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I don't know about AuthorHouse filing for bankruptcy but I do know that my book Mound Bayou is being issued by some 'new' company called Lightening Source Inc. I did not give anyone permission to do as such and I still haven't received any payments for books sold yet!
![Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency [SBPRA]](/images/business/48-48/131359/strategic-book-publishing-and-rights-agency-sbpra.xx%26oh%3Dbe27828ba6dfaf8440f4fa328e7c5cbc%26oe%3D5ce63473){kind=small}
I am an author public relations rep (independently in business and I do not work for a company) and I just thought I would respond to your post. I have been working part-time in this field for about 6 years.
Lighting Source is just a printer down here in Tennessee. So, you are not being “issued” by a new company. I’ve had authors that work with AuthorHouse as they are one of Lighting Sources largest clients. If you see your book listed with Lighting Source then this is a good thing--it just means that your book is in the distribution channels. It means that anybody can find your book on websites like Amazon and any bookstore/retailer can buy your book and put it on their shelf. Did you call AuthorHouse because I am sure they could tell you about Lighting Source?
I don't know anything about AuthorHouse filing for bankruptcy and I highly doubt this as I believe their authors still sell more books than any other self publishing company. They are huge and have a lot of success stories, but they are just one POD out of many.
As for not receiving payments for your book sold-- All this means is you haven't sold any books or you just haven’t yet received the quarterly report/check. I have authors that have worked with AuthorHouse so I have looked at their Terms. It says pretty clearly that they pay out royalties quarterly as long as you are making $25 or more worth of sales. I think if you make less than $25 then they just roll it into the next quarterly check.
May I ask you Daniel—when you said you still haven’t received any payments, are you implying that you think AuthorHouse is stealing your royalties or are you saying they are late on paying you? The reason I ask if that I just got done reading over a few complaints on this website about AuthorHouse stealing royalties and AuthorHouse therefore being a scam. I thought I would touch on this subject from a PR point of view. I have had authors call me before and start off the conversation that they thought AuthorHouse was stealing royalties so let me answer the way I normally do below. And by the way, most authors I work with do not feel AuthorHouse is a scam—in fact, it’s pretty rare that someone says that…
YOU CAN DISPROVE THE THEORY THAT AUTHORHOUSE IS STEALING ROYALTIES AT ANYTIME. HERE'S HOW WITH A STEP-BY-STEP EXPERMINET:
1) Grab a friend and go online to Amazon.com
2) Watch them as they go online at Amazon.com and pull up your book
3) Ask them to buy your book and go through the process
4) Watch them go through step-by-step. Have them do it with their name, their address, and have it shipped to their home. It doesn’t matter if they pay for it or if you offer to pay for it for them. I am only spelling out this experiment so you can see there are no royalties being stolen.
If you follow this step-by-step experiment above then your friend will receive a copy of the book because AuthorHouse (and the printer Lighting Source) will fulfill the order. But, here is the key to all of this--YOU, THE AUTHOR, WILL RECEIVE A ROYALTY CHECK AND A STATEMENT OF THE BOOK SALE IN THE NEXT QUARTERLY REPORT. That's it. Period. Done. This proves without a shadow of a doubt that AuthorHouse is not stealing royalties. And the best part about this experiment is that at any point in the future if you felt like AuthorHouse is stealing your royalties—you can “test” them out. At any point in the future, just randomly go on to any retailer website like Barnes & Noble and have a friend buy the book. You will always see that sale reflected on the next royalty check and report.
So, this is why I am confused when I read that authors are not receiving royalty checks or they are claiming AuthorHouse is a scam. And I do not mean to be rude when I make this point as really I am only curious--Do these authors realize that they can “test” to see if AuthorHouse is stealing their royalties by just buying the book online?
Now, in your case Daniel—what I would recommend you do is to work either with AuthorHouse or with someone like me--a PR rep. It's not that you are not receiving royalty checks--you are just not selling books. And, the way you sell books is the same for any new author, regardless if they published with AuthorHouse or not--you need to market, advertise, and promote. You need to do this yourself and you need to get help. AuthorHouse can make sure you have a professionally designed book, they can make sure your book is priced correctly so it's not over priced, they can make sure it's distributed, and they will do the order fulfillment. But, just because the book is distributed does not mean that people know about it--this is where the marketing comes into the equation. And then there is the case of the writing. Do you have a good story, is it professionally edited, have you defined your target audience and are you tailoring your marketing to this audience, and on and on.
So Daniel, I will wrap this up but I just wanted you to not worry about Lighting Source and not worry about your royalties. AuthorHouse is just one type of self publisher and they give you tools to get a book out on the open market. At this point, it just sounds like you need some marketing assistance. I would try AuthorHouse first, but I wouldn't stop there--there are plenty of books, online sites, and people out there who can help you sell books and make a decent royalty amount. Maybe even look for a PR rep in your area (I only work with people in the Nashville area).
I hope this helped and I wish you the best of luck!
Nathan
who the hell are you? I guess your like the lawyer who was supposed to be helping us out who disappeared without a trace. More of authorhouse's deceptive tricks and employees!
Good day two you all im.taking author house two court my self I have solister and lawyers on way two court they don't turn up in court they will be going down completely after what happened two wards my book done through author house I been going through this looking at all files after being sold out two court almost all day long we are warning everyone one keep away from author house fraud scam of author I'm also hitting papers and radio stations shows about author house fraud thank you reading me
I have done this, and still no payment of royalties. Also, on over 50 web sites, my book has used copies listed for sale. In fact, one site has my book listed for .71 cents. If books are not selling, why are used copies for sale? And the web site that has my book for .71 cents; how will I benefit from this?
I did forget to mention that my book is up for rent with eCampus and is listed with another publisher-Replica Books. Can someone explain this? Xlibris/AuthorHouse is ### of the earth. Pertaining, they claim they don't know anything about what is going on. I placed my work in their hands, and they don't know anything...sure. For those who maintain there isn't anything strange going on over there really was born yesterday. Again, if you have books selling on the Internet and not earning anything, file a complaint with the FBI for Internet Fraud.
Thanks and God bless.
Nathan,
don't waste your time contacting the Attorney General's office, because I did that and it was a waste of time. File that complaint with the FBI. In fact, we should all come together and contact the media. You and others say yes, and it will be a go. My father would always say, "The fish stinks from its head to its tail."
Well Guys,
I am a new author too, also with authorhouse. I have sold absolutely loads of copies,
Now my first trimester is up and I have waited the extra 45 days as told. I have been told
that my cheque is in the post. I am waiting with baited breath just to see if it arrives and for how much.
I do believe its very important to advertise your book and constantly network.
Recently I had my car stolen and whilst I was at the police station making a statement, I sold four copies to the
policemen for their wives! I dont stop. I am interested to hear about the PR rep, and how do I go about finding one
in England? The people I have spoken with are agents and all they want to do is republish my book only then will they work
with me. So I will keep everyone informed if I do receive my royalty cheque and more importantly if I am happy with it,
Good Luck to all and a very Merry Christmas
Carol-anne Board (Heavenly Daze)
I'm beginning to wonder about authour house too. I constantly go to the retail stores and see how my book is doing and how it is priced. I was mortified that Amazon had my paperback listed fo $.3.74. I admit I took advantage or this and to find out if it was for real I orderered 25 books. Why not I can turn around and sell them outright for between $13-$15. Immediately the price went back up to over $13.00 for a paperback.With authorhouse and the retail stores no matter what the book sells for the author only gets $2.00 a book is what I've been told. In addition to my book being in 20, 000 book stores I advertize it on Facebook and talk about it everywhere I go. I know I've sold quite a few books, but in 8 months I've received $30 from author house. It also has used books for sale on almost every book store. I told author house I bought these 25 books so I know Amazon sold them and this was a test to seeif they passes. I was goingto write another book but it is not worth the aggravation. Do what I did buy the book cheap and sell it yourself with book signings. You can make $6-7 profit on a book that way and guess what tax free. There is more then one way to skin a cat.
I purchased my book from Amazon.com for .73 cents. Isn't that something? We all have been "taken" by the publishing industry. It's all a scam, and so many dirty hands are in on stealing our royalties, including Amazon.com; Lighting Source etc. Only in America, the "big-wigs" are allowed to steal and get away with it. So many authors have made complaints; even to the F.B.I and nothing has been done. You go figure... Stay strong and God Bless.
I got a measly check for $5.23 in the mail yesterday from author house, I thought they didn't send the checks out unless they are at least $25.00. I looked in the author center and there are two more royalty statements. for more then that. The check stubs don't even have an explanation as to how they derived at this figure.
You should have bought up a bunch of your books at that price also. Thi summer I plan on setting up a table in different areas and have book signings. We'll see how it goes but it cn't be any worse. Do they think we are stupid. People tell me when they bought the book. Look me up on Facebok Rebecca Loban Russell and you will see how I'm advertising.
AUTHORHOUSE IS A SCAM! i wasn't aware of this until I had paid them thousands of dollars to publish my book. When I found out, I immediately called and was directed to someone with a fictitious name (seems they all do) who of course denied all the bad publicity about the company. My book was published last year in 2011, and I have received approximately $10 in royalties. The most recent was a check for $.98 (NINETY EIGHT CENTS). I bought books myself, just to see if I would receive the proper royalties. I wasn't surprised when I didn't I can only blame myself for choosing AuthorHouse, but I learned a valuable lesson.
Authorhouse is now Lightening Source I. I was ready to publish two months ago but was told my application and w9 were lost. I have sent it twice. No response. I wrote a scathing letter to the company demanding a response and answers ... nothing. I am going to go with createspace until I find an agent. It seems indie writers are constantly being ripped off - legally - read between the lines, research the company, DON'T go with Xlibis or any of those other thieves.
AuthorHouse uses deception and lies to get people to buy their publishing contracts. On their website it is written that the author chooses the price of the book and the royalty rate but after you sign up for their publishing package and pay them such a high amount, Authorhouse sets the book's price (a very high price too) and the author's royalty rate (very low compared to the book's sale price) and tells you that if you want to choose a different pricing plan, you have to pay a further 250 pounds for it! That's totally different from what's stated on their website - no where is it mentioned on their website that authors will have to pay to choose their own pricing and royalty plan - and therefore is deception. Furthermore, their publishing consultant told me that I would get 100% royalty after printing and distribution costs are paid but they are only giving me less than 10% of sale price if my book is sold through external websites and about 20% if sold through the authorHouse website. As for e-books, I'm getting 25% of sale price if sold through external websites and 50% of sale price if sold through Authorhouse website. That means once again, the publishing consultant lied since it's obvious I'm not getting 100% of net revenue after necessary costs are paid. And that is again deception and a court case can be brought against Authorhouse for it. Telling a lie in order to get someone to publish their book with you is deception. Authorhouse had better change its principles and stop lying to customers or else it will find itself in court very soon.
I published by book with Authorhouse in 2012. Friends, family, and me have purchased books that we can absolutely verify and I have yet to get a check from Author House over $5. Over the past several years, I may have received $20 total. For all of the money I spent, I could have gone to Kinko’s and sold books from the trunk. I will never work with Authorhouse again.