Comments on: Publish Your Own Book For Free With Some Help From PublishAmerica http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/ Cool Websites, Software and Internet Tips Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-396654 Mark Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:32:11 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-396654 I was going to note this article for future reference, but then I read the comments. A couple of years ago I compiled a cookbook for my work location of over 200 pages. We made it available as a PDF file, but some people wanted the option of getting it in print. The fastest, easiest, most cost-effective way was to put the cookbook on CafePress. Viola! They only print on order, so absolutely no money spent by us, and they did a really good job on the printing. I was going to note this article for future reference, but then I read the comments. A couple of years ago I compiled a cookbook for my work location of over 200 pages. We made it available as a PDF file, but some people wanted the option of getting it in print. The fastest, easiest, most cost-effective way was to put the cookbook on CafePress. Viola! They only print on order, so absolutely no money spent by us, and they did a really good job on the printing.

]]> By: Guy McDowell http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-395599 Guy McDowell Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:32:49 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-395599 I can't update the article. Best I can do is say so in the comments. I can’t update the article. Best I can do is say so in the comments.

]]> By: Abizern http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-395529 Abizern Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:33:47 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-395529 Guy, You say it's poop, but you haven't updated your article with this revelation. Guy,

You say it’s poop, but you haven’t updated your article with this revelation.

]]> By: Guy McDowell http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-395229 Guy McDowell Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:26:39 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-395229 Yep. My article is poop. I admit it. I didn't dig as deep as I normally would. I'll have to look into this WOT add-on you speak of. Yep. My article is poop. I admit it. I didn’t dig as deep as I normally would.

I’ll have to look into this WOT add-on you speak of.

]]> By: davidbowiefanforever http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-395033 davidbowiefanforever Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:34:57 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-395033 WOT firefox add-on went off as soon as I entered the website check out the WOT scorecard for this site: http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/publishamerica.com I've also heard tons of bad things about this site. There are WAY better websites for DIY book publishing, and even other stuff. Here are a few: http://www.lulu.com/ http://www.blurb.com/ Never really looked into these sites, but it seems my WOT firefox add-on likes the sites... LOL http://www.iuniverse.com/ http://www.wordclay.com/ WOT firefox add-on went off as soon as I entered the website check out the WOT scorecard for this site: http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/publishamerica.com

I’ve also heard tons of bad things about this site. There are WAY better websites for DIY book publishing, and even other stuff.

Here are a few:

http://www.lulu.com/

http://www.blurb.com/

Never really looked into these sites, but it seems my WOT firefox add-on likes the sites… LOL

http://www.iuniverse.com/

http://www.wordclay.com/

]]> By: Trina A. Ross http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-394631 Trina A. Ross Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:40:14 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-394631 From my research, and in speaking with other writers, when someone mentions Publish America, I cringe, start to sweat then I haul butt and run the other way. Here are some other resources you might want to check out: http://www.sfwa.org/BEWARE/general.html#PA http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10211 http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/the_publishamer.html From my research, and in speaking with other writers, when someone mentions Publish America, I cringe, start to sweat then I haul butt and run the other way. Here are some other resources you might want to check out:

http://www.sfwa.org/BEWARE/general.html#PA
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10211
http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/the_publishamer.html

]]> By: Patricia Fry http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-394365 Patricia Fry Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:45:46 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-394365 Ditto! Always check to see if there are any "warnings" about a company before getting involved or recommending it. When it comes to "self-publishing" companies, I recommend Mark Levine's book, "The Fine Print of Self-Publishing." He rates and ranks 45 companies from "Outstanding Publishers" to "Publishers to Avoid." And he tells you why he has given them the ratings. As the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) www.spawn.org, I meet many authors who are disgruntled with their self-publishing company. Most of the time they've misunderstood the contract (hire an intellectual properties attorney). Read more about your publishing options and how to choose the right publisher for your particular project in my book, "The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book." Patricia Fry www.matilijapress.com Visit my informative blog often: www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog. Ditto! Always check to see if there are any “warnings” about a company before getting involved or recommending it. When it comes to “self-publishing” companies, I recommend Mark Levine’s book, “The Fine Print of Self-Publishing.” He rates and ranks 45 companies from “Outstanding Publishers” to “Publishers to Avoid.” And he tells you why he has given them the ratings.

As the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org, I meet many authors who are disgruntled with their self-publishing company. Most of the time they’ve misunderstood the contract (hire an intellectual properties attorney).

Read more about your publishing options and how to choose the right publisher for your particular project in my book, “The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.”

Patricia Fry
http://www.matilijapress.com
Visit my informative blog often: http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.

]]> By: Guy McDowell http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-394216 Guy McDowell Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:18:55 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-394216 Wow. You folks are right. Drat. Gertjan seemed quite happy with them and recommended them highly. Of course, the website didn't let on about any of this either. I probably shouldn't have gone on the recommendation of one person and a website without researching further for this article. Gertjan must have had a good experience since he published 7 books I think he said. Nonetheless, his A Pirate's Tale book is really quite good. Sorry folks, lesson relearned about doing more thorough research. Wow. You folks are right. Drat. Gertjan seemed quite happy with them and recommended them highly. Of course, the website didn’t let on about any of this either. I probably shouldn’t have gone on the recommendation of one person and a website without researching further for this article.

Gertjan must have had a good experience since he published 7 books I think he said. Nonetheless, his A Pirate’s Tale book is really quite good.

Sorry folks, lesson relearned about doing more thorough research.

]]> By: Joseph Hayes http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-394196 Joseph Hayes Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:19:56 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-394196 Don't drink the PublishAmerica Kool-Aidâ„¢, Guy! There are better ways to go. Don’t drink the PublishAmerica Kool-Aidâ„¢, Guy! There are better ways to go.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/publish-your-own-book-easily-with-some-help-from-publishamerica/#comment-394191 Rebecca Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:32:36 +0000 http://www.makeuseof.com/?p=21088#comment-394191 I have heard TERRIBLE things about Publish America. They are NOT a reputable publisher, but are viewed as a print-on-demand vanity press: there's no real editing offered to make the book better, they don't put any real effort out to publicize your book, they don't do anything but take your manuscript for a pittance, then take a cut of whatever you make. A friend of mine worked for them and said that they basically will publish ANYTHING and prey off of first-time authors. <a href="http://www.sfwa.org/BEWARE/general.html#PA" rel="nofollow">Several deliberately bad manuscripts</a> were sent to them <a href="http://fictionfactor.1.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=361" rel="nofollow">and promptly gushed over and "published"</a>. A search for "Publish America review" will turn up many links to people who had bad experiences with them. <a href="http://www.lisamaliga.com/publishamericaisprintamerica.htm" rel="nofollow">Such as this one</a> and <a href="http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/01/the_publishamer.html" rel="nofollow">this one</a> and another commentary <a href="http://trashotron.com/agony/columns/2005/02-10-05.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>. The Washington Post panned them <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A25187-2005Jan20" rel="nofollow">here.</a> If you're looking to self-publish a book, you can put something up on Lulu.com all on your own and have it print-on-demand. Going the Publish America route won't net you anything more in real terms, and they've been known to charge you for things that a traditional publisher won't (like filing your copyright). If you go with them, read the contract VERY CAREFULLY and don't kid yourself that you're actually being published: you're contracting a vanity publisher who has no real interest in making sure that your book is any good. And booksellers, libraries, and other folks in the book biz will know that. I have heard TERRIBLE things about Publish America. They are NOT a reputable publisher, but are viewed as a print-on-demand vanity press: there’s no real editing offered to make the book better, they don’t put any real effort out to publicize your book, they don’t do anything but take your manuscript for a pittance, then take a cut of whatever you make. A friend of mine worked for them and said that they basically will publish ANYTHING and prey off of first-time authors. Several deliberately bad manuscripts were sent to them and promptly gushed over and “published”. A search for “Publish America review” will turn up many links to people who had bad experiences with them. Such as this one and this one and another commentary here. The Washington Post panned them here.

If you’re looking to self-publish a book, you can put something up on Lulu.com all on your own and have it print-on-demand. Going the Publish America route won’t net you anything more in real terms, and they’ve been known to charge you for things that a traditional publisher won’t (like filing your copyright).

If you go with them, read the contract VERY CAREFULLY and don’t kid yourself that you’re actually being published: you’re contracting a vanity publisher who has no real interest in making sure that your book is any good. And booksellers, libraries, and other folks in the book biz will know that.

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