Mirror Book by Heidi Swapp
Dear Vanity Press,
Your website stinks.
I can find more books on an archeology dig than on your site.
Your home page caters to would-be authors instead of book buyers.
Listen, I know your business model depends on signing authors rather than selling books, but at least give book selling a try. I’m sure you have some talented authors. Unfortunately, you make buying books a bothersome activity.
For instance, why do you distribute a press release without a direct link to the book you’re announcing?
Why is the search on your home page broken? I entered the exact title but got:
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Learn more about self-publishing by requesting a free publishing guide.
Thanks, but I’m interested in buying a book. You know, those papery, bound things you publish?
And when I do finally locate the book’s page, why is the excerpt always blank?
Do you think someone is going to buy a $31.99 children’s picture book without browsing a few pages first?
I’m here to tell you: no. Frankly, I don’t know any parent who would spend $32 on a picture book. Even Robert Sabuda’s gorgeous feats of pop-up acrobatics cost less.
I would like to support self-published authors, really I would. But you’re making it impossible.
Regretfully,
A Book Lover
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
4 comments
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October 27, 2009 at 11:50 am
Sherrie Petersen
Funny, Tara 🙂
I know some of them can be really bad. But aren’t some of them okay? Like LuLu? And I think Amazon has a self-publishing branch. I’ve never looked too closely because I’m still clinging to the dream of getting in print with a real publisher (no offense meant to anyone who is self-publishing!)
October 27, 2009 at 12:33 pm
tara
I think some are better than others.
The real message here is that if you do self-publish, you’d better be a marketing and promotion machine because their business model is built on signing authors, not selling books. You have to sell the books all by yourself.
I think we all know that even with traditional publishing house, you still have to be a marketing and promotion machine. Being a writer is only half the job.
October 28, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Patricia Fry
I think you’ll find that true self-published books–books produced by the author through his/her own publishing company–are, for the most part, readily available for sale and easy to purchase. These are the self-published authors I am most interested in supporting. Sure I sometimes purchase books from pay-to-publish authors, but I try to make the purchase through the author him/herself, if possible. Unfortunately, the pay-to-publish company doesn’t always make this easy for their authors.
It’s a shame that, as you say, these companies make it difficult for their authors to actually sell copies of their books. One way they do this is by padding the prices of the books.
As far as I know, the only authors who are pleased with their pay-to-publish companies are those who have done extreme research into this publishing option before choosing a company and who have studied the contract and completely understand it before getting involved.
Good luck finding the book you want. Have you tried contacting the author?
Patricia Fry
Visit my publishing blog often: http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.
October 28, 2009 at 3:30 pm
tara
Yes, you are right. Those with their own small imprints are the most knowledgeable and have discovered a niche to help them sell. A nice example of such is the “Take a Walk” book series by Jane Kirkland, which she ties into school curriculum. Her books are award-winners and have been recommended by national nature organizations.
I did contact both authors whose books I wanted to browse. Thus far, I haven’t heard anything back. Figures, as the message goes through the publisher’s website.