Dorrance Publishing Reviews 10

I've been wondering why Dorrance Publishing (Rose Dog Books) has stopped sending me sales information on my Book. My book was published 2012 (My Poetic Composition). I used to get emails for what was bought, royjalties; etc. and book shows but, they stopped coming a couple of years ago and I had just noticed this. My name is Daniel Z. Jones and I would like a reponse.

Ben Altomari was charming, attentive, and seemingly interested in helping me publish and promote my book. The minute I signed the contract and paid in full up front, all pretense of interest disappeared.

The book has been published. I was not notified that it was available for sale on Amazon, and I still don't know where else it is available. None of the promised promotion has been done. I have not received the copies that were promised. I would have been better off self-publishing. The only value I got from the $10,000 cost was a book cover.

I submitted a manuscript to this publisher for evaluation. And was informed the manuscript had been accepted. Where I signed an e-contract for 25 books and distribution. Initially I fell behind on payment. Due to a personal matter. But paid the balance of the contract in full. Five months ahead of schedule. Concerning editing. The contract specified ‘mechanical’ (or grammatical) editing only by the publisher. And no recommendations for style. Nevertheless, when I received the editor’s draft. The style had been changed. Where the publisher had represented: ‘Your talent. Your book. Your style.’

The publisher specifies any special issues with a manuscript. Be advised at initial submission. But style did not become an issue until I received the editor’s draft. That I had been given no reason to anticipate such changes. Rather the opposite. Noticing the changes. I notified the project manager. And was advised by a replacement project manager. To submit a list of the changes and the pages they appeared on. Which I did. It was agreed that a fee for the author correcting the editor’s draft would be waived. And I thought the problem was resolved. A new project manager was assigned. Where I resubmitted the list of changes. That my corrections wouldn’t be changed again. And asked that it be forwarded to the designer.

My corrections were correctly included in the proof I received. But there were other problems that were my responsibility. And I requested to submit a revised manuscript. For a $150 redesign fee. Which was agreed. But when the new proof came back. Certain corrections had been changed again. When I asked the project manager about this. I received a response from the designer. Indicating they were previously unaware of the issue. Which led me to believe. The project manager failed to forward the correction document. Or the designer had overlooked it. The publisher represents they will correct their errors free of charge. And will “…work with the author to achieve the final product that they want.” But when I asked if the changes could be corrected. The publisher stopped responding to my communications.

I have tried contacting the publisher by email. Telephone. Leaving a message. And two-day tracked mail. To the Author Services Director. Offering to pay for the corrections myself. With the intention to complete the contract. But no response. While they kept my payment in full. For no books published. The publisher represents they are trusted by authors. But anyone who takes your money. Fails to provide an acceptable product. And disappears. Should not be trusted. Not recommended. Thank you.

This company has been so good to me ! They have helped me every step of the way !!!!! ☺️

About this time last year I completed by first manuscript and submitted it to Brenda McDonald with Dorrance Publishing. She was very convincing that they could edit and publish my book to make it a huge first attempt. We agreed on a soft cover approach and I paid, in advance, for it to be published as an eBook as well. She offered, and I accepted, to add an auditory version as well as now cost. Because it was an anniversary year, she also offered 103 copies of the book to me at no charge to use during book signing. I fell for a very large sales pitch that included marketing, developing leads, promoting and scheduling book signings, they would contact media outlets, solicit displays with major booksellers (BooksAMillion, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walmart), list the book through distribution hub Ingram, promote it through Publishers Weekly, yada yada. What I got what a really nice looking book and cover, a poorly edited product, ZERO distribution effort, and a product only available as a PRINT ON DEMAND product that booksellers refuse to stock or display. Why? They would have not investment in the book and no incentive to sell in their stores. Dorrance has nothing invested in the process. I wound up being 100% responsible for cost and 100% vested. We had a non-traditional VANITY agreement for what turned out to be a self-publishing project, they simply provided incomplete editing and nothing else. You would think that a company in business for over 100 years would be much more reputable and truthful. Everything looked legit, I was entirely sucked in. Ms McDonald no longer answer any emails. The company President, David Zeolla, will not answer me. We submitted multiple complaints, request for our money back (at least the marketing and promotions portion or 50%) and they refused. This is a huge and incredibly elaborate SCAM. Between this company and my attempts at starting an internet and getting scammed last year we have lost in excess of $10,000 in 2024. If you are looking for a publisher - DO NOT accept anything short of a hybrid contract where the publisher is at least 50% vested in the process. You are at a HUGE disadvantage. Dorrance is a VANITY publishing company. They have NO vested interested in book sales, they make their money off YOU. Good luck.

Dorrance Publishing is basically a "Vanity Publisher". Their business model is not to make money selling books, it's to make money from aspiring authors who pay to have their book published. They have a system in place that is geared to get the aspiring author excited. They send you an Email marked "Confidential" letting you know that they wish to publish your book. Then a sales person contacts you by phone and 'softens' the would be author up into signing a contract that will obligate them to pay for publishing the book. Please avoid them, they are predators

An excerpt from the email I sent to the Dorrance CEO. She responded immediately and was apologetic and professional. That being said — please take the time to read the plethora of BBB reviews before working with them.

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I’m writing to bring to your attention an extremely unprofessional and upsetting experience I had with one of your representatives, Ben.

Over the weekend, I submitted an inquiry through a third-party service regarding publishing options. On **/** in the afternoon, I received a call from a representative named Ben (Altomari?) asking if we needed publishing services. I informed him that "we're all set" because I had already signed with another company. He responded with a very sarcastic and rude "Wow," which surprised me. I asked, "What?" and that's when Benjamin started cursing at me as he made to hang up the phone. I tried calling back immediately to speak with someone else or report the incident, but I was disconnected.

A short while later, Ben called me back, asking, "Is this *******?" When I confirmed, he continued his aggressive behavior, asking why I had tried called back — whether it was to try to harass him, etc. At NO point was I rude or harassing. I asked if he was a salesperson, to which he responded "No," defensively. I calmly explained that I had submitted a form through a third party and was all set for this project, but would consider Dorrance for future projects.

He rudely responded, "Jesus f'ing Christ, well, don't submit god damn forms online." When I requested to speak with someone else or a manager, he refused and said, "Good luck with that," hung up on me again and then blocked my number from being able to call any Dorrance number. Yes. Really.

This kind of conduct is unacceptable for any business. I handle multiple clients and could have considered Dorrance for future projects, but this experience has left me questioning the professionalism of your company.

Greetings of loyalty, where reality sums up the words. There is no finer word than experience. History is greater than all experiences. A century of toil, work, continuity, excellence and progress. Their name does not require a certificate, but rather they are the title of their past, so they lived through the present and prepared for the future, so that generations after generations can create deeds. They are the people of administration and I am one of them. The people of leadership know it and have experienced it, with all appreciation and respect for the company’s long standing, its founder, and those who serve it in all its hierarchical and horizontal positions, where communication, commitment, organization, diversity, and innovation are at the heart of the era and contemporary science...
Dr. Charif noureddine
A teacher, researcher, writer, and author of God's universal foundation and another book, God's universal Economy.
I reside in the dear Republic of Cyprus, the beautiful and peaceful city of Larnaca.

They take a few months to edit and publish. They also do promotions, which are hard to find and you have to provide the sources, for about three months. Then they are done and have no further contact with you unless you want to fork over another >$4000 for another book. There are better choices.