When five strangers recommend the same "publisher" under your post
-
R. S. Breed Founder
Something I saw this morning in one of the big Facebook writing groups, and it's a pattern worth knowing. A new author asks a simple question, usually "I've written a children's book, how do I find a publisher?" Within a day the comments fill up with replies that look like this:
Congratulations on your book! I'd recommend reaching out to [Some Name] Publishing at [address]@gmail.com. They're very reliable.
Then the same company again, from a different account. Then again. I counted three near-identical ones on that single post, each from a different account.
I'm not naming the company. They change names often, and it doesn't matter which one it is this week. The pattern is the warning:
- Several strangers recommending the same business, in almost the same words. Real recommendations come from people who can tell you what happened to their own book.
- A Gmail, Outlook or Yahoo address for a "publishing group". A real publisher has its own website and a submissions page.
- "Congratulations" as the opener. It's flattery aimed at someone excited and new.
- They come to you. Traditional publishers don't recruit authors in Facebook comments.
What a real route looks like, especially for children's books:
- Most traditional children's publishers only take submissions through literary agents. Some smaller presses accept them directly. Either way, the rules are on their own website, under "Submissions".
- You don't need to hire an illustrator first. For picture books, publishers usually pair the text with an illustrator they choose.
- A traditional publisher pays you. If money is meant to flow from you to them, it's a paid service. That can be fine if you went looking for it, the prices are published and you get a contract up front. It's not fine when it arrives in your comments.
If you see this under someone's post, the kindest thing is a short reply pointing out the pattern, then a report to the group admins. The person asking is usually too new to spot it.
Has anyone here been on the receiving end of one of these? What did they ask for once you emailed?