My experience with Publish America

As many of you know; I was once an author with Publish America and technically still am.    When I first published with PA, I was just a mere 14 years old.

(Publish America still has control over 3 of my books, as they were never released to me). 

At 14 years old, I had the mindset that I was an ‘author’ somebody who had in his own right written a book and published it to be put into stores — and for a while it was.

I didn’t ‘lie’ to Publish America, I gave them my real information from the start, and not once did they verify it — from every aspect possible I to some and for a while had been a ‘published author’. I was excited, enthralled, but quickly found myself looking for a way out and fast.

I am now almost 18 years old and ready to recount my story amid the lawsuit that was filed earlier this month by Paula C, a woman I have been communicating with in attempt to help spread the word about Publish America’s faulty antics in every way possible.

When did I start?

I discovered Publish America from a friend during the time I had taken a liking to writing poetry, (early 2009) and submitting it to contests in Las Vegas.  I was initially interested, slightly jaded, and confused as I had never heard of the company before in anyway.

I immediately took to the web to finalize my manuscript, being young, I didn’t necessarily think to Google Publish America before signing a contract (today, however I regret that).  Within a week, I was signed up as an author and had my first book ‘Scientific Rivarly’ rushed off for publication.

Here was my first red light that something was wrong.

As excited as I was, I had made sure at least 10 times that my final cover was spelled correctly and my images were places accordingly as I had wanted from the start. Upon receiving my very first book in the mail, I noticed that it was not spelt ‘Scientifc Rivarly’ it was in fact spelt ‘Scietific Rivarly’ because Publish America didn’t care much to review what their ‘team’ had done to my book.

I didn’t complain much because it was my ‘first book’ and I thought every author makes mistakes the first time they have a book, so I let it slide. Alas, two months later I began work on my second book ‘A Vampires Love Story’  which was actually published correctly, but my experience takes a weird and interesting twist at this point.

By this time, Publish America failed to inform me that Miranda Prather had gotten ahold of my books and slapped a big ol HOLD on them, not allowing them to be ‘disbursed’  for publication to stores.

I had no knowledge of this and had no knowledge of this for more than two years.

Publish America hid this from me, they did not inform me that this had happened — I was left with the impression that my books were still in production and I was soon going to see them in stores.

Fortunately for me, I had begun to devise a plan to get all 7 of my books relinquished from the custody of Publish America.  I had begun to notice that the more times the truth about the company itself was published, they ran and squealed like an army of little pigs, and eventually relinquished your books to you on one special condition – you keep your mouth shut at all costs.

Unfortunately, they wouldn’t release the final 3 (that never made it to publication) because I had spoken out about the criminal behavior they were doing while working with me.

I didn’t do so. I kept my mouth open, to any and every person who would listen, until I became a victim of a crime.  See, my issue with Publish America is I am a minor, a minor who didn’t falsify information provided to them and a minor who had his personal information spiraled all over the internet because Publish America gave it out over the phone to somebody who had absolutely no association with me, myself, my books, or what would become of my brand(s).

The woman in question, whom I will not name posted videos on Youtube with my information claiming that I am  ’lying about being a teenager’ because Publish America tried to tell them that I am a 21 year old author from Pittsburgh, when in reality I live just outside of Seattle with my family.

Publish America has vehemently, and always denied that very situation even though I’ve got ample evidence to prove that they violated my rights as a person by giving personal information of a minor out to the public over the phone.  without my permission, and to a person I had no association with.  That’s against the law, no?

I was told I ‘am a liar, and need to stop telling lies to people listening to me’ because Publish America is quote a ‘Saint, and is only doing what they’re promising’ yet I among thousands of other authors have never been paid for their royalties, actually seen a legit book promotion, nor walked into B&N and spotted my book on a shelf.

Long story short, I joined this lawsuit and this legal battle to stop Publish America from doing this to anybody else.  They tarnished my reputation as an author, which is why I retired from writing the same year.

I refuse to let Publish America do what they did to me to anybody else, and will do everything in my power to put an end to their scandalous parade.

Related articles

• Class action against PublishAmerica; claims the business is a ripoff for would-be writers (boingboing.net)
• Have you published with Publish America? We want to talk to you (bazaardaily.com)
• How Seth Godin Is Crowdfunding His New Book & How You Can Do It Too (jimkukral.com)
• Md. Publisher Sued For Allegedly Duping Authors (baltimore.cbslocal.com)
• ‘Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against PublishAmerica’ (sailingthevoid.wordpress.com)