The Publish America Scam Robbed and degraded--as a writer and as a human being--by this company Frederick, Maryland

I spent six years of my young adult life writing a 349pg book that I adored and loved.  I showed a few family members who all thought the book was just wonderful.  After a while I was so happy that many loved it and thought I should try to get it published I started looking into getting it published. 

I basically found three publishing places that I thought seemed fair.  I sent my book to all three and got a response from all three that they are VERY interested in publishing my book but one wanted 5,000 dollars (which I didn't have), one wanted me to meet with them in person (which I wasn't able to take time off work and fly out of state) and the last was PA who just wanTed my autograph.

I remember not finding anywhere in the contract with PA that they would edit the book which bothered me.  I sent them emails asking if they planned on editing the book and they told me to read "section whatever" and it states they will.  I signed the contract and was overly happy.  The next few weeks was hell as they never stopped bothering me to send them my final draft.  I would respond, "I've already done that weeks ago".  They then tell me they no longer have that copy on file.

I was so young and naive I just sent them a copy and didn't hear anything for almost four months.  I figured they were doing their job.  Finally after a few more weeks I get an email asking if I planned on sending my final draft to them.  I was so confused as I had already done that so I do it again.  This time I ask them when they think the book will be ready.  They tell me it has to go through their text department and then the cover department.

Another week goes by and I receive an email asking me to verify this is how I want my book to read.  Well it was 349 pages and it took me a few days to read it again.  I found so many errors in the book, errors that were not there previously.  I respond that there are errors every other word it seemed and silly errors like, "me" instead of "myself" or "past" instead of "passed".  These errors I know I did not do.  I get an email back stating that it's too late to do anything about the errors unless I want to send them 5pg (max) paper stating all the errors: which line, which paragraph and what the error is and what it should be.  Not to mention my book was a true story and I was suppose to keep the names changed but somehow the names remained the same.

I do this, it takes me almost three days to complete this.  I finally send them an email back with this "5pg" list of errors.  I don't check my email for a few days and when I do I see an email reply of my error list saying "We can not except these changes unless you can pay 99.00 dollars to put your book back into the text department as it will hold up the cover department's job".  I was so upset I didn't respond.  I get an email another day later saying my cover was complete and to approve it.

I look at the cover and it doesn't make any sense to me.  I write back asking what other cover options they have but they don't respond.  A few days later I get an email asking me to approve the cover.  I respond again asking if we can us a photo of myself for the cover.  They respond telling me it would be at a cost of 200.00 dollars that I would have to pay and to let them know either way.  I was so upset and pissed I just told them to forget the whole thing.

I got an email back stating they can not "forget" the whole thing as I was bound to a contact and then asked if I could approve the cover once again.  I just approve it and hold my breath.  I continue to get sale emails from them regarding my book being on sale.  I ignore everyone of them.  I figure if I make some money off this book it would be a miracle.  I get an email in Nov of 2009 stating my book is now available on Amazon and to expect my "two free author" copies soon in the mail.

It's been over two years and I have never received any free author books.  After my book was "released" my friends and family bought a copy and told me about it.  I waited in suspense to hear what they had to say about it.  My mother in law tells me there are so many errors in the book she can't even read it.  That sure makes me feel good about myself.  I send them an email asking where these "two free author" copies are and I am reassured they are in the mail. 

Finally after two years of nothing from them, not even one of these royalty statements I was suppose to get bi-yearly, I send them an email letting them know they have breached the contract and I want out.  They send me a very rude email back saying I don't get to say that to them and I need to get my facts straight before I start threatening them.  The reality is they take advantage of people, good people.  My eyes were filled with stars but now they are wide open.  Please do not go through this publishing house.  They are a POD (Print on demand) publishing agency and you will never get any money from them.

I really wish I would have googled publish America scams before signing that contract.  Now I am stuck in this contract until 2015 and I have yet to receive anything more than a dollar from them.  I have since written books under a different name so I have no connection with PA.  I currently and putting my books on the kindle website for a low price as I am only interested in getting people to read my books. 

If there is any plan for a class action lawsuit I would be highly interested.  I have all the emails saved and the contract where it states "two free author" copies in the contract that I never received.  I am willing to put time into a lawsuit and would be willing to testify, whatever it takes to get this person behind bars.  They refuse to let me out of this contract and I am really at a loss of what to do.  I can be contacted at sheachristine@ymail.com.  Again, do not sign through PA they are scam artists.