Oct 13 2008
Publish America
I support people who choose to self-publish. I started a blog to review self-published books which is now run mainly by Chris Gerrib and Cheryl Anne Gardner, although I continue to contribute reviews. I am planning to self-publish a book of reprints some time this year. I even support authors who have self-published being a little cagey about letting the reader in on this fact. After all if the book is indistinguishable on any other basis why should any such disclosure be necessary?
I am, however, rather annoyed with journalists who promote new books without at all distinguishing between disreputable self-publishing companies and mainstream commercial publishers. They crow about a local authors achievement in a way that suggest something rather more than the ability to purchase printing services for a manuscript, and from one of the worse possible providers at that.
They repeat well known PA-isms such as “fictional novel” (redundant) and make a virtue of PA’s lack of editorial selection (they accept everything submitted) or, indeed, editing with lines such as “one of the most prolific publishers in the world”, and “Within two days, Publish American accepted the book.”
What they don’t do is explain is the dark cloud that has been hanging over this company for many years. Perhaps if fewer journalist crowed supportively about writers who: “signed a contract with [their] first responder, Publish America”, a few more writers might pause and do a little research before sending PA their laboriously constructed manuscripts. Or at least our newspapers and magazine could hold off from actively promoting this company when better alternatives exist even within the realm of doing it yourself (i.e pretty much any other option).
They might at least suggest any prospective author actively decide whether to self-publish, or approach a small or large commercial press. And if planning to self-publish, they might like to Google the company’s name and browse the extensive warnings that come up on the page of results such as True Stories about Publish America–or check out prominent watchdog sites such as Preditors & Editors where Publish America is “strongly not recommended“.
Being supportive of a local writer is fine, but not at the expense of anyone on the audience who might have a manuscript in a desk drawer–and be open to ideas about where to send it. (hint for those who skipped most of this post: anywhere but Publish America.)
