Waldorf Publishing

[Undercover]

http://waldorfpublishing.com/author/waldorfpublishing/

Some of their covers are so so. I found them on Netgalley. Any one have any experience with them?

 

[aileenlf]

Hi
has anyone had any dealings with Waldorf Publishing? They are not listed on P&E and I am curious as to whether they are traditional or vanity publishers
i appreciate your comments
Aileen

 

[mrsmig]

Link: Waldorf Publishing

And there's already a thread on this publisher here. A mod may want to merge the threads.

 

[Old Hack]

I'll merge this with the Waldorf thread in BR&BC. Hang on...

 

[Old Hack]

Their "about" page doesn't inspire much confidence, I'm afraid.

[h=1]About Waldorf Publishing[/h][FONT=&quot]How many publishing companies are started by professional race car drivers, after all?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Barbara Terry decided after a 10 year career in the Automotive Industry as a Professional Auto Expert, Spokesperson, Off Road Racer, Columnist, Producer, Show Host and Author that starting a Publishing Company was only fitting![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After the 2010 release of her book, “How Athletes Roll,” Barbara realized that the PR and Marketing know-how she’d picked up in her time as a TV personality could lend its self nicely to the world of book publishing, and it wasn’t long after that she started building Waldorf Publishing from the ground up.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]She named her publishing company after her Yellow Labrador…Waldorf![/FONT]

Publishing is a complex and counter-intuitive business. To do well at it you usually need a lot of experience, knowledge and understanding and I don't think that being a racing driver with a nice dog is enough. I might be wrong. But I wouldn't go near them unless I could prove that they had a solid track-record of great books, great promotions and great sales.

 

[ctripp]

Their children's book covers are poorly done for the most part, leading me to believe the Authors either paid low or cajole an Illustrator to do them for free or the publisher just got the cheapest art possible. They speak far too much to the writer on their home page and they run a Pay for contest, the prize... getting published with them. I'm not impressed.

 

[Old Hack]

Their children's book covers are poorly done for the most part, leading me to believe the Authors either paid low or cajole an Illustrator to do them for free or the publisher just got the cheapest art possible.

Their authors have to provide their own cover art? Really? Then they are definitely to be avoided. That's not how good publishing works.

 

[ctripp]

Their authors have to provide their own cover art? Really?

That I don't know for a fact Old Hack. I believe they may only because the Illustration is not professionally done for the most part. I see a few that could pass for mass market style but the others look pretty bad

 

[BenPanced]

Their children's book covers are poorly done for the most part, leading me to believe the Authors either paid low or cajole an Illustrator to do them for free or the publisher just got the cheapest art possible.

Looking at the covers for the Mr. Waldorf travel books, I get the feeling the artist seriously loves copy-and-paste.

And the entry on China has me wondering if the editors know the correct use of articles. Or if anybody wondered about the questionable taste of the cover art.

 

[aileenlf]

I have since discovered that Waldorf Publishing are in fact a vanity publisher, guess I am scratching them off my list then.

 

[AnnGehring]

Can anyone tell me definitively if Waldorf Publishing is a vanity publisher and if anyone has dealt with them was it a good or bad experience?

 

[AnnGehring]

Has anyone worked with Waldorf Publishing out of Texas? Are they a vanity publisher in disguise?

 

[ElaineA]

The publisher's experience is in the auto industry. How does that make her an expert in publishing?

The phrases "author services" and "publishing procedures" make me wary. Their covers are beyond amateurish.

Barbara Terry seems good at self-promotion. She has an extensive imdb page.

This line in their contest info is...odd "Entrants retain full copyright, however, if chosen the winner, Waldorf Publishing will retain full copyrights upon the winner signing the publishing contract." That's after the $45 entry fee.

I don't know what they're up to but it doesn't look great. If you had alarm bells or waving flags, I think you're wise to steer clear.

 

[Old Hack]

Can anyone tell me definitively if Waldorf Publishing is a vanity publisher and if anyone has dealt with them was it a good or bad experience?

I've not seen anything which confirms it, but another member appears to have done so:

I have since discovered that Waldorf Publishing are in fact a vanity publisher, guess I am scratching them off my list then.

If they're asking you for money at any point, for anything, or if they expect you to buy your own books to resell, then they are either a vanity publisher or so clueless you should avoid them.

And as I said earlier,

Their "about" page doesn't inspire much confidence, I'm afraid.



Publishing is a complex and counter-intuitive business. To do well at it you usually need a lot of experience, knowledge and understanding and I don't think that being a racing driver with a nice dog is enough. I might be wrong. But I wouldn't go near them unless I could prove that they had a solid track-record of great books, great promotions and great sales.

 

[mrsmig]

There's already an existing thread on this publisher. I'm sure a mod will be along shortly to merge this thread with that one.

 

[StoryofLiterature]

I currently have a book under contract with Waldorf Publishing. I have seen no evidence that they are a vanity publisher, and this accusation has been made on this thread with no evidence posted at all.

I have not paid any money to Waldorf Publishing, and I will not be paying them any money for publishing my book. I submitted a query and received a positive response back from them. The contract is a standard royalty contract, and the minimum print run, ebook, and audiobook details are all included. While the contract includes a certain number of copies for myself, I will purchase additional copies of my book from them in order to have more to sell on my own and for marketing, which is standard.

My book is still not being released for some time, but I have already worked with them on editing the manuscript. Their editors picked up many small things to edit, and there were some larger revisions I did with them as well. According to the contract, I had the final call to accept or reject changes. I also worked with their graphic designer and marketing team to create the cover. Three covers were initially mocked up. We didn't agree on any of those, and another round of covers was created. We all agreed on the same cover from this second round, which features a photograph and looks professional. According to our discussions, they will actively be marketing the book, submitting it for reviews, and booking appearances for myself as the author.

I understand that all of this is just my single, personal experience with them. However, let's look at some links to back me up and show that they are treated as a legitimate publisher:

• Publishers Weekly on Waldorf Publishing at BookExpo 2017: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bea/article/73846-bookexpo-2017-the-joint-is-jumping-at-waldorf-publishing.html
• New York Times article recommends an NY-themed book released by Waldorf Publishing: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/nyregion/bookshelf-gilded-age-version-of-monopoly-in-new-york.html
• Magazine interview with a Waldorf author that includes details about an upcoming appearance: http://inweekly.net/wordpress/?p=28047
• Billboard article about a musician’s death notes his forthcoming book by Waldorf Publishing: http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7415682/freddy-powers-country-singer-songwriter-dies-84
• Newspaper article about a Waldorf author who specifically states Waldorf hired him to write a book about a murder that occurred in 1969: http://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/an-optimistic-guy-auburn-actor-assault-victim-now-a-los/article_902e85ae-8a45-5da6-bd8a-d9ae11a58efa.html
• Newspaper interview about a Waldorf author who is the son of James Brown: http://newbrunswicktoday.com/article/musician-remembers-his-dad-james-brown-and-growing-new-brunswick and here’s a different newspaper article: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/...ryl-book-moravian-signing-20140808-story.html
• Vegan site reviews a cookbook released by Waldorf Publishing: http://theveglife.com/review-domestic-chic-cookbook-by-kristin-sollenne/ and this is a magazine article about the same book: http://www.wagmag.com/an-entertaining-read/
• Detroit News article about an expose by way of a Waldorf book: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2014/10/23/former-pr-chief-accuses-ford-bugging/17817741/
• Newspaper article about a formerly self-published author who signed a six-book contract with Waldorf Publishing: https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/community-story/6550035-publisher-picks-up-novel-series-from-ayr-author/
• Newspaper article about an upcoming Waldorf novel: http://www.poconobusinessjournal.co...burke-has-spicy-new-jazz-novel-under-contract
• Waldorf book listed for 2017 literary award: http://www.clcawards.org/2017_Book_Award_Winners.html
• There are many posts by bookstores advertising upcoming author events like these: http://www.gibsonsbookstore.com/event/throw-away-girls, http://www.booksoup.com/event/charles-connor-discusses-and-signs-keep-knockin%E2%80%99, http://www2.bookstore.washington.edu/_events/events_cal.taf?evmonth=08&evyear=2014&eventid=2014063013485300, http://www.thetwig.com/category/event-categories/author-appearance-0
• I also discovered that some authors appear to have paid other companies for help writing a manuscript, which was then published by Waldorf Publishing. For instance: http://writewisdom.com/projects/books/66-paris-nights-my-year-at-the-moulin-rouge. I don’t know exactly what’s going on here, but their FAQ states “our fee ranges from $50,000 to $150,000.” This is not the author paying Waldorf. This is the author paying writers and editors to help create a publishable manuscript he can then send to a publisher (and he sent it to Waldorf). There are multiple reviews of the published book: http://portlandbookreview.com/2016/09/paris-nights-my-year-at-the-moulin-rouge-by-cliff-simon-with-loren-stephens/
• Newspaper article about a nonfiction book published by Waldorf Publishing: http://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20160916/end-of-road-for-amc This book is also on Audible, and I noticed that many of them are: https://www.audible.com/pd/History/The-Last-American-CEO-Audiobook/B01GF6I09A?qid=1499796415&sr=1-17
• Magazine review of a Waldorf book: http://www.automobilemag.com/news/review-pr-veteran-jason-vines-new-memoir/
• Profile of an author who has a forthcoming book by Waldorf: http://www.officer.com/article/12187928/killers-in-the-classroom
• Kirkus Review of Waldorf book (they also reviewed others): https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gwen-banta/fly-strip/

I’m sure we could find more, but this seems to paint them in a positive light as a small publisher.

 

[Old Hack]

I currently have a book under contract with Waldorf Publishing. I have seen no evidence that they are a vanity publisher, and this accusation has been made on this thread with no evidence posted at all.

I have not paid any money to Waldorf Publishing, and I will not be paying them any money for publishing my book. I submitted a query and received a positive response back from them. The contract is a standard royalty contract, and the minimum print run, ebook, and audiobook details are all included. While the contract includes a certain number of copies for myself, I will purchase additional copies of my book from them in order to have more to sell on my own and for marketing, which is standard.

No, it's not standard for authors to buy their own books from their publishers in order to sell and use for marketing. Most publishing contracts allow for writers to buy copies at a good discount: but they also insist that authors are not then allowed to resell those copies.

When publishers expect their authors to buy books, and convince them that it's standard, it's reverse-end vanity publishing. That means the publisher isn't making money out of getting authors to pay upfront: it's making money by getting authors to pay once the book is published.

My book is still not being released for some time, but I have already worked with them on editing the manuscript. Their editors picked up many small things to edit, and there were some larger revisions I did with them as well. According to the contract, I had the final call to accept or reject changes.

That's all pretty standard. Assuming of course the editors are experienced and capable. Not all are.

I also worked with their graphic designer and marketing team to create the cover. Three covers were initially mocked up. We didn't agree on any of those, and another round of covers was created. We all agreed on the same cover from this second round, which features a photograph and looks professional.

Unless you're experienced in designing book jackets which sell this is not a good thing. You don't have the knowledge or experience to know what's best here.

According to our discussions, they will actively be marketing the book, submitting it for reviews, and booking appearances for myself as the author.

Sending books to reviewers is a very basic thing. Author appearances do bugger all for a new author's sales. What else are they doing?

I understand that all of this is just my single, personal experience with them. However, let's look at some links to back me up and show that they are treated as a legitimate publisher:

[lots of links snipped]

I don't think that showing links to their website proves that they know what they're doing. All it shows is that they have some coverage, and to be honest, most companies do. Nor does it show that they know what they're doing, or that they're competent.

I hope things go well for you and your book. But I remain unconvinced that this is a publisher I'd like to work with. Sorry.

 

[ctripp]

The links you provided do certainly show the Authors working hard to market their books but it's not proof of the Publisher doing anything I'm afraid. Self published Authors also contact local book stores to host signings, send out news releases to magazines and local papers.
Just as an example from you list, the Kirkus review link is to a Kirkus Indie, a branch of Kirkus that allows self pub Authors to submit their books for review. Kirkus Indie is very expensive https://www.kirkusreviews.com/indie-reviews/#about-us
Trade Publishers submit their books to the regular review arm of Kirkus.

The Awards Contest you listed is open to self publishing Authors and though it's not a high entry fee (as far as these kind of contests go) the "win" (and many win) doesn't really mean much. The judges aren't named, and the company running the contest offer for sale stickers for the book, so more money. There are dozens of these kinds of contests that, while they allow self publishers to enter, really don't mean anything for book sales when all is said and done.

 

[aliceshortcake]

ctripp got there first, but I wouldn't be too impressed about a Waldorf book winning something from the Literary Classics International Book Awards. According to Marilyn Baker Schmidt:

Literary Classics International Book Awards and Reviews

You might compare the Enchanted Page Book Award to the widely recognised and world-renowned Caldecott Book Awards, and the Eloquent Quill Book Award is similar in nature to the Newbery Book Award.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/marilynfbs/literary-classics-international-book-awards-review/

Or then again you might not, for the reasons ctripp outlined above.

Literary Classics and Children's Literary Classics Book Awards and Reviews were created by Taj Mahal Publishing Inc., a division of Wildflower Press and publishers of Mud Pie Parenting Magazine, a Midwestern Publication.
http://www.clcawards.org/About_CLC.html

From the Wildflower Press website:

Wildflower Press is a small, independent press. - We are not a self-publisher or a vanity press.
http://www.wildflowerpress.org/Index.html

In fact it was founded by Dianna Fuchs in 2011 to publish her own book Muted Grey (under the name Dianna L Young). Oddly, there isn't a single book for sale on the site - not even the owner's. Perhaps it was more lucrative to sell vanity awards instead...

 

[ctripp]

Literary Classics International Book Awards and Reviews

You might compare the Enchanted Page Book Award to the widely recognised and world-renowned Caldecott Book Awards, and the Eloquent Quill Book Award is similar in nature to the Newbery Book Award.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/marilynf...awards-review/

Aliceshortcake, your sleuthing abilities never cease to astound me!
Obviously Marilyn doesn't know what the Caldecott is, other then having heard of it in relation to Children's Lit. The Caldecott is for Illustration, it's not awarded for writing, the honour goes to the Illustrator

 

[Storm]

I recently got an offer of publication from Waldorf, but I'm slightly concerned by the terms.

The books are discounted to print cost for authors, they do get on bookshelves in major bookstores as well as professional marketing. But what's unnerving to me is how fast they reacted (4 sample chapters and I was in), they have almost nothing from my genre (one book), and that I'll have to pay for their services.
It's being passed on as an investment in the book. They offer between 15-40% royalties, and it goes up 5% with every $500 you put down starting at $1500. Royalties would be paid monthly, with sales reports, which seems typical.
This reads like a hybrid press. But the sales associate insists that they're a small press. They're also the only response I've gotten as someone who has been querying for years. Even so, I'm not sure if they're the right choice.

Advice would be much appreciated.

 

[mrsmig]

Have you actually gone to a bookstore and looked for Waldorf's books, or asked at the info desk to see if they carry them? Or are you taking this publisher's word for it?

In any case, whatever they call themselves, if they're asking you for money, they're a vanity press. Plain and simple.

 

[VeryBigBeard]

It's being passed on as an investment in the book. They offer between 15-40% royalties, and it goes up 5% with every $500 you put down starting at $1500. Royalties would be paid monthly, with sales reports, which seems typical.
This reads like a hybrid press. But the sales associate insists that they're a small press. They're also the only response I've gotten as someone who has been querying for years. Even so, I'm not sure if they're the right choice.

Advice would be much appreciated.

Vanity press, I'm afraid. None of this stuff works, no matter what it's called. The four chapters thing indicates they'll likely take anyone, as long as that anyone can pay. They get their money, and you get a 40% of $0.00, which is still $0.00.

I know it's tough to hear when you've been querying for so long, but the interest isn't legitimate. Vanity presses prey on vanity, on the desire to be published.

If you stick around here, this forum has sections where you can workshop a manuscript and query letter to see if there might be reasons it's not quite catching on with agents. There are also a lot of incredibly experienced writers here (some of them in this thread, actually) who can help you navigate next steps.

Don't fall into the vanity publishing trap. It won't do anything for you or your book.

 

[Storm]

Have you actually gone to a bookstore and looked for Waldorf's books, or asked at the info desk to see if they carry them? Or are you taking this publisher's word for it?

In any case, whatever they call themselves, if they're asking you for money, they're a vanity press. Plain and simple.

The problem is, I can't. I live in a very isolated area. What I have been able to do is look up some of the books they have been selling on Amazon, which have reviews in the single digits if any (No ARC reviews...). B&N does carry some of their work, according to their website.

 

[veinglory]

Being carried on a website is not being carried in the store. If you go to those listings and select "pick up in store" are they available in any stores anywhere--I would guess not.