1000 DELIGHTS - 1000delights.com.   Now it is simply a listing of stories available to read. No information on publication, no membership subscription, just the stories there.   February 2005 update: I sampled one of the stories. It is pretty risqué stuff, well enough done.  December 2005 update: I understand they are now defunct. The site now requires a password for access. That would be weird for anyone trying to buy and sell books.

A1ADULT EBOOKS - www.a1adultebooks.com.     A self publisher: the author prepares all the files himself, uploads them free, and they appear immediately in the catalogue. Material is mostly BDSM, but no under-18 sex, no animals or killing, but rape, torture, and incest are allowable. They take 35% commission on sales. A new book is a "featured product" for two weeks, the most recent being #1, the next most recent, #2, and so on. Sales are said to be small, though. I looked at the site, and some of those covers are graphic; there's no doubt about the nature of the books. Royalties are 60%, I presume of the cover price, paid in 14 days.  February 2007 update: I received an angry note from the owner demanding that I remove the entry and threatening a defamation "suite." I suggested that he learn the distinction between "suite," which is a connected series of rooms, and "suit," which is a legal matter. I concluded "Threaten me at your own risk. Unlike you, I am not bluffing." I haven't heard back. Why should any legitimate publisher not want to be listed?   April 2007 update: information from the publisher is that they offer both a publishing and self publishing service. All the books listed with them are done straight; self published books are handled by their authors. Whichever way it is done, the author gets 65% of the sale price, though things like credit card fees reduce this; the publisher actually takes only 10%. Payment is monthly, within 14 days. The proprietor feels that my prior report of small sales is ignorant, but did not provide informed figures.  June 2007 update: A very favorable report that they have sales confirmation emails and online stats that match. It seems that this is not necessarily the case elsewhere. This says their royalty rates are 65% of sale price without credit card deductions. "They are friendly, informative, always willing to help and above all they pay out every month." February 2008 update: They certainly have an array of hard-core erotica, but this time I could not find information on submissions or terms for writers. I like to verify such things on my updates. June 2008 update: the publisher let me know where the terns are listed: under pubsell.pho. Still 65% on direct sales, 40% when sold via affiliates.

AARBOOKS PUBLISHING - www.aarbooks.com/.  February 2006 update: I got the Unknown Host message.  

ACCLAIM PUBLISHING - www.acclaimpublishers.com/.  "We specialize in small quantities of books at a very reasonable price." They do some marketing at their site, so I'm listing them as a publisher rather than a service, though it's a close call.  February 2007 update: page not found.   April 2004 update: I am advised that they remain in business, but their page may become unavailable if they get too many page views per month. This is the sort of fecal matter the little guys sometimes have to eat. February 2008 update: They remain in business. They pay 20% of the selling price for each POD copy sold. They seem to have a minimum order of 20 books, which is reasonable.

A CRITICAL MASS - December 2007 update: Now I am told it goes to a portal potty. That is, a site it may be dangerous to visit.

ACTION TALES - http://actiontales.com/. See ForemostPress.com

ADAMS PRESS - http://www.adamspress.com/. A print self publisher. Minimum quantity is 100 copies. No information on costs.

ADVENTURE BOOKS - www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks/.    No longer publishing.

ALEXANDRIA DIGITAL LITERATURE - www.alexlit.com. Seeking new titles from established authors. The site does not seem to list terms, and does not seem to encourage unknown writers. Many genres. February 2006 update: They seem to be temporarily shut down as a publisher.   February 2007 update: they remain temporarily shut down. February 2008 update: They plan to have a new site in 2008.

ALL ROMANCE BOOKS - www.allromancebooks.com/.  April 2006 update: I am informed that they have folded because of the death of the publisher. Indeed, their site is gone. 

ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS - www.allromanceebooks.com/. Not to be confused with the defunct publisher above. This is a distributor, listed in the Services section.

AMBER QUILL PRESS - www.amberquill.com   "The Gold Standard in Publishing." Currently closed to submissions, except by invitation, as they are scheduled well into 2005.   . They have a legal notice to the effect that a number of their editions are being pirated by other publishers; only the Amber Quill editions are legitimate and paying royalties.   February 2006 update: "Amber Quill press is primarily a 'submit by invitation only' publisher...any unsolicited synopses, partials, or complete manuscripts sent to our email addresses or snail-mailed to our business office by either author or an agent will be deleted unread, without exception." That's plain enough; they don't much care whether you live or die.   February 2007 update: And they won;t reply to general query letters either.   April 2007 update: they have found that their best sales are in erotic romance, so they hold a short fiction erotic romance contest every January. Winners are offered a publishing contract and a continuing relationship, which means their queries won't be deleted unread. Once a writer gets into their good graces, the relationship is excellent.  June 2007 update: but a negative report on their arrogance. December 2007 update: reported to be very author friendly. A writer tells me that what I call arrogance is simply plain talk, because some people won't accept a No. “Only blunt language will deter them.” February 2008 update: They remain generally closed to outside submissions.

AMERICAN BOOK PUBLISHING - www.american-book.com/.  There is a deposit of $780, returned the first quarter after the book is published. Royalty up to 20% of net book sales; 50% on ebooks.  But ASK ANN, the SFWA service, has some extremely negative reports on them; check there before making a decision. It seems this publisher talks the talk, but doesn't necessarily walk the walk. Writers are said to be leaving, and there could be legal action.  April 2005 update: I am informed this publisher is now up for sale.  February 2007 update: But there is no indication of that at the site. February 2008 update: They remain in business.

AMIRA — www.amirapress.com/. “At Amira Press, our mission is to provide an experience so far out of the ordinary, that our readers will look to stay lost forever in the worlds our writers have created for the reader's enjoyment.” I'd call that a worthy dream. They publish all genres except children's stories, and are especially interested in Captive Romance, Interracial Romance, and Sensual Romance/Erotica in Science Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy, and Western, with the usual restrictions. Royalties are 50% on ebook downloads and 15% on print book sales. They respond to queries within two weeks, and within 90 days for full books. Lengths range from 15,000 to 85,000 words.

AN AUTHOR'S DREAM - AN AUTHOR'S DREAM—www.anauthorsdream.com/. They have a POD service for $695 and they accept returns from all bookstores. 40% royalties from direct sales. That returnability is worth something, because it means that some bookstores might accept their books. But don't count on it.

ANOTHEREALM - www.anotherealm.com/. This is a monthly e-zine, publishing two full length (up to 5,000 words)stories a month, for which they pay $25 for electronic rights only. They read and decide on all stories by October 31, to be published the following year. They also have "Flash Fiction" stories limited to 1,000 words, no pay, accepted year round, and contest stories based on contest topics, no pay, every two months. Obviously no place to get rich, but this could be good for talented beginners who need exposure. Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror; no pornography. February 2008 update: I read one of their stories, about a peeper on the beach. Nice surprise ending.

ANTELOPE PUBLISHING - www.antelope-ebooks.com/. A family oriented site doing children's books, juveniles, wholesome works of fiction, religious works that teach without preaching, and uplifting nonfiction. No sexually explicit material. But it remains swamped with submissions, so is not accepting books. Getting swamped like that suggests that it must be treating its writers right, though. They also publish an online magazine for the family, at www.ongoing-tales.com/.  February 2007 update: Still not accepting submissions. February 2008 update: ditto.

A PAGE 4 YOU PUBLISHING - www.apage4you publishing.com.   This was called to my attention as an apparent rip-off outfit. Their physical address turned out to be fake and they seem to be completely non-responsive once they have your book.   February 2006 update: I got the "unknown host" message. 

APHRODITE'S APPLES - www.aphroditesapples.com/.     Romance, Romantic Erotica, Historicals, Supernaturals, contemporary and mythological fantasy collections. "Make it hot, but give it a plot!" Royalties are 40% of the retail price, and 10% for POD and print runs.   February 2007 update: several categories, with lengths ranging from 5,000 to over 100,000 words.  June 2007 update: I heard from their Editor in Chief. They release bi-monthly, two books per release, focusing on quality rather than quantity. Their books are now available at Fictionwise. Submission turnaround is 4-6 weeks because of the high volume of submissions, but they have added two acquiring editors with the hope of speeding it up.  October 2007 update: a favorable report on them. Their books are generally thoroughly edited and the covers close enough. February 2008 update: I have word that they may stall about putting an audit clause in their contract, and can get lost in contract negotiations. Submissions are currently open. April 2008 update: I have some extremely negative reports of fouled up editing, arbitrary changes in release dates, messed up contracts, and labeling of those who complain as “problem” authors leading to tacit blacklisting. Organization seems to be chaotic, with sometimes poor customer relations, failure to assign ISBN numbers, and low sales. The general impression is that this is not the best place to be. And after I made that entry, came this: they have closed as of February 13, 2008. All royalties are being calculated and paid in a timely fashion. The site may say it's down for maintenance, but it's dead.

APHRODITE UNLACED - www.aphroditeunlaced.com/.   They publish erotica and erotic romance ("Romantica") 1,000 to 75,000 words and above. Royalties are 35% of the cover price. But I have a report that sales are low and authors may have to bug the publisher to get them.

ARIZONAL PUBLISHERS -   I received a solicitation from them with only an email address of an assistant editor, Evelyn Obazu. "We are interested in your book "The Magic Fart"; this is because the book is popular here and demand is rising here in Nigeria." Well, no sales of that title have been made in Nigeria, and I doubt that any legitimate publisher would want to start with such a title. So I suspect this is another Nigerian scam masquerading as a publisher.

ART BOOKBINDERY - www.artbookbindery.com/. This is a self publishing company, specializing in ultra low short run, print on demand. If you produce 50 copies of a 200 page book, it costs $11.50 per book, plus postage; the cost drops with larger orders. The process normally take 3-5 weeks, and the author keeps all rights. February 2008 update: Fill out a form for information on size of book, number of coupes to be printed, etc., and they'll give a quote. This is reasonable, as books can vary considerably.

ARTEMIS PRESS - www.artemispress.com/. This is a feminist and lesbian publisher, currently accepting submissions in all categories, fiction and nonfiction, presumably relating to lesbianism. Royalties are 30% of the download price, and 15% on POD editions. One year contract for electronic rights, renewable, and it has an auditing clause. They welcome the opportunity to work with new writers. See also MOONLITBOOKS and GLB for gay/lesbian markets. Allow 3 to 6 months for reports.  February 2007 update: 30,00 to 200,000 words: chances are your book will fit.

ARTS COLONY PUBLISHERS - dfox@tstonramp.com. HiPiers received an email on this, and there does not seem to be a Web site, just the email address, so I have not checked it. It says you can self publish your book with light editing for $2500, or with heavy editing for $4500, and $400 for cover and inside design, plus the actual cost of printing. This does not seem cheap, but that may depend on how much you need editing.

ASCENT - Aspirations for Artists - www.ascentaspirations.ca/.   I received an email notice about this. It's a quarterly magazine. "We are dedicated to providing a venue for established and aspiring writers and artists. David Fraser, editor, Ascent Publications." It specializes in the darker shades of short fiction in all genres, and poetry with an edge.   There are several supplementary pages for an anthology, writer's resources, writer's sites, affiliate authors pages, and AA Publishing Page. Their word limit is 2,000 words and dropping.   February 2006 update: I received an email from them indicating that they are still going strong.  August 2006 update: their newsletter says they have two anthologies and a contest going.  August 2007 update: They have upgraded their links pages for their magazine publishers, writers' associations, resources, publishers, writers' courses, contest sites, and writer's home sites.

ASPEN MOUNTAIN PRESS - www.aspenmountainpress.com/.  Seeking stories in all genres, with the usual restrictions on erotic taboos, racial, illegal acts, or abuse. Especially interested in cross-genre Romance. 10,000 to 90,000 words. I did not find information on terms.    April 2007 update: royalties are 35%. Response times for submissions is about two weeks.  August 2007 update: a very positive report on their editing, making a good novel excellent. Sales are said to be average. 

ASSOCIATED CONTENT - General fiction in many categories, but no erotica or gay/lesbian fiction. I found no information on terms, bit I am told their contract is decent.

ASYLETT PRESS - Articles on just about any subject published here. I did not ascertain their rates of payment, but it seems that anyone can contribute. February 2008 update: Most of their present titles are Romance, Horror, and Speculative. They are ebooks with a Lightning Source option to which the author must contribute. 40% royalty based on the download price. A small staff makes communications slow.

ATLANTIC BRIDGE PUBLISHING - www.atlanticbridge.net/. There is a good audit clause. They are looking only for Paranormal at this time. They pay author's 45% of all download sales, quarterly, and buy electronic rights for one year. A satisfied writer tells me that they are easy to work with, and that they were #6 among best publishers as listed by Editors and Preditors in 2001. See also their hot romance imprint, Liquid Silver Books.  Unfortunately submissions are closed.  February 2007 update: Still closed to submissions. February 2008 update: ditto.

@VENTURE - see Services section

AUDIBLE - www.audible.com/. These are recorded books, and they have a slew. But I was unable to find any indication that the novice writer is welcome here. I suspect that first you publish your book and become established, then they'll consider recording it.

AURORA SHOWCASE - www.aurorashowcase.com. Gone.

AUTHORHOUSE - www.authorhouse.com/.  This is 1stbooks under a new name.  December 2004 update: I understand that while 1stbooks was excellent, AuthorHouse is suffering many complaints about its service and not handling them well. Some authors are considering legal action. The freelance writing ezine WRITERS WEEKLY lists some savage reactions of clients.   February 2005 update: they seem canny about terms; you have to call an 888 number to get started. That means that by the time you find out what it will cost you for what, you're already talking with a sales representative, rather than anonymously surveying their offerings. I would distrust this.   August 2005 update: Now it seems that authors have to pay $20 per title per year just to keep listed, and service continues bad.   February 2006 update: Now you have to fill out a form to get their free publishing guide.   June 2007 update: another strongly negative report "A horrible first-time experience" as they did not deliver what was paid for and refused to return any money.  October 2007 update: Authorhouse has bought iUniverse. There are bound to be some changes soon.

AVENTINE PRESS - www.aventinepress.com A self publisher. Their basic package is $349.00, with additional fees for add-on services such as hardcover publication or a custom cover. They also have a marketing program for $995. Royalties are 80% of the net moneys received, which is very high. February 2008 update: Now their basic package is $399.

AUTOBYOGRAFY - www.autobyografy.com. UPDATE: Seems to be out of business.
February 2004 update: I received an email inviting me to visit it. It seems it is back in business. That seems to be the case, though I didn't find out a lot about it from the site.

AVID PRESS - www.avidpress.com.     Gone.

AWE-STRUCK E-BOOKS - www.awe-struck.net. I understand that one of the proprietors is physically disabled, and wrote a book featuring a disabled character, and when he couldn't get anywhere with Parnassus (an all too familiar story) he decided to set up a publisher for such work. It publishes Romance, Science Fiction, combinations of the two, and Nonfiction. If you are disabled, or write about that subject, you will surely get a sympathetic hearing here, though they aren't limited to such authors. Their contract is for only electronic rights, as it should be. But like other popular publishers, their submissions are closed for now. Two year renewable contract. 35-40% royalties. Can be terminated with 90 notice by either party. No audit clause? They offer instant downloading to book buyers.  Submissions are closed.  February 2005 update: now they are open for erotica submissions only: sensual, sizzling, graphic sexual scenes, but no bondage or sado/masochism. Oh, I'll bet they have more limits than that. Royalties are a scant 30% of the gross. Still no audit clause. February 2007 update: Temporarily closed for submissions. December 2007 update: they now have a print-on-demand imprint, EARTHLING PRESS, which amounts to self publishing, because they require the author to buy 30 copies of his/her book. Even at wholesale price, this is apt to cost $250 or more. The author also must provide copies for sale at signings, conventions, bookstores and conferences. Also a complaint: rude treatment, sloppy accounting. February 2008 update: Now open for submissions for a limited time. They are especially interested in shorter novels, 45-50,000 words. They even have a contest for them.

BABCOCK PUBLISHING - www.swiftsite.com/pleasures/books/index.htm. I was told this is a subsidy publisher (vanity press) that claims to be up to 50% cheaper than others, and that it advertises that it provides full services. They say that there are three classes of publishers: Major, that won't even read unknown writers, Subsidy, that charges you $10,000 and up with no guarantee that you'll succeed, and Babcock at 40-50% less than regular subsidy. Okay, that means $5-6000 and up, and they give absolutely no email quotes. They accept no downloads or floppy discs manuscripts. You can probably do better faster and much cheaper at one of the self publishers.   February 2006 update: "We give absolutely no e-mail quotes! Manuscripts should be submitted in 'double-spaced' hard copy only!" I think they should get with the times, if they really want new business; even dinosaur-age traditional publishers are starting to accept electronic manuscripts. 

BAD PRESS - badpress@gmail.com.  I received a notice on this. It seems to have no Web site, so I list the email address. It says it is a new men's weekly to which anyone can contribute; they will edit intensively to bring your material up to snuff. Send interesting poems, essays, experimental fiction, reviews, cartoons, songs, and it seems just about anything. No information on payment or terms. April 2006 update: Now I have a website for them: http://badpress.infinology.net/. I still don't find information on terms.  

BAEN BOOKS - www.baen.com/library/. This is a traditional publisher, offering a number of titles for free downloading, trusting that this will in the end generate more sales. I'll be interested to see if that works..

BDSM BOOKS - www.bdsmbooks.com/.  They deal with themes of erotic domination. I understand that they pay 40% royalties for exclusive publishing and 30% for non-exclusive, but then take off a percentage for card processing. I tried to verify terms, but the site was so slow loading that after 13 minutes I gave up. I did see enough to verify that erotic bondage and sado-masochism is their specialty in books and videos. August 2007 update: Interesting material from the publisher, who turns out to be 15 years older than I am, and obviously not in it to rip off authors. Their site is now faster loading than it was. You know, I'm not into this genre, but some of those girls are sexy as hell. October 2007 update: an author reports that the publisher's online figures seem to match its payments and his experience. He is quite satisfied. April 2008 update: I have another satisfied response, and news that the management has changed but it remains okay. June 2008 update: but a buyer accidentally used an out of date card, and the order went through without challenge, so verification is suspect.

BENOY PUBLISHING -   I received an email advising me that the Attorney General's office of the state of North Carolina is handling the complaint against this publisher. It is not one I listed, and I can't locate an electronic publisher by this name. So I mention this just in case someone should find the information useful.

BETHANY PRESS INTERNATIONAL - www.bethanypress.com    This is a self publishing company that prints books. They are announcing a new book publishing solution designed for Christian authors, ministries, and small publishers. They work exclusively with Christian publishers to produce life-changing books. "We want to partner with Christian organizations and individuals who have a vision to distribute the message God has given them to a world which desperately needs it."

BETHANY'S GROUP   This was an oddity to explore. It seems to be an association of several publishers or imprints devoted to aspects of girlish naughtiness and spanking. There are pictures of bared female bottoms ready for discipline, some of them getting it. Some sites are www.herwoodshed.com, www.wickedvelvet.com, www.spankingcastle.com, www.punishmentspanking.com, www.wickedcastle.com. In Wicked Velvet I found terms that may be similar for the others: 40-80,000 words length, to be serialized, and writers are paid a per-chapter fee as the stories are run. An author's report is that originally it was good, but in the past year payments have slowed and even stopped. Rates have changed and are not high. So visit the site to view the sights, but be cautious about placing your naughty fiction there. 

BEWRITE BOOKS - www.bewrite.net/.  This is merging with Jacobyte Books, and presumably this will in due course become the site for them both. As yet it is spare.   February 2005 update: It is filling out. They want manuscripts from 60,000 to 180,000 words--chances are yours fits--with no porno or excessive violence or nonfiction. But this appears to be a fiction posting site rather than a paying publisher.   April 2005 update: am assured by the publisher that it is both types of site. They are looking for a new site for the book division, which should be online by the end of 2005.  February 2007 update: They say they are closing the BeWrite Community to concentrate on BeWrite Books.

BIBLIO BYTES - www.bb.com/.Gone.

BIG SKY E-BOOKS - www.cwisestone.com/bshome.htm.    This is a new small epublisher currently accepting query submissions for all genres and lengths. They want compelling stories. There will be a $50 deposit fee that will go toward marketing, refunded after 50 copies are sold. 50% royalties, paid quarterly. Author can set his/her own selling price. Contract is for one year, renewable.   February 2005 update: But query them first. February 2008 update: Now the link leads to a building and real estate site. So they must be out of business as a publisher.

BLACK LYON PUBLISHING — www.blacklyonpublishing.com/. A small publisher based in Oregon, focusing on general fiction and Romance, in trade paperbacks and electronic. Lengths vary by genre, ranging from 45,000 to 85,000 words. They are currently accepting submissions in all their lines. I did not find information on royalties.

BLACK VELVET SEDUCTIONS - www.blackvelvetseductions.com/.   Open to new and established authors in all kinds of Romance, ranging from Traditional to Fetish.. Their lines are Forbidden Experiences, Sensuous Journeys, Tender Destinations, Amorous Adventures, Short Story Collections. They care more about content than format. Well developed characters, strong conflict, much emotion, solid ending. I found no information on terms. 

BLITZPRINT - www.blitzprint.com/.   A printer who facilitates self publishing. No information on terms. February 2008 update: You can request a quote.

BODENDORFER - The former WORDBEAMS, which closed down in a decent manner, is now reviving here. If that decency continues, it should be a good place to publish. But for now all submissions are closed.
 February 2004 update: I got a blank screen.   February 2005 update: The site is there, but the publisher seems to have folded. December 2007 update: I am told that its address changed, but it does seem to be out of business as a publisher.

BOLD STROKES - http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/.  "Bold Strokes Books offers a diverse collection of top-selling lesbian fiction with the goal of incorporating the exciting new trends in romance, action, adventure, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy/horror, and erotica while preserving the integrity of the traditional genres. We also present contemporary and general lesbian fiction as part of our commitment to offer quality lesbian fiction to all readers." No simultaneous submissions. Decisions is 10-12 weeks. 55,000-100,000 words preferred. They seem to be primarily a print publisher, marketed and distributed by Bella Books. I did not find information or royalty rates. February 2008 update: Now their limits range from 45,000 to 150,000 words, depending on imprint.

BOOKBOOTERS - www.bookbooters.com.  As of July 25, 2003 they have suspended all publishing activities, but remain as a bookseller.
And they are stiffing their authors.   February 2006 update: they are permanently closed for business, as of November 25, 2005. 

BOOKBOX - www.bookbox.com/.    "BookBox is a essentially a web-based jukebox of digital books in languages from around the world. It synchronizes the text, audio, and visual media to cerate an educational and entertaining reading experience for children and even adults who still have a child in them!" It pays $40 per story in local currency and 5% of any future profit from that story. So this isn't big money but could be nice for those who like to tell children's stories.

BOOK CLIFF GROUP ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS - www.bookcliff-group.com/. Now here's a variant: the author retains all rights, and the publisher retains 25% as a publication fee. That translates to 75% for the author. Print on Demand for writers, poets, artists, photographers; otherwise this is an electronic publisher. Material must be child safe.  February 2007 update: They are actively seeking children's stories. February 2008 update: And scripts of all types: short plays that are suitable for community theater performances.

THE BOOK DEN - www.thebookden.com/. This is Denlinger's Book Store in Florida. It's been in business for 75 years, and seems to be slow-moving, taking four to six months to report on submissions,. It seems to have a wide range of books. 10%, 50% of subsidiary. Can take 6 months to report. Primarily nonfiction, many categories. Buys all rights. February 2008 update: It is closing its doors. But it seems that some of their POD titles are still being sold at Amazon.

BOOK LOCKER - www.booklocker.com. As I understand it, they charge fees for their services ranging from zero to $225, but take non-exclusive rights only (that's important) and pay 50% to 70% royalties monthly (that's phenomenal.) Offhand, this seems to be a good place to consider early. They have many types of books, including ones on self publishing, about which they are very encouraging. Now they also produce trade paperbacks. Now author keeps all rights. Author can terminate agreement at any time, no hassle. 35% royalties on list price of POD books. Costs $199 to do POD plus $18 a year hosting fee; electronic print is free.
UPDATE: An anonymous report is a good deal more negative, suggesting that this publisher's main business is publishing the proprietor's books on self publishing, and that the author's of other titles have to follow a formula and do all of the book promotion and selling., or get de-listed despite the contract. If this is true, writers should be wary. Followup on the update: I received angry letters from Angela Hoy, wife of the company's president and author of several of their books on self publishing. At first she was halfway polite, then threatening, accusing me of defaming the publisher. I rechecked with my source, who affirms the accuracy of my update. Angela said "What you are doing is illegal," and said she was turning this matter over to her attorney. I never heard further; I suspect someone got a whiff of Ogre and did the sensible thing: retreat. Nevertheless, I am trying to be fair in this survey, and have to say that my spot check did not indicate preferential treatment given to Angela's efforts. She says they have published more than 900 books, only 6 of which are hers, and none of hers appear on their homepage. So the question is whether this is a good publisher with a few disgruntled authors out of many, or one that sometimes treats writers in an arbitrary or unfair manner. Both may be true; I suspect that is the case.   June 2005 update: I have a favorable author report, citing a positive attitude and quick responses.   February 2006 update: They have a table showing the costs to self publish books at BookLocker $392, iUniverse $459, Xlibris $500, AuthorHouse $898, and Trafford $1,399 including 40 copies.  April 2006 update: another bad report, this one not anonymous. Ron Brault rbrault@obtel.com paid Booklocker $200 to publish his nonfiction High & Away 12 miles high and 20 miles away, the story of the cameras in the U2 spy plane, written by his father. Angela Hoy, after denying that she received the book--he finally had to send it by signed receipt certified mail to prove she received it--challenged the cover photo, saying it had copyright problems, apparently wanting him to pay more for a cover done by the publisher. She evidently felt that his cover represented stolen goods, and I understand even wrote an article titled "When writers steal from other writers." I may have this garbled. But it was the beginning of a long hassle, and the book was not published. He asked for a refund but didn't get it. He is a high & away dissatisfied customer. Contemporary readers may not realize how big a deal the U2 was a generation ago; this is surely a book of general interest.  June 2006 update: Angela Hoy's site for her article is www.writersweekly.com/the_latest_from_angelahoycom/003340_03222006.html.  February 2007 update: Another positive report of prompt responses and effective procedure. "One of the things I think is great about them is that they are exclusive; they accept only a small percentage of the ms. that come in, and that's a real plus for authors who truly believe in their work and are not just publishing to make themselves feel good." February 2008 update: Now their POD fee is $299, plus $18 a year. June 2008 update: and another positive report, finding Angela to be knowledgeable, friendly and responsible, doing a tight and thorough edit of the manuscript. The cover design was good.

BOOKMASTERS INC - www.bookmasters.com/.    They focus on prepublishing services such a printing, binding, fulfillment, and distribution. You can get a package of services for $640. I list them here in the publishing section because they also do epublishing.

BOOKMICE - www.bookmice.com/.     Gone.   February 2005 update: Now the site is a list of books with links to purchase them elsewhere.

BOOKSFORABUCK - www.booksforabuck.com/.     Looking for novels in the fields of Romance, Science Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, and General Fiction, 50,000 words up. No pornography, literary fiction, or other genres. Prices range from $1 to $3.99, but all are available for $1 in their first month of release. Royalties are 50%, paid quarterly, on gross revenues. For paper publications, 50% of net revenues. No charges to the authors for any of their services. The process of publication seems to take about two months, because of editing and cover art. Maybe I'm influenced because the proprietor is a fan of mine, but this looks very good to me. 

BOOKSHELF GLOBAL PUBLISHING - www.bookshelfglobal.com.     I received an advertising pen in the introductory package at the Florida Writer's Association convention that advertised this outfit. It says "Publish your book your way." February 2008 update: I could not find information on prices. “You pay a very competitive price per book. First run minimums are small (100-1000); subsequent runs have no minimums. Well, you can find much smaller first-run minimums elsewhere.

BOOKSOURCE -  New title for the Booksurge complex.

BOOKSTAND PUBLISHING — see ebookstand

BOOKS UNBOUND- www.booksunbound.com/ This is a new publisher with a positive attitude, open for submissions. Mystery, Adventure, Speculative Fiction, Romance, Historical, Western, Young Adult, and if you have something else that's good, query them, but no pornography. Contract is for one year, electronic rights only, royalties about 35% of the price the books are actually sold at. Author must secure his own copyright. Good general and specific advice for new writers. My guess is that they will be fairly choosy, and if it works out, this should be a good place to be. They do show a sample contract, but it doesn't have an audit clause.
 There is a question whether they are. Properly responsive to their authors.  February 2007 update: Temporarily closed to submissions.  August 2007 update: and a negative report of months-long delays, nonpayment, and lack of response. It seems they started good, but in the past two years plunged.  October 2007 update: after 3 years of delays in publication, no reasons given, no responses to queries, an author is canceling his contracts.

BOOKSURGE - www.booksurge.com.   See the entry on IMPRINT BOOKS. I do have a positive report on them from an author, who mentions they are now BOOKSOURCE.
Another says the are now at www.GlobalBookPublisher.com. October 2004 update: I heard from them: they are still going strong, and Global Book Publishers was a previous name.     June 2005 update: they have been bought out by Amazon.com. This could shake up the self publishing market. AMAZON's notice says in part: "BookSurge makes it possible to print books that appeal to targeted audiences, whether it's one copy or one thousand. Our new relationship with BookSurge will provide Amazon customers an ever-expanding selection of titles that are not available through other channels." I presume they will consolidate the assorted imprints under one name. February 2008 update: They don't give prices on the site: you have to fill out a form and get in touch with one of their publishing consultants. An author with a book with 120 pictures learned that it would cost $5,700 to do. April 2008 update: As of April 1, 2008, Amazon is turning off the Buy button on books not printed by BookSurge, starting with those by Publish America. There is outrage.

BOSON BOOKS - www.cmonline.com/boson/.  They don't seem to provide information on their terms. They are currently closed to poetry, drama, fantasy, children's books, and religious fiction and nonfiction. Presumably other types are okay.  February 2007 update: Currently closed to submissions. February 2008 update: They remain closed to submissions.

BROWZER BOOKS - www.browzerbooks.com/.  This appears to be a publisher and marketer of free books. I found no terms listed for authors, but presume they are unpaid. So if you have a book you just want to make available for reading, this is the place. February 2008 update: I clicked their link about publishing romance books, and it put me with Xlibris.

BUY BOOKS ON THE WEB - www.buybooksontheweb.com/. The main thrust seems to be to sell books - but let's face it, if books didn't sell, who would publish them? It has a "Get Published Now!" section. "Did you know that less than 2% of authors ever get published? We have found a way to change that!" They offer an Authors Submission Package, if you send in their form. An author report says they are responsive and pleasant to work with. See Infinity Publishing, as their publishing link leads there.

GRACE PUBLISHING - www.bygracepublishing.com www.bygracepublishing.com/. An imprint of Unique Enterprises, about which I have a bad report.

Cafe Press - www.cafepress.com/cp/info/sell/books.aspx.  They merchandise all sorts of things, but have added a publishing service, so are listed here for that. This is POD, with charges of $7 for binding plus three cents a page; slightly different for different types of stitching. It looks as if you have to do a lot yourself.  October 2006 update: a negative report from someone who ordered a T-shirt. After months with no confirmation of the order, finally canceled it. If this is the way they do business, sales will be small.   August 2007 update: And the opposite experience, with prompt delivery for several T-shirts, which are of good quality. 

CAMBRIDGE HOUSE - www.camhousebooks.com/.   December 2007 update: A writer sent me a copy of his correspondence with this outfit. It says it is not a vanity or POD publisher, but the indication is that it costs something like $15,000 to get published there. When he Googled it, he found only negative comments, and the publisher did not answer his pointed query about the time it takes authors to reach the break-even point via sales.

CAN WRITE WILL WRITE — www.canwritewillwrite.com/. They started out as a showcase website for authors to display their work, but now have branched into publishing. An author reports that they have been professional and helpful throughout. I don't have information on terms; it was a slow site.

Carnal Desires Publishing - www.carnaldesirespublishing.com/.   This will be the erotic imprint of DOUBLE DRAGON, opening September 1, 2007. Interested in erotic fantasy and science fiction, but will accept other topics, too. February 2008 update: Alexandra Adams is the co-publisher, who has her own Sexy Novels site listed in the Services section. Minimum length is 20,000 words, 90,000 maximum, but they are flexible. They are looking for highly erotic romance, and welcome cross-genre, with a riveting plot. The usual restrictions. Royalties of 35% of the cover price for ebooks sold at the site, 35% of net for other sales, and 10% for POD sales. They take digital rights only, for five years.

CARNIFEX PRESS - www.carnifexpress.net/.  I was asked about this, so I looked it up. It's a small Florida press print publisher of epic fantasy, horror, and science fiction. They release only chapbooks, which are half-digest-sized editions of manuscripts in the 20,000 word range, hoping to print 2,000 copies. Their site seems to be still filling out.   February 2007 update: They are actively seeking more Young Adult novellas for a mid-2007 release. February 2008 update: I got cPanel instead of Carnifex, which it explains may be a foulup of he site administrator.

CELEBRITY CAFE - see THE CELEBRITY CAFE

CENTRAL VALLEY WRITERS - www.centralvalleywriters.com/.  The writers' organization of Central Valley, in Chowchilla, California, is sponsoring contests for fiction and nonfiction, novels and short stories. Prizes of $50 for longer works, $25 for stories. They consider anything over 10,000 words to be novel length. Entrance fees are $20 for a novel, $10 for a story. February 2008 update: Call for entries by April 4.

CERRIDWEN PRESS - www.cerridwenpress.com/.   This is an imprint of Ellora's Cave for mainstream fiction. That is, Contemporary, Fantasy, Futuristic/Sci-Fi, Historical, Horror, Humor, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Women's Fiction, and many categories of Romance. They also have a number of special categories mixed in with Ellora's Cave, such as Ellora's Caveman Anthologies and Cotillion; check their site for half a slew of information. Presumably Cerridwen will have the same promotional push that Ellora's Cave does, which suggests high sales.  February 2007 update: They are always open for submissions.

CHAMPAGNE BOOKS - www.champagnebooks.com.  Starting up March 31, mentioned as a possible publisher, but so far it seems to be just a book reading club. June 2005 update: I heard from the publisher. They are not a reading club, though they do have an experimental ebook club. But they are a publisher first.  February 2006 update: Submissions are closed, and by invitation only until further notice.   February 2007 update: They seem to be open for submissions now.  June 2007 update: I have an anonymous report that they seem to be slowly becoming a vanity press. Some authors are charged to go to print, while some aren't. I'll be interested to receive feedback clarifying this, as it could be a misunderstanding.  October 2007 update: it is indeed a misunderstanding. They considered letting impatient authors pay for print, but decided against it. February 2008 update: They are accepting submissions for all genres except erotica, no short story collections or poetry.

CHANCES PRESS - www.chancespress.com.  A new publisher expanding their line of romantica e-books, now open for submissions. ("Romantica" is hot sexy romance genre fiction promoted by Ellora's Cave; I understand they don't like others using their word, but it has become its own genre.) They are especially interested in gay themed books, romance, and of course romantica. Anthologies will also be considered. They pay 50% of net sales from wholesalers.   February 2006 update: "We are currently not accepting queries or submissions." 

CHANGELING PRESS - changelingpress.com/.    "Out of this world Erotic Love Stories." All types, including gay/lesbian and fetish, from 10,000 to 25,000 words, not full length novels. Except sweet contemporary romance, child pornography--the really dirty stuff.   April 2005 update: they are a royalty-paying publisher using the EPIC RECOMMENDED (AUTHOR FRIENDLY) CONTRACT. Now they do short fiction and novella length, 8,000 to 30,000 words.   December 2005 update: I have a very favorable writer report on them.   But I don't know what they pay.  April 2006 update: I am told they pay royalties of 35% for what they sell directly, and less if they broker a book through something like Fictionwise. This is reasonable. I have another very favorable author report; their contract is said to be quite author-friendly.   February 2007 update: They are open for submissions.   April 2007 update: A report of 50-250 sales per title per month.  October 2007 update: word from the publisher: "We specialize in paranormal, fantasy and science fiction stories." But obviously their scope is wider than that. "We've got only one heat level. Over-the-top hot!"

CHEER AND DANCE BOOKS - www.CheerAndDanceBooks.com/.   This is Darnell Spirit Productions, DSP, in business since 2000 for just cheer and dance. That is, cheer and dance themed nonfiction, and soon fiction too, in a variety of lengths. Non-subsidy, royalty paying, ebooks and POD. Royalties are 40% of the net. Some may be selected for doll collections; they get 10% of the sales for related dolls. I get the impression that writers don't submit material here so much as try out for publication. This publisher seems friendly. February 2008 update: Lengths range from 10,000 to 100,000 words. They want adult romance centered around the world of cheerloading, but within those thematic boundaries will consider a wide variety of genres. Keep it sweet, sensual, but not erotic.

CHICKSPRINGS - chicksprings.com.    Not a market.

CHIMERA - www.chimera-online.co.uk. A report of sales not credited, and they may balk at requests to take down author's books.

Chipmunk A Publishing - www.chipmunka.com/.   A mental health publisher based in the UK.  They say they have published more than 130 paperbacks and 200 ebooks. "We want to prove that everything in life is a mental health issue..." So if you have a fiction or nonfiction book relating, this appears to be a good place to be; they seem truly dedicated to banishing the stigma associated with mental health problems. You may donate money if you wish to support their effort, but otherwise this is merely a specialty publisher.

CHIPPEWA PUBLISHING LLC - www.chippewapublishing.com.  December 2007 update: they have closed, because of the proprietor's family emergency. All rights are being returned to the authors as of November 30, 2007. If a publisher has to go, this is the way to go. February 2008 update: but a number of authors have not received those reversions, and it seems other publishers won't buy without those reversions.

CLEAN ROMANCE - www.cleanromance.com. This means exactly what the name implies: keep the dirty stuff out. It is interested in all Romance sub-genres. 10,000 to 100,000 words, 35% royalties on downloads.   October 2004 update: the link no longer connects.

CLOUDY MOUNTAIN BOOKS - see Fiction Forest

CLUB LIGHTHOUSE PUBLISHING - www.clublighthousepublishing.com/.   This is a newly-launched epublisher located in Canada. They are open for submissions in many genres of fiction and non-fiction. They take only electronic rights, for one year, and pay royalties of 40% of all download sales. Reports on submissions in one month to six weeks.  February 2007 update: They are open for submissions in many genres of fiction and nonfiction. February 2008 update: The site is there, but seems to have no content. June 2008 update: they are there in good order, so my prior observation must have been a glitch. I have a positive report.

COBBLESTONE PRESS - www.cobblestone-press.com/. This is an electronic publisher of sensual and erotic romance with many genre subdivisions. Royalties are 35% of the cover price, paid monthly. They take electronic rights for one year. Four general lengths: Trysts 10,000-20,000 words; novella 20,000-40,000; novels 40,000-65,000; full novel 65,001-100,000. Three levels: Wild = fully realized sexual relationships; Wanton = that plus explicit language; Wicked = that plus the hot stuff: disturbing themes, violence, multiple partners, BDSM (bondage/sado-masochist). But not rape, racism, pedophilia, incest, bestiality, necrophilia or body functions. In addition, three lines: Brazen, with aggressive heroines; Outlaw, with hero on the wild side; Shifter, with shape shifters. They want to see full manuscripts, not summaries.  December 2006 update: a very negative report, and a quite positive one. So the jury still seems to be out.   February 2007 update: much more here, as a flurry of authors defend the publisher, and another was negative. Essentially the negatives relate to their strict editing. I discussed this with co-owner Sable Grey, and while I really hate to admit it, her case seems stronger than the authors' cases, and I have to side with the publisher. It looks from here like one of the best. See my discussion in the February 2007 HiPiers column.  June 2007 update: They are having their one year anniversary. They are starting an unline publication CPQ Magazine in their Blue Page Directory. I understand this HiPiers Survey will be listed as a resource. They have added an audit clause to their contract and are making it retroactive, so those with prior contracts can invoke it. That's one generous deal. February 2008 update: They now have a fifth general length: Vignette 5,000-10,000 words.

COLD TREE PRESS - www.coldtreepress.com/. A self publisher, charges ranging from $1,400 to $2,400, depending on the type of book desired. Other services are available for additional fees. Royalties of 30% of the list price. Typical time frame from manuscript to publication is 90 days. They have a sample contract at the site, and it seems good, except that it lacks an audit clause.

COLLIDOSCOPE - shmanchester@statestreet.com.   This seems to be a collection of poetry, with a deadline date of June 30, 2006. Poems can be up to 60 lines each. Payment on publication. February 2008 update: this entry is dated, but I'm unwilling to click their email link. They remain in business, I presume with similar material.

COMMONWEALTH - Avoid

CONSCIOUS KERNELS - www.consciouskernels.com/.     This is a start-up ebook publisher specializing in spiritual, metaphysical, and New Thought subjects. Now open for submissions, and especially interested in new writers who can speak to their subject matter. Under 20,000 words preferred. Royalties will be paid, but not advances. February 2008 update: They remain open for submissions in their genres.

COOL PUBLICATIONS - www.coolpublications.com. February 2007 update: they seem to be gone.

CORNUCOPIA -www.cornucopiapress.com/. A new small press; their first book will be out in August, 2008. hardcover and trade paperback; they're not electronic. They are looking for polished novels, historical fiction, narrative biography, and positive life stories. “We are interested in characters that are courageous and ethical.” Query first; if they are interested they'll request the manuscript within two weeks. Competitive royalties.

COSMOS BOOKS - www.cosmos-books.com. A division of Wildside Press. A publisher for SF, Fantasy, and horror reprints and originals, especially British and Australian. It is not an epublisher, and got listed here because of my confusion. They have a wide range of authors and material, and will do print on demand editions too. Payment is two copies of your book in hardcover, five paperback copies, plus $100 or 50% of the amount received, whichever is greater. Contract is four years, extendable, takes all English language print rights, and you can assign other rights if you wish. There is an audit clause. August 2004 update: gone.    February 2005 update: Back again.

COYOTE MOON PUBLICATIONS - www.coyotemoonpublications.com.   One of their editors contacted me: they are seeking quality books in many genres. Their contract is based on the EPIC model contract; that's a good recommendation.  February 2006 update: Their Silver Moon erotic imprint is temporarily closed to submissions.   February 2007 update: They are folding, with deep regret. All rights are being released. They hope in due course to set up a free website resource for the small press community. February 2008 update: The site is there.April 2008 update: but it's just a collection of links.

CREATE SPACE — www.createspace.com/. This is a subsidiary of Amazon.com, originally founded as CustomFix Labs in 2002 and acquired by Amazon in 2005. “Our mission is to profitably connect our members to their worldwide audience.” Their on demand publishing has no setup fees, no minimums, no inventory, and it guarantees the books will be sold on Amazon.com. This seems almost too good to be true, and I will be interested in reports from writers who use this service. Apparently they expect to make their money from a percentage of actual book sales, the way traditional print publishers do. With the considerable resources of Amazon behind it, maybe it will work. June 2008 update: A positive report: “My experience with CreateSpace has been wonderful so far, and the inclusion in 'Search Inside' special shipping/pricing rates and 'AmazonConnect' with blogs tied to product pages has been a dream come true.”

CREATIVE GUY PUBLISHING - www.creativeguypublishing.com. He calls his ebooks e-xtras, novellas 15,000 to 50,000 words long, with special features. Open for submissions as of February 2003, pays 65% of the net sales. Query first, with a bit about who you are, your genre, and the length of your piece. Go wild.   February 2005 update: They are no longer accepting unsolicited submissions; query first.   February 2006 update: They hope to reopen for submissions by the end of June, 2006.   February 2007 update: Still not open to submissions. Their site has not been updated since July 24, 2006. That's not a good sign.    April 2004 update: they remain in business, focusing on the material already in hand. In due course they will be open for more. February 2008 update: They remain closed to submissions until the end of 2008.

CREATIVE JUICES PUBLISHING - This is a new company offering POD and related services. You can get their Basic Publishing Package for $375, or spot individual services for lesser amounts. Author keeps all rights; it's really a self publisher. February 2008 update: Now it proffers links to other self publishers. This seems to have become a site for links rather than its own publishing.

CROSSROADS PUBLISHING COMPANY - cpcbooks.com/. Seems to be out of business. June 2008 update: No, they merely changed their site. Now it's http://cpcbooks.com/. (was www.crossroadspub.com)

CRYSTAL DREAMS - www.crystaldreamspub.com/.   October 2007 update: the publisher is folding. They might remain as a self publisher. December 2007 update: And lo, back from the dead: it was bought by Multi-Media Publishing, normally a nonfiction outfit, now expanding into fiction. Crystal Dreams remains closed to submissions at present because they are republishing all their old titles, but I suspect they will in due course be seeking new material.

CURIOUS VOLUMES PUBLISHING - www.curiousvolumes.com/.   A new publisher, opening in January 2008, but it is accepting fiction now: Fantasy (all kinds), Horror, Mystery, 5,000 to 150,000 words. Response time 4-6 weeks. No advance, 30% royalties for ebooks. They take all rights for a period of ten years, because they may expand into print, with revised royalties for that. The usual restrictions on content: no rape/, bestiality, racism, etc. December 2007 update: They have reduced the term to five years, and now ask for only the rights they can handle at the moment: digital rights for ebooks and print-on-demand. There is now no minimum word length. February 2008 update: they are no longer accepting anything under 20,000 words. Their contract has been shortened to 18 months from the date of publication. They now offer 30% royalties on retail and on wholesale sales. Their average response time has been extended to three months.

CYBEREDITIONS - www.cybereditions.com/. Based in New Zealand. "Cybereditions is the online book publisher focusing on the highest quality nonfiction and scholarly writing." It makes out of print books available in new editions as e-books, with royalties on a sliding scale from 25% for under 500 copies, 33% up to 1,000 copies, and 40% for 1,000 or more copies. It also publishes original titles. Takes exclusive worldwide electronic rights and print-on-demand for the term of the copyright. Pays annual royalty checks in the month of April, provided they are more than $25. No audit clause.   Their titles are issued in paperback as well as electronic format.   February 2005 update: They now also publish some original works.  February 2007 update: A sample contract is viewable. It takes all rights, electronic and print, for the duration of the copyright. That means the author effectively relinquishes control until 70 years after he dies.

CYBERMAN BOOKS - http://cybermanbooks.com/.  They started early in 2002, so are not yet overloaded, and are open for submissions. Each book is carefully considered for readability and marketability, so many are rejected. 40% royalties, no fees of any kind. Authors are male and female, but marketing is primarily to males, fiction and nonfiction. No genre romance.
I have a report that they signed a contract with a writer, then dragged their feet for months, then said they hadn't actually accepted the book. This is weird; be wary. April 2004 update: And a response from the publisher: they know nothing about this, and had only one negative author, who turned them down. I asked if they could name that one. They replied "Since we at CyberManbooks have been given no information about who said this or any other details and we have checked our records and we have found that no such person, with an un-honored contract from us, exists."

CYBER-PULP BOOKS - http://www.cyberpulpbooks.com/.    They offer 50% royalties after costs for e-book, POD, and CD publication. They take rights for one year. The site shows a sample contract. They push their projects through advertising, message board ads and such. They use editor/partners that seem to be a cross between editors and agents, strong proponents of their books. I'm not familiar with this system, but it could be effective.   February 2005 update: They publish Horror, Dark Fantasy, Mystery/Crime, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Western, Anthologies, Collections, and Short Fiction.   December 2005 update: a bad report. They accepted a novel, promised publication, but delayed for over a year and then canceled. For 2006 they will consider books "by invitation only." This smells like a closed market.   February 2006 update: They are restructuring, as they have not made the kind of profit they feel they should expect. They hope to do better in 2006.   February 2007 update: They are currently accepting submissions for 2007-08. February 2008 update: I got essentially a blank screen. Not a good sign.

CYBERREAD - www.cyberread.com. Comprehensive list of categories. This seems to be a resale outfit rather than a straight publisher. If you have a published book, listing it here should add to its exposure.   February 2005 update: 45% royalties. There is an audit clause.

DAYTONA PRESS - www.daytonapress.com/.  They are affiliated with Denlinger's Publishers. They are a self publisher, providing short-run book printing. I did not find information on terms.   February 2007 update: They have a collection of specific fees, such as Preparation $150, Custom Format $50, Assign ISBN $50, and so on, pus a printing fee of $0.03 per book page. My guess is that you'll pay several hundred dollars in all to publish your book, which is in line with similar services elsewhere. February 2008 update: Their list of sometime self published authors reads like a literary Who's Who, including Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allen Poe, George Bernard Shaw, T S Eliot, Stephen King, and Mark Twain. “Those books you see stacked at the entrance of a bookstore is the publishers way to manipulate the reading public.” Yes, traditional publishing is pretty much a closed shop that hardly cares whether an aspiring author lives or dies, but that does not mean that this self publisher will make you famous.

DARK CASTLE LORDS — www.thedarkcastlelords.com/. Also doing business as DCL Publications LLC. This publisher makes the scene with extremely dark auspices. Their site is positive, but I have half a spate of negative reports. I am told that they have been doing business for over a year in Ohio and Australia without registering the proper documents or accounts. Payment checks can't be cashed because legally the company doesn't exist, if payment is even offered. Authors have been invited to anthologies, then told they have to contribute to an ad for the privilege of being in the book. In my neck of the woods that's called self publishing. Theoretically there are royalties of 35% of gross of all ebook sales, but the contract has no mention of an audit clause, payment schedule, promotions, etc. It seems to have been started by amateurs who are incompetent as publishers, and are trying to cover their aimless tracks. Stay clear. June 2008 update: But now a very positive report, which I challenged as a shill (such things happen), but it seems credible: a very professional attitude, extremely hard work to help every phase of writing, and the quickest and best cover art encountered. And a second positive report: they are paying on time, and do answer questions.

Dark Eden Press - www.darkedenpress.com/. 45% royalty. Set up by three writers who got tired of not finding the hot romance they wanted. One report is that they appear to be amateurs, set up to publish their own material. But I heard from Debra Durham of Dark Eden that this is not so; they have written in the past but are now too busy with the company to write. "We wanted to be able to give the opportunity to other authors to write and publish works that may not be considered appropriate or acceptable by other publishers. Many of today's publishers are concerned with not printing what would be considered a taboo subject. Heck, some won't even allow you to have a rape scene even if it's essential to the plot and is only for dramatic/thematic purposes. We choose to let our authors write about just about anything. There are limits, but very few." I quote at some length because I feel there is a need for this attitude. I encountered mischief elsewhere when I had a seventeen year old girl have consensual sex. Since the average age of first sex is fifteen, and some have one or more babies by age eighteen, is realism impossible even in the erotic market? I hope it works out, though preliminary reports are mixed: very positive and negative.  October 2007 update: another worrisome signal: a contract was promised in a couple of days, but not delivered in a month despite query. Here is the question: if they can't get out a standard contract when promised, what else will they hang up on? Another comment is "My experience with them gave me the impression that they did not really have a clue." December 2007 update: half a spate of responses, perhaps a publisher campaign, asserting that treatment there is the best, they are happy with it, etc. And another from Debra Durham, reminding me that at this point DEB was only 3.5 months old. “Even with proper planning in place, you discover things as you evolve...I have released two authors from contracts for behavior that would not be tolerated, have fired an editor for her foul attitude towards other editors and authors she worked with, and had a tiff with one of those authors...” who went pubic with her complaint. In sum, there are start-up problems, diva authors, and misunderstandings. I have to say that again, the publisher is persuasive, and this looks like a ship that set sail in a storm but is weathering it. April 2008 update: but I do have another negative report that suggests an uglier attitude. This must remain vague for now, to protect anonymity. And doom: letter from the proprietor, who has had a recurrence of cancer, can't keep up, and must with regret close. Letters of release are going out to all authors. By May 1st she hopes all payments will have cleared the bank and the site will shut down.

DARK STAR PUBLICATIONS - publisher@darkstarpublications.com. Now there is only a message form. It has merged into RFI West.

DEADENDSTREET PUBLICATIONS-www.deadendstreet.com/. It looks good, but an author report says their contract is a killer: all rights for the duration of the copyright. Their site is canny about that, saying that you keep your copyright, only giving up all marketing rights. Same thing; don't be fooled. That means you can't get your book back until 70 years after you die. They also want the first option on anything else the author writes, for five years. What a phenomenal Grab; it is similar to what traditional publishers do. Yes, I'd call this a dead-end street. But they do promise to make a good effort on behalf of your book. So if you are desperate, enter this street with caution. I have an extremely negative report from one of their authors, detailing how they reneged on understandings. It calls itself an integrated publishing and motion picture production company.   February 2005 update: At this time, they are particularly interested in screenplays for features and shorts. February 2008 update: At this time they are interested in screenplays for features and shorts. April 2008 update: a report that they aren't sending sales statements. That could mean the title isn't selling, in which case it normally can be reverted to the author. The rule of thumb is that a publisher has to be selling your book; it can't just bury it forever.

DENMARK PUBLISHING - Gone.

DIGI DOWNLOADER-www.digidownloader.co.uk/.  February 2006 update: This does not seem to be a publisher any more. 

DIGITAL BOOKS INC-www.DigitalBooksEtc.com/.  They have closed.

DIGITAL PULP PUBLISHING-www.digitalpulppublishing.com/.  They are starting a new online bookstore with four imprints: PulpBytes for pulp fiction for the digital age; ByteZines for electronic magazines; ByteSize Pieces for young readers; and Byte-it Press for literary fiction, poetry and non fiction. They are actively looking for contributors and encourage authors to contact them. Up to 75% royalties paid quarterly, non-exclusive, for digital rights only.  February 2007 update: This is an odd site, without a lot of actual information.   April 2007 update: I am advised that there is information here, buried behind a very slick page design that can confuse fogies like me. The site is www.dpppress.com. "Submit a query, and if interested, we will send you a contract, and upon contract acceptance we will issue submission guidelines." That seems backwards to me, but I am surely getting too old to fathom the modern way. I think it means ask them, and if they like your project they'll send a sample contract, and if you like their contract, they will tell you exactly how to send your piece. February 2008 update: I clicked Services, and got music but no information.

DISKUS PUBLISHING - has moved to www.diskuspublishing.com/ . This seems to be a Romance site. No problem there; just about every novel in every genre includes a romantic element, and I understand the Romance sites tend to be more friendly to beginning writers than science fiction or fantasy sites. This lists about a dozen sub-categories of fiction, including science fiction, but wants no erotica, and has plenty of information in subsections, including guidelines for writers. It looks good to me. No writer information. February 2008 update: Still no information on terms.

DISSERTATION COM - http://dissertation.com/. Dedicated to self publishing doctoral dissertations and masters theses. Electronic for $100, paperback for $199. Optional cover for $109. Author royalties are 20-40% depending on whether the sales are direct or via a bookseller. This seems worthwhile for papers that are apt to be well researched but of little commercial interest; it makes them available to whoso is interested.

DLSIJ PRESS - http://dlsijpress.com/.   This has ebooks by and for women writers,- They accept only women writers and pay 40% royalties. They are not currently accepting submissions, , but when they do, they want anything except hate, porn, and degradation of women. Query first.   February 2005 update: I have a bad report about their non-response to a legitimate query about a manuscript held six months. Publishers that don't respond are bad news; stay clear. Remember, if they don't respond to a submission, then there's no contract or agreement, and you can submit elsewhere with or without notice. Don't let a publisher stall you forever. One reason you don't see much of my work at the Science Fiction Book Club is because they tried that on me, and I withdrew my books, including the ones they wanted.  August 2005 update: But I have a very good recent report on their professionalism and quality.  February 2006 update: They are now looking for stories for an anthology.   February 2007 update: They are now open for book-length manuscripts. They pay 45% net on ebooks, 11% on paperbacks, monthly via PayPal.

DNOVELS - www.dnovels.com/. It appears to be out of the publishing business.

DOG EAR PUBLISHING — www.dogearpublishing.net/. A self publisher with three packages ranging from Basic at $1,099 to Masterpiece at $3,499. They believe they are the best buy for your money.

DOMHAN BOOKS - www.domhanbooks.com/index.htm. This publisher was accused of stiffing its writers on royalties, and as far as I know has not paid what it owes, but there is no inkling of that on its web site. Until that is corrected, stay clear.  February 2007 update: Their site is dated October 2005.

DORRANCE PUBLISHING - www.dorrancepublishing.com/ This is a subsidy publisher.  "The Dorrance name has been associated with a tradition of quality subsidy publishing since 1920." They'll send you their 32 page brochure Author's Guide to Subsidy Publishing. See also Whitmore, below. 

DOUBLE-DRAGON - http://double-dragon-ebooks.com. Publisher Deron Douglas. They are a small company composed of three people dedicated to bringing quality books to the Internet. They offer a two year contract, 30-35% royalty, paid quarterly. They also do hardcover and paperback. I have a very favorable report from one of their authors.  I received a report from a writer who used this Survey to try several publishers, and in due course settled on this one, and is highly pleased. DD was quick to respond, accommodating about contract changes, and moved things along efficiently. All reports on this publisher have been favorable. They have Draco awards for unpublished or self published fiction, for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror; the annual winner in each category will be published by DOUBLE DRAGON.  April 2004 update: I finally have a negative report: an author put in a huge marketing effort, resulting in very few reported sales. I recommended auditing the publisher's books, as I have a conflict of interest here.  June 2004 update: it seems that all electronic sales are down, so there may be low sales at most publishers. They want no agents, and are full through 2005; currently closed to submissions. Special note: the DD response to my negative note was the most polite of those received; this is a nice publisher.  August 2004 update: The Draco Awards have been canceled for 2004. It seems that there was vocal opposition to them, and they were accused of being a scam because they did not give monetary prizes. It seems a shame, but they will be back in future.  October 2004 update: they have a new Romance imprint. Reports of this publisher continue very favorable.  February 2005 update: They are now accepting some titles in Fantasy and Romance only.  April 2005 update: another very favorable user report, this one on their Dragon Tooth fantasy imprint.  February 2006 update: 2006 has been filled, but they are accepting submissions for 2007. Allow 4-6 weeks for review. Now they have large-type as an option.  Sales: Can be as high as 145 downloads per title per year, average.  February 2007 update: They expect to reopen submissions in the summer of 2007. They receive up to 60 submission per week and are booked up a year ahead. February 2008 update: Submissions remain closed through mid 2009, but their erotic subsidiary Carnal Desires Publishing, listed separately above, is open and eager.

DRAUMR PUBLISHING - http://www.draumrpublishing.com/.   Currently accepting submissions in Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Adventure, Suspense/Thriller, Gay/Lesbian and others. Minimum word count of 50,000, no maximum. Looking for the very best, for publication is both ebook and print formats. Their name means Dream in Norse. Their links for subsections did not work, so I couldn't check on terms.  February 2006 update: I received a note from the proprietor, Robert E Allen, that now everything works. Unfortunately none of the row of pages across the top was responsive to my clicks; only the "store" connections worked. The problem remains.  April 2006 update: a reader sent me more information. They are currently seeking submissions for their Dangerous Curves imprint. Minimum word count of 45,000, no maximum. Must have big beautiful woman heroine; big handsome man hero optional. She does not lose weight to gain acceptance. February 2008 update: Now the site works for me. They are currently accepting submissions in several genres, but I did not find information on terms.

DREAMS UNLIMITED - www.dreams-unlimited.com/. I liked this publisher, but apparently it has gone out of business.

DROLLERIE PRESS - www.drolleriepress.com/.  I heard from Deena Fisher, the Publisher. They plan to list their catalog beginning in August 2007 and are currently seeking new and previously published authors of all lengths. Especially interested in "transformative" fiction, including supernatural, myth, legend, and new or re-written fairy tales in any place or time. Erotic content is encouraged but not required. February 2008 update: They are currently accepting pieces ranging from 5,000 to 85,000 or more words, but a recent influx of submissions has backlogged them: allow 8-12 weeks for a response, though they do acknowledge receipt within 24 hours. They accept about 5% of submissions.

EARTHLING PRESS - This is the print-on-Demand imprint for Awe-Struck E-Books.

EASTGATE SYSTEMS INC - www.eastgate.com/. This claims to be the primary source for hypertext, which is not like ordinary page at a time material; it uses links to create multiple paths through a document. Their books cost about $20-$25, being more complicated than conventional texts. They purchase exclusive world rights for hypertext, pay advances, and report in 4-6 weeks. Send material to their snail address on a disk. Royalties are typically 15%, and they pay up to $300 for works published in their Web zine.

EBOOK4KIDS - www.ebook4kids.com.  A publisher of children's books. 50% royalties. I am not clear whether this is a self publisher.   October 2006 update: They seem to have disappeared. Note that there is a different publisher with a similar name, ebooks4kids.org, which see, in the Services section. 

EBOOKAD - www.ebookad.com/.   October 2006 update: bankrupt. 

EBOOKMALL - www.ebookmall.com/.   This is a big book store, but also a publisher. It charges a one-time $19.95 listing fee per title, and pays 50% commissions, quarterly. An author's report says they are friendly and competent. 

EBOOKSEBOOKS - www.ebooksebooks.com/. Gone.

EBOOKOMATIC - www.EbookoMatic.com/. "Join EbookoMatic today, and within minutes of joining you'll be creating secure ebooks, designing your own promotional Author's Page, writing your own customized press releases with our Online Press Release Generator, and distributing them with your personalized 'Ebook4Sale.com' email address. Best of all, you retain all of your rights and keep a whopping 75% (less transaction fees) of all ebook sales!" It costs $147 to join, and you get $500 worth in bonuses. This seems to offer a lot for a little, but you do most of the work yourself. I'll appreciate feedback from writers who use this service.
Publisher tells me they do offer it, and next time I took the "skip intro" option and got their site.

EBOOK PUBLISHING - www.ebookpublishing.us.   They offer a 50-50 split of net money.
 . They pay 50% of the net profits to the author, and 10% to the illustrator, if one is used, reducing the author's share to 40%.    February 2005 update: Their site is there, but seems largely nonresponsive; I'm not sure they remain in active business. April 2006 update: the site remains, but without much information, and their FAQ (frequently asked questions) section is empty. I'd be cautious.  

EBOOKS - www.ebooks.com/. "An Australian company with a global focus; they deal in US dollars. Business, travel, general reference, computing, and popular fiction from traditional publishers. So they deal with publishers rather than individual authors.  They are retailers; they obtain their books from traditional publishers.

EBOOKS LIBRARY - www.eBooks-Library.com/.    Publisher and distributor. For $30 a year you can check their 3400 book library, and download and read whatever you want without further charge. They also publish a few books, but I did not find information on terms.   April 2005 correction: the price is £30, not $30, or about $57. The managing editor tells me that they now have a sample author contract online, but I was unable to find it.  June 2005 update: He returned to point out that this information is accessible from the first page of their site, duh. So I checked and it is. They pay 80% of revenues for exclusive material, or 60% for non-exclusive, within 40 days. Either party may terminate the Agreement at any time with or without cause by written notice. So you sure aren't locked in.

EBOOKS ON THE NET - www.ebooksonthe.net/.   They take one-time non-exclusive rights, and copyright the one-time edition, not the work itself. Authors retain all rights to the original work and may cancel with a 30 day notice. There are no fees, books are proofread and edited, and the authors get galleys. Royalties are 40% of sales price or whatever price the publisher receives after discounts to libraries and bookstores, paid quarterly.   This publisher has had a troubled history, but has been trying to straighten out.   February 2005 update: Submissions are closed because of overload, but you may query anytime. April 2006 update: they have expanded into print.   October 2006 update: a very favorable report from an author. Prompt responses to queries, good review process, and a joy to work with. April 2008 update: I got the Page Cannot be Found message.

EBOOKSTAND - http://ebookstand.com.     An Internet-based, pay-per-service book printer that can handle books from any country in any language. They will give you a home page and list your book. You get 30% of a hard copy sale and 50% of an esale. There is a one-time setup fee of $249. They seem to have a positive reputation. October 2004 update: Now they have a graduated list of prices, depending on book size. August 2005 update: because they do have a full-fledged self publishing service, I'm moving them to the Publishing Section.  February 2007 update: Now they have an assortment of packages ranging from $449 to $929. April 2008 update: They are now BOOKSTAND PUBLISHING, with similar terms.

E-BOOKTIME - http://www.e-booktime.com/.   This is a straight self-publisher charging fees similar to other self publishers: $395-$695 depending on how much you want, with royalties of 30% on paperback copies sold via their store, 15% if sold via other outlets. 75% for ebooks, paid monthly. It seems straightforward. 

eBooks2Go - see Virtual Publishing Group

EBOOX - www.eboox.co.uk/. Gone.

eBrandedBooks - www.ebrandedbooks.com/.  February 2004 Update: this seems to have become a search site.

ECHELON PRESS - www.echelonpress.com.   This has the Preditors & Editors Top Ten Finalist stamp, which suggests it's okay. Both print and electronic formats--first they do electronic, then print on demand or even straight print publishing if that seems warranted. They want both readers and writers to have a good experience. They have a number of imprints for Adventure/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense, General, Paranormal, Romance, Ultra Sensual (I tried to click on that to find out just what it was, but it wasn't a link; I presume it is sexy Romance), Nonfiction, Young Adult, Western. They are currently accepting submissions in all their categories, but they do not accept submissions via email. Send hard copy of the first three chapters, plus a 3.5 inch disk with the full manuscript. Interestingly, they don't want standard Courier, but Times New Roman font. Stories of 6,000 or more words, up to novels of 100,000 words, originals and reprints. 50% royalties for downloads, 30% for everything else. They take short stories too, for their Dollar Download program, 20,000 words or less. Author gets .50 of every sale. I heard from a very satisfied author. Submissions are now open, but query first.   February 2005 update: They are now accepting submissions in only General Fiction/Women's Fiction/Chick Lit, and Young Adult Mystery.   August 2005 update: But unfortunately they seem to have taken a turn for the worse, becoming nonresponsive to legitimate queries. That's a bad sign.   February 2006 update: More bad news about late releases, untimely editing, and nonresponse to authors. It seems they push marketing "opportunities" that cost the author money but do not necessarily deliver any sales. They are coming across like a vanity press.   February 2007 update: All titles for paperback publication are acquired by invitation only. Others are deleted unread.   April 2007 update: a favorable report. They are not vanity and don't force any paid endeavors, though sales are low. April 2008 update: They are accepting queries in all genres for ebook publication only. Their acquisitions for print publication are still by invitation only. You have to know someone to get a referral.

ECONOMICAL SELF PUBLISHING - http://economical-self-publishing.com/.    The ESP SmartPub package is $187. it seems to be a low-cost aspect of We-Publish.com, run by the same people. They say they can have your manuscript ready in electronic format in three days for corrections, and your book will be published within a month. You get two physical copies, an ecopy, and more.

EDIT INK - Avoid. I have seen published articles about the nefarious deeds of the this outfit.

E-DITION - www.e-dition.net.   Owned and operated by Bernard Limoges, said to be brilliant and quirky. It says it has the world's largest online library, 400,000 titles. But I did not find any terms for writers.   February 2005 update: They now accept only works that can be used as reference tools, such as dictionaries or handbooks, and are dedicated to education.

EGGPLANT PRODUCTIONS - www.eggplant-productions.com/.  February 2006 update: Out of business. 

ELECTRIC BOOKWORM PUBLISHING - www.electric-bookworm.bigstep.com/.    Gone.

ELECTRIC EBOOK PUBLISHING - www.electricebookpublishing.com.   December 2005 update: this publisher is essentially dead, with large debts and no assets.

ELECTRIC STORY - www.electricstory.com/. They are looking for fantasy and science fiction, also mainstream, young adult, and mystery. They hope to set the industry's top standards for epblishing. 50% net royalty (that translates to half the profits, a much smaller figure than half the cover price) for the lease of exclusive worldwide e-rights for three years, renewable. They seek books of 50,000 to 90,000 words and up. They publish in copy-protected formats. They pay "competitive advances," which means they're going after professional writers; my guess is that aspiring writers will not readily crack this market. Articles, some of which are so full of themselves I got disgusted; but read them for yourself, because there are things there to be learned, if only what to avoid. For submissions click "About Electric Story" then "Submission information." Send a brief personal query; if they are interested, they'll give you more detailed submission instructions. April 2004 update: They are closed to submissions until summer.   February 2005 update: This time I couldn't find anything about submissions.  February 2007 update: They say they don't do any vanity publishing, and to query them about publication of your fantasy, science fiction, or horror book. April 2008 update: now under Submissions it says Submissions (page is coming). Okay, I'll wait.

ELECTRIC WORKS PUBLISHING - www.electricpublishing.com.  February 2005 update: gone.

ELECTRON PRESS - www.electronpress.com/. This publisher hopes to make the quality of writing, rather than its commercial potential, the key factor in selecting manuscripts for publication, to keep books "in print" forever, and generally open up the system. It feels that by the end of the year there will be ten million PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) in use, such as the Palm Pilot, and as the technology improves to make them more readable, more people will use them and come to prefer them. "Electron Press is unalterably opposed to the closed architecture, proprietary publishing schemes and high book prices that appear to be the core principles of the dedicated ebook device companies." But I wasn't able to ascertain the terms offered writers. They say they pay "substantial" royalties.
 August 2004 update: The site does not appear to have been updated since July 2003, so this publisher may be inactive.  February 2007 update: No, it remains in business. April 2008 update: Query them, and if they are interested they will ask for more, and if they like it will pay “substantial royalties.” Apparently you will have to be accepted before you actually learn what their terms are.

ELLORA'S CAVE - www.ellorascave.com/.  "Romantica" which seems to be very graphic erotic romances for women, but no pedophilia, bodily functions, necrophilia or bestiality. 40% royalties. I did not find other terms listed, but have a very favorable report from more than one of their authors; it seems they pay monthly and on time. They are now expanding into print as well as electronic publication. They receive 100,000 hits daily and regard themselves as THE place to be for erotic romance. So this would seem to be a top choice for sexy romance. I met and chatted with some of their personnel at EPICon; they seem like nice folk. Their acceptance rate is 4-5%, which means one out of 20-25 manuscripts. They believe they do as well for their authors as any electronic publisher. They describe five levels of eroticism, so it seems you can choose your type. Their hardest erotic is the main seller. But they do have limits, so check their requirements.  June 2004 update: But now I have a report of extremely arrogant behavior by one of their editors.  October 2005 update: I saw a TV interview with them, where they said they now do $11 million business a year. It seems there's gold in the hot stuff. June 2006 update: Another negative report of bad editing and bounced checks. That's mischief. I suspect they got too big too soon and are losing their grip.  August 2006 update: I have a very favorable report on them from a mid-list author: contract negotiations are swift and civil, editing timely, phenomenal cover art, and royalties paid on time.  October update: I have a report that their contract boilerplate asks for lifetime all rights. This is a Grab, but may be worth it considering their sales.  February 2007 update: They say they are always open to submissions in all their genres, plus a number of special projects.  June 2007 update: sales of 400 or more books per release are reported. December 2007 update: they will no longer accept historicals, and I am told they are yanking them from their lineup. February 2008 update: A refutation from the publisher; they are still publishing historicals. They have yanked some when unsatisfied with their standards. Okay, here is my problem: I have evidence this is not the whole truth, but can't run it because of the threat of retaliation against the authors. At such time as this changes, I will have more to say; I do not like seeing authors get pushed around. I have another report of phenomenal sales. In sum: this is a top publisher, but it plays hardball against those it wrongs. April 2008 update: this time I looked up their definition of Romantica, and I recommend their discussion of it to aspiring writers in this genre. But one thing would help: how about spelling out exactly what terminology will do for what heat level? Where do you say “love channel” “cleft” “vagina” or “cunt”? “Masculinity” “member” “penis” or “cock”? “Love” “sex” “intercourse” or “fuck”? Some straight lists of words should help. I speak as one who has used all terms, but prefers to avoid extremes of political correctness or gutter talk. Meanwhile they remain open for submissions in all their genres. June 2008 update: A report of slow response to submissions, such as a year or more. Queries can be ignored. So they may be always open to submissions, but in practice they might as well be closed.

EMBIID PUBLISHING - www.embiid.net/.   October 2006 update: they have folded. 

ENCHANTED RAMBLINGS - www.enchantedramblings.net/. This is a quarterly e-zine, published January, April, July, and November. They do book reviews, author interviews, and discussion topics for readers and writers. April 2008 upd