Usacomplaints.com » Miscellaneous » Complaint / Review: AuthorHouse Publishing — A Indiana Firm - Consumer Report. #1098070

Complaint / Review
AuthorHouse Publishing — A Indiana Firm
Consumer Report

Nearly 5 years ago I was contacted by an employee of AH, and told that they had found a letter I wrote to them in regards to a book I had written. I was really quite shocked since it had been 18 years ago that I'd written the book, and at that time had sent letters to a handful of publishers. I was roped in big time, made a ton of promises. Told how "THEY" wanted to publish my book, and already had a team of people ready to work with me to get it published. I was fed the whole hipe how my book so so good, because it was a combination of genres, and because it was based on a true story it would sell huge. I was even told not to be surprised if Quentin Tarantino took it to make a movie, and went into the whole deal of how he comes to them all the time for movie material and my book is exactly the kind he takes to make his movies. I tried explaining I was disabled and on a fixed income and didn't have the kind of money they wanted. I was told that because they wanted the book so much all I'd actually be paying for was insurance and some overhead fees. Then to move me all the more I was told that sight unseen, Barnes & Noble already had an order for 50 books in, and my money would be re-cooped plus with that sale and the books I would receive to do my autographing event. I was sold, and handed over all the money I had in this world. I had been told not to worry that I hadn't much of an education, that they had an editor who would make sure my manuscript was right before printing. All I had to do was type it out in Microsoft and send it to them. The editor would break it down into paragraphs, spell check, ect... So I finally get it done and send it in to who I have been led to believe is my editor. She calls the next day to tell me she has sent it to press, and tells me how she has never seen a manuscript done so perfect and flawless.By now a year has passed. I spend the next 6 months fighting with their graphic artist team who were deliberately screwing up the book cover so I would have to pay for a do-over. I knew it was deliberate, because I'm a graphic artist, and I sent in step by step instructions that, as educated/professional graphic artists they should have nailed it the first time. After awhile I gave up on having the cover design I wanted and settled. Next I'm sent a preview of my manuscript that looked horrible. I noted mis-spellings in the first paragraph. So I contact the original guy who sold me on this, because by now I've gone through so many people I'm not sure who I'm supposed to be talking to. He then gives me a cost amount of an additional $500... FOR AN EDITOR, and informs me the first woman wasn't an editor. When I asked where the one was I was promised, he denied ever telling me that, and said he had told me they had editors if I wanted to pay one. So I spend the next two years self educating myself. Learning how to break paragraphs, how to use Microsoft Word, and I get it done, but... Am now told that because it's been so long that I have to pay a "Re-Submission Fee" of $275, but luckily after arguing the point of being lied to, and outright raising hell, they waived the fee.By now it's been over 3 years, and I've decided to design my book cover top to bottom, and shell out another $50 for the 3 images required. Again their graphics team could not get it. I eventually had to create the book cover and send it in layers with every image pre-tubed and re-sized so that it would be virtually impossible to mess up. This journey started Nov 10, and after working with 15 consultants and 2 graphics teams, my book was finally published June 21. I have sold 2 books from their sight, and it's been pretty much explained to me that if I want book sales that I have to get them myself. Oh, and those free books you get to do your autographing sessions with, will cost you $114 in shipping fees. And what you earn from sites AH sells to breaks down to:
Softcover format
Retail price: $26.95
Royalty from Reseller Websites: $2.66
Royalty from Authorhouse Website: $10.75

Hardcover format
Retail price: $35.99
Royalty from Reseller Websites: $4.21
Royalty from Authorhouse Website: $15.01

E-book format
Default retail price: $3.99
Royalty: 50% of net revenue

It makes no sense that I not only wrote a good book, but spent 4 years preparing it and making it print ready, bought my own graphics and did the design work, but look who's making the money on all my hard work. Not me!


Offender: AuthorHouse Publishing — A Indiana Firm

Country: USA   State: Indiana   City: Bloomington   ZIP: 47403
Address: 1663 Liberty Drive
Phone: 8885195121
Site:

Category: Miscellaneous

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