WestBow Press
Reviews and Complaints

I published a book with Amazon KDP but wanted more exposure so went with Westbow Press. I thought they offered what i wanted but was sadly mistaken. I got no content advice, no suggestions or professional advice for improvement and no constructive criticism. Nothing to help produce a better product. The editing service I got was horrendous. I sent in my manuscript and it literally came back with more mistakes than the original I sent them. This happened 2 or 3 times and each time i had to go through every line and correct the mistakes myself. It turned out that they lost or misplaced the original I sent them each time. Communicating with the editor was a nightmare. The exposure and marketing I thought i paid for amounted to putting the title of my book on a list that was mailed out that. I didn't get what I thought i was paying for and to get what i thought i paid for would cost hundreds of dollars more. As it is I paid Westbow $4000+ and feel like they should have paid me since I had to do so much to re-edit what they did.

I was so impressed on the beginning of Westbow Press. But when you know a lot of your books have sold and you heard nothing...you get distraught...I want my royalties and a statement of what, when the books were sold. I sure hope I do not have to get my attorney involved in this matter. I do not like people using the image of being A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION and then try to cheat you out of you royalties.

Eleanor Wilbanks - 848515

I published a book through this company which I never will use them again first off they charge me over 2500.00 and then want to charge for everything associated with publishing a book as extra costs such as editing, marketing or any promotion for the money you may as well do everything yourself. I have not received a dime from my book keep getting the run around and they keep switching consultants to avoid performing my request and they throw off responsibilities on last consultant used. They continue to try and get more money out of you before you ever see a dime. Don’t be fooled by the use of the word Christian publishing I could write a book on my experience with this company I hate I ever came here but hope I can help someone avoid the mistakes I made dealing with them

I feel I need to warn new book author's about my dealing with a Publishing Company. They did nothing, and they deceived me when the first woman Amber that I spoke with said I would not have to get my family involved in my book getting resized, as I had added a few pages to my original book, she assured me they could do the resizing and publishing my book without having to get in touch with my son in law that had made the first cover that I now needed resizing, I trusted Amber because I thought it was a Christian Company and so I signed for $1,299.00 on my credit card, but then she connected me with another woman named Georgette and she says that Amber didn't know as much as she did about it, and she would have to get in touch with my son-in-law, even though I had told both of these women that he has a new business and did not have the time to do any more with my book, so I told the woman that said she had to get in touch with my son- in law that I was now backing out. I wanted to cancel. I believed they had deceived me just to get my money, and I found out they were not acting like a Christian Company, I only spoke with two women Amber and Georgette and they charged me $150.00 when I disputed their charge of $1,299.00, with my credit card company. I signed on July 28 and sent them a cancellation e-mail on Aug 2nd

I published the book, "So You Want to be a Street Preacher" with Westbow Press nearly three years ago now and have and am not being paid any royalties by them as was promised in the contract entered into. I would also add that they were less than transparent in regard to what they promised to deliver. A shady business.

The reason I chose Westbow Publishing company is because they claim to be a Christian organization. I thought it was safe to use them! Unfortunately I was totally wrong. They sold me a bunch of lies that never came to pass. They took my Children's book without informing me and allowed others to purchase it and I did not get anything for it! Would not recommend them to anyone ever!

I submitted my manuscript to Westbow Press after paying $1300 up front for printing. I think a computer read my book and spit out words they thought were offensive like "freak" (occurrence) and "crazy" (which I used in a good sense). Everything taken out of context. Countless words and place names (even church where I was married and support organizations that are helpful to my readers) were not allowed according to their Christian "rules." My book is a very personal pouring out of my learning to trust God while I cared for a totally disabled husband through our whole marriage. They wanted to destroy my book for no good reason. I ended my contract with them and got back $900 dollars. They shattered me and I cannot continue to try to publish my book although people who have read my manuscript say it should be published. I trust no one anymore in the publishing business and will spend no more of my money. I am sharing my book for free in a pdf file for those who are interested. People love my book. Too bad for Westbow. They missed out on a good thing. It's in God's hands now. I am finished.

We went into contact and paid required fees in in February 2021 and we have yet to receive a product. There's been little to no correspondence by the Westbow publishing company...with exception of when monies are due. A few bow-off email's and that's about it. No-one is ever available to speak with when you call. Theres a front time team they use to screen calls and refuse to put calls through to any team members?that is if there's really team members. With all the complaints I'm seeing here makes one wonder if it's a legit above board company. In May I paid fees and signed a editing contract but not one editing correspondence has occurred other than the team leader Hannah Nate when I made complaint I had received no editorial material's. Covid was blamed...so I guess now Covid is killing book deals.

Book payments then additional call after paying over $1000 for a "Special that was not mentioned or eluded to on initial contact! On this call I tried to explain that I had paid everything necessary for publishing and distribution but he just kept pushing his narrative! Having been in sales myself I recognized this as "a bait and switch" tactic so I am going to my bank for possible action!

I sent about 5 emails concerning my royalty check for the year and I am completely ignored. They only replied with we need your bank account and withholding tax. For a year I have had very little support and since this book is not selling, I think it is time to close to the account. I need the price I paid you and the income I made on this book. I can deduct it as a loss with my income tax but I need your paperwork in Dec. not next March. I do not give anyone my bank account and as a courtesy send me the royalty check with information requested. Do not deduct taxes.
Respect to others is God's plan and I am trying very hard to accept this disappointment with your company. Be sure and tell future customers if they are not perfect with a computer tell them to contact another publishing c. Daily replies to your company was told I do not understand the computer but that did not stop you from cashing my check over$1000.00 from my savings account. Sadly I learned a good lesson-Tate Publishing had its problems but I did break even with them - wished you had told me the book would not sell. I am saving this copy to hopefully receive help from someone that cares. I also know being 82 years old is not an excuse for the failure but I love writing about helping children worldwide. Ms. Joyce Smith Fading Memories 807727 I know GOD loves me and I did try.

This is a Christian Publisher. But after looking my rep up online, I see that he believes in witchcraft and is an atheist. Why would they let him sell this item to us Christians. I feel betrayed. Please if you are a Christian don't give your money to these witches, literally. Look him up on "Wife Swap". Thomas Nelson should be ashamed of themselves.

I'm an author from Cameroon and I published "Understanding The Water Baptism".

I start working with Westbow Press since 2013 and in July 2015 my book was released.

These people are thieves and fake. They took $3000 from me to publish my book and $2000 for the so called marketing campaign that was never done.

They keep lying to me that I will be bestseller and so I needed to make marketing campaign and send them money again and again. Yet the marketing was never done.

Then they start sending me check of $1, $3, $2 as my so called royalties that I could not use. As I told them that if there anything to send let them send them to me by Wire Transfer they denied.

As I publish my book they were to give me 10 free books. But I never receive those books up till today.

These people are thieves and scammers. Not serious at all. I prevent you guys to work with them.

Last October I talked to Deeanna Mays about being part of the Los Angeles Times as well as the Tucson Book Fairs.
I agreed to the Los Angeles one with a payment plan for $4299.00. Since the pandemic happened the LA Fair has been cancelled which meant that money should have come back to me.
I talked two to three weeks ago to Rebecca who told me there was only $1475 in my account and sold me the E-Book Promo Venture package. I asked for an accounting of the monies remaining in my account with Westbow Press. As to today I have received NOTHING about the monies in my account much less the return of the additional monies to me.
I want an accounting of my billing and account with you as well as the return of all outstanding credits due to me.
I have purchased publishing books and marketing venues to better than $43, 000. To which I have received only $43 in revenues and royalties.
Please give me the accounting as well as return outstanding credits ASAP.

I'd never want to work with WestBow Press again. They were not transparent about costs. I did a whole lot of extra work to not incur charges after I had already paid for everything they said I'd be charged for. The only thing they can take credit for is pressing the print button. I even designed the layout of the book, altered every image myself, and chose the font/font size for my children's book. They did nothing. I couldn't have my press release sent out until I re-wrote it TWICE because of their typos and lack of understanding of what my short children's book is about. And since Where We Found Home has been published, I keep getting calls from marketing agents from WestBow pushing packages on me that I absolutely cannot afford. I even asked to switch marketing agents because I was getting an attitude for declining unsolicited calls/marketing schemes from the agent assigned to me. They didn't do anything about the reassignment yet. I would not use them again, and aside from having my children's book available now, which was such a special project, I have nothing good to say about them other than the lady I ordered my author copies from was nice.

I had my book Death Came Calling Life Won self published in the spring of 2017 with West Bow Press. I received a small check for royalty once and have heard nothing since then. I see my book is all over the internet and some large Book sellers are selling it. I need help finding out why I have not received royalties and is there anything I can do to get the rights to my own book back so I can get credit and income from it?

Hi, I tried to publish with Westbow March 2019 and I paid them in full but never heard from them until I called and they said my account was inactive due to lack of communication, however, they had my contact info and I always checked my email and voice messages. Then they told me that they weren't interested in the topic (Spiritual Warfare) and were going to pawn me off to an associated company to be published, therefore I declined and they said I would receive a refund in 3 to 5 days. I never heard from them and kept playing phone tag even with the manager of the refund department. Finally they said est. 3 weeks later that they were keeping $400. for them to just read my manuscript (a content evaluation processing fee) and around $ 75. 00 nonrefundable payment plan agreement fee! The sale person in the beginning never told me that I would have to pay a $400. fee for them to just read it or nonrefundable payment plan agreement fee but it was in the contract which I trusting them and not expecting this sort of thing to happen over looked it! I never thought that my book would be rejected because it was biblically based and there are other mainstream Christian books based on this topic. Furthermore, I sacrificed money that I really didn't have, especially to lose half of it and have nothing to show for it except a crushed spirit over the circumstance! I spent 5 years writing my manuscript and then they do this. Please, please do not publish with them they are a predatory company, they should be ashamed for pretending to be Christians and I hope that God chastise them. The only justice that I could get since hiring a lawyer would be too much money would be to prevent one person not to sign with them. They should be reported to the Better Business Bureaus, which I plan on doing soon. They are wolves in sheeps' clothing, judge them by their fruits.

I am a published author (Standard Publishing) with a PhD, so I am no novice to book publishing. I went with Westbow because of their connection to Zondervan. But if you are considering a vanity press, do not walk but RUN from Westbow Press ! The level of ineptitude is simply staggering. From misleading sales people to inept "consultants" to book "assistants" who never return calls or emails, Westbow Press is a disaster. If you are looking for a way to waste a lot of time and money, then this is the publisher for you. The person I was assigned to oversee the production of my book miscommunicated crucial information regarding the content and cover of my book, costing me weeks of time and hundreds of extra dollars. She never apologized or admitted her mistakes. When it came time to production, they failed to update online information about my book (this was a second edition), resulting in the wrong version being available on websites like B and N. The design team was ok to work with. Trying to solve any problems (and there will be many) is a NIGHTMARE of epic proportions. You will be connected to operators who are difficult to hear and who run on preprogrammed responses. If you request to speak to a supervisor, you are given a bogus number (this happened to me this morning). I have tried to resolve this problem, but no one is able or willing to help. It's worse than trying to reach someone at the DMV. You will be put on hold, transferred, given to someone who you can't understand or who can't or won't help you. Goodness people, please go somewhere, anywhere else to have your work published. What a headache. Ineptitude from A - Z.

I published a couple years back with Westbow.
When I received my courtesy copies ( 25 soft covers and 5 hard covers ), my soft covers all had a black tear dropped shaped stain on each book. They refused to reprint it. I paid $25 shpg.
To put out a sub standard qualty printed book is a rip off.
Also, their royalty structure is terrible. My soft cover was set at $13.95 and i got about a buck. A 146 page book should be about $8-9.
One other publisher takes 50 cents a book u make $7-8 bucks/ book!
Never buy a Nelson book again!

I engaged Westbow Press in publishing my book in 2016. I am an author based in Botswana, Africa. They are secretive and do not disclose the amount of books printed or sold. They claim that they have only sold 3 books worldwide within a period of 2 and half years.
They are presently refusing to give me my royalties and claim that they cannot pay into foreign bank accounts, whereas they initially received my money from my foreign bank account, when I first engaged their publishing service.
They are also rude and unapologetic. Could you please advice me on how to cancel my contract with them, without being continuously scammed or duped, as it seems to be their normal practice.

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