What about the ISBN

Keith · Jun 10, 2008

I had a book published by PA about a year ago and was, almost immediately, banned from their forums because no one had a straight answer to a straight question. I am trying to get my rights back from PA but am wondering about the ISBN, if I even get a hint of getting the rights back, maybe even if I don't, I plan to print the book through Lulu, as I did to another book I had problems with from another publisher, but that publisher hadn't purchased an ISBN for it as I then immediately did and am satisfied with that (venture into the publishing world).

The book PA published sold 30 copies and PA sent me a check for 2 sales, $3.19 and then a check for $12.77, ostensibly for 17 copies. Now, even a child can figure out that the arithmetic doesn't work. Does anyone have a similar experience and maybe an idea of what I should (could) do, considering the ISBN is registered with PA? I'm looking for a simple answer, even though I know there are none.

Keith

DaveKuzminski · Jun 10, 2008

What you do is present the facts to the Attorney General in Maryland about PA's behavior. Ask him to take them to court. You should also consider notifying the Postal Service and ask they to consider invoking RICO. I'll even provide them with more evidence if they show some interest in your complaint. I say this because the Supreme Court just issued a decision that strengthens RICO instead of weakening it and it very well can apply to vanity publishers who use the mail for any portion of their operation, even if it's only to mail the dollar advance.

In the meantime, ISBNs are not transferrable. Your new publisher will provide a new ISBN for your book.

Keith · Jun 16, 2008

PA wants $300 to return my rights

I just got an e-mail reply from PA concerning an e-mail I sent them attempting to get my publishing rights back on a book they published a year ago and, after rambling on and on about how much publicity they provided me with and that they COULD NOT and WOULD NOT consider releasing to me the rights back, they offered, in the last line of the e-mail, to do just that, for $300. Now, I feel as if that e-mail, in itself, as much returns the rights to me as if I paid them the $300. I'm gonna offer to pay them their advance BACK for my rightful rights back, and save $299. Any thoughts from anyone, any similar experiences?

Keith

Gravity · Jun 16, 2008

Seems like this is the second time I'd heard of them doing this. Curious...

Marie Pacha · Jun 16, 2008

Keith, you might check this website: http://christianityforthinkers.com/publishamerica.htm

Specifically check the link for PA 2nd email of 5/28/08.

brianm · Jun 16, 2008

Keith said:
I just got an e-mail reply from PA concerning an e-mail I sent them attempting to get my publishing rights back on a book they published a year ago and, after rambling on and on about how much publicity they provided me with and that they COULD NOT and WOULD NOT consider releasing to me the rights back, they offered, in the last line of the e-mail, to do just that, for $300. Now, I feel as if that e-mail, in itself, as much returns the rights to me as if I paid them the $300. I'm gonna offer to pay them their advance BACK for my rightful rights back, and save $299. Any thoughts from anyone, any similar experiences?

Keith

Hi, Keith, and welcome to the cooler. You and I had communicated in the past (outside of AW) about your other publisher and PA, although it was some time ago.

PA is up to their old tricks and appears to be offering a new one with the $300.00 buy back scheme, which is approximately the amount of money it costs PA to produce a book.

I hate to see you spend money (and PA gain money) but it a consideration in order to be done with this scam vanity publisher once and for all.

If you do choose to buy back your rights, please have a qualified individual review the document before paying PA. You'll find many qualified volunteers here in AW who will be more than happy to assist you.

DaveKuzminski · Jun 16, 2008

If you would, please forward a copy of that email from PA to me at [email protected] as I'd like to have as much info on file as possible.

In the meantime, instead of giving in to PA, consider posting all their correspondence to you on a web site with keywords that will bring it up when anyone does a search about publishing, PublishAmerica, and other keywords you believe are appropriate. That way the world can see PA for what it is.

Keith · Jun 21, 2008

Brian,

I do indeed remember our correspondence. I sent Dave Kuzminski my recent correspondence with PA and I hope it might help others avoid the same problems, although I must say that if I had it to do over again I may choose to do the same thing but only because, as Schopenhauer once said "Money is never spent to so much advantage as when you have been cheated out of it: for at one stroke you have purchased prudence." Actually, I was warned before hand about PA but got (a little) sucked in anyway. Anyway, thanks for your help and let me know if I can help anyone stay away from PA.

Kind Regard,

Keith

Bo Sullivan · Jun 21, 2008

Good luck with getting your rights back Brian. I got mine back last September but they didn't ask me for any money. It's the first time I have heard of them doing that.

Barbara

Keith · Jun 22, 2008

Marie,

I just checked out that reply letter you informed me about and it is the exact same letter I got; obviously a form letter, obviously now, or whenever, their new policy. Thanks.

Keith

Marie Pacha · Jun 22, 2008

You're most welcome.

Marie

cethklein · Jun 22, 2008

So now PA is ramping up the trend of trying to charge people for their own rights, interesting. These people are really getting ballsy. I can only hope this arrogance will finally lead to them making a mistake and getting busted. Maybe there will finally be some cracks in Fortress Fredericksberg.

But somehow I doubt they'll care. They've had a good run and there is no telling how many millions of dollars they've scammed out of people. So odds are you won't see anyone going down with the ship (except perhaps some hapless employee they may choose to throw under the bus.)

brianm · Jun 22, 2008

Keith said:
Anyway, thanks for your help and let me know if I can help anyone stay away from PA.

Kind Regard,

Keith

You already have by starting this thread. Best wishes and good luck.

Duped said:
Good luck with getting your rights back Brian.

What rights? Oh, you mean the ones I lost when my better half attached the ball and chain to my leg? No chance getting those back. Ever.

Gravity · Jun 22, 2008

cethklein said:
Maybe there will finally be some cracks in Fortress Fredericksberg.

Never happen. These guys aren't going anywhere. As has been stated, their three main sources of new blood these days are the weekend hobbyists, the willfully blind, and the aggressively illiterate. And the supply of those folks is well-nigh endless.

Khazarkhum · Jun 23, 2008

Gravity said:
Never happen. These guys aren't going anywhere. As has been stated, their three main sources of new blood these days are the weekend hobbyists, the willfully blind, and the aggressively illiterate. And the supply of those folks is well-nigh endless.

Don't forget kids, ie anyone under 25 with a desire to write & no direction. Sure, some end up here, but more end up at PA.

James D. Macdonald · Jun 23, 2008

I've said for a long time that PA relies on the desperate, the ~~deranged~~ deluded, and the naive.

We can't do anything about the first two groups (and there are enough folks in both to keep PA happily chugging along for centuries). The third group we can help, and that's why we keep posting.

DaveKuzminski · Jun 23, 2008

James D. Macdonald said:
We can't do anything about the first two groups (and there are enough folks in both to keep PA happily chugging along for centuries).

Of course, that's presuming someone in one of those two groups doesn't go postal on PA.

In the meantime, if you're a PA-published author, be sure you give PA the chance they deserve to be a publisher. Let PA do the promoting, marketing, and selling in order to recover their investment. It's the right thing to do.

BarbJ · Jul 4, 2008

cethklein said:
...you won't see anyone going down with the ship (except perhaps some hapless employee they may choose to throw under the bus.)

Only one? You're giving too much benefit of the doubt.

I wonder if Lawyer Vic realizes, as their attorney, he's the most likely candidate for the bus crunch should things turn sour. :tongue

James D. Macdonald · Jul 5, 2008

Holy mixed metaphor, Batman! How does one go about throwing someone under a bus whilst going down with the ship?

Sean D. Schaffer · Jul 5, 2008

James D. Macdonald said:
I've said for a long time that PA relies on the desperate, the ~~deranged~~ deluded, and the naive.

We can't do anything about the first two groups (and there are enough folks in both to keep PA happily chugging along for centuries). The third group we can help, and that's why we keep posting.

Technically, Uncle Jim, I would have belonged to the first and last group. I was fairly naive, yes, but I was more desperate when I submitted to PA than I was anything else.

Now I know that my writing is far better than I thought it was back then. I know how the business works in part because of AW, and I see that I really do have a chance to be something better than I am. This board, along with a couple others, has helped me to get over the desperation and focus on my writing again.

So to say you can't help the first two groups you mentioned, is a bit of a strain, if only because some of the desperate have been helped in coming out of their shells and taking their writing life by the horns. I'm one of those people.

Khazarkhum · Jul 5, 2008

James D. Macdonald said:
Holy mixed metaphor, Batman! How does one go about throwing someone under a bus whilst going down with the ship?

Have you seen the size of some of the cruise ships? He probably tossed one under a tram as the ship went down.

Or maybe they're on a ferry, and it's sinking, and the best way to ensure his own rescue is to shove others under a commuter bus.

Now all he can depend on for rescue is (cue fanfare) --Hellocopter!

What about the ISBN

Keith

DaveKuzminski

Preditors & Editors

Keith

Gravity

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

Marie Pacha

Still a work in progress

brianm

Brian Boru

DaveKuzminski

Preditors & Editors

Keith

Bo Sullivan

Keith

Marie Pacha

Still a work in progress

cethklein

brianm

Brian Boru

Gravity

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

Khazarkhum

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

DaveKuzminski

Preditors & Editors

BarbJ

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Sean D. Schaffer

Khazarkhum