| New Authors, contracts, and Publishing: | | | | monetary gains to this business of writing and |
| Many new authors sign a contract with a publisher | | | | being recognized. |
| without reading it thoroughly. The excitement of | | | | Having been in the accounting and business world |
| being published for the first time is so | | | | most of my life, I recognize the need for all |
| overwhelming that they ignore the fact that they | | | | companies to make a profit to stay in business. |
| are signing a binding contract. Later they are | | | | How they do that is up to their own ingenious |
| shocked that once published they have not | | | | ways and I respect anyone and all who can do |
| become an immediate millionaire. They lose all | | | | this successfully in these difficult times. |
| contact with reality, immediately find fault, and | | | | I do think that many new authors are a bit naive |
| blame with the publisher. | | | | about business, profits, and bottom lines. This |
| These disappointed authors tend to join various | | | | confusion leads to misunderstandings. |
| writers boards and then bash their publishers, or | | | | The reality is that Publish America and many new |
| complain about the low royalty check they | | | | publishers are doing so many things right. The |
| receive. It never occurs to them that the author | | | | publishing business is presently in some change, |
| regardless as to who publishes them always does | | | | some due to publishers of print on demand such |
| promotion. Publishers will tend to aid and support | | | | as Publish America. It is obvious that Publish |
| any previously famous author who has made | | | | America is making a profit. I only hope they |
| money for the publisher, but usually not an | | | | continue and grow as they are. My advice to all |
| unknown. | | | | authors is to read your contract carefully before |
| I think we must all realize that we tend to join | | | | signing and recognize exactly what is expected of |
| various boards as a means of promotion for our | | | | you. Do not expect fame and fortune and do not |
| book or books. This is a wise decision by all new | | | | feel cheated when the reality is that it may never |
| authors, but some may get carried away by | | | | come. Don't bash or blame your publisher. |
| some negative postings of the discontented. | | | | POD publisher stands for two types of publishers, |
| I for one have joined countless boards. From time | | | | and is a new expression not used in the same |
| to time I even forget which ones, and am | | | | way by all people. Print on demand, and publish on |
| shocked to read that some are bashing Publish | | | | demand. Both are referred to as a POD publisher. |
| America, a successful publisher in Maryland, who | | | | The Vanity press is used to recognize publishers |
| accepts many new authors. Publish America is a | | | | who serve authors who wish to self publish. Too |
| print on demand publisher, one of the first, and | | | | many people seem to think this is a negative |
| now followed quite recently by many bigger, | | | | form of publishing. Why? Some of the most |
| well-known publishers. I think that none of us | | | | famous writers self-published, a few still self |
| should condemn anyone if by accident or he or | | | | publish as it offers the option of no contract and |
| she is a member on such a board. | | | | the freedom to sell or promote their book |
| Like all authors and shoppers there are always | | | | without any sharing of profits. Before anyone |
| some things we could complain about. Whether a | | | | signs with a publisher, they must understand the |
| product we bought in a store or a publisher, we all | | | | publishing market and all the options available to |
| have some complaints. However, I never forget | | | | them. Then they must consider and understand |
| that Publish America was the only publisher so far | | | | that various competing publishers will use negative |
| that willingly gave me an opportunity to be | | | | advertising to obtain your business in a very |
| published. For that, I am eternally grateful. I do | | | | competitive market. |
| mean eternally. Why bash or bite the hand that | | | | It is all a part of the saying "Buyer Beware. |
| feeds you? However, there is far more than | | | | |