How to Spot a Vanity Press; And Other Author Solicitations

In the world of AI and what is now being called “Author Publisher” rather than self-published, author solicitations and new vanity presses seem to be popping up every day. More and more authors are not only getting false solicitations from traditional presses, but are getting similar names or associations from traditional presses being used by the vanity presses and other author solicitors.

A recent fraudulent solicitation targeted an author by impersonating Marc Resnick of St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan. After verifying the contact through official publisher channels, the email was confirmed to be fake.

On another note, this ABC Australia article called “Authors Paid Hundreds to Patrick White Publishing, but Allege 'Crap' Service and AI Art” was published Saturday is something becoming more common. According to the article, authors who have contracted with Patrick White Publishing have accused the publisher of poor quality service and charged clients hundreds of dollars for AI-generated illustrations. In addition, Patrick White Publishing is currently using an Australian business number belonging to an unrelated company. To add to the confusion, the literary estate of Patrick White has asked the company to stop using its name, although there is no apparent claim by the publishing company.

Authors think twice before contracting with a publisher. If you are approached by someone, use a third-party verification. In the case of vanity publishers, who often disguise themselves as traditional publishers or helpful self-publishing "partners," you need to decide if their primary goal is making money from you the author or in selling books to readers.

Here is how to protect your manuscript and your wallet. Here are some tips on spotting a vanity press:

• Fees charged to the author: Traditional publishers never charge you to publish. If a company requires you to pay for editing, formatting, cover design, or "marketing packages" upfront, they are a vanity press or an author services company.

• High-pressure sales tactics: Reputable publishers or legitimate hybrid presses do not aggressively pitch you over the phone or bombard you with Facebook ads. They rarely use deadlines like "Sign by Friday to get 20% off your publishing package."

• Guaranteed acceptance: If a publisher accepts your book immediately without reviewing its quality, or accepts a very rough first draft with open arms, that can be a red flag and maybe they are only interested in your credit card.

• Vague or AI-generated portfolios: Look closely at their past work. If the book covers feature distorted details, anatomy errors, or generic templates, they may be cutting corners with AI generation while charging you human-artist prices.

• Misleading credentials: They may hide behind prestigious-sounding names (like capitalizing on famous authors or cities) or display fake industry awards and badges on their website.

  
  

Before signing anything or transferring funds, here are a list of questions to ask before signing a contract with a publisher or the company. Get all answers in writing.

About the Financials & Rights

• Who owns the production files? If you choose to leave the company, do you get to keep the formatted interior PDF and the high-resolution cover file, or do you have to pay a fee to buy them back?

• What is the exact royalty breakdown? Are you paid based on the retail price of the book, or the net profit (which the company can easily manipulate with hidden fees)?

• How is the contract terminated? Is there a fee to cancel, and how long does it take for your publishing rights to revert back to you?

  
  

About the Services & Quality

• Can they provide references? Can you speak to three current authors who have published books with them in the last 12 months?

• Who is doing the work? Are the editors and illustrators human professionals with verifiable portfolios, or are they utilizing generative AI tools?

• Where will the book be distributed? Will it actually be pitched to bookstores, or are they just uploading the files to Amazon KDP and IngramSpark (something you can do yourself for no charge)?

  
  

In book publishing, you need to do your research before moving forward. Search online to read reviews, check if the publisher has documented warnings within the author community, and trust your instincts.