Aside from vanity publishers, several long running publishers have been making the rounds in the blogosphere in the last year for questionable publishing practices. I’m sure you’ve read most of them on various sites.

The latest news to cross my desk is from an author at NCP regarding a partial she submitted to them for publication. It isn’t clear to me if they offered a contract or if the author signed it, but the publisher has apparently taken the partial, tossed in a few new authors, called the whole thing a round robin anthology and stuck the author’s name on the cover.

Read Your Contract 

Folks, this is your public service announcement. Read your contracts! If something smells like a fish, it’s probably fishy. This is when you hire a lawyer or an agent. Don’t go it alone if you don’t understand what you’re signing. And certainly don’t sign with a company that’s been in the news for curious business practices. There are hundreds of publishers. Your book deserves the best and you don’t deserve the hassle.

Do your homework

Here’s a great list of articles about publishing contracts. www.publishingcentral.com/subject.html?sid=8&si=1

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