Tate Publishing

[BrotherDave]

Anybody with any experience with "Tate Publishing"?

http://www.tatepublishing.com/information.php

brotherdave

[lindenbooks]

I don't know anything about Tate Publishing personally, but the following was posted by CW member "def" in the "Is Publish America for Real?" thread not too long ago. Hope it helps:

"I checked out Tate Publishing with an author who has published 2 books through them. He said that the people there are pleasant, but they definitely are not a traditional publisher. If they spend the $16,000.00 they claim to spend on your project it must include there salaries, overhead and every other expense that can be related in any way. Their "agressive marketing and distribution plan" does not include one procedure that would require a cash investment on their part; it merely makes the book "available" to book distributors along with email announcements.

They may be selective to a degree, but as they are a fairly new company specializing in first time authors who pay seven times as much as the average POD to get their book published, It would seem likely that most book distributors would not be impressed.

He also ran into problems with sloppy editing, and their "top artists" used a stock photograph of a field of daisies for the cover of his book which related in no way to the subject matter of his writing.

In short, the language that Tate uses to convince new authors that they are a traditional publishing company with the highest royalies ( 15% ) in the business is misleading, to say the least."

[rljfl]

I emailed them asking them for info on costs and everything. They ask for an author's investment of almost $4000. When I emailed them about that, they said they make no apologies for their cost and that if I am not comfortable with it, I should seek elsewhere.

[crafinna]

May I suggest Morris Publishing if you are thinking to self-publish? They have been around for decades, and do great work! And for 4k-you would have 800 or so hardcover-over 1000 soft covers. Or you can spend less, and get fewer to start with.

[Debtfree]

I don't know anything about Tate Publishing personally, but the following was posted by CW member "def" in the "Is Publish America for Real?" thread not too long ago. Hope it helps:

"I checked out Tate Publishing with an author who has published 2 books through them. He said that the people there are pleasant, but they definitely are not a traditional publisher. If they spend the $16,000.00 they claim to spend on your project it must include there salaries, overhead and every other expense that can be related in any way. Their "agressive marketing and distribution plan" does not include one procedure that would require a cash investment on their part; it merely makes the book "available" to book distributors along with email announcements.

They may be selective to a degree, but as they are a fairly new company specializing in first time authors who pay seven times as much as the average POD to get their book published, It would seem likely that most book distributors would not be impressed.

He also ran into problems with sloppy editing, and their "top artists" used a stock photograph of a field of daisies for the cover of his book which related in no way to the subject matter of his writing.

In short, the language that Tate uses to convince new authors that they are a traditional publishing company with the highest royalies ( 15% ) in the business is misleading, to say the least."

I unfortunately have to agree with the above post. Bro. Dave.

I recently received a publishing contract with Tate Publishing...the only problem was that I would have to invest around $4,000 into my own project (they pay back the money once the book has sold enough to cover the up front fee). I do believe in my writing but I don't have that kind of money to invest at this time.

I had to e-mail Ryan & Richard Tate to let them know that I would not be able to co- publishing with them at this time...was a bit depressing. I thought I finally had a "Traditional" publisher interested in my work...only to find out that they are a subsidy publisher.

What's more, statistics tell us that they average person who subsidy publishes, usually do not make back their initial investment...kind of depressing to realize???

Debtfree

[Curtis]

I have recently submitted a manuscript to Tate publishing. I have heard they charge of around $4,000. If you read the fine print you will see they also carry contracts, if the book is a winner. I guess it all comes down to the confidence you have in your book.

[jvdoles]

It's great to have confidence in your work, even to the tune of $4,000. But unless you can find a publisher who is willing to have $4,000 worth of confidence in your book, then I think you are, most likely, better off publishing the book yourself. That way, when your success comes, you won't have to share the profits with a publisher who just sat by while you paid the bills. Plus, you end up with much more control over your project. And either way you go, you are still going to have to market your book yourself, if you are going to see it become successful.

A publisher who is willing to take a risk on you is a publisher worth dealing with. And, if you have confidence in your book, and are willing to take a risk, there is no reason why you cannot become your own publisher. The good news is that you can get into it for considerably less than $4,000. :)

[Curtis]

jvdoles,
I saw in a thread that a writer was not confident and felt a little guilty for self publishing, "Am I published?" I will feel this way as well if my book at Tate is
not accepted for publication on a "no fee contract", ( this service is offered at
Tate for some writers ). If not. I'm self-publishing! I do have great confidence,
However I have no patience. I know this is now good for a writer. Any advice one this matter anyone. I'll start this matter in a new thread.

[quark]

Hello

I’m a Tate Publishing author.

“JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’RE ALL ALONE”
“A collection of five wonderful stories for the whole family”
BY: LEON MENTZER
Voted “Best New Christian Writer 2005”
by www.christianstoryteller.com.
Named one of the
“Top 100 Inspirational Writers”
in the nation by Writer’s Digest 74th Annual Writing Competition.

Tate is unique in the publishing world. The author retains complete rights to their book and they do charge a fee. There’re no other fees added. No marketing fees, no PR fees.

This would fit one of the definitions of a subsidy publisher. However, in the legal world, Tate Publishing is referred to as a partnership publisher because they do invest their money in the author’s book as well as the author. This is called “A meeting of the minds”.

This investment, in my case, was over three times the amount of the author’s fee.

Tate Publishing has paid for my book’s advertisement in the February 2005 issue of Christian Review, the “Top 100 best Sellers” page and in LifeWay Christian Resource’s June 2005 catalog for release to all their 124 stores nationwide and over 700,000 listed customers. Christian Review quoted me over $9,000 for the ad Tate placed and LifeWay quoted $3,400.

My book was picked up by Lifeway Christian Stores with an initial purchase of 1,200 books.

Tate is a traditional royalty publisher also. They pay royalties every quarter. 15% from book store sales, 40% from web sales. If an author has or is part of a web site and uses PayPal to sell their books then the return is 60%.

Tate Publishing uses Spring Arbor as one of their distributors. They are a leading distributor of Christian books.

My book is listed by Faithworks on their top 50 best sellers listed at # 41 http://www.faithworksonline.com/docs/50_bestsellers.pdf

My book sells very well overseas. Here’s one of the web sites in Japan

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/booksea.cgi?KEYWORD=%6A%75%73%74+%77%68%65%6E+%79% 6F%75+%74%68%69%6E%6B+%79%6F%75+%61%72%65+%61%6C%6 C+%61%6C%6F%6E%65

and here is Germany: www.buch.de

Not every author is happy with their publisher if their book isn’t a run away best seller. Too often a first time author doesn’t have a realistic idea of just how many books they will sell. Research shows that a successful first time author could sell between 1000 to 2500 books. That fact alone shakes an author’s confidence.

My book has done very well. Does that mean Tate Publishing is the best? No. it means that the partnership involved in this book worked. They did their job and I did mine.

And those are the facts.

Leon Mentzer

[rljfl]

quark,
Congrats. I'm glad that the partnership worked really well for you. I think my problem, as maybe others, was the author investment. It's fine for them to ask for it, just in my case a little disappointing. Thought I found someone who would be willing to take a chance on a first time author, which they are, but there's no way I have that money to invest in myself. Even with confidence in my book, it's just not there. That's why I don't even go the self-publish route either. My only hope is either through places like Writersedge.com or ECPA.com and hope a publisher picks me up. I think that was the only problem people had with Tate. Again, congrats on your success, and here's to wishing you lots more!:)

[quark]

Now days it take a leap of Faith to jump in with any company that wants your first book. Believe me, I should have stock in Malox. May you continue toward you goal. NEVER give up. Someone somewhere wants to read what you have written and they will be enriched.
Blessings Leon

[cheriehill]

I agree with quark completely. I am also an author being published through Tate Publishing. I am about a month away from my book going to distribution. Certainly the investment fee is alot to swallow..but you still pay about half that cost to self publish with someone like Xulon. And there you get absolutely NOTHING! The editor I worked with at Tate was exceptional! The design team was wonderful! Tate gets premium shelf space in all Family Christian Bookstores and is working on even larger contracts. Visit their site, it speaks for itself...their authors have made it to the Katy Couric show, Christian Retailers Top 100 list, etc. What are your chances of having that happen when self publishing? Tate has proven to be a true Christian publisher working to help AUTHORS. They cannot guarantee your book a success. No one can. They give you the best opportunity, one step above Self Publishing.
I talked with Sally Stuart (Christian Writer's Guide) about Tate and she definitely recommended them! She said they are a hybrid and said good luck trying to get your book published through the likes of Zondervan, Warner Faith, Harvest House etc. She said they send you a nice $1500 check and then it might take 5 or more years to even get the book published.
I say Tate is cutting edge and I believe they will continue to show success.
God bless all!

[lgracebrooks]

Hi,
yes the staff at Tate Publishing do seem pleasant and eager to please. I was offered a contract, I even received it in the main but I did not sign and return it. i turned the lady down when she phoned me. They are expensive-0ver three thousand dollars.

[rdoan71]

Good evening everyone!

I also have a contract with Tate, getting ready to return it. Though we haven't been through the entire process, every conversation I've had with Dr. Tate, or Trinity, has been very pleasant, and they seem very willing to help. I have no problem with the investment, as 1. God provides, and 2. anything that will be sucessful requires and investment of some sort.

On that note, a question for some of you that have published with Tate. Approx. how long did it take from the time you sent in your contract to the time you had the book in your hand? Obviously I know each case is different, but I'm just wanting an average.

Thanks and God bless! !thumbsup!

Pastor Rick

[quark]

I signed the end of June and got my book(s) in November. The release date was Feb. 1st. The book was availible for sale in December for those shopping directly from the Tate web site.

Leon

“JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’RE ALL ALONE”
“A collection of five wonderful stories for the whole family”
BY: LEON MENTZER
Voted “Best New Christian Writer 2005”
by www.christianstoryteller.com.
Named one of the
“Top 100 Inspirational Writers”
in the nation by Writer’s Digest 74th Annual Writing Competition.

[cheriehill]

I signed November 2005..everything went VERY smoothly. This takes in account I had already actually designed my own cover and there were minimal corrections through editing. I should have a book in my hand by June 15 2006. 6-8 months is about the timeline from what I understand. But according to Sally Stuart the mega publishers can take from 3-5 years! I've had to be patient, but I know God's timing is perfect and I'm depending on Him to lead the way!
God bless!
Cherie Hill

[rdoan71]

I will have to tell myself that often, I'm sure. I will have to trust that God wants it in people's hands in His time.

Thanks