| How to get a book deal without being scammed | | | | dearly love to publish your book. You just need to |
| is a hurdle for any writers. Publishers Are Not | | | | share the risk with them by giving them some |
| Exempt From Questionable Practices. | | | | money. |
| Keep These Warning Signs in Mind | | | | A new twist is to tell the author that their project |
| Charges a fee to read your manuscript. You are | | | | has merit but the author will have to find an |
| providing the product for them to sell. Why should | | | | investor to sponsor their title. The publisher isn't |
| you have to pay to see if they are interested in | | | | asking the author directly for any funds but many |
| your work? | | | | authors shell out the necessary dollars rather than |
| Offers subsidy contracts (you pay them to have | | | | try and find an 'investor.' |
| your book published) when they promote | | | | Rebates |
| themselves as commercial publishers. Are POD | | | | The publisher says that any fees you pay them |
| (publish-on-demand) publishers, such as | | | | will be completely refunded once your book |
| authorshouse, IUniverse, and Xlibris, legitimate | | | | reaches a certain sales level, usually in the |
| publishers? Yes as long as the author realizes the | | | | thousands. Or that they will provide a comparable |
| costs and the limitations of POD publishing. Publish | | | | number of 'free' copies when the magic sales level |
| On Demand books are rarely stocked in | | | | has been reached. |
| bookstores. | | | | A twist on rebates is that the publisher will match |
| Bait and Switch | | | | your monetary contribution in marketing efforts |
| There are some publishers who hide behind the | | | | for your title. Publishers are supposed to market |
| mask of respectability and call themselves | | | | their own titles. The match most likely will not be |
| 'traditional' when in fact they are a vanity press. | | | | in advertising dollars, review copies sent, or book |
| How can you tell? Look at their websites, if the | | | | tour expenses but the efforts of the in house |
| focus is on recruiting writers rather than | | | | staff. Efforts that probably won't be focused |
| promoting the books they publish, it's a huge red | | | | specifically on your title. |
| flag. | | | | How to get a book deal without getting scammed |
| Other publishers 'will accept' your manuscript and | | | | is possible for any author. Just keep these |
| then come back a few weeks later and say that | | | | warning signs in mind. |
| their list for the next season is full but they would | | | | |