Howard Publication Reviews 10

BEWARE! They started my book over a year ago, and it is still not published or finished. They offered a refund but never sent it. They are now unresponsive. I had to hire an attorney.

Further to my last review regarding this company retaining my money for an advanced publication of my book. I decided not to use them after they messed up the publication of my first book. They told me 'it wasn't company policy to return money'
I was contacted a couple of months before Christmas by one of their managers called Joseph Dean, who told me that whilst they were not going to return my money, they would use it to develop for me a website where I could publicise my novels. It is now some 4 months later and the website has never transpired, even though I have supplied them with lots of information & detail. As it stands therefore, they have basically stolen my money. They have done nothing to earn or deserve it.
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY FOR YOUR PUBLISHING, THEY ARE CHEATS AND WILL NOT GIVE YOU THE SERVICE YOU DESERVE!

I'm really curious (wary) about this company. The initial contact that i had, the offer was $499 with many of the bells and whistles, editing, publication, cover design etc. The after back and forth the offer came down to a buy now discounted price of $200.

Sounds to good to be true.

They handled everything from ISBN registration to printing without me having to chase them. It's hard to find reliability in this in this industry, and they nailed it.

I regret to say I cannot recommend Howard Publishing to any author—especially first-time authors trusting them with their dream.

I purchased their “Professional Publishing Package” for $1,950 and an additional Audiobook package for $3,000 (totaling $4,950). What I received fell far short of what was promised—and despite months of emails, calls, and deadlines, I still have not received many of the core deliverables.

Specifically:

The “SEO-ready author website” was unfinished and unusable. I never received full admin access, content, or CMS training.

I never received my author copies, despite being told they were ordered months ago.

The book trailer included in my package was never delivered.

The promised audiobook was not completed within the 90-day window. As of this writing, I still have no final file in hand.

My book was not distributed to promised platforms (Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, IngramSpark, etc.). It only appears on Amazon.

My professional email address doesn’t send properly, and I’ve been given no reliable fix.

I was never given login access to the social media pages they created under my name.

After months of documented follow-up and a final formal 72-hour resolution deadline, they failed to deliver and stopped responding meaningfully.

I’ve filed a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau and initiated a $4,400 dispute with my financial institution for breach of service.

I’m sharing this to protect other authors from what I experienced. These are not small items—they were central to what I paid for. Be cautious. Ask for everything in writing. And don’t let your dream project get entangled in a company that overpromises and underdelivers.

Update – August 26, 2025:

Since posting my original review, the situation with Howard Publication (San Jose, CA) has only worsened.

On August 15, 2025, I spoke by phone with Mark Watson. He told me directly:

Howard would not issue a refund.

I “should have been billed $8,000” for alleged “free services” not in the contract.

That I was “treating them like a casino” by asking for repayment.

He refused to provide CEO/legal contacts, instead laughing and telling me to “go the legal route” because they “have a team of lawyers.”

Later the same day, Emily Jones emailed me declaring the project “delivered,” even though major contracted services remain incomplete (audiobook, author copies, book trailer, functional website/email).

I also filed a BBB complaint (Case ID 23624825). The BBB confirmed that Howard Publication ignored multiple contacts and closed the case as “Unanswered.”

These actions clearly show breach of contract, misrepresentation, and bad faith. I am now pursuing legal and regulatory remedies.

Buyers beware.

UPDATE 8/27/2025
Howard Publication’s reply is inaccurate. Services such as audiobook production, author copies, and a functional email account and access to social media accounts were never delivered and/or usable. “Processing” is not delivery. My BBB complaint (Case ID 23624825) was ignored and closed as Unanswered. I have filed complaints with the Texas Attorney General (Case #TCP-006752) and the California Attorney General. I am requesting only a refund of the $3,950 actually paid, for services not received.

I was amazed by how quickly Howard Publication helped me publish my novel. They gave me the tools and resources I needed to reach a larger audience, and their marketing efforts published my book top-selling lists. I highly recommended their services!

Selecting Howard Publication was a transformative choice for my book. Their publishing services were meticulous and thorough, ensuring every detail was taking care of with precious. What truly set them apart, however, was their marketing strategy.

Howard Publication did a great job with the SEO writing for my book's website. My book is more visible than ever.

"Steve and the team made Amazon publishing stress-free. He handled everything with professionalism, and the results exceeded my expectations."