How Can I Get My Manuscript Back?

MLCD · Sep 9, 2009

I signed a contract ONLY BECAUSE they advertise that it would cost nothing to publish my book, I was so thrilled about getting my story
out to finally help someone after keeping it in for so many years, because of the shame and embarrassment of it all, until I did some research,
THEY are the most hated publisher in the world, the ONLY people that have anything good to say about them ..IS THEM ONLY.. they are unscrupulous,takes advantage of the poor and the handicapped, they only do your book so they can bleed BLEED THE AUTHOR dry, they only sell books TO THE AUTHORS, and if authors don't buy them THEY DON'T SELL AT ALL. THEY print they don't publish, They lock you into a 7 YEAR contract,TO take FULL ADVANTAGE of a poor person and EVERYONE else who has ever dealt with them, PLEASE THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING that someone can do. WE have blinders on when we see the word FREE, but that does not give anyone THE RIGHT to take advantage of you or YOUR WORK. That is MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY story
I wrote it to help or save someone's life and all THAT PUBLISHER wants to do is MAKE MONEY FROM ME FOR MY OWN autobiography, which means I AM THE ONLY one that will be buying MY OWN autobiography. NO bookstores will take their books because of their reputations. It is not about the money, although it would help, its about taking my LIFE STORY and taking advantage of it by TRYING to SELL IT BACK TO ME. Please PLEASE SOMEONE OUT THERE HELP ME. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE to help PLEASE. I am handicapped and poor, I cannot afford a lawyer. CAN U HELP ME PLEASE? The book is NOT YET published, they told me it was in the TEXT/EDITING department now. How can I get out and get my manuscript back. I GOT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION FROM THE RESEARCH
THAT I DID ON THE INTERNET, WHICH I should have done before, BUT I know there is someone out there THAT IS NOT AFRAID and will not LET STUPIDITY allow a publisher to take advantage of the weak.

James D. Macdonald · Sep 9, 2009

Write to them, tell them that you are not going to buy any copies and no one you know is going to buy any copies either.

They'll let you go.

Even if they don't, write another, better, book.

Nivarion · Sep 9, 2009

They may be dirty scam artists, but they are very good dirty scam artists.

I'm no lawyer, but what I've seen of the contract... It's airtight on your end. They have plenty of room but your stuck. All you can do is rewrite and re name your book. If they break their contract then you are out and free. But the wording on their obligations is so vague that there is very little chance.

Report them to the AG for any little discrepancy. Improper royalties reports and such. When you report them don't give your name or the title of your book, so that they will do a broad investigation instead of a specific one.

MLCD · Sep 9, 2009

what is AG?

James D. Macdonald · Sep 9, 2009

Attorney General.

Particularly with royalty discrepancies. But only if you have written specifics.

I have to disagree with Nivarion: When you report PA to the Maryland Attorney General it must be with names, dates, times, places, dollar amounts, and written documentation. Document, document, document. The Attorney General can't work with rumors and vague generalities.

Cyia · Sep 9, 2009

You can try writing them a (non-agressive) email stating that because of your health/medical situation, it is not possible to do any promotion at this time and that it's totally out of your budget to buy any books - could they please halt publication until you're in a better position.

Be polite, don't back them into a corner, and leave the end open. If they stop the production of the book - or better void the contract - you're clear. If not, you're no worse off.

merrihiatt · Sep 9, 2009

Welcome, MLCD. :welcome:

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with PublishAmerica. I'm afraid that once you sign that contract it can be quite a challenge to get the rights to your book back. I've been trying for a year with no luck.

I would suggest writing to PublishAmerica and letting them know about your situation, like Cyia said. And, as James Macdonald stated, whether you get your rights returned or not, start writing your next book.

I wish you the very best of luck.

colealpaugh · Sep 9, 2009

Cyia said:
You can try writing them a (non-agressive) email stating that because of your health/medical situation, it is not possible to do any promotion at this time and that it's totally out of your budget to buy any books - could they please halt publication until you're in a better position.

Be polite, don't back them into a corner, and leave the end open. If they stop the production of the book - or better void the contract - you're clear. If not, you're no worse off.

A great suggestion, of course.

And just throwing wet ideas against the wall...

Dear Publish America:

As you may or may not have seen in the news, I was recently arrested on criminal charges involving children/homicide/dog fighting/necrophilia. My attorney has advised me to notify you as a courtesy that I will not be able to make any financial commitments for years to come, and to give you an opportunity to separate my name and work from your good reputation.

I completely understand if you choose to return my manuscript.

Sincerely,

H. Lecter

I'm not suggesting this is necessarily the best tact for the OP, but it's what I'd have done. Then I'd go find a pack of dry matches...

Best of luck, MLCD. Your post is very sad.

stormie · Sep 9, 2009

Try to get out of the contract. I know this book--your autobiography--is very special. If you can't get out of the contract, start from the begining and rewrite/rework the entire manuscript. Retitle it, too. Look at your life from a different angle. Stick around AW here and read the threads on writing.

Look ahead, not back.

LovetoWrite · Sep 9, 2009

I think everyone offered really good advice.

Colealpaugh's idea is super. Make it look like you are doing them a favor by having your manuscript returned. I love that.

I'm sorry you found out about them after you signed. My brother-in-law used them too and he did two book signings, relatives bought and he bought some also. Then instead of a check, he received a letter in the mail, stating that he had to sell 500 books before he can receive any royalty. I was floored!!!

Needless to say it will not sell that many copies.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will work out for you.

Marian Perera · Sep 9, 2009

LovetoWrite said:
My brother-in-law used them too and he did two book signings, relatives bought and he bought some also. Then instead of a check, he received a letter in the mail, stating that he had to sell 500 books before he can receive any royalty.

Do you know if that was in the contract he signed?

merrihiatt · Sep 10, 2009

LovetoWrite said:
Then instead of a check, he received a letter in the mail, stating that he had to sell 500 books before he can receive any royalty.

That is insane!!! I hope it wasn't stated in his contract. When did he sign his contract with PA?

MLCD · Sep 11, 2009

Thank you guys for all of the wonderful advice.
It makes me feel better, just to know you care.
Continue to give me advice and keep me posted.
Thanks again to all.
I thought I had left the evil people behind me.
How can any human beings be so dispicable and heartless?
The ONLY good thing about this is, we know they will burn in hell
one day.
I have read such unbelievable things.

MLCD · Sep 12, 2009

Newbie PA Refugee plea for help

I signed a contract ONLY BECAUSE they advertise that it would cost nothing to publish my book, I was so thrilled about getting my story
out to finally help someone after keeping it in for so many years, because of the shame and embarrassment of it all, until I did some research,
THEY are the most hated publisher in the world, the ONLY people that have anything good to say about them ..IS THEM ONLY.. they are unscrupulous,takes advantage of the poor and the handicapped, they only do your book so they can bleed BLEED THE AUTHOR dry, they only sell books TO THE AUTHORS, and if authors don't buy them THEY DON'T SELL AT ALL. THEY print they don't publish, They lock you into a 7 YEAR contract,TO take FULL ADVANTAGE of a poor person and EVERYONE else who has ever dealt with them, PLEASE THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING that someone can do. WE have blinders on when we see the word FREE, but that does not give anyone THE RIGHT to take advantage of you or YOUR WORK. That is MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY story
I wrote it to help or save someone's life and all THAT PUBLISHER wants to do is MAKE MONEY FROM ME FOR MY OWN autobiography, which means I AM THE ONLY one that will be buying MY OWN autobiography. NO bookstores will take their books because of their reputations. It is not about the money, although it would help, its about taking my LIFE STORY and taking advantage of it by TRYING to SELL IT BACK TO ME. Please PLEASE SOMEONE OUT THERE HELP ME. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE to help PLEASE. I am handicapped and poor, I cannot afford a lawyer. CAN U HELP ME PLEASE? The book is NOT YET published, they told me it was in the TEXT/EDITING department now. How can I get out and get my manuscript back. I GOT ALL OF THIS INFORMATION FROM THE RESEARCH THAT I DID ON THE INTERNET, WHICH I should have done before, BUT I know there is someone out there THAT IS NOT AFRAID and will not LET STUPIDITY allow a publisher to take advantage of the weak.

MacAllister · Sep 12, 2009

MLCD, I can appreciate your pain and frustration. I'm going to move this to the Publish America sub-forum (I'll drop you a private message) because it doesn't really go here in the "Ask an Agent" thread.

gordo · Sep 12, 2009

Buck up!

Dear MLCD,

I, too, made the mistake of submitting a book to Publish America. After numerous letters and emails explaining that I would do nothing to promote the book and that no further copies would be sold, they consented to sever our relationship. You have two alternatives: First, do as I and others have done and keep informing them that you will do nothing to promote the book, or second, forget about the entire issue and write another book better than the first one.

To a more important issue: Given that you have completed a book length manuscript, something that only a small fraction of the population is capable of and motivated to do, you may be disabled but you are not HANDICAPPED. The difference is an important one to think about.

I would say, too, that "weak" is an appropriate adjective only if you let it be, and, in so far as "poor" is concerned that's true for most of us. So get on with your writing, create a better book, and enjoy life.

All the best,

Gordo

All the best,

Gordo

James D. Macdonald · Sep 16, 2009

"Because it's free" is a lousy reason for submitting to any publisher. There isn't a legitimate publisher on the planet that isn't "free."

Publishing isn't just "free" for the author: It includes a nice advance (and I'm not talking about a lousy dollar).

LovetoWrite · Sep 16, 2009

Sorry, I haven't been on for awhile. I don't know if it is in the contract or not. The truth is, my brother-in-law isn't saying much anymore. He has been depressed over the situation and doesn't welcome any conversation about PA, or the book. Until he is ready to talk about it anyway.

BBWalter · Mar 10, 2010

LovetoWrite said:
Sorry, I haven't been on for awhile. I don't know if it is in the contract or not. The truth is, my brother-in-law isn't saying much anymore. He has been depressed over the situation and doesn't welcome any conversation about PA, or the book. Until he is ready to talk about it anyway.

LoveToWrite,

I can understand your BIL's point of view. I was in the same boat once I found out I'd been duped. Trust me, he will very soon become angered by the situation and the fact that he'd been taken advantage of; and, if like me, then things will get fun!

When he does reach this point (and I hope it will be soon for him and your family), I'm sure things will improve. I also hope he finds a way out of his contract. I, myself, have not been lucky. Every letter I've sent has received the form-reply of "Uh uh, we ain't gonna do it" from PA. However, I WILL NOT give up. If I have to completely rewrite the thing and then resubmit it, I will. I refuse to give up on my first novel; it was good (I have the reviews to prove it) and needs to be shared. Plus, I have two more books in the same series I really really want published.

Best of luck to your BIL!
BB

Marian Perera · Mar 10, 2010

Hi, BB, and welcome to the board!

BBWalter said:
I refuse to give up on my first novel; it was good (I have the reviews to prove it) and needs to be shared.

Is your novel called Sister Light?

BBWalter · Mar 10, 2010

Queen of Swords said:
Hi, BB, and welcome to the board!

Is your novel called Sister Light?

Why, yes, it is! *cringes* Hope you recognized it because you've read and liked it, not because you've read and hated it! LOL

BB

Marian Perera · Mar 10, 2010

Neither, actually.

I browse the PublishAmerica Discussion Board and I recalled your book because it had an interesting tagline - the one beginning "Beware the child..." The cover was pretty striking as well.

BBWalter · Mar 10, 2010

Queen of Swords said:
Neither, actually. I browse the PublishAmerica Discussion Board and I recalled your book because it had an interesting tagline - the one beginning "Beware the child..." The cover was pretty striking as well.

Thanks! Both are my creations, tagline and cover art. The cover art sent by PA was awful, so I had to get create with some stock images of my own.

BB

LexiCan · Mar 11, 2010

Welcome BB! I remember you from the PA board. So glad you found AW!

luv lit · Mar 15, 2010

Well, looks like I won't be getting my rights back, I found out that a store I had been working on to stock the book in my naive days, was never called back by PA when they went to order the book. I got angry and in my last email to them, I was scolded, and told not to use that tone. But, it felt so good, I don't even care any more, stick my book in a hard drive, put it with with the others that have " found their way" at least it will be in good company.

How Can I Get My Manuscript Back?

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