AuthorHouse is one of the best known, and most widely-used, print on demand self-publishers, but it did not begin so auspiciously. It was started in 1997 as 1st Books by an author who was fed up with rejections. Unfortunately, 1st Books was met with a barrage of complaints about the service – including print quality and being overly-charged at an hourly rate for services. In 2001, 1st Books got a facelift and changed its name to AuthorHouse. Since that point, it has grown steadily and hasn’t been targeted with the same type of complaints as 1st Books – which some call a scam, some call growing pains.
I would side with the latter, as AuthorHouse has become one of the central subsidy publishers, along with iUniverse, which is owned by the same corporation, Author Solutions. This is due to the quality of AuthorHouse’s website and the quality of the books. It is used frequently by authors who are more serious about the quality and marketability of their books – unlike a service like Lulu, which is used by anyone and everyone.
AuthorHouse has three main packages, starting at $598 to $1298. The $598 package has everything you need, and the premium packages do not offer a lot more for the much heftier price tag: nearly $400 more for the next level package. The Essential package includes:
- One on one support – work with the designers to get input on the direction of your book’s cover. By all accounts, AuthorHouse actually does take its author input seriously.
- Custom cover/interior design, including interior images – AuthorHouse generally has higher-quality book covers
- ISBN
- Galley copies to check quality
- Online distribution
- Marketing consultation (basically amounts to them selling you extra marketing services, but nice that the consultation is gratis)
That’s a pretty good list of features for the low level package – the same price as iUniverse’s basic package. The next level up offers ebook publishing and distribution, which you could handle yourself, plus a book buyer’s preview, which is nice, but doesn’t quite seem worth $400. The Premier program will also send you 10 copies of your book, which could save you $150 and up, depending on the length of your book.
The top tier Premium package offers an author photo on the back of the book. Really, ebook distribution and author photo should be included regardless, so this seems like an oversight. The more expensive packages should include more-advanced book design and marketing, as is the case with other subsidy publishers like Outskirts and Mill City Press. As with other self-publishers, there are a number of other add-ons available: custom cover illustration, online and offline marketing, editorial services, and the like, which are decently priced. Some of these can be fairly expensive for the most-extensive programs: the Premium Publicist program, for example, costs $9,999.
Like other self-publishers, authors keep the rights to their books. What separates AuthorHouse from other self-publishers is the accessibility of tech support and their personal contact regarding the direction and future of your book. It does seem like AuthorHouse learned from its earlier mistakes, so you should not necessarily judge AuthorHouse based on those early reviews of 1st Books. For someone who wants a hands-off self-publishing experience, in which someone else is handling most of the work – and you’ve got money to pay for more-extensive marketing – AuthorHouse is a good choice.
About the Author: Henry Baum
I’m the author of The American Book of the Dead. The novel won Best Fiction at the DIY Book Festival and the Gold IPPY Award for Visionary Fiction. Largehearted Boy says it's "reminiscent of Philip K. Dick and Haruki Murakami, a book that boldly explores the future and defies genre." I'm also the author of North of Sunset, winner of the Hollywood Book Festival Grand Prize, and The Golden Calf - first published by Soft Skull Press, with editions in the U.K. (Rebel Inc.) and France (Hachette Littératures). Visit henrybaum.com for more information. I’m the editor of Self-Publishing Review.
D Carr said on January 15, 2011
I’m not working for AH. We printed a book, Dealing With Vision Loss, in 2007 and are resonably happy with AH. Other than some business and post cards, which I did think were overpriced, we did not buy any extras. I did read that there were editing services available for a price as were cover designers. We hired a local artist to design the cover for a small fee plus the framed rendering of the front and back cover. I was the primary content editor, then we asked an English-teacher friend to comment on grammar and sentence structure. Finally I used spell check and grammar check before sending in the copy. I spent about 15 hours (all around a full time job and raising kids) checking the galley before signing off. The author is blind and he also proofread an e-copy of the book. I would have gone for the bare bones contract but he splurged on something more than that but less than $2K. He took advantage of an offer to buy about 200 books at cost which we sold at booksignings and other ‘meet the public’ arenas. We have a website, we market the book as if it’s our life, which it was: we were passionate about the message, the book was just one part of that message. So we’ve made back the initial investment but we’ll never get rich on the book. In conclusion read any contract before you give away money and don’t pay a printing firm to do PR for you!
Amin said on March 17, 2011
When is the last deadline to cancel with AH i paid already
but didnt get anything published or submit my work ? I hope someone helps me here
Delores Fischer said on March 29, 2011
I am just finishing up with Author House I mean Night Mare House. I honestly feel like I have been beaten by 40 men. I sent my book to them exactly like I wanted it to be written, this was about a year ago. I had to make correction after correction which a lot were there mistakes and pay a 100 dollars each time. I complained they didn’t listen. When it was time to get my books, they sent me somewhere else. The guy didn’t even know how many books they promised in my contract. I truly believe all the blogs that are sticking up for Author House are from them. If you are thinking about going with AH run as quickly as you can in another direction.They have made me a nervous wreck over this book that I took a long time to write and was so excited over.They wanted to purchase their pkg for my book signing and I told them I didn’t want to have anything else to do with them for the rest of my life. Delores
Kelechukwu Brnfre said on April 1, 2011
I am a poet and I paid to be published through Author House. i was called numerous times to buy the package and I have not been contacted since to have a follow up to my satisfaction.
It is April and I was supposed to have my book back by January. I paid in October. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!!!
Jennifer said on May 20, 2011
I was thinking about moving forward and hiring the services of AH. After reading these comments I am completely scared. I would like to know the best way to get my children’s book published. Can someone help me? If I went directly through Lightning Source I would have to be a publisher. How does one go about doing that?
Stevo said on July 4, 2011
I would like to thank everyone for their insights into what is now very obviously a bloody big waste of time and money. I was, until I stumbled upon this blog, very interested in publishing??? with Authorhouse and I was about to send a synopsis of my novel to the the publishing??? consultant that I have been speaking to (whom I have to say was very polite, which is something I hold in high regard even if she was trying to swindle me out of my savings, she’s only doing her job… nice try!)but now I’m not going to bother; in fact, I think I’d sooner burn my manuscript than let Authorhouse get their greedy mits on it. Thanks again everyone and the best of luck to all of you in your endeavours.
Tyffany said on July 26, 2011
Hi, I’ve purchased a package from AuthorHouse, but I have not submitted anything to them as of yet and I was wondering if there is a way to get my money back since I have not received any services??
A said on November 17, 2011
Did you have any luck with a refund? I am in the same boat!
Leahchristine said on August 29, 2011
Was anybody here able to get their money back and go somewhere else?
I’m having a lot of the same issues listed above. The book has been priced exorbitantly high without myself or my illustrator signing a pricing agreement, and the book that was printed doesn’t actually look like the galleys we approved!
On top of that, every time I try to discuss the many problems that my partner and I are having with Authorhouse, I’m passed on to yet another person who doesn’t have answers for me or who doesn’t even bother to call or email me back.
Tim Brown said on March 5, 2012
Hi, Im sorry to hear about your experience. I also wanted my book priced much lower and the agreed figure was inflated after the contract was signed and I had no redress against the company. For what I have read here including my own comment below I think it’s best to write off the relationship with Authorhouse as a bad experience. Good luck with your writing.
Tim
amar said on November 17, 2011
i bought a package almost 1 year ago. i have submitted no material and have no services rendered. i’m trying to terminate my agreement and get a refund (of some sort) but they refuse. anyone been in this situation? what can i do?
Terry said on January 18, 2012
AuthorHouse is a scam. I ordered a book from them and they claimed it
was undeliverable. Local post office said it never came through this
office. All I get is the run around. Their answering service in
the Philippines says that because it wasn’t insured there is nothing
I can do about it. I think there should be an investigation by the
Attorney General.
Jean Roseman said on January 26, 2012
I looked at the AH site. Nothing more. Then I started getting blitzed with promotional ads from them. I have unsubscribed twice and still get the ads. The third time I unsubscribed the screen froze and would not accept my unsubscription. What harassment to get daily ads! I am going to have to block them. I would never use such a company, particularly after reading all these negative complaints.
Tim Brown said on March 5, 2012
I used Authorhouse to publish my first novel. It reached the top 100 in the amazon site for gay and lesbian literature three times between October and December. I have just received my first Royalties Report and I can’t believe that I have sold so few copies. In fact I know I have sold more because I have friends who purchased some direct from Authorhouse. None appear on the reprot. I was told to submit receipts to get an investigation started. I feel very stupid and let down but thanks everyone for your comments, I want nothing further to do with them.