Why did you decide to self publish, and what drew you to Authorhouse?
I decided to self publish because I really wanted to tell a contemporary Nigerian story. I had shopped around for a few months for a traditional publisher in the United States where I live but most replies stated that they would prefer a romance set in this country. There are not many publishers in Nigeria and the few there are a bit resource constrained. So I began to research self-publishing. I read some good testimonies about the process and how it can be successful if one is willing to dedicate some time to it. I felt I could follow the route since I was a full time writer and I already had an audience through my blog. Also I read about other authors who had done the same and what their experiences had been like with different companies.
I chose Author House because I read several good things about them. They assign you a design team, a book consultant and a sales person. I liked that they had access to a large number of the major retailers in America, Europe and the UK. They also have various packages including editing and promotions and you choose the one that suits you best and which you can afford. I couldn’t afford that so I first improved on my writing by attending workshops and interacting with other writer-bloggers which helped to polish my manuscript to very good standard. There were also a lot of author resources on the Authorhouse website to guide one through all the stages including marketing and publicity and that convinced me.
What kind of services did you get from the package you did go for? Did you feel they were worth the money?
Yes. I paid for the basic package and then added copyright and Library of Congress. With the discount they had then, it came to just under $600 and that worked for me. The royalties may not be that great but I’m fine with the book being accessible from virtually everywhere including physical bookstores.
How long did it take from deciding to purchase the package and actual publication? What were the major milestones for you?
It took about 2 months. There was the interior Galley and edits, the cover galley and corrections and then the final going to press. The final high point of course was getting the first complimentary copy.
What were the pros and cons of using Authorhouse for you?
So far, it has been more of pros, all the cons like some typos and grammar misses are all mine. For the package I bought, I didn’t really expect too much from them.
Who would you recommend it to? Who would you recommend try and different path?
I would recommend Authorhouse to someone who has a niche audience and does not have too high hopes of the outcome. They must also be willing to do a lot of publicity. Anyone who writes mainstream or literary fiction I would recommend continuing with queries to agents and traditional publishers.
What kind of publicity have you done so far? What has had the most impact on sales, in your opinion?
My PR has mostly been through my blog, Facebook and Twitter. There was also this site I found, Freado.com through which I was able to share the first chapter of my book with in-built publicity platforms like auto-twitter, email campaign, etc.
And maybe this is a con of Authorhouse or just something I’d prefer added. Reports come quarterly and in that sense, it’s hard to see exactly what the sales trends are and what dots to join. So I just keep doing the best I can.
I think most places give quarterly royalty reports. My Ravenous Romance royalties did show where the payments were coming from, since third-party retailers run a quarter behind and take a large chunk of the sales, alas.
On that note, do you know who you make the most sales through?
My book was just published in December 2009 and I have gotten just two reports, with most of the sales through Authorhouse. Amazon sales started in Feb and like you just confirmed run a quarter behind. I think from the book tracking there that I have done quite well but I can’t say for sure till I get the next report. So far, the most sales have been through Amazon for both the paperback sales and the Kindle eBook.
Would you go straight to Authorhouse with any future novels, or would you shop them around first?
I will shop around although I already have a publishing offer from Authorhouse for my next novel. It is a package for next books from authors who have shown they can publicize their books and whose previous books have performed fairly in sales. It never hurts for one to spread their options. One thing I do like about Authorhouse is that I keep all the rights so I can still re-publish at any time.
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I disagree! AuthorHouse is a terrible company to work with for any reason. I recently began having heart problems and had paid for a publishing package with the company a few months before. I had only exchanged a few emails with my project check-in person and had them look at a piece of my artwork. When I realized that my time might not be as certain as I thought, I expressed my concerns to AuthorHouse and asked for a refund or at least a partial one. Spending times with family and friends was more important to do with my time, but all AuthorHouse did was blow smoke at me and said, “Sorry about your luck. We are keeping your money one way or the other.”
I hadn’t even submitted a manuscript or anything to this company and they just took my money and refused to refund me inlight of my current situation.
My book has been with AuthorHouse for several years, I have never received a check When I called, a couple of years ago, they said they had sent a check in 2013 or 2014 to someone, (not me)and that they would investigate who received and cashed the check. Haven’t heard a word. Does anyone know how to get money out of these people??
I am VERY unhappy with AH!!! They published my book (which was submitted to them “print ready”) right away after I paid them. They did a poor job; artwork was sliced off at the top, color was faded, paper was cheap, price was high, etc. AH called me constantly asking for thousands of dollars more to market my book. I am a writer/illustrator and not able to travel to market my own book. I know several copies were purchased through B&N and Amazon as I was asked by buyers to sign them across the U.S. yet AH NEVER paid me one royalty check. I have seen my books for sale on e-bay and elsewhere. When I call AH I get voice mail, transferred from one department to another, etc.
I aswell published in 2019 a poetry book patizuims with this publisher the only come back from them have been annoying calls for marketing a book they say isn’t selling I’ve tried cancelling the copyright to no avail now no royalties how dare they make American publishers poorer with this kind of ignorance I will go out of my way to see this kind of ignorance go under thank you author Patricia O’Brien (patizuims
Not good, Xlibris was treated better with them. AuthorHouse has never sent a check yet.
Realise that they have taken £10,000-00 for marketing but I have not submitted a script (due to illness) so no work undertaken… realise also as they appear to recruit from the street…Derrick Pervis and Scott Walters next w/end…… are we not able to demand professional advisors ..?.so am I to engage legal representatives …I have survived four neurosurgeries and living in N.IRELAND currently political unstable perhaps they will be honourable and return all except first registration fee
Karma is a true equaliser so Im sorry they appear false and promise the most ridiculous promotion
lets hope Im Blessed
That’s truly awful, Maureen, I suggest you find a lawyer to help with this.
I, too, have been disappointed with AuthorHouse. They promised me so much, but delivered very little. To date I have received no royalties for my first book. My second book, although paid for, has suffered from a breach of contract by AuthorHouse.
Better than any trick performed by a magician, my full payment of $2000.00 to Awfulhouse for a printing job disappeared without them ever starting work and then making ongoing excuses promising a refund which never occurred.
Horrible, terrible worse Company don’t go there they will keep all sales
Of they keep Commission on any sales of your book
Never receive a penny, they give your book to Amazon, Barnes Noble Etc without your permission and keep money, years they keep sales from my book
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY.
They take advantage of new authors. Push you to a contract, then do not give a suitable service. Amazon published my book with the same price that author house offered me, but with very good marketing team, responsive project manager and very high respect and good quality services. I just wasted my money and time on the author house. AVOID THEM.
I agree, they are crooks. They are advertising a book that they never published through Amazon, Google Books and GoodReads.
In 2009, they produced a single book for me. I wanted to check out the quality of their work. It was a mess, shoddy and not up to publishing standards. I cannot believe that they are still in business.
Luckily, a bookstore owner warned me about them when I approached him to sell my book. I was reimbursed for the $1000.00 I had paid for the one book they sent me.
Subsequently, I was able to find a reliable publisher and the book sold well for the project it was intended for. Part of the money was used to find hospital in the Congo treating women who were the victims of war.
Author House should be ashamed of their business practices. The honorable thing to do would be to shut its doors. They are a fraudulent business. STAY AWAY from them.
Six years ago in 2018 I lost 1,800$ buying their publishers packages.Six different consultants worked with my book project. In 2023 the Editorial service didn’t finished my editing manuscript, but were calling me trying to sell me unnecessary services. I started at the end of November 2023 again with the Editorial team, but then, they were nowhere to be found. I was emailing and calling to check my progress. Before paying I was called every day to buy a second publishing package again, again, again ! After paying & submitting my manuscript, no editor was assigned to my book project, and no return call. I was asked to submit my manuscript and relax, enjoying the holidays, not to worry about it. I am not paying another 1,800$ (plus 299$ for front book cover design) for Content Editing Plus (0, 046 per words). I was promised a big Christmas discount which didn’t happen. On 12/12/23 they cancelled my editing and nothing has been worked on. The final excuse was :“We’re sorry for any confusion.”
My professional book editing project should have been ready after six weeks. My order was cancelled & nothing completed. This is not acceptable. I was cancelled with no explanation given. My two packages of 1800$ were stopped because of six years of procrastination since 2018. This company should be reported all over to warn new writers.