Certain books, magazines, journals, periodicals and newsletters discriminate against the self-published author in that they refuse to review our work. That’s a fact. Some of these book review sources can go a long way in making the case for a new offering of fiction or nonfiction in the marketplace. In searching the web last week, I ran across an article extolling the virtues of Publisher's Weekly as an excellent book review vehicle. I scanned their site and found the submission guidelines: No self-publish or POD allowed, thank you very much. At the bottom of the same page was a large banner advertisement for Tate Publishing.

Tate is one of the premier vanity publishers around, something akin to Publish America. In my opinion, Publishers Weekly and their book review policy, is oxymoronic at best. If Publisher’s Weekly wants to defend its acceptance of advertising revenue from the likes of Tate Publishing as just doing business, while continuing to reject POD and other self published books for review, I say their policy is blatantly hypocritical.

If you’re a first time author looking for a publisher, I’m sure you’ve run across Tate Publishing. Tate lobbies the Internet in an aggressive manner. Look under Book Publishing and you’ll find their paid advertisement in a prominent location on the first page of Google and Ask.com and on the second page of Yahoo. They bill themselves as a family owned publisher of Christian orientation. That part of their statement I can attest to personally. I’ll give you a short version of my experience with Tate Publishing.

A year or two ago I submitted a version of my novel Hyde’s Corner to Tate for consideration. I sent the then unwieldy 526 page manuscript late in the week, a Thursday I think. I didn’t expect a response for at least a couple of weeks. On the following Monday or Tuesday I arrived home to find a message on my recorder. A lady, (can’t recall the name), from Tate Publishing wanted to discuss my book. I felt like dancing around my office, but as I was approaching seventy-years-of age, I subdued my excitement and called the number.

I talked with a person who seemed very excited about my manuscript. She went on to explain, however, I would be required to go though the manuscript and replace certain uses of language that Tate, adhering to its Christian principles, could not in good conscience publish. After the language problem was solved, Tate would ask for a one time investment of $4700 and change from me as a gesture of my commitment to the marketing success of Hyde’s Corner. Tate, the lady explained, felt the author should have a monetary investment in the marketing of their manuscript, thus providing additional incentive to the author to participate in the books successful launch.

The sales representative made the $4700+ investment on my part sound trivial, a mere formality. She was very good at her pitchman’s job, (I suppose, to be politically correct, I should refer to her job as that of a pitch-person), but it was easy to say no because of the first caveat; the required language edit. To be fair, when I refused the edit and chose to retain the manuscript’s authenticity of place, time and people, Tate backed off. They said it would be impossible to publish Hyde’s Corner without the replacement of certain exclamations made by characters in the heat of battle or confrontation.

Religion has little to do with this article. But, as a Christian, I loath the fact Tate Publishing promotes a family owned, Christian principled organization, and at the same time, employs the sleazy sales tactics of a Publish America and others of their ilk. If, in fact, they were following rigorous Christian virtue they would explain up front there is an author set up fee. They don’t because they are well aware they will not get half as many folks like me submitting a manuscript and thus giving their pitch-people the opportunity to sell—sell—sell.

I was so incensed by the Self Publish/POD No Review Policy of Publisher’s Weekly I composed an email and sent it to PWs Reviews Director, Louisa Ermelino. To date I’ve receive no response, but it is the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, so perhaps next week. The following is the email I sent:

Dear Ms. Ermelino,

I find it somewhat hypocritical that Publisher's Weekly refuses to review "POD or self published books" while gladly accepting the advertising revenue of one of the biggest vanity press artists in the industry. I point to a banner ad for Tate Publishing at the bottom of your submission’s page.

My name is James B. Bergstad. I am founder and president of Woodside Publishing Group, a member of IBPA and SCWW. I am a seventy-one-year-old, no name author, who couldn't get the time of day from a traditional publishing cabal on its way out. If you doubt the veracity of the latter statement check the Bowker stats for publishing year 2008. POD publishing has shown 132% growth over 2007, while traditional publishing suffered a 3.2% decline.

POD and/or self publish does not mean quality genre fiction and non-fiction cannot be conceived. It does not mean our products will be shoddy or lacking in professional editing. The great majority of POD-self publishers are committed to offering a quality product to the reading consumer at a reasonable price. Woodside's first release, authored by me, is an eclectic collection of short stories entitled Screwing the Pooch. Pooch has received five reviews to date including the Midwest Book Review, November issue by Kaye Trout. Reviewers have rated Pooch four-and-a-half to five stars in all cases.

I doubt Publisher’s Weekly discriminates against those with the funds to either purchase a copy of Publisher's Weekly or pay for a promotional spot in the periodical. How then can you discriminate against submissions of books for review on the grounds they are self published? If I produce books of substance and present them in quality format and design, why would you choose to withhold that information from your readers?

I think the future of book publishing, in the recreational reading area at least, deserves an answer to that question, don't you?

James B. Bergstad

Woodside Publishing Group

I will keep everyone posted on PWs response, if any, to my questions.                                           jb