Because while I will not switch my position and tell new writers this type of model is the way to go, I will have to tell them, if you insist on going with it, don’t use Harlequin Horizons.

Something along the lines of:

In this list of names, which would you consider a self-publishing model versus a vanity- sorry- assisted self-publishing model? Word Clay, Trafford, Author House, Xlibris, IUniverse, Westbow or Harlequin Horizons?

I ask, because they are all the same, except the pricing. Pricing for the EXACT same services. Why do I question the difference in pricing? Because you get the services from the EXACT same parent company, AUTHOR SOLUTIONS. That guy making your cover for IUniverse could be the same guy working on your Harlequin Horizons cover, only for a different price charged to you.

Legal, sure. But don’t expect to get better quality just because of the moniker. Auto mechanics have known this little trick for years. The same replacement part will fit two different models, but one car has a sticker price of 15K while the other a sticker price of 30K. The smart mechanic always names the lower value car when requesting the item. Why? Because it’s half the cost doing it that way. For the SAME darn part.

And if not, why? (IMHO they aren’t. 2,500,000 copies were sold of 13,000 titles. That first number sounds impressive, right? But divide that down to the average number of copies sold per title = 192. Depressing.)

Those books I spoke of are no different than the products readers will receive through Harlequin Horizons. Because these are Author Solutions products, not Harlequin products. Products designed to lure in writers, not readers. (13,000 packages sold to writers at a BASE price of $599 multiplies out to $7,887,000. Cha-ching )

BTW–just wanted to say you are my very favorite “am-hardly-able-to-read-her-books” author because you do scary SO well.

Shiloh, I think it’s a start definitely, though I still believe that sending solicitations to self-publish with any company (regardless of the name) with rejections will still come on Harlequin letterhead and thus be “endorsed” by Harlequin.

That’s my other big issue. Stop the referral. Make them two separate entitles. I’d be more satisfied.

And if they did that AND did true self pub instead of expecting 50% of net from their author’s profits? I’d be downright happy.

Thank you for making your point so candidly and succinctly.

I’d like to add that writing is a creative process; publishing what you write is BUSINESS. In business, when I solve a client’s problem and provide her with a product or service, SHE PAYS ME–I do NOT do all the hard work and then pay her. When a reader buys a book, she is paying for the pleasure of being entertained or informed. As you said, the money should flow back to the author. Period. That’s business.

I think it’s a darn shame, already, that authors spend months/years writing a book and make such a small % of the selling price. But for a publisher, any publisher, to infer that paying a TRADITIONAL, NY PUBLISHER will make you a “professional” writer is outright thievery. Doesn’t “professional” mean you get paid? As in “professional athletes?”

I have lots of other thoughts, but they all echo your comments or those of previous commenters. I am proud that the professional organzations of which I’m a member, both MWA and RWA, are defending their members–both pubbed and unpubbed.

http://graysonagency.com/blog/publishing/harlequin-horizons-a-mugs-game/

As for NY publishing, I would take a NY contract over me paying for publishing any day. Money should flow TO the author. Period. It’s not perfect. But it doesn’t require the author to spend money to print, publish or distribute their book. I also think that traditionally published authors spend way too much money on promotion that doesn’t work and less time on writing books. I don’t believe that the “deals most mid-listers get are just awful, too, and every bit as deceptive.” There is a HUGE difference. In self-publishing and vanity publishing, the AUTHOR pays to be published. In traditional publishing, the PUBLISHER pays the author for the rights to publish their book. That is not just as awful, or deceptive.

Do some authors get screwed? Yep. It happens in every business. But we’re still being paid for our writing without having to outlay thousands of dollars for the privilege.