My assistant Timothy wanted me to share this story with other authors.
Here’s a heartwarming story. At least the writer of the article says it is. Here’s a link to the story, but in a nutshell:
Someone walking through Krogers sees a first-time author sitting at a table trying to sell his debut novel. He has sympathy for the author who he senses is “disheartened.” The retired Army vet’s book was published way back in November and apparently hasn’t gotten traction. The shopper makes a video of the author and posts it on Tic Toc. Sixteen million views later, the author’s book catches fire and is a Number One Amazon Best Seller. This creates media buzz, like the article linked here, and it’s off to the races.
This is every author’s dream come true.
Until you look deeper.
Follow the link to his novel on Amazon and check out the publisher. Google that name or better yet go to Writer Beware, a great website to get the lowdown on whether presses are legitimate or predatory. This one is highlighted as the latter.
Publishing Rule #1: Money always flows to the author. Never the other way around. A predatory press will make you pay for something. It may be editing, cover art, promotional work, a forced purchase of books, or all of the above. A real publisher doesn’t do any of those things.
You can do your own research on this publisher and make your own call. This was my experience: Before I researched them, I sent them a manuscript. They declined to publish it, but said that if I paid to have one of their editors work on it, they would reconsider. I have twenty-two works published my small and mid-sized presses, but I don’t claim that I don’t need an editor. But in those twenty-two experiences, the publisher paid that editor’s salary. Take that for what it’s worth.
So here is our first-time author who may have been disheartened because he paid to have a book published and it did not sell. That scenario is likely, because most books released by predatory publishers or vanity presses do not sell. The publisher doesn’t care if they do. The money is made off the author, not the readers. But in this case the author got a lucky promotional break, sold a ton of books, and it’s a happy ending, right?
It isn’t for other authors.
Because now the publisher can tout this success, a victory they appear to have had no hand in. The publisher can brag about having an Amazon Bestseller and a host of other accomplishments. Newbie authors now flock to what seems like a legitimate publisher who can make their book just as big a success. What they may get instead is the disheartening experience the author originally had, the same one most authors have with a predatory press.
And will this be the start of a second career for the Army vet? That depends on how satisfied the readers are with his first effort. Follow the link to the Amazon page. Evaluate the cover art. Read the sample chapter provided. You decide for yourself and place your bet.
Based on the interviews with him I’ve seen, the author seems like a nice, earnest guy. I don’t begrudge him his success or envy the viral sensation that came his way. (Well, maybe a little.) I hope this really is a Cinderella story for him. I’m just sorry Maleficent may have made it into the plotline and might be confused with being a hero.
