Question from First Timer

[u/Hubbell1973]

The first work of fiction I've ever written is close to being published. Everything is new to me and no one I know has ever published any fiction.

I'm working with a group on the West Coast that is guiding me through the process for a price that is not minimal, but given the size of the work, two volumes of fiction @ 225,000 words, I don't think is unfair. Editing is included.

Book Cover, done

Blurb, done

Preface, done

Editing 125,000 word Vol I, done

3 ISBN numbers, purchased, done

Formatting for publication, reviewing the final product now

I've done no marketing. The group said that it would place the finished product 'in all the major conduits, Amazon, Google, Apple, D2D, B&N, etc.'

Here's a sticky question that I don't know how to answer. I planned to publish under a nom de plume, no problem. But the Copyright page lists my own name. Hmmm. Can the Copyright page reflect the non de plume?

Any guidance you can provide will be welcome. Any other input is also welcome since I'm groping ahead in the dark.

[u/nycwriter99]

Oh Lord. What "group" are you talking about? Did you pay them? Why would they tell you to put your book out with no audience? You should be trying to build up your email list before you publish.

[u/dothemath_xxx]

Eesh. Well, you've already paid them, so the horse is already out of the barn in that regard.

To answer your specific question, yes, the copyright page can reflect your pen name. If you've actually filed for copyright, though, then you want it to match the name under which the paperwork was filed.

In terms of other input: this service is taking advantage of you. It's possible that they are charging fair prices for the editing, cover, formatting, etc.; it's unlikely, since services like these frequently up-charge, but I don't know what you paid them.

The bigger issue is that you are allowing them to list your books for you. This is really, really, something that you want to have full personal control over. Are you even going to have access to these listings once the book is for sale? Or are they going to be listing your book via their own accounts and then passing on the earnings to you?

If it's the latter, then I would really strongly recommend that you stop immediately and not allow them to do that.

[u/dragonsandvamps]

To answer your question, yes, I always put my pen name on the copyright page.

But if privacy is your concern, pen names aren't foolproof. If you registered for copyright, your pen name is searchable in a database anyone can look up.

The bigger issue is that it sounds like you have paid a large amount of money to a vanity press. These are all scams. They take your money and do for 10x the cost what you could have done yourself. And usually what they're giving you back is sub-tier. Typically you get: an AI cover, which will tank your sales. Readers associate AI cover with AI contents and it's an instant turnoff. You may also get AI editing=same problem. Your voice gets erased and reworded as AI. Now when I sample your preview pages on Amazon and it reads like AI, I know not to read your book. If they used AI to write your blurb=same problem.

I've done no marketing. The group said that it would place the finished product 'in all the major conduits, Amazon, Google, Apple, D2D, B&N, etc.'

The only annoying part about publishing is the marketing, and that's where your money could have actually helped. This outfit likely won't help you there either. They'll make a few social media posts no one will see and call it done. You can place the book on all those platforms yourself for free.

These places are scams. You may not be able to get your money back, but for the next book, do it yourself!