My experience with a vanity press

After writing their first manuscript, many writers quickly become disillusioned with the publishing process. My experience was no different. Today, as the decade comes to a close, I’d like to share with you my experience while providing some insight I’ve gained over the last ten years. 

When I first started writing a novel, I did the clichéd thing and quit my day job to focus on writing. Granted, it wasn’t the most coveted job, but when I quit I thought I would be moving beyond low-level, or under employment, permanently. That did not turn out to be the case. 

After completing my manuscript, I made another clichéd mistake—I began submitting queries to as many publishers and agents I could find with little or no knowledge of what they sought to publish or who they sought to represent. I was met with rejection or my queries were ignored. The submission/rejection process continued for many months until I finally gave up. 

Next came mistake number three. 

About a year and a half after completing my manuscript, I was offered a contract (seemingly unprovoked) from a company called Tate Publishing & Enterprises. According to the contract, Tate would usher my manuscript through the publication process while allotting $27,000 toward editing, design, publicity, and marketing. However, they also required a $4,000 retainer fee. According to the contract, if the book sold more than one thousand copies, they would return the retainer in full.

I thought it was a good deal. If they were willing to invest that much money into the book, they must have been confident it would sell. Also, one thousand copies did not seem like a lot to me.

I was wrong. 

The release date for my book came and went and I did not sell any books nor did I have any author events. When I asked Tate about it, they told me that it takes time for a book to saturate the market. But, it appeared that they had not attempted to target an audience of readers or make any effort to reach those readers. Then, a few months after the release of the book, they began to market the book to me, the author. They sent me numerous emails offering discounts on the print price of my book. They explained that if I bought the book from them, then sold it in-person, I would earn a larger profit margin from the sale of each book than if I sold it through book stores or online distribution. This was true, however, what they didn’t express, was that any copies I bought from them would not count toward the one thousand quota. 

Tate Publishing & Enterprises is a vanity press that exploits first-time authors. Although Tate provided me with a cover and professional editing, they made no attempt to help market or publicize the book, focussing instead on obtaining more money from the author while making it almost impossible to reach their quota thereby never returning the retainer fee. Tate has since gone out of business and, according to Wikipedia, the founder and CEO plead guilty to forty-four criminal charges and will be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution. 

Although I fell into the trap of a vanity press, I do not regret my experience with Tate Publishing & Enterprises. The experience introduced me, however harshly, to the publishing industry and taught me a lot about what it means to find and market to a target audience. I have since terminated my contract with Tate and republished my novel under a new title. Then, in 2017, I entered an MFA program for creative writing with a concentration in publishing. This program, along with my experience self-publishing, taught me a great deal about the publishing industry—what it is, how it works, and how it’s changing. It has also provided me with the valuable experience of seeing the publishing industry from the perspective of the writer and the publisher.  

Shortly before completing my MFA program, it occurred to me that I had the experience and expertise to run my own press. Furthermore, I recognized a niche in the genre of historical fiction that was not being met. That’s why, in 2019, I launched History Through Fiction. Now, ten years beyond my first manuscript, I am still learning and growing as a writer and publisher. I am grateful for the experiences I have gained whether they be considered successes or failures and I look forward to a new decade of challenges and opportunities.  

Before concluding, I’d like to share a few brief thoughts about some of the different types of publishing. The publishing industry is incredibly intricate and if you are a first-time author, I encourage you to consider your options by researching each type in much greater detail than I can provide here. 

Traditional Publishing - In this model, the publishing company provides the author a contract whereby the publisher undertakes the full costs and risks of production. Because the publisher assumes the risk, the author is obliged to accept a small percentage of royalties from the net sales of the book while also relinquishing some creative control. Traditional publishing is still highly sought after because of the legitimacy with which it is associated. Traditional publishers will not publish an author unless their manuscript is well-written, thoroughly edited, and appears to have earning potential. There are many different types and sizes of traditional publishers. Typically, in order to be considered by a large publishing company, an author needs a literary agent. 

Hybrid Publishing - Hybrid publishers operate like traditional publishers, but unlike traditional publishers, the costs of production fall upon the author. Hybrid publishers provide a professional service by ushering the manuscript through the publication process while providing the author with expertise and experience. Because the author pays for production costs, the author retains a higher percentage of royalties while maintaining all rights and creative control. 

Before publishing my most recent novel, I met with two hybrid publishers in Minneapolis in order to pitch my manuscript. The first was Wise Ink Creative Publishing. Wise Ink rejected my manuscript for various reasons, which actually indicates that Wise Ink is a good, responsible press as opposed to one that is predatory. It is important that a publisher read your manuscript before offering to publish it. The second hybrid publisher I visited was Beaver’s Pond Press. Beaver’s Pond is a well-established, reputable press and they offered to publish my manuscript. However, after considering the costs of production, I decided I would be better served by choosing self-publishing. 

Self-Publishing - In self-publishing the author undertakes all costs and risks of production. The author ushers her or his manuscript through the entire publication process, choosing carefully who to work with or choosing to do everything on their own. Self-published authors retain 100% of royalties while maintaining complete creative control. However, self-published authors must learn and take on many skills without the guidance and experience of those who have already established themselves in the publishing industry. 

If you’re a historical novelist, consider submitting your manuscript to History Through Fiction. We are a small, independent press offering a traditional publishing contract with an advance on royalties. Please read our submission guidelines here: https://www.historythroughfiction.com/submissionguidelines

Colin Mustful is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction. He is the author of four historical novels about the settlement and Native history of the Upper Midwest. His books combine elements of fiction and nonfiction to tell compelling and educational stories.