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Stories To Tell is a full service book publishing company for independent authors. We provide editing, design, publishing, and marketing of fiction and non-fiction. We specialize in sophisticated, unique illustrated book design.

Stories To Tell Books BLOG

Another Author Solutions Rip-Off Exposed

Biff Barnes

I Googled the Miami Book Fair today to get the exhibitor application for what the New York Times  described as the, “… largest and by nearly all accounts the most diverse public literary event in the United States.”

But on the way to the listing for the 31st Annual Miami Book Fair International, this November 21-23, an interesting item popped up in my search:  Author Solutions Takes Signing Scam to Miami Book Fair on novelist David Gaughran’s site. I hit the link.

Gaughran does an excellent job of describing the scam. His post is well worth a look.

In 2013, Author Solutions’ subsidiary Author House offered  authors who have published using their service the opportunity “to talk face-to-face with festival attendees and establish connections with readers.” For a mere $3,999 an author would receive:

  • An hour long book signing
  • 75 copies of his book, 75 bookmarks, and 75 fliers to give away
  • Display of his book in the Author Solutions Book Gallery
  • A featured spot in the Author Solutions Book Catalog
  • A press release about his signing distributed by Author House to local and event media
  • Two passes to the Miami Book Fair International

I looked at the what it would cost an author to book his own exhibit space for a book signing at the Fair this year.

  • A full booth space for the entire festival is available for $700 for a standard booth and $1000 for the premium package
  • A half booth runs $450 for the standard and $650 for premium
  • Space on Author’s Row where an author can promote 1-3 of his own books is $300

So an author could be signing books all day, for the three days of the Fair for only $3,699 less than Author Solutions charged its authors for a single hour last year.

Can’t say we’re surprised. (See our post Writers Beware: Penguin Buys Author Solutions). Also can’t help asking, was this what Author Solutions was promising when he said his company promised “…more opportunity for authors”?

I think authors could do with a lot fewer of this kind of opportunities.

If you've published with an Author Solutions company have you been offered a similar "opportunity" this year? Leave a comment.

categories About Publishing, About Self-Publishing