Received an email from a company who supposedly promotes books for authors and publishing companies who don't have the means or manpower to do it themselves. There are Book Fairs in Germany and India among many others where the larger publishing companies, and the book store chains bid on the book, bid on owing the writer's rights to all his her stories, legal right to distribution in a certain area, a nation, or world wide. The choices are endless and of course so are the prices the bidders offer for each selection.

We used this un named company to carry a list of titles at the Germany Book Fair. It was a sizeable amount of money and we had high hopes our few titles would catch the attention of a large publisher or an European Distributor. We also requested photos be returned of how our titles were being displayed. Imagine our disgust when the requested photos were sent to us a couple months after the event. And our books were shoved back among a rack of hundreds of books on shelves at the back of their booth with only the spine showing. Absolutely nothing of the book covers, nor any vender hawking the books they were carrying for all the publishers they coned into their scam. I believe we donated to someone's vacation. Keep in mind at this particular book fair it is Eye Candy Delight for horny old publishers and distributors. Unbelievable beauties in various stages of costume (and undress, remember this is Germany) hawking the various titles and authors in their extravagant booths. I'm betting Monique S can tell you what it is like. I'd be surprised if she hasn't been a part of that or at least been there herself.

Okay Barb, let's get back on track here. The same company has never forgot us with their big advertising spill for placing our titles at book fairs, library book selection events. Yes libraries hold a yearly book selection event to decide which titles they will purchase this year. They can't purchase every title so the selections are razor thin. Ahhh, now my fellow authors you may be beginning to understand why you haven't become one of the anointed authors and see your titles in book stores and libraries world wide. It's a damn bloody business to be in unless one is one of the top dogs. You're lucky to get table scraps as it takes literally millions in promotions to become a top author. Or the Luck of the Irish!

Un named company sent an email advertising their book to audio services. It only takes a thousand dollars and they keep half of the sales of all audio books sold. If they are promoting their audio books the same way the promoted the dead tree books, they are making a fortune conning writers. I'm positive most publishing companies are wise enough to not buy into their sales pitch.

Thus I want all you authors who have yet to get really bloodied in the publishing business to please to god do not buy into every Become Famous, or Get Rich scheme that comes along. Con artists are the worlds best at massaging writers egos and sadly many take the bait. Who doesn't want to become the next JK Rowland? Again that ah ha moment, no? Now you know why thousands head to Hollywood with dreams of becoming the next big screen heart throb. And why hundred of authors end up broke financially and emotionally.

Take care and be smart. Agents and publishers do NOT charge for publishing anyone's manuscript. And if your story is published, your publisher and agent are the ones who promote it, not you. If anyone tells you any different, run. They want your money.

always
Barb
Life's smack downs are there not because we are to stay down but for us to get smarter, better, and do it right next time.