by harriet Laws

Some so-called Vanity Publisher's are synonymous with sleaze.

After a year of queries, phone calls, hundreds of hours of research, and more rejections than I can count, I decided to publish my own book. I found my publisher's name in the phone book, and never assumed he was anything but what he professed to be. Since my agent lived in the same city, it seemed perfect that they would be able to handle all the necessary arrangements without me having to be there.

My first contact was in July of 1995 and only on the telephone. The publisher/owner was a very soft-spoken man, very agreeable in behavior, and assured me each time we talked that everything would go as planned. But I now know that caring, responsible, grandfather image was just that: an image. He gave quite a performance.

A normal contract is for half up-front, the remainder when the book is ready for printing. I knew this from many hours of researching self-publishing material. Everything he had told me sounded like my dream was about to come true. His credentials appeared to be impeccable: a member of the ABA and PMA, in-staff editors, proof-readers, graphic designers, and his own complete printing service. By then, I was so excited, I would have believed anything he told me.

He pushed for me to have the book ready by November 11th in order for my book to be ready for the February deadline of the ABA Convention held in Chicago in June of 1996, where he would present my book and me at a special table. Get the picture? And why I was so excited? Who wouldn’t be?

After sending my completed manuscript the last of October, three days later he called and expressed his elation over my manuscript, impressed because my editor had done such a good job and that no mistakes were found in spelling or punctuation. He said it would be much faster because of her excellence. I had no reason to not believe him as I knew how professional my editor was. So, the completion was supposed to be within 8 to 12 weeks from this November payment to the arrival of my book.

In the next three months, my agent met with him several times, always at a restaurant or coffee shop, and faxed, talked, and corresponded hundreds of times. Everything, except the time line, which he assured us was not unusual in the book business, was, we thought, moving right along.

After the last payment was made in February, all telephone messages and faxes were suddenly left unanswered. During the 7 months we worked together, not once was the phone answered. I always had to leave a message for him to call me back. Should this have been my first clue? Maybe, but it still hadn’t occurred to me anything was wrong. My agent had become suspicious of his misbehavior, but she didn't tell me until she had it confirmed.

So, there I was, not knowing what to do. I decided to check him out and began an intense search for more information. The next three days were almost a blur. I realized I had been conned. I wasn’t going to get my book and I still had to pay back my investor. Then I got mad. I decided to turn the other cheek and CON THE CON. It was the money he wanted, so that’s what I could use to con him.

There is a lot more to this story, but by now, I’m sure you get the picture. The story may not be new, but the solution is. I have never met this publisher face to face, yet, by telling this story, disreputable publishers can be confronted. All the lies, all the investigations, all the time wasted with a sleaze-ball, will not go unnoticed. No one should ever have to go through this. I want everyone to know how easy it is to be conned. I never thought it would happen to me. I had a happy ending, but not everyone does.

For more information, contact me at address below or email.