Feb 02 2008
Are you a slacker and a tree sloth?
I can’t mind my own business. When I see a way I can help, I do. When I can’t see a way, I find one. Recently, I came across information regarding a nonfiction writer who contracted her book through PublishAmerica.
Based on information I have read on PublishAmerica’s reputation*, I called the author to chat about her options in the publishing world. Needless to say, I was nervous because I didn’t know how the writer was going to take my telephone call. Would she give credence to the information I found? Or would she hang up on me? Knowing that a writer’s ego is very fragile, I took my chances.
Thank goodness that the conversation went well. Below is the portion of an email I received from the writer:
You then asked if I had already signed a contract with PublishAmerica, and I said that I had only a few days before. You expressed regret, stating that PublishAmerica was little more than a glorified vanity press that had no credibility in the real world. Our conversation ended with you providing your contact information and inviting me to get in touch if I thought you could be of help.Well, I have some good news. After our discussion on the phone, I thought a great deal about my contract with PublishAmerica and decided that I needed to go in a different direction. Based on what you had told me about PublishAmerica, I wrote to them and requested a release from my contract.
Lo and behold, a few days later I received a registered letter stating that they were releasing me from the contract and that all rights to my book were reverted back to me! I’m very pleased because that means I am now free to resume my search for an agent and/or a legitimate publisher.
* Visit Writer’s Beware and Predators and Editors for more information on PublishAmerica.
PublishAmerica offered me a contract, but I read so many negative things about them, I decided not to sign with them. I must say most of the info I gathered came from Predators and Editors.
PA publishes anything and make their money on selling books to authors. PA offered a contract for a hoax novel called Atlanta Nights. And they also offered a contract to someone who wrote the same words on thirty pages.
Miranda Prather is ,the owner of PA.
Wiki has information on a Miranda Prather. She was arrested in the 1990s for falsely reporting a hate crime (she’s a lesbian). She denied that she was involved in the hate crime and blamed someone else who she said looks just like her. But get this: Miranda claimed the look alike got plastic surgery to look just like her. Creeeeeepyyyyyyy. Eventually she pled guilty and received three years probation.
= = = =
Apparently, someone checked and learned that PA Miranda is the same person as hate crime Miranda.
Creepy is putting it mildly! Good Lordy, and she’s still out there ripping off and giving false hope to those who know no better? Sad, really.
I’m glad you saved someone from PA. You’re stocking up on good karma!
Good for you! Ever consider being an agent? (In your spare time…) I hope people stop not helping when they can, even if they are turned down.
Most people are too self-centered to bother with helping others, sad to say.
I don’t have qualifications to be writer, let alone an agent.
The decision to contact this author was based on the fact that she lives an alternative lifestyle and her book is meant to be helpful to others in her situation. I figured she has faced many obstacles. Publishing a book should be a gratifying experience. I didn’t want her to be crushed when she found out the truth regarding PA.
[…] week I discussed how I contacted a soon-to-be PA author about her options. I did this because my heart went out to her and I knew I could help. If I […]