AUTHOR WEB SITES ARE TOTAL MISREPRESENTATIONS

Our staff and consultants montior author web sites daily.  They are filled with malcontents, unrealistic individuals, and those who monitor those web sites do nothing but create a forum for complaining and self-entitlement.  The world does not owe you a living.  If you view one of those sites you might be well served to consider the source.  Complainers and nothing more.  Call me on my personal cell number before you make any decisions about what you read on the world-wide web.  It is total nonsense from people who do not have the ability to help you with the truth.  If you want the facts and real help.  Call me or our people.  We may not be able to help you but we will give you the facts.  If you want to talk with someone who thinks the world owes you a living...get out there and blog.  You will find plenty of company.

Dr. Richard Tate

405-206-7191

EMAIL WE JUST RECEIVED...VERY INTERESTING

I usually ignore these kind of contacts but since Dog Ear Printing (a vanity press) is presenting incorrect information about our company on the internet I felt it would be appropriate to post this item.  If you ever have questions about Tate Publishing, call me personally at 1-888-361-9473.

Dr. Richard Tate

From: Anonymous <noreply-comment@blogger.com>

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What does distribution for your book really mean?":

I wish I had found Tate Publishing before I made the mistake of publishing my book with Dog Ear Publishing. It has been a nightmare experience for me, but my point here is only to report what happened. I am not trying to trash Dog Ear.

I will start with the positive. The book itself is very well made, and the cover is beautiful. The book has received rave reviews on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Powell's Books. This includes a recent five star review by Mid-West Book Review.

One might think that any publisher would be happy to have a book that is receiving rave reviews from total strangers. That is apparently not the case with Dog Ear.

I have been begging Dog Ear to send the book marks and post cards and other marketing materials that I paid for many months ago before they ever started working on the book. The book was published on November 24, 2008 and I still have no marketing materials from Dog Ear.

I had to beg Dog Ear to build the website that I paid for. When they finally got it ready I was so embarrassed by the way it looked that I paid another company to build a website that might actually sell some books.

I have told Dog Ear repeatedly that I have business groups setting up a very large book signing event, complete with press releases and probably TV interviews as well. Nevertheless, I still have not received any of the marketing materials.

I had to go to another source and have book marks made just so I would have something to use to help make people aware of the book. At this point I don't know if I will ever receive the book marks and other marketing materials from Dog Ear.

I also paid Dog Ear to make the book available through Kindle on Amazon, and to allow browsers to look inside the book on Amazon. Despite my constant reminders and begging, that still has not been set up.

Dog Ear told me to expect an 8-12 week timetable from submission to publishing. That also proved not to be true. I started emailing and calling after 8 weeks because I had heard nothing from Dog Ear.

It was about two weeks before I heard back from anyone. I received a huge apology that my book had gotten off the usual track, and promises were made that it would be expedited. These turned out to be empty promises.

Weeks later, with still no visible progress, I received the same apology and same assurances that publication of my book would receive priority attention. These were also empty promises.

With all the great reviews and attention that my book is receiving, I also regret using Dog Ear as a publisher because it does not have distribution and marketing channels for books that it publishes.

Because of all these problems that I had with Dog Ear, I started looking for other alternatives, and that is how I found Tate Publishing. I don't know if Tate Publishing will agree to publish a second edition of my book, but they are at least reading it, and they have been very prompt and courteous in responding to my inquiries.

If you have not made a decision about who to partner with on publishing a book, I recommend that you not make the same mistake that I made.

TATE PUBLISHING AUTHORS GET THE BEST SERVICE IN THE INDUSTRY!

Gentlemen -
 
My name is Michael P. and I am one of your new authors.  I wanted to take this time as we draw near to the point where my book goes to print to express some thoughts to you.
 
From the beginning, when Janey Hays contacted me from Acquisitions to say my book had been accepted for publishing through the final stages with Stephanie Woloszyn in Creative Design, the journey has been extraordinary.  If the sampling of people on your staff that I worked with is a representation of your entire staff, you have an awesome and talented group of people working for you!
 
Amanda Reese in Editing went way beyond any job description to tirelessly work through the process and in that process, helped me to become a better writer.  Kandi Evans produced a cover design for my book that I felt so matched the content and the character of the book that it brought tears to my eyes. 
 
If I left anybody out, I apologize for everyone who worked with me on my book was professional, articulate, courteous, and always encouraging!
 
If the Lord permits, it would be a pleasure to meet you in person.
 
Now to marketing!
 
In Jesus,
 
Michael P.

TATE PUBLISHING SCHEDULES FOR AUTHORS GREAT EVENTS TO SELL BOOKS!

This nice email was sent to one of our fine marketing representatives who work so hard setting up events for authors.

Sunnie,

 I had a great weekend at the North Texas Book Festival.  Not many people turned out, but it was a great experience.  I met two other Tate authors from Texas.  Only two of my books sold, but that was more than several people around me sold.  A young woman representing Hastings Book Store was there.  She came to my table to talk to me about Tate Publishing.  You are her favorite publisher.  She said your books were higher quality than any she has seen and talks up your company every chance she gets.  She borrowed one of my books to show some of the other authors.  One comment she made was that Hastings had received a book once that was very thin, poor quality and the price was $20.  She said if that had been Tate Publishing the price would have been $8.99.   

Thanks,

Sue B

THERE IS A GREAT CULTURE AT TATE PUBLISHING

I just received the email below from one of our acquisitions staff members and her experience with one of our fabulous marketing representatives.  I have been so proud of the culture of our company.  We were honored last year by the State Chamber to be named to the prestigious honor as "Best Place to Work in Oklahoma."  Tomorrow night we are being honored for the second year in a row as the "Best Place to Work in Oklahoma" award winner.  I was thinking of that honor just as the email below arrived in my inbox.  The reason our few authors get the kind of service they get is because of the daily culture of support and caring among our fine award winning staff.  I wanted to share this email with the friends who follow my blog...

Dr. Richard Tate 

Dr. Tate,

I want to commend Traci Jones for a continually doing such a great job. I know that I, as well as other reps, have had nothing but an outstanding experience working with her. She bends over backward for authors, and it doesn’t matter what is asked of her, she not only steps up to the plate, but she steps up to the plate with a smile. In my opinion, she worked hard to get where she is, and she values her job and is continually grateful and appreciative. She doesn’t take it for granted, and she is honored to be in her position. In short, she not only serves authors with her actions, and therefore serves Tate, but she serves with her heart. Employees like Traci, in my opinion, are a rare find. I have never been in marketing so I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but I hope throughout the years that I have learned a little about customer service, and I would stack Traci Jones up against anyone as far as this area goes. Thanks for letting me share!  

Stacy B.

TATE PUBLISHING AUTHOR VISITS CORPORATE OFFICES

Dr. Tate:

 

I just wanted to tell you that it was a pleasure meeting you and all those at Tate

Publishing yesterday.  The humble and joyful spirit of you and your staff was

evident and assures me, along with the quality of Tate Publishing, this is a good

company to be working with.

 

I met with several who were just a pleasure to talk to and work with, like Vince

Conn, Curtis Winkle and Nathan Harmony.  This really does not come as a surprise,

because whenever I have talked to or emailed anyone at Tate, this spirit of

cooperation and joy in their work has always come forth.  You are all to be commended

for what you are doing.

 

I look forward to working with you and what you and your wife have founded and trust

the Lord will continue to bless you and guide you in all the directions you take with

his wisdom any business needs.

 

Take care. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Mark W

THIS AUTHOR GETS IT...

I received this fine email below from an author who "gets it."  Our authors make money but the purpose she outlines below is certainly worth merit...

Dr. Tate

BELOW...

If you are seeking money, then you have set up the wrong standard to write by. If you write for God or for the people to glorify God then you will succeed in the way that God meant for you to succeed.

The famous author Frank Herbert took six years to write "Dune" and won the Nebula and Hugo awards the same year for it. He was paid $7,500.00. It was a science fiction/fantasy with a religious allegory.

His children and his grandchildren finally saw an income from it but the author, like Moses, did not see the promised land while he yet was alive.

We are either meant to write or not meant to write. It is up to the author first, then the publisher, to make sure the book is the best it can be to present it to the public.

The money should not be a factor. If you want to make money then do that like other people and stay on a full-time job. If you do make money with your work that only proves you have earned the praise of some men. It still doesn't prove you earned any praise from God unless the work glorifies him in some way.