Four keys to finding a reputable subsidy press

Self-publishing is a hot industry. With the advent of digital printing and online technology, dozens of new subsidy presses have sprung up. Many offer reasonable-sounding packages covering editing, proofreading, design, marketing, fulfillment. Do a Google search on "self publishing" and you'll see them: Outskirts Press. AuthorHouse. BookSurge. iUnivese. Xlibris. PublishAmerica. Every day its seems there's a few more.

But how do you know these companies will do a good job? Are they any better than the shady vanity presses of years gone by?

Here's what to look for:

• References. Sounds obvious, but unless you've done business with a company before, this is the best way to find the bad apples. Any reputable firm will be happy to supply you with several references. Call the references. Ask what the company's strengths and weaknesses are. Were all the promises kept?
  
• Investigate previous products. What books has the company helped publish? Are they on the major bookselling Web sites such as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble? If so, is the cover art and book description displayed properly? What are the sales ranks? Order a couple of the books through a third party, and inspect them closely.
• Does the publisher have a distributor? Is there a relationship with a distributor such as Ingram or Baker & Taylor so your book will be available online and in stores? If their answer is yes, verify the claim.
• Resist high pressure. A shady firm will try to get you to agree to a plan quickly, before you change your mind. If the publisher says that a certain offer is good "for a limited time only," that's a bad sign.

A great source of information on the topic is Writer Beware, maintained by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc.




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