There is barely a day goes by where, as a writer, I am not approached by someone telling me how wonderful my books are, and offering to turn them into blockbuster films, or promising me untold riches from the most incredible publishing deal.

They are all scams, of course. Some are very sophisticated – last week I got an offer from Hachette, one of the top publishing houses in the world. Except that it wasn’t – it was someone impersonating them with a very believable website address and Hachette’s logo.

Fellow memoir author, Peter Barber is a Brit who lives between the UK and Greece with his Greek wife, Alex. He writes bestselling non-fiction humour based on his true life experiences and musings. Recently, he wrote very honestly about how he was caught out, and recovered from a terrible mistake he made right at the start of his writing career.

Here is his story:

Publish and Be Damned: How I Got Scammed, Learned My Lesson, and Came Out Fighting by Peter Barber

Writers are a strange breed. We lock ourselves away for months, sometimes years. Obsessively crafting our stories, pouring our souls onto the page. And when we finally type The End, we emerge, blinking into the daylight, slightly disoriented, realising the kids have grown, the dog no longer recognises us, and our spouses have aged (or so they claim).

But after all that work, we must take the next step: getting published.

Like many first-time authors, I dreamed of seeing my book in print, sitting proudly on bookshop shelves next to the literary greats. I researched publishers, carefully avoiding the obvious vanity scams, and submitted my manuscript to smaller, seemingly reputable presses. To my delight, two publishers showed interest! After some research, I signed a contract with L.R. Price Publications Ltd.

And that’s where the nightmare began.

The Big Mistake…

Before I signed, they were full of praise. Daily emails, enthusiastic promises, and compliments that made me feel like the next Hemingway. But the moment I put pen to paper, the enthusiasm vanished. Emails went unanswered, questions were dodged, and any mention of marketing or sales strategy was met with vague, dismissive replies.

Then the truth hit me. I had made a terrible mistake.

I wanted out. Their response? Legal threats. To paraphrase their email, they stated that as they were the current publisher with exclusive rights to publish my book, they would sue me and terminate the contract if I tried to publish the book with another publisher, and I would lose all rights and ownership indefinitely.

Yes, you read that right. They claimed I would lose my own book forever. My only way out? Paying thousands of pounds to buy back the rights to my own work.

I felt like an idiot. But I wasn’t alone. When I confided in my friend and fellow writer, Vic Bucket, he told me bluntly,

“Get out NOW. They will do nothing for your credibility.”

I took his advice. I paid the ransom. And I got my book back.

The Publishing Swamp

This experience opened my eyes to the murky world of publishing. A quick search online revealed thousands of so-called “publishers” preying on hopeful writers, offering the dream of seeing their book in print while quietly ensuring it disappears into obscurity. These bottom-feeders don’t care about your book, your story, or your success. They care about squeezing every penny they can from you before moving on to the next victim.

I realised that chasing a “traditional” publisher, especially the shady ones willing to take a chance on an unknown author was a fool’s game. Unless you’re a reality TV star, an ex-president, or a convicted murderer with a juicy memoir, your chances of landing a big publishing deal are about as likely as finding a dodo in your back garden.

The Turning Point

So, I did what many successful authors have done before me… I took control.

I self-published my book. It became a bestseller. Then I wrote another. Bestseller. Then another. You get the idea.

Now, my next book will be a cautionary tale, exposing the dark underbelly of publishing scams and the blood-sucking vampires who prey on hopeful writers. If you’ve ever been burned by a dodgy publisher, or know someone who has, let’s share our stories. Because the more we talk, the harder it becomes for these parasites to survive.

Oh, and one last thing. My next book, The Parthenon Paradox: Rivers of Redemption, has just launched. It’s self-published, and it’s already topping its categories on Amazon. Turns out, I don’t need a publisher after all.

Lesson learned. Battle scars earned. And to any would-be scam publishers out there. Look over your shoulder. We are coming for you.

The Writer Beware blog has received many complaints about the publisher Peter used, L.R. Price Publications Ltd, who subsequently traded as L.R. Publishing London Ltd. Since 2023, The Alliance of Independent Authors gave L.R. Price a Watchdog ‘Advisory’ rating due to complaints from authors. In the interest of balance, L.R. Price Publishing London Ltd. responded to the article Writer Beware wrote about them to say there is no evidence of their engaging in dishonest or unlawful practice.

I believe L.R. Price has now ceased trading, but offered to transfer its authors’ contracts to another company, which Writer Beware describes as ‘dodgy-seeming’.

See below for advice on how to protect yourself from publishing scams, but first, check out Peter’s bestselling books, all self-published to neatly avoids scams!

Peter’s Books

Musings

The Parthenon Series

Find Peter on:

Website: https://peterbarberbooks.co.uk/

Facebook: Peter’s Profile & his group Writing About Greece

Twitter: @greekwriting

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Protect Yourself From Scams

Do Your Research!

Online author marketplace Reedsy published this post: How To Dodge Shady Author Scams – which offers an overview of the common types of publishing scams to avoid.

When you come across a publishing company, software, or service you want to vet, here are two great resources you should visit:

• The Writer Beware blog and Writer Beware website are comprehensive sources of information and warnings about scams and other bad practice in the publishing industry. The website keeps a database of bad actors in the industry, including writers’ services and dodgy contests and awards, as well as details of how to file complaints and seek recourse.
• The Alliance of Independent Authors Watchdog Desk is the ethical oversight arm of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), led by industry expert John Doppler. Its mission is to protect authors from predatory practices, misinformation, and low-quality services in the self-publishing sector.

Finding Reputable Companies:

• The Alliance of Independent Authors publishes a Directory of Self-Publishing Services Rated which is available free to members or can be purchased by non-members from the website.
• Reputable marketplaces such as Reedsy also offer links to reliable and rated suppliers.
• You may also seek advice and recommendations from your author group.

Signs of Scams:

In general, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Telltale signs of scams are:

• Unsolicited contact from a publisher – reputable publishers require manuscripts, and don’t usually make speculative approaches to unknown authors!
• Pressure to sign quickly
• Requests for upfront payment
• Promises of unrealistic sales, high advances, or bestseller status
• Vague or incomplete contact information with generic email addresses
• Poorly designed website
• Lack of information about the publishing process
• Refusal to communicate by phone, or provide references to other published authors they’ve worked with

never pay upfront fees to a publisher unless you are certain they are reputable

And even then, be wary, since reputable publishers pay authors, not the other way around!

Like Peter, I publish my books independently. Besides giving me full control of everything, it protects me from publishing scams, if not the marketing scams! If you want to know how to publish your own book, check out this blog on my sister site, A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing a Book & Selling it on Amazon

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Have you come across publishing or author marketing scams?

Join the discussion in the comments.

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