WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan, understands that an author’s work is more than just a book. It’s a calling. We empower emerging Christian writers to answer their callings and share their messages of faith through publishing, helping every step of the way with supported self-publishing services that fit authors’ ambitions. As a Christian book publisher we publish books of all genres but specialize in books with Christian morals and inspirational themes.
Written by the business, not verified by us.
Is WestBow Press legit?
WestBow Press (www.westbowpress.com) has a 3.3 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 100 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Media & Publishing and its reputation is mixed. Opinions are polarized: 55% rate it 4 stars or higher while 30% give 1 star; The business has replied to 85% of negative reviews; 39 of them were added in the last 12 months. Last updated 2026-08-12.
The overall process was acceptable. What would be a significant improvement would be to explain the queueing process upfront. Once I responded with the information required for a specific step, my work product(s) went into the internal queue.
It would have been excellent to have been told the estimated time I would spend in the queue based on the current status of the queues. Yes, the upfront materials provided anticipated time frames for review. A "real time" estimate would have been nice.
It would also be highly acceptable to get a periodic update on my relative position in each queue. My experience was there is no communication from the ACM until the work product was finished.
I recognize internal queues is probably the norm in other self-publishing firms.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-07-16
Michael, we appreciate you sharing such detailed and constructive feedback. We're pleased to hear the overall publishing process was a positive experience, and we value your suggestions for improving communication around production queues and estimated timelines. We understand how helpful more frequent updates and greater visibility into the process would be, and we'll share your feedback with our team as we continue looking for ways to improve the author experience. Thank you for publishing with us.
The whole process was quite detail oriented. There was just a lot of effort made towards marketing which incurred additional expenditures.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-07-15
Thank you for this, Valentino — genuinely useful feedback. We're pleased the process was detailed and thorough, and we hear you on the marketing costs. If you'd like to review what you've spent and what's delivering for your book, please feel free to reach out to [email protected]. Congratulations on getting your book out into the world!
This disaster trip started January 24th of 2026 after I spent $10,919.31. First I was given an author support person who didn’t know how to communicate. When I made a complaint I was assigned another support person who, at first, was very convincing and concerned about my situation. After 4 months of being told 2-3 weeks here and 2-3 weeks there, I finally received a digitized approval form…..not a physical copy. Upon approval and never receiving my Author copies, I purchased one from Amazon. The book chapters were jammed together, missing the dedication page, cover design and title were not centered, title on the spine not centered………shall I keep going?
After I brought this to their attention, they wanted to charge me for their mistakes. Once I complained and threatened legal counsel, they said they would waive the resubmission fees and fix the screw up. Fast forward a month later and I’m unable to receive the package books which I paid for, the 30 free PROMO books that were part of the promotional package, marketing materials, book stubs, website design and hosting, etc etc etc…….and that’s not all folks. The 10 hardcopy and 30 soft copy books they sent to me that were full of errors will not be corrected and resent. I just have to sit on the books that they made the mistakes in.
Furthermore, when I try and call the marketing guy, Jose Viejo, his extension doesn’t work! How convenient, right?! When I submit an email to him with questions, I do not receive a response to my email, it’s just another basic email that everyone receives. What kind of ponzi scheme , so-called Christian company is this? There are all these companies supposedly selling my book online and it release was supposed to receive at least 100,000 impressions? If statistics are correct, then you’re telling me that not even 1% of that 100,000 didn’t have an interest in my book?
Next issue, the Amazon listing description is all jacked up. Words are cut in half in the description and it’s hard to read. I’ve emailed Jose Viejo the marketing guy once again and here we are with no response and no corrections made.
At this point I am seeking a full refund and legal counsel. DO NOT USE WESTBOW PRESS, not even if your cat wants to publish a how-to guide on catching chipmunks. I wouldn’t even recommend this place to the Taliban. Westbow, I want my money back. You’ve screwed me for the last time. Want pics and verifiable information that I’m telling the truth? Reach out and I’ll provide it.
We chose WestBow Press to provide only the basic publishing services for our book.
In November 2025.
After the project took considerably longer than we had been led to expect, we informed WestBow Press that we wished to terminate our agreement. Interestingly, the very next day they sent us documentation indicating that work had supposedly been completed.
For the past month, I have been diligently working to obtain the refund that WestBow Press claims has already been processed.
We waited several months before anyone contacted us regarding a refund. Although the company maintains that a refund was issued, the documentation they provided raises serious questions. Their own account records show that we supposedly owe WestBow Press the exact same amount, $1,299.50 that they claim was refunded. Those two positions cannot both be correct.
Throughout this process, we have dealt exclusively with one individual identified as a "Resolution and Support Specialist", who has repeatedly assured us that everything on their end has been completed.
My wife, Helen, has also attempted to reach this representative on two separate occasions, leaving voicemail messages both times. To date, neither call has been returned.
We are not looking for conflict. We simply want this matter resolved fairly and completely, just as you did for Matthew NoLastName of Canada.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-07-09
Thank you for sharing your experience, Jerry. We’re sorry things did not work out as you had hoped. We were glad to connect with you today and confirm that your refund has been processed. We appreciate the opportunity to speak with you and wish you all the best with your book.
Sales and marketing teams were thorough and responsive. Production designers took unauthorized liberties that compromised our design. Slow response time from this team.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-07-09
We're pleased to hear our sales and marketing teams were responsive throughout your publishing journey. At the same time, we're sorry to learn that the design changes and slower response times from our production team left you disappointed. While some adjustments may be necessary to meet printer requirements, we understand your concerns about preserving your original design. We'd be happy to review your experience further—please contact us at [email protected].
I signed up for the full book package, $20,000 worth. Then I was told that I would need to spend another $10,000 to get the “real marketing” since the marketing i paid for wasnt going to sell any books.
I cancelled my contract before printing and should have recieved 50% of my costs back, but i am now two months after requesting my refund. I have recieved 4 calls from the publisher, but they hang up if i answer and leave a message if I dont pick up, but give me no way to contact them.
If you are wondering why they only accept money through PayPal, this should have been my first red flag. A common standard for scammers so they dont get blocked by banks and credit cards for fraud.
Yes, they will produce a sub-par book for you for an enormous amount of money, but please do not think they are a Christian company, I realized in the editing process that they knew nothing about the Bible, rather, they are a company who is taking advantage of Christians and thier goodwill.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-06-05
Matthew, we're sorry for the frustration this situation has caused. We can confirm that our team was in contact with you yesterday regarding your account and that your refund request is currently being processed. We apologize for the delay and appreciate your patience while we work to complete it.
We would also like to clarify that we do not accept PayPal payments for our publishing services. Authors may pay using major credit cards, ACH transfers, or checks.
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
I spoke with a woman named Karen Stansberry, she was incredibly rude, seemed like she was upset I wasn't immediately sold within moments. Perhaps it's a commission she's after, because the focus was on me choosing a package. She tried to flaunt her "15 years od experience" at me tried to make it seem like using their company was the only option, no one else would give me the time of day, and anything else I might decide to do would be "unrealistic". Then she acted like I was trying to be cheap and said I should go self publish on amazon. The issue is not money at all. She did exactly what she was accusing me of, wanting a reward with no effort. We spoke on the phone around 3:45pm California time on May 19th. If someone working in management for WestBow would listen to our call, I think you'd find it enlightening. Perhaps she was having a bad day, but it was a terrible encounter I had with you guys and an absolutely awful first impression. I've never written a review about anything ever, but after the awful phone call, I had to get in touch somehow with management. I hope you see this. Thank you for your time. I hope you really are good people.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-05-22
Zoe, thank you for taking the time to share this. We are very sorry to hear about your experience and the impression the conversation left with you. Writing and publishing a book is personal, and you should never feel dismissed, pressured, or discouraged while exploring your options.
We appreciate the specific details you provided, including the date and time of the call. Your feedback has been shared internally so the interaction can be reviewed by management. While we understand conversations can sometimes miss the mark, the experience you described is not the kind of guidance or support we want authors to receive.
Most importantly, there is never only one path to publishing, and authors deserve honest, respectful conversations that help them make the decision that is right for them.
We truly regret that your first interaction with WestBow Press left you feeling this way, and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention.
They are in my eyes fraudsters, money lovers with their Christian profile they are forcing out money, I was forced out 1048 dollars and after spotting fake Christian behavior I cancelled, I was not acknowledged about anything without contractual agreement , means it all between us was void, they refunded only 224, still waiting for some fulfilled promise to be paid further 524 dollars. Instead of receiving it, I have received a mail arguing with some conditions in a contract which I have never received (in order to be defrauded). I reported them to be filed as fraudsters on the federal government site, what can it help? It can help other to learn from my feedback as well not to trust even Christians in these end times. The warning is in the Bible and I learned a lesson by losing my savings gained by hard work, lifting heavy packages at work, exhausted and scammed by fake declarations and pretending to be Christian . If you are a real Christian and you would like to avoid scammers getting out from you on the grounds to want to share an important message in your book, rather turn your head to God and stay humble, do not want to publish and to be extorted for your love and respect of God, stay rather humble and quiet and you can avoid scammers to prosper on God’s word. Silent abusers. Why would they explain something, if they can benefit from being silent in communication in order to keep your by hard work earned money.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-06-05
Aniko, we're sorry that you remain dissatisfied with your experience. After reviewing your account, we can confirm that your refund was processed in accordance with the terms of the publishing agreement.
Prior to your cancellation, work had already been completed on your project, including the design and delivery of your book's cover and interior files. These services were taken into consideration when calculating the refund amount.
We recognize that this outcome was not what you had hoped for, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective.
Sheep butting their heads was too unwholesome for Westbow Press
I sent a complete manuscript to their review editor. He thought my book had real potential and stated that I would have complete and final literary and artistic control of the publishing process. Then the lies began. Their editorial team objected to the use of the word "butted" in the text. My story used animal characters, sheep and goats, that engaged in conflicts butting each other with their horns. Westbow editors insisted that I personally remove the 27;times that I used the word! I had already paid them close to $2,000 and I told them to do it. Then other commonly used word objections began because they were "unwholesome" I complained to the review editor and he ended up leaving the company! That's when I gave up on Westbow $400 lighter in my wallet. Don't touch these people with a 10 foot pole.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-04-20
Tyrone, we’re sorry to hear about your experience and want to explain the reasons we could not publish the book as written.
For projects published through WestBow Press, editorial standards are directed by Thomas Nelson and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the same standards that they require of their authors like Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and Max Lucado to name a few.
We also want to confirm that your refund was processed in July 2024. If you have any remaining questions about your project, editorial process, or refund details, we’re here to help clarify and provide any additional information you may need.
You are hopeful since they claim to be a Christian organization. Unfortunately, my experience was not good. The person assigned to me never helped me navigate their process. I had 2 books and spent nearly $5k. After books were ready and my copies sent to me, my family and friends found errors throughout. You expect them to read your book like a true publisher and give you honest feedback. But they do not. They just take your cash. You can go directly to KDP and do it yourself for free. Only you need to format in Word and edit yourself. Free to publish. But you won't be out thousands of dollars and treated like a fool. I have sold zero books even though they "sent" them to companies that should have purchased. My reviews have been good, and my contacts are straight up honest. So not sure where to go from here.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-04-20
Misty, we’re sorry to hear about your experience and the disappointment you’ve shared here.
We understand how disheartening it must have been to receive your books and then discover errors, especially after the investment you made. Authors are involved in reviewing and approving their work throughout the process, but it’s clear you were expecting more guidance and editorial support along the way.
There are many different paths to publishing, including self-publishing independently or working with a supported service, and we respect authors choosing the route that feels right for them. Our goal is to provide resources and support for those who want assistance, but we recognize that experience didn’t align with your expectations.
We also note your timeline, with your books published in 2015 and being canceled in 2017. If there’s anything you’d like us to revisit or clarify, we’re here to help.
My impression of the agent (salesman) was that he was totally bored with me. It is only about money, $1500 bare minimum. Total scam. The big pitch was they were associated with a big Christian publishing company. Frankly, spending that kind of money for self-publishing is vanity in my opinion.
I had an appointment by phone. If I had been aware of the cost of their packages before I wouldn't have wasted my time or theirs.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-03-13
Thank you for your feedback. It appears this was related to an initial consultation rather than a publishing project. Our publishing packages and pricing are outlined in advance, and the consultation is intended to help authors understand their options so they can decide whether our services are the right fit for them.
I just paid 833 on February 13 and after reading all the reviews I divided to cancel the subscription and they are not canceling it I keep begging them I also asked for a refund and they keep sending me to voicemail saying the only person that does refunds AMANDA is busy or on the phone this is really redundant seeing as they are useing Christian’s to get paid they all will end up in hell and bankrupt Amanda called me and said they would process the refund but still hasn’t happened I asked the to cancel the subscription and that still hadn’t happened now I’m going to have to close my bank account because they are going to take more money when it has only been 3 days since I ordered I asked the same day if I could just cancel and they made me wait for today to still do nothing this is sickening now they are harassing me calling me talking about my review saying if I cancel my card I won’t be able to receive the refund but I don’t want the subscription at all nor do I want them calling me! I just want me money refunded and the subscription cancelled.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-02-17
For clarity, your refund request was made over the weekend. You spoke with a representative on Monday, the first business day following that request, and your cancellation and refund were submitted for processing at that time.
You were contacted to explain that if the original payment card is canceled before the refund is completed, it can delay the return of funds. The refund went back to the original form of payment today.
Your book has been canceled and no further charges will occur.
When I decided to publish my book, I chose Westbow because they are a Christian publisher connected to Zondervan. My husband, who is a pastor, had faith that they would be trustworthy. My experience has been frustrating and I have encountered many delays. It has been almost 9 months and my book is stuck in production. The people assigned to my project have been pleasant enough to work with and have responded to emails. I had been assured I would have my book by Christmas but with 3 days to go, I have lost hope.
Reply from WestBow Press2026-01-22
Thank you for sharing this and we sincerely apologize for the delays. We understand how disappointing it is to be waiting after being given an expected timeline. We’re happy to confirm your title is now live and a copy is on its way. If you need any additional assistance, please contact our support team
This company is a headache -I am now paying another publisher to edit the manuscript that Westbow had for 10 months. The editing/formatting was not of good quality. After 10 months of Westbow having my manuscript I finally felt that maybe it was best to go somewhere else. I paid thousands of dollars to Westbow Press and when I asked for a refund, I was denied. Westbow Press did not honor their agreement, did not provide services, was difficult to work with - I would advise not to use this company.
Reply from WestBow Press2025-12-17
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. Editing and corrections can take time, and we understand the frustration with delays. Our records show we delivered your edited manuscript and designed cover so since these services we are unable to give a refund
Westbow kindly refunded my moneyandi am thrilled!/12/2025 I have spent over 2 months trying to get…
I have spent 3 months trying to get feedback and tech help. I was told that they have no tech department. I have low computer skills and mentioned that when they happpily took my money. Now, I NEED a refund and have had my bank dispute 3 charges of over $800. Now, I cannot get them to call me. For a Christian company, I am deeply disheartened.
Reply from WestBow Press2025-11-18
Thank you for sharing your experience — I’m sorry it’s been frustrating. I can confirm that a refund was issued on 11/14, and you should see it reflected through your bank based on their processing timeline. If you still need assistance with anything related to your project or account, we’re here to help.
The two complaints I have about getting my book through the publishing stage is that I was told I had to change some very common and innocent words because they might be offensive (which was ridiculous) and I had to pay to get the price of both hard cover and paperback reduced enough to make them affordable for most people. I was willing to put those problems behind me because when the book came out it was beautiful. Since publishing, however, I feel that I've been pushed off a cliff and left floating in space. Communication has been almost impossible. I had to fight for weeks to get accurate and helpful categories and keywords on Amazon and, after 18 months, I still don't have a website. These have been major obstacles that no decent publisher, especially one that calls itself "Christian," would allow to happen. I have concluded that WestBow doesn't want their authors to succeed unless they can sell them a whole lot of marketing products that they say will bring success. If the author doesn't cooperate, they are simply ghosted. I certainly have been.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO WESTBOW'S RESPONSE TO MY POST: I did ask for minor changes three or four times before being ready to approve the website. The problem is that it would always take weeks or months of me sending frustrated emails to whoever my contact was (I've had several) to finally get back a response. My last request was for the correction of a grammar mistake that the Westbow Team made on the header of each page. I sent a request for “with a deceitful online scams” to be changed to "with a deceitful online scam" on SEPTEMBER 25. Today is NOVEMBER 19 and nothing has happened since. This is just typical of what I've experienced.
DECEMBER 1 and still being ghosted by WestBow. They promise, but they do not deliver.
JANUARY 7, 2026: Westbow did not “reach out again” as they promised, and I still have no website. The book was published early June, 2024. I think it’s time for an attorney.
June 20, 2026: Two years after publication and I have no website. This is not my fault. I have done everything asked. Quite simply, I have been scammed.
Reply from WestBow Press2025-11-18
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. HarperCollins Christian sets the editorial standards their authors must follow, and we apply those same guidelines when reviewing manuscripts for WestBow Press. Regarding your website, we’ve reached out multiple times for the required approval and can’t move forward without it. We’ll reach out again to try to connect so we can complete it for you. We truly want your book to succeed and are here to help once we receive the go-ahead needed to proceed.
Update: Westbow is corresponding with me now. Thank the Lord. I have a receipt from a customer that is not noted in my sales data from Amazon. Hopefully Westbow will be able to figure out why I am not getting credit for sales.
The actual book was great (hence the 2 stars). What came afterword was horrific...unanswered email after unanswered email. I have proof from my Author Central account that my book was selling (moving on the best sellers list SIGNIFICANTLY), but sales were not reported. I asked for someone to reach out to Amazon or for verification reports because I had many people reach out and say that they had purchased a paperback copy, but that wasn't reflective in Westbow's report. I have concrete evidence that I qualified for the Lighthouse award (that cost me money in my package) and would help my sales incredibly, but Harper Collins flat out refused to honor it and Westbow did nothing to help. I am absolutely helpless... I'm just so disappointed in a so called Christian company. All I am asking for are answers and no one will call or email me or give me the time of day...I paid 10K for this...
The first printing of my illustrated children’s book had color washed out and pages sized I correctly. I paid again to get these corrected but still had sizing slightly off. They set the price and wanted even more money for me just to lower the price. Nice people to talk to on the phone but don’t seem interested in anything but getting more “ investment”.
Reply from WestBow Press2025-10-29
We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience and understand how important your book’s illustrations are to you. Because we use a print-on-demand process, color saturation and sizing can vary slightly, but we always strive for the best possible outcome and review concerns carefully. Book pricing is based on printing and distribution costs, not set arbitrarily. We value your partnership and invite you to contact Author Support so we can work with you toward a resolution.
The best publisher i have ever used. Honest helpful and guided me thru each step. No complaints only thankfulness. Go westbow press and don't look back. Keep up the good work Westbow Press! God Bless Westbow Press!
Reply from WestBow Press2025-10-10
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that your experience with WestBow Press was positive and that our team could support you through each step of the publishing journey. Your encouragement means a lot to us. God bless, and congratulations on your book!
Waiting for Westbow-$830, Anticipation, and Another blow for Christian Reputation
I researched this company on TrustPilot and I read the less-than-stellar reviews but still gave them the benefit of the doubt because: 1) they were or were affiliated with a Christian company so I presumed they would have ethics; 2) I thought that given the lackluster reviews they would maybe redeem themselves with a new customer willing to give them a chance. Neither of these things was true. I signed an agreement with Westbow Press and paid an initial deposit of $1258.58 on May 1, 2025. I submitted my manuscript on May 6, 2025. I was told by Representative Luther Blackwell that it would take 4-6 weeks to review the manuscript. I emailed on June 2nd asking if there were any updates and received a response on June 3 stating they "were still working on it." I received a payment request on June 1 asking for another installment payment of $445.67. Having been scammed by a fake publisher just prior to signing on with Westbow, I emailed Mr. Blackwell on June 3, requesting that I please get some sort of update on the manuscript review progress before I sent another payment to which he responded "no problem." On Wednesday June 11, I still had not received an update and I requested my contract be withdrawn. Amanda Shoaf reached out the same day and stated I could receive my refund less a $400 termination fee. Reluctant to just loose $400 for nothing, I gave them more time. On June 16, I received the message: "...reviewer got back with us over the weekend. I wanted to let you know that your content edit that you were waiting on has passed." Ok, great! What is the next step? On June 27, I emailed Amanda to let her know I still had not heard from anyone and that the the time it took to process the manuscript was not acceptable and that I would like a refund. On 7/6/2025 I was informed a refund was processed for $428.53. I had resigned myself to the $400 hit, but I guess they felt entitled to the second installment payment for the nothing they did as well. So essentially, Westbow got $830.05 and I got absolutely nothing but disappointment.
Update 7/15/2025: Today I received a check in the mail from Author Solutions which operates Westbow Publishing for $862.40. Thank you.
Reply from WestBow Press2025-07-21
Thank you for the update, and we’re glad to hear you received your refund. We understand the delays were frustrating. In this case, the manuscript required an additional review by Thomas Nelson due to content questions, which extended the timeline. We apologize for the lack of clear communication during that period and appreciate you giving us the opportunity.
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