5 points but that is me being flip.

Could you explain the bit I bolded, please? What kind of rating-on-the-beach are we talking about that only "Eastern Europeans" can do well in?

 

[eqb]

ALL POSTS FROM PUBLISHER ARE UNDER THIS DISCLAIMER: SAFE HARBOR. COPYRIGHT. NOT LEGAL PREMISE. UPON LEGAL ACTION . . . THIS THREAD CANNOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C. THE L.L.C. IS A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING HOUSE WITH ZERO FEES. THE FORMER "THE BOOK NOOK" WAS CLOSED. ALL DISCUSSION AND CITATION RELATIVE TO THE SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP IS ALSO NOT LEGAL PREMISE AND CANNOT BE DISCLOSED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF MS. D. L. QUESINBERRY AND/OR HER ATTORNEYS. ANY TYPOS, MISNOMERS, INACCURATE CITATIONS, MISSPELLINGS, ETC. ARE DISCLAIMED AS THIS IS NOT A PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT. ALL BUSINESS METHODS / MODELS DISCLOSED REMAIN THE PROPERTY OF DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C. THE TERM "SUBMONITIONS" MAY BECOME TRADEMARKED FOR THE TITLE "HOW TO TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SWEAR." ALL STORIES SHARED BY DANA QUEEN AND/OR MS. D.L. QUESINBERRY (SAME PERSON) REMAIN PROPERTY OF MS. D.L. QUESINBERRY, DANA QUEEN AND/OR DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C. DISSEMINATION, REUSE, DUPLICATION, COPYING, CITATION, ETC. BEYOND THIS THREAD ARE NOT PERMITTED WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DONNAINK PUBLICATIONS, L.L.C., DANA QUEEN, OR MS. D.L. QUESINBERRY. THIS IS A STANDARD DISCLAIMER AND ANY VIRUSES POTENTIALLY FOUND WITHIN THIS THREAD ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAME. NOTATIONS OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATES AND / OR PERSONAL ASSOCIATES REMAIN PROPRIETARY.

Sorry, but my reaction to that wall of text is just...