By Vanessa Keel![]() You write your first manuscript. Obviously, it’s crap! You realize you need to take your skills to the next level for a chance to beat the odds in this business. You invest in courses. You rewrite. You critique and get critiqued. You attend conferences. You learn about the business. You edit. You rewrite. You build your website and social media following. You join societies and writer’s groups. You rewrite. Finally, your manuscript is ready. You pour your heart and soul into submissions for a chance to stand out…tossing your line out just hoping and praying someone out there will love your work enough to bite. But what you don’t realize, is how many sharks are in the water! In 2017, I wrote Boomer At Your Service. I was fortunate enough to win a writer’s contest through a popular and very useful online writing course. An editor liked my story enough to offer me a contract. I was on cloud nine! The feeling you get when you realize your thoughts and words will be brought to life in a children’s book for all to love is immeasurable. I couldn’t wait to get started. While I waited for my contract, I attended a SCBWI-NJ conference and during one of my critique sessions with a well-known agent in the business, she warned me about the “publisher.” She said, “Be careful. I’ve heard some shady things about that publisher.” I should have listened that very day. Why didn’t I? I don’t think I valued myself enough. This is my first piece of advice. Believe in yourself and know your worth. I moved forward with the contract because I felt like I needed to get my foot in the door and pay my dues. It didn’t matter if I wasn’t getting an advance, I thought. My goal for the book was not to make a ton of money. (A laughable thought now, after a few years in the biz.) I just wanted to get my first book published because I thought maybe it would be easier to stand out in future submissions if I could point to an already-published piece of work. The agent I mentioned earlier, in that same meeting, also told me to be careful about who I work with because if my book sales are dismal, then that could be frowned upon when I submit my next manuscript. My second piece of advice is to listen to the well-respected veterans in the industry. I should mention the “publisher” I am speaking of in this article is not a vanity press. She describes herself as a small traditional publisher and is listed as a PAL member through SCBWI. She works with over 100 authors and illustrators in our community. After the contract was signed and an illustrator hired, we got to work. “WE”, as in ME and the ILLUSTRATOR, who I must say is an absolute powerhouse creator who brought every ounce of my vision to life. I thank god for her every day. She is so incredibly talented and her illustrations of Boomer and all the visuals in the book are stunning. It was a key element to its success. She and I built a great rapport over the fact that we were now in charge of our own editing and art direction. Our editor was on a long vacation! We could not believe how unprofessional the whole process came to be. But, I just kept thinking, it’s ok because it’s my first book. The struggle will pay off, right? I should just feel lucky that someone believes in me, right? In a way, it was nice to have that much control in the creative process but I am fortunate to have the background to have been able to do it successfully. It’s not fair for those who would just be completely lost. I didn’t complain and we powered through. My third piece of advice is to listen to your gut. If you feel like the publisher is unprofessional, get out quick! The book launched with the promise of marketing plans and support. Of course, the "publisher" didn’t do anything she said she would. I had to submit and pay for all my own industry reviews. Again, lucky for me, my background is in marketing and promotion, so I put my head down and worked my not-so-little fanny off, to market and sell my book. I knew the majority of this was going to fall on me. That wasn’t a surprise. What I didn’t realize was how short she would fall on her promises of support. I didn’t realize her print-on-demand business model would deter bookstores from actually buying books from Ingram because of the wholesale price discount not being deep enough. My fourth piece of advice is to run from any publisher with a print-on-demand model. You might as well self-publish your book at that point. Not much time passed before I received the one and only “Best Seller” tag on her website. This was due to MY efforts and MY own money which I put into marketing the book. As well as the illustrator’s efforts too, of course. Paying my dues, right? Surely, with the “Best Seller” tag highlighted generously on her website, I was in for a nice royalty check. Does $43 sound good to you? I just spent $10,000 on all my marketing efforts so that was a big blow and pure disappointment. After a couple of incorrectly-reported royalty statements and having to chase after my royalty checks time and again, I started realizing what a sham the "publisher" really was. Other authors in this “publisher’s” scope started talking - that’s the beauty of social media. We were all connected and could uncover the consistent flaws in her business practices. Her explanations placed the blame on Ingram for incorrect reporting issues. That could make sense, one would think. But then, the numbers would at least match between my royalty statements and my illustrator’s statements. And, of course, they did not! You can start to formulate your own hypothesis at this point as to what was truly going on behind the scenes. With a lack in any real distribution, any luck I had for sales which I could at least control, would come from events and school visits. So, I hit the pavement and booked my events. They were awesome and I felt reinvigorated by the children’s joy and love for my story. But then, Covid. UGH! All of my plans stalled, I had a baby, and before I knew it a couple of years passed. When I could start events again, I tried to order books from the “publisher”. But they never arrived on time for my events, which then made ME look unprofessional. This was happening to many of the other authors, as well. Where were our checks going??? We were paying for the books to be printed for our events but weren’t getting the books. I stopped chasing after my royalties because the effort wasn’t worth $26. I decided to just cut my losses. The entire experience just left me with a bitterness for the industry. And here’s the worst part, the deceit is still going on! I decided I had to keep things status-quo because when I planned to submit to editors and agents, I could at least point to my previously published work. After all, that was the whole point of going through all of it. My fifth piece of advice is to know when to cut your losses and just move on. I decided to focus my efforts on my next projects. Having a wonderful critique group and support system in the industry is a good way to keep you motivated. But the injustice and thought that this person could make money off of my hard work started becoming a feeling I could no longer ignore. She decided to launch a new website. It has been a “work-in-progress” for 2.5 years. In the meantime, there has not been a place for authors to direct consumers to buy their books because she also came up with a story about how she had to change her distributor and printer, at the same time her business website was completely broken. Authors are being misled and told their books are being worked on and will be live again in a month or two. Have I mentioned this has been going on for 2.5 years! Authors keep asking who the new distributor will be and answers never come. There have been “meetings” with absolutely no accountability taken for her mismanagement and the authors are just being talked around in circles. Her southern drawl can be hypnotizing. I too have been duped. But, I finally broke out from under the spell and requested the rights back to my book early last year. She was in breach of contract and she knew it. Up to this point, I was always respectful and kind. There is a lot I can’t even mention in this article but the authors who are in her stratosphere know what I am talking about. You can’t stand up for yourself and what should be a professional way of conducting business because of the personal stories posted via social media by the “publisher”. It has become a pattern of behavior that could only be described as a syncronized rhythm of perfectly timed movements. Dun, dun…dun, dun. (Enter Jaws music here.) My sixth piece of advice is open your eyes and see what it right in front of you. This is a business. Lawyer up. I mentioned I have been kind and respectful and never spoke out of turn until now. It was brought to my attention last night that she was selling my book on her website. This is months after I received my rights back. Her explanation? “An oversight.” Absolutely not, ma’am. One would have to post an image of me as an author, my book image, book blurb, price, hit post, etc. That's one massive oversight. (She has removed my book from her website since the time this article was written.) So, here I am, with this amazing book that children adore. A lead character that is so precious and relatable who teaches many aspects of SEL. A completed book with the highest quality illustrations from a real creator, not AI. The book has rave reviews from both readers and professionals in the industry. I have my rights back and all the source files because of my relationship with its illustrator. But will any REAL publisher ever publish it again? Probably not because someone already sunk their teeth into it. If anyone has any advice to offer here, I welcome it, please. There are many reasons why I haven’t spoken out publicly in the past. It’s the reason why so many can’t speak up. This is my cautionary tale, but like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are many sharks in this business. None of us want to be mauled or worse, drown our own professional careers. I have been afraid to speak out because I don’t want to be ostracized. But even more than that, I’ve made many author friends and I don’t want my personal story to hurt their hard work. So many are still under her spell and trust this person. We became trapped and that’s why it is a sin. And that’s why I am speaking up. If this can be prevented for others in the future, then it's worth it. My last piece of advice is a warning to all the newbie authors. Be careful and don’t swim in deep waters in the dark. Thank you to the SCBWI team for hearing everyone’s accounts about this publisher and for acting so swiftly. The publisher umbrella company and all its imprints have been removed from the PAL list as of February 4, 2025. This is a huge win! Thank you to all of you for speaking up. We were finally heard.
43 Comments
2/4/2025 04:46:33 pm
Well put, my friend. I’d say the MAJORITY of her authors are more than disgruntled. They’re pissed, but she keeps evading any accountability. I’ve personally told prospective authors to avoid subbing to this small publisher unless they are ready to have their dreams smashed. 😢
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Vanessa Formica Keel
2/4/2025 05:36:25 pm
Thank you, Gayle. It is so scary to put your story out there. But I know too many people who have just had enough. It’s not fair and she continues to get away with it. Please share my story to caution others. She isn’t the only one out there.
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Nadine P
2/4/2025 07:58:41 pm
Yes Gayle. Pissed and disgruntled. The 'poor me' attitude she carries is beyond unprofessional.
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Cindy V
2/4/2025 05:47:47 pm
This is exactly my story (with a few tweaks, and from an illustrators’ perspective). It’s such a shame how this was never treated as a business….those $26 royalties were the worst. I don’t think I made even $100 for a full year’s worth of work. AND…I haven’t seen a royalty since 2020. Just terrible!! No more swimming with sharks for us.
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Vanessa Keel
2/4/2025 06:59:17 pm
I’m sorry, Cindy. More people need to speak out so it ends. The unprofessional business conduct that has been happening year after year is indisputable.
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Joni
2/4/2025 08:36:54 pm
So sorry this happened. Ariana is a friend of mine and your story deserved (s) better! Hope it can be picked up by another publisher. Or at this point, maybe look into printing/fullfillment yourself. I'd reach out to Jay Miletsky at IAPCbooks.
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Vanessa Keel
2/4/2025 09:26:23 pm
Hi Joni. Thank you so much and thank you for your suggestion. I will definitely reach out. Adriana deserved better!
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2/4/2025 08:59:00 pm
I’m really sorry this happened to you! I’m going to send out good vibes and hope that your story finds a new home!! It’s important!
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Vanessa Keel
2/4/2025 09:27:02 pm
Thank you so much!
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2/4/2025 09:17:15 pm
Thank you, Vanessa! You put into words what has happened to many of us. So glad to know I'm not alone.
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Vanessa Keel
2/4/2025 09:28:52 pm
Same publisher? There are so many people out there with the same story. It really puts a whole stain on the industry.
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Laura Clement
2/4/2025 09:37:26 pm
OMG. I am so feeling your feels. Same. Same. Same. Thank goodness for my amazing illustrator. I am so sorry more people are experiencing this. I have tried warning people, but your post is perfection. I hope a lot of writers read it and take note. Thanks for posting this.
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Vanessa Keel
2/4/2025 09:54:15 pm
Wow! There are even more people than I even knew about who were experiencing the same BS, Snake Oil. Wow.
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2/4/2025 09:44:14 pm
Thank you for sharing your story. I also signed a contract with this publisher as an inexperienced debut author. She lied to me and broke promises and all contractual obligations. Finally, after 2 years of tying up my manuscript and my having invested time and energy in marketing groups and getting other support in place, I had no book to show for it. The whole experience was devastating and I felt that I had no recourse. She should be drummed out of this business.
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Vanessa Keel
2/4/2025 09:56:32 pm
I wholeheartedly agree. People are afraid to speak for all the reasons I listed in my blog post. They are trapped! She should not be allowed to continue in the business. Share, share, share!
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Deb Bartsch
2/4/2025 10:07:08 pm
Ladies , let's comingle up., please
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Mira Reisberg
2/4/2025 10:41:41 pm
I worked for her for years wanting to help make beautiful books for folks like you Vanessa. She ripped me off for $35K. When I confronted her she admitted that she was a liar. Not that it did any good. I outed her a couple of years ago and was told by others that I was ‘unprofessional’ for doing so. Like everyone else, I gave up on getting paid
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2/4/2025 11:29:14 pm
Mira - I wish I’d known how you felt! You were the reason I got my illustration gig with her. I not only illustrated the book but also designed it - but had no idea it was print on demand. That changes the design so it looks weird. Because it’s pod, I can’t even buy my own books to sell at a profit. I have never had any royalties. I don’t know if any copies were ever sold or if it was out of print immediately? I would have loved to redesign the book and resubmit it to a publisher with a comics imprint but I’d need the author to be on board too. I’d love to have the rights back to my illustrations. I think it’s a great book and deserves to be published properly.
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 04:21:30 am
Hi Mira. I remember. Her explanation to me at the time of your expose, was that everyone has their side. She then made more empty promises on the phone to me about how she knows she dropped the ball on Boomer and would send me a marketing plan by the end of that week. She apologized profusely on that call. She was finally going to get to work. It never came! But I’m sure a social media post about tragic personal life event did, which made it difficult for me to ask again. She is a professional con artist. There is no doubt in my mind that she is stealing everyone’s money. The better part of me wants to believe she is just in over her head and doesn’t know what to do. But, no! That’s the voice within that comes after all the gaslighting over the years. If she cared at all and had any intention of doing right by all the people she has misled; then she would say, “I am done. I am folding. You all deserve better!”
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 04:25:57 am
Oh and Mira, thank you for hiring Adriana on the project! At least that was a win!
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Beverly L.Warren
2/5/2025 04:57:44 pm
Hi Mira, I remember you sharing this some time ago, but at the moment I was well under way with publishing a book with this publisher. On a side note, I still appreciate the help you gave me in your class when I was dealing with the passing of a loved one.
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Deb Bartsch
2/5/2025 07:47:48 am
Thank you Vanessa for speaking out. I kept giving her the benefit of doubt....knowing it was wrong,
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SL
2/5/2025 03:03:26 pm
Wow, I thought the traditional publishing side was to be trusted and easystreet. I’m self published so I do everything on my own but then I get 100% royalties of everything I sell and I have full rights to the entire book. However, I work very, very, very hard to get noticed and to be accepted as an Indie.
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 06:25:56 pm
Hi! Thank you for reading and posting. There are definitely pros and cons to both avenues. But working with an honest traditional publisher would have helped.
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Sarah E Steinberg
2/5/2025 04:58:14 pm
I had an offer from this publisher as well (i guessed who it was from your story and then looked up your book to verify). So, so glad I didn't accept.
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 06:26:56 pm
Good. I'm glad you followed your instincts.
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Beverly L. Warren
2/5/2025 05:11:34 pm
Vanessa, thank you for sharing this. My story is similar to yours with this same publisher. For her own sake I hope this publisher makes things right and changes her business practices.
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 06:28:34 pm
I have seen the promises time and time again, followed by her personal social media posts timed to perfection. I have lost all faith.
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Katrina Tangen
2/5/2025 05:41:01 pm
I’m so sorry! Since you and the illustrator already did all the work, it seems like self-publishing might be a good option? At least that way you’d get the actual profits!
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 06:31:25 pm
That may be the only option but it's not a great one. You see I spent a lot of money on SEO marketing for the current Amazon page. It's also where my product reviews exist. To self-publish means I need to get a new ISBN, lose all my hard work to date, and the new self-published page with fight with Amazon's algorithm. It's not a good place to be either way.
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BK
2/5/2025 08:00:38 pm
I came across your website through a Facebook post from this “publisher.” I’m relieved that people are finally recognizing her true nature. She has been deceptive for a long time, using every possible excuse to manipulate situations in her favor. Unfortunately, she has exploited not only her children and niece but also anyone else she could profit from. I sincerely regret that you’ve had to experience this.
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Vanessa Keel
2/5/2025 10:27:47 pm
Hi, thank you. Are you an author too?
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2/5/2025 09:50:57 pm
I have been swimming in a similar place. When I realized who they were I confronted them and stopped buying my books from Amazon and Ingram. It b is POD. I also do not advertise it as mine either. One c retreat and I had their number. A threat and I locked my jaw. I had c 2 businesses and they met their match. I now self publish and I am happy. Also took advice from Darci Pattison and will print 500 myself. Contact me if I can help. Sharks in the water!!!!
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2/5/2025 10:00:21 pm
I am so sorry for what you went through. I was always on to her (“publisher”) but I felt I shouldn’t say anything because I had good friends who had published with her. I knew she used a simple POD model so I always thought, “Don’t people realize they can just do this themselves and keep more profit?” I think the fact that she had PAL status with SCBWI was very appealing — it allows you to raise your hand at the meetings and conferences that you’re PAL, and gives you some SCBWI perks, but it wasn’t worth it to me. My friends felt they were “traditionally published” but I never saw it that way. I sensed it was scammy, and I do wish I had reported her to SCBWI, but I didn’t feel it was my place without proof. I met her once at a book fair and was NOT mesmerized! I feel terrible for everyone who lost hard-earned money, and I hope there is resolution for all.
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Vanessa Formica Keel
2/5/2025 10:26:07 pm
Great lessons in all of this! Yes, the SCBWI PAL status made it feel safe. She somehow scammed her way to that too. I’m glad you have good instincts. I wish I listened to mine sooner.
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KE
2/6/2025 02:08:41 pm
This is indeed eye opening! I was just so happy to have my book published that I didn’t give anything else much thought. Then when my book went on sale on Amazon, I was thrilled, except it said sold out from day one pretty much. I have been excluded from her website, haven’t received a single penny from her - and my book was published 7 years ago! I haven’t had any messages on her Facebook page responded to, I haven’t heard from her with regard my book not being on her website, I’ve just seen excuse after excuse in terms of personal issues that have been the reason for everything she hasn’t been able to deliver. I have no idea where I stand. Like you, I felt it was all because my book wasn’t really “worth it”. I felt like the privilege was mine to have had my book published, lucky me… and that I should just be grateful it had gotten to the stage it did. I saw so many other of her authors and illustrators seemingly happy with her service and so assumed it was just because my book wasn’t great.
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Vanessa Keel
2/6/2025 02:37:16 pm
I am so sorry this happened to you. Actually, this is getting very scary and way worse than I ever thought. People are now reaching out to me from her personal world to tell me about how far her deceit has gone. This is way beyond publishing at this point. It's sick.
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2/6/2025 02:16:15 pm
So glad I dodged a bullet with this one. I submitted to her back in 2020, but nothing came of it. Phew!! So sorry you went through this, Vanessa. I had a similar experience at the beginning of my writing career with a Canadian publisher (I live in Montreal). Thankfully, she crawled back under her rock and closed up shop. But many authors and illustrators were left holding the bag, as she stole thousands of dollars in royalties from many hard working creatives. I took her to court to get back the $6000 she owed me in royalties, but never saw a penny, despite a judgment in my favor. Hard lesson to learn, but it made me wiser. I have now been writing for 20 years and have over 25 books to my credit. Hopefully your writing journey will be less bumpy as you move forward. You will get past this, trust me. Best of luck!
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Vanessa Keel
2/6/2025 02:38:30 pm
Thank you, Anne! There are too many sharks!
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Scarlet
2/7/2025 01:30:21 pm
I've been in the business for 10 years, both trad pub and indie. I disagree with your 'advice' to avoid publishers who print on demand. POD is an environmentally conscious business model. Why should any publisher spend thousands on printing and warehousing when they don't need to? Smaller presses only invest so much into each title - they need to get a return on their investment so generally can't offer huge discounts to get book placement in store.
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Vanessa Keel
2/7/2025 01:51:20 pm
Thank you, Scarlet.You are right. I should have known better. But it's hard to know better when you are just starting out and like I said, so many sharks. I didn't actually begin my journey with unrealistic expectations. My background is in marketing, so I knew I would be doing much of the heavy lifting and I did. I worked hard. Regardless, what you don't expect is for your publisher to steal your profits. That is never ok. I did learn. A LOT! I won't make the same mistakes and the purpose of this article is to help others avoid the same. All the best to you!
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Tina
2/8/2025 08:02:01 pm
I am one of those “disgruntled” authors and I have just requested that I have my rights returned to me. Thank you for speaking out and know that MANY of us have been affected by the unprofessional conduct of this publisher.
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