So, there I was, enjoying my afternoon coffee and procrastination Facebook scrolling when I saw it. The dreaded "Followed" comment left under my "Advice for New Indie Authors" post.
Ironic. A scammer post on a thread meant to give authors the ins and outs of publishing minutia. I did my usual eye roll, sat up, swigged my bean juice, and commenced with my investigation. The "Followed" post was under nearly every one of the 95 comments on a thread titled, "As new authors, we've all needed a lil' help at times. What advice would you give to new authors just starting out?"
The "Followed" comment was simple, but we've all learned to narrow our eyes when that word appears alone among a thread with detailed answers. As a content manager, I wore many hats regarding social media. One of those hats was as an unintended investigator of social media scams and rip-offs. I had to be. At one time, I had a client list of over 200 and was responsible for websites, ad copy, and social media pages. Each, in turn, had its share of scammer rip offs ranging from infectious links to stolen images to duplicate pages made to "scrape" customer financial information via online purchases.
I learned to spot scams and delete them quickly. That's how I knew this "Followed" post was no ordinary bot scammer. Although the OP's (original poster) page was spammy with book ads and had little interaction, the page owner's name checked out. He's an independent author like us. Like us, he published a book and offered his wares via the usual routes on Amazon. That's when my curiosity piqued. In my quest to eschew responsibility (to write book two), I donned my content manager hat and went on what I call The Deep Dive into that innocuous word that can carry such an infectious punch, "Followed."
It didn't take long before I discovered my followers (although I prefer to call them Page Guests) were also infected with dormant "Followed" posts in forgotten threads long since put to bed. But it wasn't just my "Followed" stalker who left that indelible word; another did the same. Another author with a FB page, website, and books published for sale on Amazon and elsewhere was flitting from one sweet-smelling FB page to the other pollinating threads with the "Followed" buzzword.
And they both had a company name, phone number, and email account in common. While I only saw two leaving the "Followed" post on our pages, I suspect others with similar connections were doing it too. I mean, why wouldn't they? It seems to be the MO of the company in which they share their connection. I won't mention the indie authors' names because I firmly believe they are being misled by the company they paid to publish their books. Still, I will name the vanity publisher that seems to be gathering unsuspecting indie authors like some Faginesque troop of pickpockets out to scam or rip off fellow independent authors financially.
That company in question is Author Reputation Press or ARP, for laziness's sake.
The Deception
Author Reputation Press represents the indie publishing world's dark underbelly that allegedly preys on independent writers' aspirations. Vanity publishers, disguised as legitimate avenues to literary success, often exploit hopeful authors, leaving them disillusioned and financially drained. Author Reputation Press is a notorious example, emblematic of the pitfalls awaiting unsuspecting writers. Although stated as an accredited BBB business with a 4.44/5 B rating (as of this date), a simple search of the Better Business Bureau website shows myriad issues. One account describes how ARP charged an author $20,000 for publishing but somehow took $39,000 from that author's credit card. A detailed accounting of that author's experience with ARP, which includes unauthorized credit card charges to Target.com and Neiman Marcus, is featured in an article shared on the publishing watchdog website, Author's Guild. According to the BBB page, ARP replied to their disgruntled client privately via a file. Another account describes a lack of action after the author's financial obligation had been met, suggesting a pickpocket mentality of "grab the money and run" so common among vanity presses. As my deep dive continued into the recesses of Author Reputation Press's website, I noticed the lack of upfront information about their staff. ARP mentions having an editing staff, resident artists, and graphic designers, but I saw no bios listed in sidebars, and no photos of eye-strained editors gracing their About Page. Which begs the question, WHO will be designing the cover art? WHO will be editing? Are they experienced? Do they have applicable degrees in their fields? WHO is worth a possible $39,000 bill, and what quality work do they give?
The True Cost of Vanity
Author Reputation Press and its affiliates present an enticing proposition to writers seeking publication. Promising to transform manuscripts into polished works of art, these vanity publishers offer various services, from editing, formatting, and cover design to distribution and marketing. For many aspiring authors, the allure of seeing their work in print blinds them to the warning signs of a potential scam. These writers fail to realize these services' exorbitant cost and lack of quality. Vanity publishers like Author Reputation Press charge hefty fees for their supposed assistance, preying on the vulnerability of authors who yearn to see their work in print. While some authors may be satisfied with their product, the service quality of vanity publishers often falls far short of expectations, leaving most authors with poorly edited manuscripts, generic cover designs, and minimal marketing efforts.
Broken Promises
From what I'm observing, the journey with Author Reputation Press is riddled with broken promises and shattered dreams. Despite assurances of success, many independent authors find their books languishing in obscurity, buried beneath a sea of poorly produced titles. Languishing in obscurity is not alien to any independent author; however, it is more disappointing to languish AND be ignored by the vanity publisher who took thousands of your dollars in a rip off scam. The apparent lack of transparency and accountability further exacerbates the frustration as authors need help to recoup their investment or obtain basic information about the status of their books.
A Warning to New Authors
The story of Author Reputation Press serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring authors navigating the treacherous waters of publishing. While the allure of seeing one's name in print is undoubtedly enticing, it is essential to tread carefully and thoroughly research before engaging with any publishing company. Independent authors should be wary of any vanity publisher that demands payment upfront or makes lofty promises without substantiating evidence of past success. And even then... question everything. Ask a potential company for the names and backgrounds of every staff member assigned to your book. Ask to speak to those editors and artists directly and hand over a list of authors they've worked with. Then, call those authors and ask them what the turnaround was on their book/s, how their marketing is done, and how often the editing staff contacted them. Inquire as to any further charges beyond what was initially discussed.
If you have money to spend, spend it wisely.
Most indie authors have limited dollars to spend on publishing freelancers. However, if you do, imagine spending $5,000, 10,000, or even 30,000 on a "publisher" whose "editing staff" leaves errors on each page, whose cover design is cartoonish at best, and who barely advertises your book beyond Amazon… if at all. Now imagine spending the nominal amount for a quality product shared liberally online and in brick-and-mortar libraries, bookstores, and reading clubs worldwide. This CAN be you, and it CAN be done without wasting your money on a company without intention of doing their best on your work. Quality, experienced freelance editors are everywhere. I've had two in my life at a combined $3,000… and worth every—single—penny. They both worked on the book for months and offered valuable insight into what the storyline needed and did not need. Some readers may not like the plot, the characters, or my writing style, but they'd be hard-pressed to claim faults against its technical aspects. I owe that to my editors. My cover designer cost $700, and I cannot tell you the enthusiastic reviews I've gotten just for that cover alone. "Screw the story inside," one reader emailed. "That cover is killer!" Jessica Bell is a graphic artist, author, musician, publisher, and all-around lovely person. She's honest and forthright, and I'd recommend her to anyone looking for a stunning and emotive cover design. As for formatting, well, I'm an idiot, lazy, and impatient when it comes to formatting… even in Word. I also hired out for this task. Via Fiverr, I hired three formatters at a cost between $30-75. For that amount, I received a standard Word-formatted MS suitable for conferences and publishers who request a Word Doc submission, a PDF file for use in interface submissions for ePubs, and an HTML file because, well… I just wasn't sure what I was doing. 🤷♀️😁Wanting total autonomy as far as marketing was concerned, I bought ten ISBNs from Bowker at a cost of $300. Purchasing my own ISBNs means I am the sole owner and distributor of my work, and no one else can claim usability on it. Once the editing, cover, and formatting tasks were done, I opened my IngramSpark account for $49 for a print book in 2022 (2024 pricing--eBook alone is $25, eBook and print combined are $49), and I began the frustratingly nightmarish job of learning how to print and distribute a book. Eventually, I learned, and Whims of God debuted in March 2023. So far, from IngramSpark's distribution routes, Whims of God is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BAM, and Walmart in America, and Waterstones, and other stores throughout Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. I may have a strained relationship with IngramSpark (its interface is NOT intuitive… at all), but their product quality and distribution are stellar. So, for the combined cost of, give or take, $4,100.00 spread over a decade or so, Whims of God came to life, and I became a published author with the assistance of practiced, honest, experienced, and knowledgeable professionals helping me do it. The money was not wasted, and I have complete control over every aspect of my book.
Knowledge is Power
While some authors report satisfying experiences with their vanity publishers, it's unfortunate that the opposite is more often true. Scams and rip offs from vanity publishers are common within the independent author/publishing community. Authors can protect themselves from exploitation by arming themselves with information about the publishing industry and understanding the red flags indicative of a potential scam. Additionally, seeking alternative paths to publication, such as self-publishing or working with reputable small presses, can give authors greater control over their work and finances.
Vanity publishers like Author Reputation Press prey on the hopes and dreams of independent authors, exploiting their desire for literary success. However, by shining a light on their deceptive practices and empowering authors with knowledge, we can combat this exploitation and ensure that the journey to publication is one of integrity and fulfillment. Aspiring authors deserve better than to have their dreams tarnished by unscrupulous entities. It is time to expose the facts behind vanity publishers and reclaim the power of publishing for writers themselves.
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