Watch Out for Publishing Scams!

Write your book – but don’t get ripped off!

I’ve been a published author for a pretty long time – my first novel (which I self-published) came out in 2003, and I’ve been writing professionally pretty much ever since. In addition to a floppity-million blog posts and online content pieces, I’ve published one children’s book, five novels, and have my name on a dozen or so books on modern witchcraft. Nearly everything has been traditionally published, by legitimate companies – some small and some large – that pay me to Make the Words. While I know I’ve been very fortunate and blessed in the way my publishing career has worked out, I also recognize that there are many highly successful authors out there who have taken a different route, be it self-publishing or with smaller, indie presses. Frankly, I say good for you! because if you took time to Make the Words, you deserve to see your work as a Real Live Book. Everyone who writes is full of hopes and dreams and goals.

And that’s why we’re talking about publishing scams today. I get calls regularly (which I block and mark as spam) from people at some vaguely named company that I’ve never heard of, and the script is almost always the same: We are really excited about your book [Insert Title Here] and we’d love a chance to work with you on it, and publish your book and help you become successful. Sometimes it’s a pitch from someone who claims their agents work with Netflix or Prime on series development, and they want to talk to me about that instead.

Whatever – the weirdest part is that it’s almost always about Herb Magic, which was published by Callisto Media a good five years ago, in April 2020. Also, if you’ve ever read Herb Magic, you’re probably wondering what about it would translate well into a tv show. The answer is: nothing. Nothing at all, which tells me these folks (a) haven’t actually read my book and (b) don’t know how the publishing industry actually works because the book has ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED.

So, why are they calling me and thousands of other authors out there in the writing world? Because they want your money. These people aren’t publishers – they’re scammers. Let’s talk about who they are, how they lure in hopeful authors, and how you can steer clear of their schemes.

Publishing scammers are companies or individuals that pretend to be legitimate publishers, agents, or service providers, but their real goal is to get you to pay them (often to the tune of thousands of dollars), not help your book succeed. They often use flattery, vague promises, and fancy-looking websites to convince new authors they’re the “real deal.” They go by many names: vanity presses, hybrid publishers, or “full-service” publishing houses. Some of them even mimic the names of well-known traditional publishers to look more credible. Sneaky, right?

And these assholes just looooooove to prey on writers who are just starting out, especially those who:

Don’t know much about how the business of publishing works yet
Are looking for quick results or validation
Feel overwhelmed by the traditional publishing route
Are eager to get their book out there at any cost

They might reach out to you out of the blue (via email, phone, or social media), promise to make you a bestseller, or offer a “limited-time publishing package.” Well, guess what. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Red Flags to Watch For

Here are some common tactics scammers use:

You have to pay them to publish your book. Traditional publishers pay you. If a “publisher” wants thousands of dollars up front for editing, formatting, or marketing, run. Now, keep in mind that if you’re self-publishing, which is still a legitimate way of getting your book out there, you’ll have to cover those costs yourself. But regardless, most self-publishing companies don’t cold-call. Which brings us to…
They reached out to you first. Reputable agents and publishers rarely reach out to authors they’ve never heard of. Be extra cautious with unsolicited offers.
Vague or exaggerated promises: “No editing required!” “Guaranteed Amazon bestseller!” “Seen by Hollywood producers!” Yikes on a bike. Real publishing is a process, not a shortcut – and you owe it to your readers to give them a decently edited product (because that’s what your book is – a product). Also, there’s no way anyone can guarantee a book is going to be a best-seller – unless maybe you’re Stephen King or another big-name established author. But if you WERE Stephen King, no one would be emailing you telling you they have a great opportunity to publish your book and release it into the wild without editing.
Poor communication or contracts that don’t make sense. If their emails are full of typos, or their contract is confusing and hard to exit, it’s a big red flag. Also, watch for email addresses that don’t match (the sender signs off as Jane Austen but their email address appears as Charlotte Bronte), websites that are similar to real publishing houses (macmillanDotCom is a real publisher, macmillanbooksDotCom is not), or from a yahoo or gmail address instead of a company domain.
They use a hard-sell approach. If they pressure you to sign quickly, pay immediately, or say you’re “missing out,” it’s probably a scam.

How to Protect Yourself

Do your homework. Google the company or person. Check Writer Beware, which is an invaluable resource full of warnings going back for decades about scammy publishers and agents. If there are complaints, take them seriously.
Learn how real publishing works. Whether you’re aiming for traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing, understanding the basics helps you spot shady behavior fast. realize that publishing is, at the end of the day, a business, and the more you learn about how it works, the better off you’ll be.
Ask questions, and expect clear answers. Legit professionals should be happy to explain their services, pricing, and success metrics in detail.
Never sign a contract you don’t understand. If in doubt, have a lawyer (or a trusted publishing-savvy friend) take a look.
Trust your gut. If something feels off, pause. It’s okay to say no.

Look, if you wrote a book, I know you worked hard on it – I know this because I worked hard on every book I’ve written. You deserve a publishing journey that’s empowering, not exploitative. There are great publishers, editors, and self-publishing services out there who will treat you and your work with respect. Scammers count on you being uninformed or eager or desperate – but you don’t have to be any of those things. So keep writing, keep dreaming, keep hoping. Just keep your eyes open while you’re at it.

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