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Author Solutions

StatusActive
Founded2007
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationBloomington, Indiana
Key peopleJahm Najafi - Owner of Najafi Companies, Daniel Shum - Najafi Companies Partner, Bill Elliott - President [1]
Publication typesBooks, eBooks
ImprintsAuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford Publishing, Xlibris, Palibrio, Booktango
Owner(s)Najafi Companies
Official websiteauthorsolutions.com

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

History

In April 2008, Author Solutions Marketing Director Keith Ogorek said that 1 out of every 17 books published in the United States is from AuthorHouse.[3] In 2009, Author Solutions, acquired two top competitors – Xlibris in January [4] and Trafford Publishing in April.[5] Later that year the company partnered with leading Christian publisher Thomas Nelson to launch a first-of-its-kind self-publishing partnership, WestBow Press.[6] In June 2010 Author Solutions launched its first Spanish-language imprint – Palibrio.[7][non-primary source needed] Palibrio was initially offered only to the U.S. Spanish-speaking market, but later was made available to authors in Spain.

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

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

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

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

Criticism

Author Solutions is frequently criticized by author advocacy groups for predatory marketing practices, excessive fees, high-pressure sales, and poor customer service by Author Solutions and its subsidiary companies. These criticisms led to Author Solutions' inclusion in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's Thumbs Down Publisher List,[22] multiple Watchdog Advisories from the Alliance of Independent Authors,[23] and alerts from Writer Beware.[24]

Imprints and divisions

References

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