This is a post that is STILL RELEVANT 2 1/2 years later…
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The reason I started http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com initially, was to warn authors of traps they can fall in, after a friend of mine has been deceived by a so-called vanity publisher. Well, she was very naive and did not seek the help of a lawyer, specialized in contract law, nor the advice of her well-meaning author friends or her writer’s group. After having her manuscript sent out to several dozens of publishers and receiving only rejections, she was so eager to get published, that she did not want to hear any warnings and signed her rights away for 70 years after her death! Not only this, she also paid more than $6.000 to have her print book published. Until now (3 years past the initial launch) the vanity “publisher” failed to format it into an e-book, despite his many promises.
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Vanity Publishing
For those who do not know what…
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Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
This is a wake up call! I was offered a contract by such a press – sent it to a friend who specializes in contracts to read and she warned me: No, never, not. I hope everyone reads this. I may have to re-post at some point.
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Glad you avoided the trap Noelle…
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I heard about this and find this post important to new authors. That’s why I re-blogged it. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks for keeping us informed. Many years ago I was tempted to go the same route because I really wanted to see my first novel in print. Thankfully my wise husband nixed the idea. My first novel was published by a POD publisher that was also up and coming so it has been a learning experience for me. However, things are changing there and I’m hopeful that my relationship with them will be improving soon. In the meantime, I keep studying my craft (for now), doing research, and writing. Anyone looking for an honest POD company might want to check out writewords.blogspot.com. My good friend and mentor, Arline Chase is the publisher.
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Thanks for that Aleta 😃
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So very sad and it hurts my heart to hear of so many authors falling prey to these very expensive publishing travesties!
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That’s why I post/reblog about it every so often as a reminder Jan 😃
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So very true! I was offered one of these ‘contracts’ once – it had so many red flags I felt I was at a Communist Party Parade! A quick Google search revealed loads of authors who had signed with them and lost everything, including the rights to their work. I declined, of course.
I remember sitting next to a well-known London agent once at an event, and she telling us that most publishers don’t make back their initial advances to new authors. But they take the chance anyway, because they believe in the book, making up their losses from other best sellers by well known authors. And that’s the kind of publisher I’d like to work with, not one who wants lots of money up front for promises they have no intention of keeping.
Thanks for sharing – love your work!
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Glad you avoided the pitfalls Helen 😃
And I’m happy you like my blog – I certainly enjoy doing it 🐵
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