The Only One He Couldn't Have (Book I. of the Covanent of the Rose Saga)

[Larethala]

Hello all, my name is Kassandra Brown and I recently become a published author. My first book to my series can be found on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble online, and Authorhouse.com

The book is called; The Only One He Couldn't Have

I have been writing this for the past four years and finally got the guts to try and get it published. It is about angels, demons, vampires and necromancers. I hope everyone enjoys it and if you have any questions let me know! I am happy to be here and promote my book

[JenniBennett]

Hey Kassandra!! Well done on seeing your work into print!!

Just a quick one though for hopefully an admin to sort out, as this isn't 'Self Publishing'!

Self publishing is defined as the Author themself being the publisher either by name or by forming a company. The ISBN alloted will trace to the Author or the company that they have formed...and this isn't the case here. As the ISBN traces to "Authorhouse"...not the Author.

When an author self-publishes they carry all the financial risk associated with the project. In that respect they are performing the role of Publisher. The author produces the copy, liaises with printers, obtains the ISBN and even picks the paper weight. They will also be responsible for all publicity (although they could possible employ an agency for this, if lottery winners) marketing, and distribution (or they might farm this out.. but that's another story).

i.e. They perform every role traditional role of a mainstream publisher.

The above case is a standard, modern case of Vanity Publishing (no offence Kassandra!).


Vanity Publishers are getting crafty - claiming to help you 'self publish' (not true, it's their registered ISBN) - they'll register copies with the British Library (required by law) the Copyright Receipt Office, and Whitakers, but they're the publishers (they have to!)

Companies like Authorhouse do not place books on Amazon, there's no need -  they take feeds from Bookdata and Whitakers... there are no favours to be had!

Vanity Publishers often claim they'll help publicise the book.. they simply don't, they don't care. Once your cheques cleared they've reached the high point in their profit curve!

The worst thing is, if you personally try to get your book into a bookstore and it's from a publisher like this, forget it. Really, it's not worth the phone call. If you form your own company like 'Fishhead Books' or whatever you'd have more chance, as the second a retailer hears the name 'Authorhouse' - they'll stop listening.

Sorry for the rant, but these scams have been going on for far too long, and this sort of information bears repeating!

JB

[510bhan]

And even with a publishing house like Mainstream Publishing [part of ye giant Random House] they don't necessarily include marketing. Times are hard in the publishing industry and some are cutting back on some of the services you might have thought would be standard.

[JenniBennett]

I heard that Random House don't have a Managing Director, instead they have a golden idol with eight arms, each one clutching a celebrity cookery book and £50 notes... they call him "Bertelsmann" in whispers, and don't look at him directly 

Every time I hear a vanity publishing story it makes me fuuuuume.

[Larethala]

Yes, that maybe true and I knew what I was getting into. Most of the time agents won't even look at you if you are a new author so they discard query letters like candy. So by looking up on other writing places another way to get their attention is to prove you can sell your book. I already have a big following and I am going to be on a few states TV channels about my book. I appriciate the advice, but I did know what I was doing when I did this, I have already heard back from an agent saying they want more material from me to read after a query.

Kassandra Brown