Author Solutions

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Author Solutions

eBooks
ImprintsAuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford Publishing, Xlibris, Palibrio, Booktango
Owner(s)Najafi Companies
Official websiteauthorsolutions.com

Author Solutions is the parent company of a number of vanity presses, including AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford Publishing, Xlibris, Palibrio, and Booktango.[2] The company is headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, and has been owned by Najafi Companies since 2015.

History

In April 2008, Author Solutions Marketing Director Keith Ogorek said that 1 out of every 17 books published in the

Spanish-language imprint – Palibrio.[7][non-primary source needed
] Palibrio was initially offered only to the U.S. Spanish-speaking market, but later was made available to authors in Spain.

In 2012, Pearson (which also owns Penguin Random House) acquired Author Solutions from Bertram Capital Management for $116 million.[8][9]

In 2013 Forbes magazine and Publishers Weekly reported that Author Solutions and its associated companies were being sued as part of a potential class action suit alleging deceptive practices. Damages of $5 million were sought.[10][11] Publishers Weekly reports that the suit has been filed in the Southern District of New York.[12] In July, 2015, the court denied class action certification to the suit,[13] and in August 2015 the lawsuit was "discontinued without prejudice" after a settlement was reached between the parties.[14] A second case was dismissed in September.[15]

On December 31, 2015 Author Solutions, LLC was sold to Najafi Companies, and is no longer associated with Penguin Random House.[16]

In recent years, Author Solutions has formed partnerships with traditional book publishers to offer self-publishing imprints to authors: Simon & Schuster (Archway Publishing),[17] Thomas Nelson (WestBow Press),[18] Hay House (Balboa Press),[19] and Guideposts (Inspiring Voices);[20] as well as with Writer's Digest (Abbott Press).[21]

Criticism

Author Solutions is frequently criticized by author advocacy groups for predatory marketing practices, excessive fees, high-pressure sales, and poor customer service by Author Solutions and its subsidiary companies. These criticisms led to Author Solutions' inclusion in the

Writer Beware.[24]

Imprints and divisions

References

  1. ^ http://www.authorsolutions.com/Our-Story/Leadership-Team/m. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ "Our Services". authorsolutions.com.
  3. ^ Kaelbe, Steve (April 2008). "Publishing for the people: Bloomington is home to the no. 1 company in self-publishing". Entrepreneur.
  4. ^ Trachtenberg, Jeffrey (January 8, 2009). "Print-on-Demand Publishers Marry As Author Solutions Buys Xlibris". The Wall Street Journal.
  5. ^ Kaufman, Rachel (April 7, 2009). "Author Solutions Buys Yet Another Rival". Media Bistro - Media Jobs Daily.
  6. ^ "Thomas Nelson and Author Solutions Launch Christian Self-Publishing Imprint". Book Business Magazine. October 2009.
  7. ^ "Author Solutions, Inc. Launches Spanish-Language Self-Publishing Imprint Palibrio" (Press release). Author Solutions, Inc. 3 June 2010 – via PR Newswire.
  8. ^ Reid, Calvin (July 19, 2012). "Pearson Acquires Self-Publishing Vendor Author Solutions For $116 Million". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  9. ^ Gaughran, David (2013-07-16). "Penguin Random House Merger Boosts Giant Scam". David Gaughran. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  10. ^ Suw Charman-Anderson (7 May 2013). "Penguin And Author Solutions Sued For Deceptive Practices". Forbes.
  11. ^ "Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Author Solutions Inc. - SFWA". SFWA. 2 May 2013.
  12. ^ "Authors Sue Self-Publishing Service Author Solutions". PublishersWeekly.com.
  13. ^ Albanese, Andrew. (July 6, 2015). "Court Denies Class Action in Author Solutions Case". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  14. ^ Albanese, Andrew. (August 24, 2015) "Second Case Against Author Solutions Is Dismissed". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  15. ^ Albanese, Andrew. (September 14, 2015) "Author Solutions Case Ends With Settlement". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  16. ^ Milliot, Jim. (January 5, 2016). "Author Solutions Sold to Private Equity Firm". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Leslie (November 27, 2012). "Simon & Schuster Steps Into Self-Publishing". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Trachtenberg, Jeffrey (October 13, 2009). "Nelson Adds Self-Publishing Line". The Wall Street Journal.
  19. ^ Nelson, Marcia (May 14, 2010). "Author Solutions Creates Imprint with Hay House". Publishers Weekly.
  20. ^ "Guideposts Announces Launch of Inspiring Voices, a New Publishing Service". PRWeb. 18 April 2011. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013.
  21. ^ Reid, Calvin (January 31, 2011). "Writer's Digest, Author Solutions Launch Abbott Press". Publishers Weekly.
  22. ^ "Thumbs Down Publishers List". SFWA. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  23. ^ "Best and Worst Self-Publishing Services". The Alliance of Independent Authors. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "More Warnings: Spectacular Productions;Balboa Press/Author Solutions". Writer Beware. August 30, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
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