Trinity Tate Publishing Company

[Darlene]

Hi To All!

I'm a new member and the reason I joined Christian Writers was so I could read more about Trinity Tate Publishing. I have recently been accepted by Tate and now I'm having second thoughts. I'm concerned this publisher maybe nothing more than an ego-stroking company. I'm not really sure that my writing is that good but it was accepted by another publishing company whom I turned down because they were reviewed as a bad publishing company the company was American Publishing Company.

Any comments are appreciated.

[lynnmosher]

Darlene, I know there are a few on this site that have had good success with Tate. However, warnings/comments/reviews, from others around the internet plus others also on this site, have been posted about them. Is there a way for you to get out of your contract? I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble.

[Darlene]

I haven't signed the contract yet. I am wanting to see a lawyer first and I have talked to a friend who has been writing childrens books for many years. He told me there are quite a few red flags on this contract, one of them being that quote I wrote.

Thank you for such a quick reply!

[Tommie Lyn]

Anyway, Tate wants an enormous amount which I understand you have to invest but Tate holds most of the cards.
You, as an author, invest one thing: your time and talent (ok, so that's two things) in writing your novel. The publisher invests the money in publishing it, i.e., getting it printed, marketed and distributed. Period.

That's how it works.

And I would be concerned about the carte blanche your contract grants to the publisher in the use of YOUR money -- it doesn't sound good to me.

[Keith Wallis]

Hi Darlene - we've a whole forum on POD and Self publishing for you to have a look at. Just be aware that some folk are using the likes of Tate and have made positive posts about it BEFORE they have had the experience.

[Darlene]

I mean no disrespect and I appologize if it was taken that way. This is all new to me. When the contract says, "author participation investments", that is the use of the my money.

[David Meigs]

Welcome to the CW family! :)

I hope you wait to sign with Tate..., at least until every pro and con has been weighed. Self-publishing is right for some niche nonfiction projects, but not for most.

[Gravity]

And for fiction, POD/vanity/self-publishing/call it what you will, is an incredibly hard sell.

[whitehawke]

Hi there. Welcome to cw.

[Darlene]

Just wanted to make a public appology for anything I may have stated yesterday about Tate Publishing that may have come across negative. I do not wish to cause problems only seeking advice.

[Keith Wallis]

Darlene - I have seen nothing within your post that could be construed as needing an appology.

[lynnmosher]

Nope! Me neither!

[Darlene]

I feel my negativity due to frustration came through my messages yesterday and I do not wish to bring anyone down or darken a company's name. That's all. We're supposed to encourage.

[Keith Wallis]

Darlene I've moved your thread to the POD forum as it was more a discussion on Tate than an into to yourself.

[Tommie Lyn]

Darlene, it isn't negative to ask if something is a wise decision. As a matter of fact, it is better to do that before you make a decision than afterward, which is a positive thing.

Here is a link to a Writer Beware blog entry by novelists A. C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss which has Tate Publishing on their "two thumbs down" list of publishers. Read over their seven criteria of abusive practices which cause them to rate a publisher "two thumbs down." Maybe that will answer some of the questions you have.

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/02/happy-valentines-day-from-writer-beware.html

[wgjones3]

In publishing, the flow of money goes TO the author, not FROM the author. Unless you've got a venue to hand-sell all the books you have printed, POD/subsidy/vanity/etc... is probably NOT what you're looking to do. Unfortunately, too many of these companies will throw out a snake-oil sales pitch to make it look like they're offering you the kind of deal that someone like Stephen King or Ted Dekker or (insert favorite author name here) has.

If you have to pay one red cent to the company up front, it's not a good deal. Peroid. Unless all you want is a printing house to bind and print the books you intend to sell yourself anyway.

[Merry]

Amen and amen...

[quark]

Darlene,

My name is Leon Mentzer. I’m an author. A Tate author. I just published my 2nd book with Tate and I’m very pleased with what they do.

The author participation is just that, the author must participate in the marketing of their book. ALL authors do. As a first time author I had nothing to offer a publisher other than a manuscript. There’re 10,000 to 20,000 books printed every month and what makes ours so special? Belief in the book is the only thing. I believed in my 1st book and I was willing to enter into a Partnership arrangement. I wanted my book to be in the flesh, real, to touch and feel. To pass out and sell. I was willing to take a leap of faith that I wouldn’t be taken. I wasn’t. It cost about $22,000 dollars to bring a book to print when you factor in the editors, marketing, graphic designers, getting a distributor…….

As to Tate taking any manuscript, I can introduce you to an author whose first book was rejected but her second wasn’t. She won “Best new Christian Writer of the Year award 2006. Publishers will NOT stay in business if they print bad books. Simple as that.

Yes, there’re hundreds of scams out there. But in talking with authors from Authorhouse, PublishAmerica, Xulon, iuniverse, etc. one thing was clear. There’re some authors who’re pleased with what they got from their publisher. Not all of them though. But if you were to judge these authors and publishers based on the many blog sites, one might think they made a serious mistake.

As to Writer Beware and the blog entries by novelists A. C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss, I personally have asked them to provide the proof of what they said about several publishers and they DO NOT respond. My friends in the courts system would take a dim view of such blatant statements with no offer of proof. It is so tempting to throw rocks when you are anonymous. So I view such blogs with a dash of salt.

There is good and bad out here in the world and every author needs to be very aware of what they’re entering into. Tate might be great for you but maybe not. An author has to believe in their publisher to make it work. Research, research and then research again. Talk to authors. Learn about this world called publishing. It is over whelming at times.

I received my investment back as stated in the contract if you sell over 5,000 books. I worked hard at being a part of the partnership arrangement by going to book signings and conventions such as the International Christian Retail convention, speaking engagements, hosting marketing seminars, etc. I invest nothing now in the new book(s) because I have proven to my publishing partner that I can sell the books they print and as long as that is true they will continue to publish my books. Tate has a fantastic marketing department that helps me set up the book signings and appearances that come available for the themes of my books. Tate isn’t for everyone, but they’re just right for me. They provided everything they said they would and there wasn't any extra hidden costs. They're truly a Christian publishing house.

Blessings to you and good luck in finding the “right” publisher. There is more then one.

Leon Mentzer
Author “Just When You Think You Are All Alone”
“AMEN, A simple Guide To Self-Marketing Your Christian Book”
Christianstoryteller.com

[David Meigs]

I'd say this one has run it's course. Thank you everyone for sharing your side on this issue. :)