Quote #1

“If your book flops it’s because your publisher doesn’t need to sell books to make their profit.”

LETS look at that statement. If that were true, what about these major flops.

Journey to Justice by Johnnie Cochran. Ballantine paid a
reported $3.5 million.

Behind the Oval Office by Dick Morris. Random House paid an estimated
$2.5 million.

Leading with my Chin by Jay Leno. HarperCollins paid a
reported $4 million.

Surely these big boys would’ve like to sell some books.

Quote #2

“One thing I’ve always wondered… where and when did Dr. Tate (Founder of Tate Publishing) get his PhD?”

What in the world is this remark about? Personal bullying, character assassination,
getting off base, confusing the issue or all of the above?

This is no more relevant to publishing than Mr. Macdonald stating that he was a enlisted boatswain mate and then an “officer.”  One thing we always wondered………what rank of an officer were you and how is that background information important to what you do now ? 

Quote #3

“Chris P, here’s a question to ask your nephew: Have you, personally, ever bought a Tate book? Has anyone you know ever bought one? If not, what makes you think that anyone will buy your book?”

Well, A book stands alone from the publishing house. Once it’s released, it up to the buyers to decide which book(s) are a success. The distributors want that book to sell because they make money too. Most people couldn’t tell you who published Harry Potter, but they own the book. This remark is so unprofessional.

Let prove how stupid this remark is by saying, “Have you, personally, ever bought a Macdonald book? Has anyone you know ever bought one?  If not, what makes you think that anyone will buy your book?” Duh!

Quote #4

“You’re right, Dick! I’m not J. K. Rowling nor am I James Patterson. I’m just a shaggy-ass midlist writer. But I’ve paid off my mortgage, put two kids through college, have another two in college right now, and I’ve done it by writing. Writing for publishers who paid me in advance. Who sold books to readers.”

This is pure bully. Very defensive, complete with bad language, ( must be the sailor in him). Well what about your wife’s income? Or did you forget her?

Quote #5

“How about you post the answer in public right here?”

This is a common chant from Macdonald. However he refuses to answer any questions about him

But if you read the whole blog, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that the original question was so off the subject matter anyway. He confuses and side tracks the issues.

We need professional people, not angry, self-appointed, foul mouth tyrants, who are not family oriented.

Check out this post by  “Your Genial Uncle.” 

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/012989.html#012989

Then we found out that he availiable for school visits. Bet that line is long.

http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/visits.htp

Ref: http://www.sff.net/people/doylemacdonald/visits.htp                                       http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/012989.html#012989                                                                       http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/

Over the last five years, those of us that have come to depend on these sites to educate and inform us newbies, have found out that the cover of this book doesn’t even come close to what is really going on.

Over time we have begun to see inside the inner networks of these web-sites and what the people of interest are really doing.

When you review (very time consuming) the years of blog postings and logs, then cross reference them with actual events, such as law suits, mix in honest research to what they are saying vs what is really fact, you begin to realize that it’s a power thing.

These web-sites have lost their alleged mission in life. They actually think that they are untouchable, unapproachable and immune to any consequences as a result of something that they post. They have become mean-spirited, egotistical, biased, opinionated, dishonest, and in some cases blow information out of their butts. They create sensational posts, outrageous claims and then fall silent when asked to produce the facts to back it up.

Are they successful web-sites? No. Most of them are asking for money for a legal defense fund for one of their own that got bit by a legal bug and the cure is very expensive. (They got sued and lost.) I remember a line from a play once, that stated, “if you think you’re right, get your checkbook out or shut up.“ Times are changing and this form of bullying is over. You will be held accountable for your internet mouth.

These web-sites actually think that they can coerce publishing companies into revealing proprietary information, using extortion and veiled threats of blackmail. They use their web-sites to create negative remarks. Nothing is worse than a false statement about you or your company on the internet. Then you have innocent visitors geting caught in the quagmire. Trying to educate themselves, only to get really confused.

Who are we to believe? Professional review / research sites, do NOT engage in character assassinations. They do NOT engage in trashing their competitors or state things that are NOT facts. They can state an opinion. A very strong opinion, which is fair enough, but then when they overkill the question by making false and misleading statements, attack the opinion of the visitor, they fall down to the level of childish prattle. They like to hear themselves sound authoritative.

The unique thing is that these few web-sites have all the same characters in them. A cozy group you might say, or a band of bullies.

Their reputations are seriously damaged. They have allegedly used their positions to ask for jobs and ask for publishing considerations from the same companies they trash. In return they’ll speak no more about them. But when asked about it, they have no tongue. WHAT gives? Is the truth too much? If you said it, prove it. Get your houses in order. An eye opening factual web-site that is doing a lot of research and fact-finding about these web-sites is http://thewriteagenda.wordpress.com/. I encourage every writer and author to subscribe to this web-site. Get educated with facts not fiction.

For the complete list of people and web-sites that is being researched go to,
Propaganda-watch-list

Check it out!

“The money always flows down to the author!” Anything less then an
advance and contract from a traditional publisher is a fake and the world will not recognize the author’s
hard work.

A closer look at these bloggers shows that there are many
who use pay for print companies such as Lulu. Author house, Dog ear,
etc.  Some are just e-book authors or e-zines. Not all of them follow the path that they
post about. Nothing is wrong with that.

However some of these bloggers take an air of Holy professionalism
and absolute wisdom that is hard to understand, given the fact that most of
them post anonymously and in groups. Kinda like a shark fest. and they aren’t
accountable to anyone, nor are their names posted on the internet as one who
wasn’t very factual in their allegations about other companies.

In some of these posts they have more drama then actual fact. They fill
their posts with sensational words like scam, scammer, and bold statements
like, “you must like being a victim” etc.
The whole thought of getting professional insight is tossed to the wind.

They claim advanced knowledge about everything remotely connected to
publishing. If you are of a different opinion then the posts are quickly turned
to mean and un-professional. You either agree with their posts or they attack.
When  they’re proven wrong in their postings they attack the poster. Very little factual
professional information or behavior is exchanged. They have a list of companies
that they don’t like for what ever reason. Maybe their manuscript was turned down,
what ever the reason. They even claim to know scams and scammers without
providing any facts. Just their highly charged opinions.

A research of their blogs has shown that when they’re confronted
with true facts about a company, then like a child they claim the report is
false. The poster is false, a shill, a victim of that company that doesn’t know
any better. These bloggers must have thelast word; after all it’s their web site.
A first time author doesn’t stand much of a chance to get real professional help.

READERS BEWARE!

Paying to publish is not
bad. Thousands of authors are doing it and are very glad they did.

What do you want?

What can you afford?
Look at what the company is offering.
When the price is more than you can afford. If you have to
take a loan out, borrow, steal or otherwise, don’t do it. The publishing
experience has to be a good one, not fill with stress.

What is a good price?

Depends on what you’re getting.
If you’re getting; 
editing services, marketing services and support,  great book cover design, 
an audio book, an e-book, a free web page, then I think that you need to realize
that this all costs money. So price is like buying a home, it depends on the options.
What will the price say about the home owner?

What will your publisher’s product say about you the author? 
Scrimping on your book is limiting your chances for success.

There isn’t anything wrong with paying for what you get.

What to think when publishers trash other publishers on the internet.

The first and only thing we think of is why? If  you’re doing such a good job at publishing, business is good then  why do you have to trash the competition? NOT very professional.  A rotten way to drum up clients.  We perfer a publisher that is concentrating on publishing the book(s) NOT trashing other companies.

There is a BIG different in correcting untrue statements made on the internet about your company and trashing. We DO NOT RECOMMEND any company that trashes their competition.