Publish America's back-page ads

You could see it coming when Publish America announced it would begin placing ads for other books in the back of new books. You just knew they would do it using a list and randomly placing ads without thought to the nature of the books into which they were being placed.
It happened the other day when an ad for an adult-oriented book was placed in the back of a children's book. The person who wrote the children's book was understandably outraged and posted her feelings on the message board.
Believing (or perhaps hoping) that it would get me banned again, I entered a post saying it was stupid, in poor taste and done without even a modicum of common sense. Publishers advertise other mysteries in the back of a mystery and so on for every genre. That is their audience.
Info center came on with a lengthy post saying the purpose of such ads is to interest readers of one type book in those on other subjects. That is sheer nonsense, of course. Do they really believe the readers of a kid's book are going to rush out and buy a red hot bodice ripper?
They left that post up for a few hours before deleting the entire thread.
It is difficult to understand the thinking of PA in many things but this one tops them all. I have no complaint with their production; they do everything they say they will do in a contract. Those who expect more than that are dreamers. It's some of the other stuff that is beyond comprehension.

That is unthinkable to me, Dick. I would have been very upset, too.

It seems to me that there was an announcement by PA not long ago that wanted authors to bid on just such ad placements. (advertising by auction?) Not having extra funds, I did not check it out and I am now glad I didn't.

Dear Dick,
I saw that post. I must be grateful that I was published so long ago that I no longer get any email about anything from PA. I think if they wanted to put that in the back cover of my book, they would have had to have me sign off on it prior to publication. I feel sorry for the new people.

I have always had a little problem with the mental mind set of infocenter, whatever their number.

It is in my mind that there is a whole nother person who is is charge of that company and info center is a bunch of snotty children who have been given a job by their uncle.

Love,
Betty

Well put, Betty. I have suspected it was high school kids with an after school 'job'.

Well, if it were my book, I'd cancel my PA contract and move the book over to iUniverse or Lulu.

Malcolm

Easier said than done, Malcolm. PA doesn't always let someone out of a contract. I have one friend who's been trying for three years and they keep saying no.

Ooooooo, that REALLY sucks.

Wow, PA is a different breed of animal. I can cancel my iUniverse contract at any time with 30 days notice.

iUnivese emphasizes this right, for they dangle the idea in front of writers that a mainstream press might call any day, so we need to be able to leave iUniverse to take advantage of such opportunities.

Do writers know when they sign that their books are stuck with PA forever even if they're not selling?

Malcolm

I've heard of PA offering to cancel contracts PROVIDED the author is willing to pay $300 for the priviledge!

It's almost like the lottery. When Amazon removed the pay button on
PA's listings, a wave of writers requested their rights back and PA let
some of the go and refused others. None of us could figure out why. My
friend was refused and she's still trying. When I asked for my rights
back over a year ago, they refused, but I kept asking, and they finally
granted my wish. Now some have asked and have been told they can get
out if they pay the $300. Some have refused and kept asking, and PA
finally let them go.

Quote :

I've heard of PA offering to cancel contracts PROVIDED the author is willing to pay $300 for the priviledge!

A buyout clause isn't that unusual in small presses, and a good thing. It protects the publisher's investment, yet gives the author free rein to walk free at any time they want to.

Of course if you paid all the initital investment yourself......

That is really poor taste. You would think they could at least check to make sure the ads were for the same genre... but like you said, it was probably all done via computer with no human oversight.

Next month: supermarket coupons.

From what I've read, the main thrust of book promotion is to the author to buy their own books. Are we mortar and brick stores?

Abe,

If your house is made of brcks and mortar--yes. Mine is made of lumber.

I am embarassed at the price of my book. I give it to whomever I think needs it.

I wrote it to help people if they have to buy it it will bankrupt them.

Alice,
PA increased the price of my book from 21.95 to $25
Now they want to give me a 60% discount on my personal purchases - for a limited time. That limited time will most likely be extended because....let's say the after Thanksgiving Sale.

The 60% discount on the new price is almost the same as a 50% discount at the old price.
I think the author and the customer would be much happier with a reduced retail price and give the author a 40% discount.

The constant push with increased discounts seems to infer that they are suffering from lack of sales. I know they are suffering from "lack" when it comes to my purchases.

I'd like to see them do a promotion where they simply list all the books in their inventory at a significant savings, say 50% off. They did this several months back (maybe a year ago). I don't really need more of my own book, but I would like to purchase books of other authors. With the increase in the regular price I can't afford to buy PA books. Simple as that.

Charlie

The real clincher was when they offered 50% of any and all books. It also advertised free shipping to North America. I therefore ordered 20 books. $40.00 shipping fee came up I checked their shipping policy--$3.50 for the first book and $.50 threafter. I could afford that.

Confirmation came with a $40.00 shipping fee. I emailed them saying I did not consider $40.00 shipping to be free.

No answer. I called them on the phone.They said the deal was so good they had decided to charge shipping. I said, "CANCEL MY ORDER."

They said I would have to email them. I did, they refused to cancel. I always ask about shipping before I place an order.

Live and Learn!

They think we are stupid.--we are not

They must be out of their minds.

Alice, I believe that falls under the title of false advertising! Sick the AG on them!