TRIAD Publishing Group

[Marva]

This is a vanity press, but I thought it would be good to start a thread on them. I received a copy of a book from one of their authors. I tend to read everything in a book, so I was put off on the copyright page misusing "it's" for "its". There was clearly no proofreading at all. It's too bad, since the writer has a fairly cool concept, but the book is rife with punctuation and grammatical errors.

Lots of people do want/need to self-pub, but it would be nice if the companies selling the service would give their writers something for the big bucks they spend.

http://triadpublishinggroup.com/

 

[Chicken Warrior]

Thanks for the heads up.

Lots of writers need self pub, maybe, but none at all should need vanity.

 

[victoriastrauss]

To be fair to most self-pub companies, they publish books as-is, and don't pretend to do otherwise. The company will print whatever it's given, as long as the author pays the required fee. It's up to the author to get his or her book into shape. They're printing services, not publishers.

That said, the verbiage on Triad's website ("Partnership in publishing") suggests otherwise. It's definitely more bullshitty than some other pay-to-publish outfits I've seen.

- Victoria

 

[clfreire]

Triad Publishing Group

I know that Triad Publishing Group has been called a vanity press, but what some may not know is that they offer some of their prospective authors contracts and in fact do not charge these particular authors any fees whatsoever. I know this because I was offered a contract. I've read it thoroughly and have had an attorney read it, and it is on the up and up.

I say this because I know what Triad is about, and there are some people out there who don't know about the contracts simply because they don't offer contracts to everyone who submits a MS to them.

They use Ingram, the same distributor that the Random Houses of the world utilize. Plus Triad has a vast team of illustrators who design the covers and work with the authors in this respect.

Just thought I'd put this out there.

Thank you

 

[IceCreamEmpress]

I know that Triad Publishing Group has been called a vanity press, but what some may not know is that they offer some of their prospective authors contracts and in fact do not charge these particular authors any fees whatsoever.

I imagine it's better to get their services free than to have to pay for them. However, what percentage of profits do these authors receive? One of the advantages of true self-publishing is that authors get 100% of the profits.

Plus Triad has a vast team of illustrators who design the covers and work with the authors in this respect.

The covers on the Triad website aren't particularly impressive-looking, though.

 

[victoriastrauss]

They use Baker, Ingram and Taylor, the same wholesaler that the Random Houses of the world utilize.

It's Baker & Taylor and Ingram--two separate companies.

Most publishers, vanity or otherwise, utilize these wholesalers. However, commercial (non-vanity) publishers also have their own sales teams, or work with a distributor that has a sales team. Without a direct sales component, books are unlikely to make it into bookstores--something that, for most books, is necessary for volume sales.

I see no sign that Triad has either its own sales team or a relationship with a distributor. Essentially, it uses the same distribution network that the print-on-demand self-publishing services, vanity publishers, and micropresses do. Which is not an advantage.

- Victoria

 

[waylander]

I know that Triad Publishing Group has been called a vanity press, but what some may not know is that they offer some of their prospective authors contracts and in fact do not charge these particular authors any fees whatsoever. I know this because I was offered a contract. I've read it thoroughly and have had an attorney read it, and it is on the up and up.

Is your attorney regularly handling publishing contracts? It is a specialised area of knowledge and someone who usually handles general contracts may not be aware of the potential pitfalls.

 

[Polenth]

It's hard to be conclusive at this point, but I think it's worth adding something here. Triad has always promoted itself on MySpace, contacting writers there to offer them contracts. Recently, a number of those authors on my friends list have left Triad. Most have been hazy about their reasons, but one author has complained about royalties not being paid:

Non-Payment of Royalties

Their main website disappeared recently, and their MySpace profile is now set to private. Their magazine site is still running, though I'm wondering if Cindy has that under her name? (The author who posted here earlier, who agreed to run it).

http://www.treimagazine.com/

 

[clfreire]

This is a total misrepresentation

Their magazine site is still running, though I'm wondering if Cindy has that under her name?

I must tell you that this is a complete misrepresentation of what has happened with the magazine.

It is still running, yes, but it is not merely under my name. I took over the magazine and it is now mine to run under my name. I am no longer affiliated with the publisher.

Just thought I would clear things up.

 

[brianm]

I must tell you that this is a complete misrepresentation of what has happened with the magazine.

It is still running, yes, but it is not merely under my name. I took over the magazine and it is now mine to run under my name. I am no longer affiliated with the publisher.

Just thought I would clear things up.

Welcome to AW.

Is this publisher still in business?

 

[CaoPaux]

Per the cache, "Look For A Brand New TRIAD Site Coming October 1, 2008".

So, looks like it is; for the moment, at least.

 

[jnesvold]

Per the cache, "Look For A Brand New TRIAD Site Coming October 1, 2008".

So, looks like it is; for the moment, at least.

Apparently not. The website is still down, the MySpace is no longer there, and Vern is unreachable by pretty much any means these days.

 

[CaoPaux]

I'll order the coffin, but I won't dig the grave 'till a couple months pass with no sign of resurrection.

 

[Diane DeRome]

Triad goes down

As a new author, this publishing house took me, and took me bad. Paid good money to have my book done professionally and got absolutely no editing, 2nd rate marketing and now becuase of personal problems, the publisher as imploded on himself and is no longer in business. He has not paid his authors any royalties although he continues to receive all royalties paid to him. The guy is a crook and please, spead the word so that people to not purchase any books published by TRIAD PUBLISHING GROUP.

 

[Polenth]

From Preditors and Editors:

"Hidden Gate Books: A book publisher. A writer reports this is part of Triad Publishing Group. Contact info unavailable."

 

[CaoPaux]

Interesting. Google finds the sad tales one expects when such a pub flames out. Plus this: http://www.scribd.com/people/view/3331372-c-l-freire

ETA: Writers also report that Hidden Gate Books was in fact a name change for Triad before it, too, dissolved.