Many more people than you might think believe that they have a book or two inside of them, and they are yearning to get it out. In fact, almost every day I get e-mails from folks asking for help or information on how to write and publish a book or ebook.

These folks aren’t planning to be the next Hemingway or anything like that – they’re just regular people who have a story to tell or some information to share. A few of the optimists are hoping to write the next block-buster novel, but the majority of them have much more humble writing/publishing ambitions. They want to write about such subjects as: their family, their kids, their job, their hobby, their invention, their pet, their travels, their personal experiences, etc.

If you’ve surfed around the Net looking for help getting your book/ebook published you’ve probably run across one or more of the so-called “vanity” publishers. Since you’re reading this, there’s a chance that you haven’t yet signed up with one of those outfits – and that’s good news for you!

BEWARE: If you are a new or aspiring writer and/or self-publisher you are being targeted by scores of “vanity” publishers which populate the Internet. These outfits want you to sign up with them so that they can pocket 90% or more of the proceeds from sales of YOUR book. Sorry, but that’s the sad truth!

So, “What exactly is a vanity publisher…” you ask? Keep on reading…

The word “vanity” is defined in the dictionary as “…conceit and desire for admiration because of one’s personal achievements…”. Accordingly, these publishers are known as “vanity” publishers because they focus on this “desire” and offer anyone who has written a book, the ability to get it printed and published, and out into the public domain.

The vanity publishers are well aware that anyone who has labored hard to write a book will do almost anything to get it published. They are also aware that the chance of one’s book/ebook being picked-up by one of the established publishing houses is slim, at best. This knowledge gives them a lot of leverage.

That’s why they tend to target first time authors, and focus on their often desperate need to get published.

HOW TO IDENTIFY VANITY PUBLISHERS AT FIRST GLANCE:

• They are so-called “publishing houses” that focus on first-time amateur authors and tell them that they will accept ANY manuscript and get it published, no matter what.

• They promise to publish your book for free or at very low cost. (and they will – but with a few little catches).

• They offer many supposedly low cost ancillary services such as proofing, editing, graphics, marketing, etc., “should you ever need them.”

• Each one claims that it is somehow “different” from all of those “other” vanity publishers.

Essentially, these operators use a type of “loss-leader” approach, offering you all kinds of benefits up-front so you’ll sign a contract with them. Once you’ve signed on the dotted-line they have achieved their goal because they will then have a “lock” on 90% or more of your book sales revenues for the foreseeable future.

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