One way for an
author to see their book in print is to self-publish, but since
that became more acceptable some vanity publishers try to pass themselves
off as self-publishers.
For a book to
be genuinely self-published, a name designated by the
author as his publishing house must appear on the copyright
page of the book
as ‘Publisher’ and the book’s ISBN number must
be registered by the ISBN Agency to that author as
publisher.
All the copies
of a self-published book are the property of the author
to dispose of as he wishes. If an author does not wish
to be involved with
the sale and distribution of his book that can very
easily be accounted for - when details of a book are
sent to the ISBN Agency before
publication there is a section on the form for “Distributor
(if different from Publisher)”.
On the title
page of every book there is a paragraph which, in essence,
states “All
rights are reserved. No part of this book can be stored on a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by whatever means without the
prior permission in writing from the publisher.” I repeat,
without the prior permission of The Publisher. Not ‘the author’ who
is supposed to have ‘self-published’.
Any company which
publishes books under its own name or imprint cannot, by definition,
claim to help authors to self-publish.
If
the name of the company, not the author, appears in the book as
that of the publisher, not only can the author not claim to have
self-published his book, but he has lost all control over it. If
after the initial publication, someone should wish to produce large
type copies (for the poorly-sighted), or take up film or television
rights, or reprint it under their own imprint, or wishes to publish
a copy in translation, there are (in some cases very lucrative)
fees to be discussed and paid. But it is legally 'to The Publisher'
that such application must be made and it is legally 'The Publisher'
not the author - although he has been led to believe that he has
self-published his work - who will benefit.
True self-publishing
gives authors much greater control over the production and dissemination
of their books.
“But what
does it matter?” I hear some of you ask. Where the honest
publisher is concerned, not a great deal perhaps. But there have
always been so many ‘out there’ whose intention is to
relieve the unwary of their money, aided in their intent
by being able to refer to themselves in terms that
are misleading.
I have been asked
time after time “How can you tell the honest from the dishonest?”
The Good, The Bad And The Downright Dishonest
I have come to
the conclusion after over 13 years of investigating such companies
that the only way to tell is in the intent of the publisher.
Most vanity publishers
make very similar claims and of the 100+ files on such companies
that I have, only a small proportion have complaints presently laid
against them. In the past I was receiving anything up to 30 complaints
a day relating to some dozen companies and when in 1996 Telegraph
Newspapers ran details of my campaign to clean up vanity publishing
in several articles I received over 700 complaints in under a week
- most of them relating to just one company. Fortunately, without
exception, those companies no longer exist.
If over a period
of time a publisher has been found to be honest in his claims and
a man of his word who carries out what he claims he will, there
is no problem. However he chooses to refer to himself his reputation
is in his work not in any label.
It is those whose
claim to be self-publishers is simply a ruse to attract the unwary
author and to mask their dishonest intentions who make it necessary
to police the way all vanity publishers refer to themselves. In
all walks of life, the suspect have always spoilt things for the
genuine.
In a climate
where there are those determinedly intent on fleecing
the unwary author it is impossible to tell simply from
their promotional material
whether a publisher is genuine or not, other than through
a long-term monitoring of each company’s performance.
It is only after
at least one full publishing cycle has been completed by the company
will it become apparent whether the services claimed to be offered,
are genuine or a misrepresentation.
(For details of
how to go about self-publishing see a copy of my Advice
Pack)
|
