AuthorHouse is the leading provider of supported self-publishing services for authors worldwide, helping more than 70,000 authors publish more than 96,000 titles since 1997. Its aim is to help authors achieve success of their own definitions, whether that includes seeing their books in bookstores, on TV or optioned for film.
Written by the business, not verified by us.
Is AuthorHouse legit?
AuthorHouse (www.authorhouse.com) has a 2.8 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 101 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Hobbies & Crafts and its reputation is poor. Opinions are polarized: 41% rate it 4 stars or higher while 43% give 1 star; The business has replied to 80% of negative reviews; 19 of them were added in the last 12 months. Last updated 2026-08-12.
I used AuthorHouse to publish my first book, “The Shadow of my Youth Follows Me”. I was very pleased with the quality of printing. Other than that, I am so disappointed! I know of some sales I’ve had on Amazon that I didn’t get credit for. I even purchased one myself to see if they reported it and they didn’t. When I contacted them about it, they wanted me to tell them all the sales I have through Amazon and the dates they were purchased . There is no way I could know that. The percentage of the money they credit me for sales is often less than they promised. Also, I never got my one page website and it’s been over a year. For what I paid them, I feel cheated. I wish I had gone with another Publisher.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-07-21
Thank you for sharing your experience and congratulations on publishing The Shadow of My Youth Follows Me. We’re sorry to hear you’ve been disappointed. To clarify, sales from retailers like Amazon are reported through their print partner, Lightning Source, which is why Amazon may not appear directly as the source. We’re happy to look into any purchase if you can provide a receipt or date.
What happens when you have a publishing company that won't pay royalties because the author lives in Australia? All the creative work l have done including marketing my books to libraries and bookstores and all the earnings remain with AuthorHouse. It is now my job to bring awareness and to deal with them legally.
Interesting response that you are actively trying to find a solution but as usual lying to me and the public. You steal dreams as well as finances. Businesses like yours need not exist.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-07-21
We understand your frustration and are actively working on a solution to support international royalty payments, including to Australia. Your creative work deserves recognition, and we appreciate your patience as we work toward a resolution.
Made an enquiry with Author house a few years ago for some information in regards to getting my book published, decided not to bother using them after hearing a few bad things. since I've been getting several emails a day from someone called Emma Smith. asking to schedule a call or have we got the right email Address. I have emailed back several times to politely tell them I'm not interested in using there service but they still email me..which now goes to my spam folder. so glad I didn't use this company after reading all the negative reviews. I'm always suspicious when a company has to hound you.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-06-27
1 Thank you for your feedback, and we’re sorry to hear about your experience.
We take unsubscribe and Do Not Contact (DNC) requests seriously. However, without a confirmed name or email address to match with our records, we’re unable to locate your inquiry or ensure your contact information is removed from future communications.
Please know that our outreach efforts are intended for individuals who have expressed interest in publishing and are never meant to feel intrusive. We completely understand that circumstances change, and we respect your decision not to move forward.
Please contact us to share your details privately, we’ll ensure your information is removed promptly.
I chose AuthorHouse to self-publish my first fiction book because they called so many times and assured everything would be great. The publishing part was ok, but they have the worst customer service in the industry. One example would be that they took 4 months to make a one page website, then I asked to update my email on my website, it has been 3 months and 20 emails but they won't do it. Marketing department is probably the worst, they only exist on paper.
Indie authors beware, do not give in to the sales calls!
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-06-02
Thank you for sharing your experience. We understand your frustration and regret the delays. We’re aware you've been in contact with a Marketing Services supervisor, and your website has since been updated. We’re committed to improving our support for authors.
Probably Scam. I was talking to a "Sales Rep", but very sure it was an AI bot. Not recommending them.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-05-14
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. While we do use automated tools for efficiency, all sales reps are real people dedicated to helping authors. We’d appreciate the chance to clear up any confusion—please feel free to reach out directly so we can assist you properly.
I had a book published by these clowns back in 2009. It cost me a significant amount to have the book published. My first royalties were mailed to me from the USA in the form of cheques (that's checks to you Americans) - these were for 52p and just over £1; it cost more than that to mail them to me. I just checked my account (something I've not bothered to do for more than 10 years because they have never contacted me or sent me anything) to discover that I have earned royalties. I've never received anything after those two cheques back in 2009 and 2010. They claim to have paid money into a bank account that was closed down 4 years ago and into which no money has ever been paid by them. It's only a small amount but I don't like being lied to. Avoid this company at all costs - they are con merchants.
And now a response to your response. As already mentioned the bank account to which you claim to have made these payments was closed in 2021. If you want to continue this conversation here in a public forum, I'd be happy to do so. Or perhaps you might reply to my emails and we can keep this conversation about what I consider to be your dishonesty between ourselves. Up to you.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-02-27
"We have reviewed our records and can confirm that multiple payments have been successfully made to the bank account provided. All transactions show as completed, with no indications of rejection or return. We understand the importance of clear and accurate payment processing, and we would be happy to further review any concerns you may have regarding your royalties. Please feel free to reach out so we can assist you further."
This is a bad company to deal with being a first time author. I purchased additional editing and I had to have corrections done so many times. The Royalties suck!! Compared to other companies you can get a much better deal. I have had different marketing consultants that were not really helpful. Every time you look there is a cost for something. I would not recommend them to ANYONE!!!
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-02-27
"We appreciate your feedback and regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. We strive to provide quality editing services and transparent communication throughout the publishing process. If there are specific concerns regarding your editing or royalties, we would be happy to review them with you. Please feel free to reach out so we can better understand and address your concerns."
Do NOT Trust Author’s House Publishing!
I wish I had taken the time to read the reviews before I was scammed into believing this company was going to help bring my book to life. I was promised a smooth, professional experience and that they would support my passion for helping people. Instead, they’ve ruined my experience and taken my hard-earned money.
Not only did they fail to deliver my book as intended, but they also refused to give me a refund, despite me explaining multiple times how much the $1,700 I paid meant to me and how it was a huge financial stretch. They assured me they would "take such good care of me" and that the investment would be worth it. It was not worth it at all.
Their communication was abysmal, their customer service non-existent, and I honestly feel like I’ve been completely taken advantage of. It’s hard enough to pursue a passion like writing, and this company has only made it harder for me. Please save yourself the stress, the heartache, and the money – there are much better options out there for aspiring authors.
Do NOT trust Author’s House Publishing. I would give zero stars if I could.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-02-27
"We regret that we were unable to meet your publishing expectations. Please note that you have been fully refunded."
It is unfortunate that I have to give this a 'star' listing of any sort because I have no personal contention with this company's published material, I have never written for them, I don't know them etc etc., and so cannot objectively comment upon their publishing. That is not my issue. But this is …
I am a professional writer of many years standing and am partner in a commercial publishing house. I am fully aware of GDPR requirements.
I contacted this company in mid-January 2025 by telephone with a query regarding one of their writers. I am currently working on a book in which I mention the man. I have met him and his wife in person at my home; we have exchanged correspondences and books. We know each other. Shortly after we last met I learnt he had died. I have lost contact with his family so for reasons of professional courtesy (ie. citing him) I wished to confirm nothing more than his year of death. I was surprised to learn this company does not give such information. Curious; he is deceased, after all, so is hardly likely to complain. So, in line with standard practise, I asked if they could request his wife to contact me instead. They would not do that either.
I was dealing with someone who was not prepared to assist me with my request in order to properly cite a fellow writer in a book. Which, per se, is odd. Especially as I have since found five separate publicly-accessible free-to-access sources that give me the information I sought.
I have sent a written query to this company’s offices seeking an explanation for their reticence and, as at early February, have yet to receive any acknowledgement. By any yardstick this is poor practise.
I am concerned by this organisation’s protocols and their complete lack of response. I offer no further comment other than this statement of facts and in the anticipation that it may prove helpful to anyone deciding whether to commit themselves.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-02-05
Thank you for your feedback. While we understand your frustration, our policy is to protect the personal information of our authors, as per our contractual obligations. We do not maintain or disclose private details such as dates of death unless explicitly provided for publication. Additionally, we do not have a current email for the widow and, therefore, could not facilitate contact. Our commitment remains to safeguard author information, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused.
AuthorHouse always makes me happy. I published without leaving the house too. (Working with their super team in Bloomington, IN) They were on top of everything and kept in contact with me, walking me through every step. They told me what I would need and I listened. 2025 is off to a wonderful start!
AuthorHouse and dreams coming true! I worked with their team's experience and knowledge for this industry and weighed their suggestions carefully. I was able to do so much on my own. Footwork is on me and so rewarding!) AuthorHouse does superior work and an excellent job.
Deborah Cromer
Poet/Author/Indie
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-01-22
Thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team in Bloomington, IN. It’s wonderful to know that we could help make your publishing journey smooth and rewarding. Your dedication and hard work truly shine through, and we're honored to have played a part in helping your dreams come true. Here’s to an amazing 2025 filled with continued success and inspiration!
The publishing arm of the company performed very well. Very happy with the end result.
However, dealing with some if the people in Bloomington, Indiana..not great. Trying to get someone in the phone to order books is difficult.
I did get the company president on the phone-Eugene-who was nice enough, but when I told him of my frustration of dealing with his employees, he took their side and, by doing so, essentially called me a liar, in so many words.
One woman called me to get me to order a marketing service, and seen I declined, hung up on me. Eugene told me she didn't mean to, without even knowing anything about the incident.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-01-07
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're glad to hear you were pleased with the publishing results but regret that your experience with some of our team members fell short of expectations. Your input helps us improve, and we truly appreciate you bringing these matters to our attention.
If I could give less than one star I would.
Every negative thing you can read about AuthorHouse has been true in my experience. The constant, never-ending upselling phone calls ruined the holidays. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was getting two calls every day from the same person at AuthorHouse who was trying to upsell me with an additional $17,000 charge. To be clear, I had already paid them $12,000, only to be told that the $12,000 did NOT include Any promotional services. As soon as I made it clear that I would not be upsold, the service on my books, yes, books plural, came to a stop. The first set of illustrations they provided were terrible and did NOT follow the flow of the story, even though I had provided then with a written story board when I submitted my stories!! When I asked to have a telephone conversation to discuss the illustrations, I was told a call could not happen. The illustrations for the second book have still not been provided, and they will not provide me any information on when those should be available. Additionally, the editing that AuthorHouse provided is grammatical editing only. They did not offer any recommendations beyond grammar. I told them in advance that as a first-time author, content editing was something I counted on, and they promised I would receive it. I did not and now I'm told I will not receive it. Again, they provided Nothing other than grammar editing. My experience with AuthorHouse is so bad that I have requested a full refund and I have begun giving all of my correspondences with them to an attorney. I entered into the relationship with AuthorHouse with great hopes and I spoke with them candidly about the things I'd read about them. They assured me that all negative comments were written by their competitors. Well, I'm not a competitor, I'M A CUSTOMER, and I'm taking my time writing this now in the hopes that I may prevent some other new author from going through what I've gone through. I suppose if someone wants to spend $30,000 to get their "special" class of service, their experience might be different than mine. But AuthorHouse promotes themselves as being a lower-cost option with a concierge-like approach to the author. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! If you're an author and you read this and decide to move forward with AuthorHouse, you will be making the same costly mistake I have made. I strongly encourage you to find another publisher. I am not endorsing any other publishing firm, and as of this writing I am looking for one. I've wasted months with AuthorHouse. I hope you don't make the same mistake.
Reply from AuthorHouse2025-01-07
Thank you for your detailed feedback. We’re sorry to hear about your experience and take your concerns very seriously. To address this thoroughly, we have reached out through Trust Pilot for your identity so we can look into the details regarding your complaints. Your input is essential in helping us review and address your concerns. Please contact us at [email protected]
hello every one I have been with author house my self
imusic company sold out my story online it was confirmed last nite while I was out that no one can not buye the image of I music
they turned round said Lee you ain't sold any how come no one can't buye it after still showing I music thank you reading me lee Waite 8th Feb 2020 face book Twitter Instagram and accounts hacked BBC news lee waite RETAILERS want pay out who at fault. retailers or author house we soon find out
This is a SCAM. Author house took over £4000 from me and although I got some copies of my book made of the 500 to 1000 they supposedly made I didn't receive any royalties from any sales other than what is in the fine print stating they only have to give you a minimum amount every year, which turned out to be £1.23 and they charged to send the check. They take all profit from your book sales both ebook and physical copies.
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-12-02
While we would love to investigate, without identifying information we are unable to comment on this situation. Please reach out directly so we can address your concerns.
Terrible company. They'll take your money and chase you relentlessly for more of it and give you nothing in return.
Don't go anywhere near them.
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-11-04
I am sorry you feel this way. We checked and you are not signed up for EFT so we can distribute royalties to your account. Please contact customer service to arrange this. We have also put you on the do not call list so you will not be called again.
Displeased with Author House's Customer Attention by Ashley Flores
Professionalism should be a core value for any business, especially when it relates to customer service. Sadly, Author House fails to meet this expectation. Throughout my interactions, I encountered bad customer service, experiencing a serious lack of attention. Moreover, their poor response to my refund requests, despite being backed by over 60 phone records by Ashley Flores, was unacceptable. As a professional, I anticipated a higher level of service from Author House, especially by Asley Flores. I have given one star rate review for the same reason.
Authoress Adriana Brunga
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-10-22
Thank you for your feedback, and we sincerely apologize for the lack of professionalism you experienced. This is not acceptable behavior, and we have addressed this matter internally. We have processed your refund and added you to our do not call list. Your experience does not reflect the standard we strive to maintain, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
My author information was missing on my book cover. When I brought it to their attention nobody seems to response from either the production team and marketing team. They Never communicated to me on how to correct the missing author information even with my many times of reaching out to them. Their marketing charges are outrageous yet they do not meet the expected promised marketing services. I have waited for almost 3 months in delivering a website for my book.
Nobody really follows through with any concern. It seems to have been intentional; nobody wants to fix the problem.
I tried to call but unable to reach out to my marketing consultant. No delivery of marketing services. It’s been 3 weeks and my concerns have not be addressed. Beware of signing marketing deals, may be a hoax. Read all the reviews before making any decision with this publishing company.,
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-09-05
Thank you for sharing your feedback. I apologize for the frustration you've experienced. Upon reviewing your account, I see that our team has made multiple attempts to reach you regarding your book cover corrections and concerns. I can confirm that they reached out today with steps to resolve the issue. Additionally, we wait for final payment before completing certain services, including marketing, and we're committed to delivering the services you signed up for.
Hired them to do book to screenplay adaptation and it looks very unprofessional. I took it to an industry specialist and they told me it was amateurish and not worth the $15,000 I paid for it.
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-09-04
We're concerned to hear about your experience with the book to screenplay adaptation service. Please contact our customer support team so we can investigate this matter thoroughly. We take the quality of our services seriously and want to address your concerns regarding the professionalism and value of the work you received.
If you are planning to publish your book through AuthorHouse, please DO NOT do that. It took them more than 1 year to publish my sons book and they are super expensive and worst with follow ups. I paid more than $15000 for an end to end service and I am very disappointed. On the top of that, no one from their team ever talked to me about the royalty payment. When the book was finally published, they sent me an email stating if the book is sold through AuthorHouse, the author gets 25% royalty, all other channels will be 10%. I cannot even believe this. A publishing house runs and makes profits on the hardships of an author and the author gets 10%, are they joking. Please DO NOT go to them for your book publishing.
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-08-30
Thank you for your feedback. We apologize for the delayed response and extended publication timeline, which we acknowledge is not our standard practice. There were multiple factors that contributed to this unusually long process, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused. Regarding author payments, we want to assure you that all compensation details are clearly outlined in the publishing agreement. If you have any specific questions about payments or need clarification on any part of the agreement, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Stop soaking writers financially - Authorhouse charges hundreds of dollars to get their authors copy written in Washington D. C., yet the copywriter office charges only eighty five dollars for an author to copywriter via email and up to ten books of the same category can be copy written fur that same eighty five dollars. Publishing a book thru a professional company should when printing a book automatically self correct all misspellings, Authorhouse charges a separate fee. Their department selling their authors books lacks sales, i.e., if they are allowed to sell your books you are lucky to sell as high as ten copies. Their minimum publishing cost is $970.99. A true waste of money for the service(s). This review is by Mr. Rodney Paul Williams, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Reply from AuthorHouse2024-08-06
We apologize for any issues you encountered. Authors do have the option to register their copyright directly with the U.S. Copyright Office. With our service, you are paying for the entire process, paperwork, and books.
We will gladly correct any mistakes found at no additional cost, it's important to note that in self-publishing, authors are ultimately responsible for their content, including proofreading. As authors own the copyright, we cannot make changes without their approval.
We continuously work to improve our services and ensure our sales department effectively helps authors reach their audience. Your input is important to us, and we are committed to enhancing the author experience.
Balboa Press
Xlibris
Archway Publishing
Author House Publishing
WestBow Press
Palmetto Publishing
BookBaby
Spines