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.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.
This is an unsolicited review. I was very pleased with Westbow. They are professional and the final product was great. Sometimes slow at responding to questions but sometimes I was slow at responding to their questions. I would use them again in a minute. Actually I was surprised at how much I got for the money I paid.
The bottom line ... WestBow is a reputable publisher. There are a lot of scammers doing this .... My book looks great and sales have been good. Plan on using them for my next Hebrew textbook.
Thank you for the great feedback! We’re so glad you’re happy with how your book turned out and thrilled to hear it’s doing well. Excited to work with you again on your next Hebrew textbook!
I trusted that this Christian company would have at least 1 person communicating/editing with my husband before his book went to publication. Sadly it did not happen. The lack of support ended with his first ever book published with so many errors, he is deeply disappointed and humiliated..so sad. My husband's name is Charles Clint Hittle. The name of his book is "Stories From Behind The Curtain" ISBN # 979-8-3850-3636-3 WesBow rev. Date 10/21/2024
We're truly sorry to hear about your husband's experience and understand how disappointing this must be. In self-publishing, authors maintain full creative control, which means we can only make changes based on their direct instructions. That said, we absolutely want to help, and our customer support team is available to assist in making necessary corrections. We deeply regret that communication did not meet your expectations, and we appreciate your feedback as we continuously strive to improve our support for authors.
The continue to not pay royalties and they wont release my website.
Thank you for your feedback. Please note that all royalties have been paid accurately, and we have provided the release for the website multiple times for you to take ownership. If you need further assistance, we’re here to help.
I submitted my novel for an initial review with WestBow earlier this fall and was told it was lovely and a good fit for this publisher. I signed a contract and paid them nearly $5000 for publishing services. I was perplexed to receive an email two weeks later stating that, after a closer read, my prose was considered offensive and objectionable. (The adverbs "madly" and "crazily" were cited as being inappropriate for a Christian audience.) I requested a refund. WestBow has given me a partial refund but refuses to refund the full amount. Friends, this publisher is a vanity press; their authors pay in full for all services. If WestBow initially accepts and then later rejects a manuscript, should the author be penalized? I encourage authors to carefully read reviews and research lawsuits against WestBow before proceeding with this publisher. There are hundreds of vanity presses in existence today; choose one with a better reputation. Incidentally, WestBow responded to my last review and encouraged me to contact them. I have done so multiple times. I'm still waiting for responses to the phone and email messages I've left with their staff over the past month.
As we replied before in your previous review—our guidelines are set by HarperCollins Christian and are applied universally, including for authors like Max Lucado, Billy Graham, and John Maxwell. Your refund has been processed, less the content evaluation fee that was clearly documented in the publishing agreement. You were also given the opportunity to revise the content.
I signed on to Thomas Nelson publishing with the man by name of Edward foggs. Edward called me for 2 years. After 2 years I listened to him and signed. He told me how excited Thomas Nelson and Harper Collins was about the book and getting it published. It is quoted the ultimate modern day story of forgiveness and that came from preachers. They also stated it was the most powerful story since the story of the Bible - particularly the story of Jesus. In 2015 it was put into a historical society museum in New York. No book has ever gotten this recognition in history. Since it's publication in 2014 customer service tries to tell me the book is only sold 38 copies. For one I never received any money for those 38 copies. Number two it's hard to believe that such a powerful story would only sell 38 copies in 10 years. And number three, I've signed over a thousand copies of that book from people of all walks of life. So either West bowl / Thomas nelson/Harper Collins/ author solutions is either pocketing that money or they just outright lied. They have opened up several divisions and on the early basis I get calls from there several different divisions pretending to be new publishing companies new publishing houses but they all seem to stem from author solutions which is a Philippines based organization. I have requested that the so-called funds they claim to be holding for me to be sent to me. I will not give my banking information to this institution. I know that I signed more books than what they claim have been sold. So either they're selling them and not reporting them or they're not reporting the money made from other places such as Amazon and Walmart. And other places around the world. I will be pulling my book from this marketing scam. I was promised one thing and never received anything. The part where the book actually got put in a museum in New York was out of my pocket. I paid $5,000 to publicize the book myself. I was the only author to speak in New York on September 11th 2015. The only one invited to speak any organ September 11th 2015 from anywhere. The story has touched lives around the world. It has a highest quotes ever given to any author around the world. This company doesn't seem to care and they call themselves a Christian organization. No Christian organization would do as they have done. They took my money and what I got in return was a book cover and a spot on their website. I had to fight to get the publications around the world. I called all of the places that they sent to me that said that they sent press releases to and not one of them had ever heard of them and for those who did stated they never received any press release on the book and knew nothing of it. This is the so-called Christian publishing company that states how inspire they are by writers but what they really want is your money. I will be looking into having my attorney put together a suit and taking them to court. They will have no choice but to bring forth the documentation over the last 10 years and prove everyone they have done business with. They will have to show accounting for over 10 years of not just mine but for other authors as well. There are thousands of authors that have done business with these people over the years and have had similar or the same experience as myself. Other than the fact that I do have and still only have the only book in history put in a historical society museum or any type of museum in less than a year's time and quoted the ultimate modern day story forgiveness. I agreed to sign with these people because they told me how inspired they were by the story and about the journey that I took to make the story public. They lied and they deceived which if you're a Christian organization is against the standard morals of an actual Christian and any christian-based organization. I think it's time for God to step in. In response to westbow stating they don't have any identifying information they are lying. I pulled my book from them about 2 weeks ago and had to fight with them to do it. I had to reach out to the person who started wesbo who works for Harper Collins and then they finally responded back stating that they would pull my book. Then they try to give me a song and dance saying that certain publishers will be able to hold on to the manuscript and print it as special books or hard to get books. I told them this was not part of the agreement in 2014 nor is it now. I told them I wanted the book pulled immediately from them and from all retailers. The only books for sale are three which are on eBay. Because the book is quoted one of the most powerful books in history since the story of the Bible people are asking quite a bit for those books. Also because those books are signed by myself. For anyone out there who has a copy of the book. If you would like it signed copy please reach out to me.
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.
I am very happy with the actual book itself. It turned out very well and looks fabulous. My area of unhappiness is in the marketing. The marketing representative, Jose, is very slow to return emails, if he does at all. I gave up trying to get him to return my calls. I have had to request updates on things like the website and audiobook several times, and most of the time, I have to ask several times before I get an answer. They have taken three months to get the website live and are now trying to give me only nine months of hosting instead of the twelve I paid for. I had to fight to get the two extra pages added, even though I paid for them. They allegedly sent a press release to a bunch of media outlets, but with the lack of response from Jose, I have no confidence that if a media outlet contacted them, anyone would even see it or respond. I have made several requests to several people for a supervisor or manager to contact me, but these requests have been met with silence. It appears that once they have your money and give you a product, they no longer care about customer service. The first and last book that Westbow will publish for me.
We're glad to hear you're happy with your completed book. I apologize for the communication issues you experienced and that they left you with a negative impression. Since your review, we've been in touch to update you on the status of your marketing services, and a manager is currently working with you to address your concerns. Thank you for your feedback. We value the customer experience and appreciate the opportunity to address these concerns.
Westbow Press is a long term recognized publisher of inspirational and Christian works. It is both a recognized brand and a rigorous and stringent reviewer of content. While there are any options for authors to publish works, some less expensive and some more expensive, none or very few options offer the prestige of having met the rigorous standards of WestBow Press and the prestige of being published under the WestBow Press brand backed by Zondervan-Thomas Nelson which is owned by Harper Collins, and is the largest publisher of Christian works in the world. That type of backing means a lot when it comes to the plethora of publishing opportunities available to authors today. The WestBow Press staff is professional, timely, and helpful in guiding an author through the process. While WestBow Press might not be for everybody, it should be a first consideration for new authors jumping into an already very crowded field.
After reading most of the reviews of other authors who published with Westbow Press, I realize that we were expecting a Christian spirit and dedication for the best outcome. All I could see was greed and careless for my opinion, my need for guidance or someone to listen to my instructions. I published my book in November 2022. I did myself the cover, the illustrations inside the book and the editing. They took vacations and did not return my calls, did not read my instructions and I was able to finalize my book only after I spoke with the lady who was executing the printing. I truly regret that I failed for the name of the company, they charge too much for too little they do. The attitude is of unmasked sarcasm and greed.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We're sorry to hear about your frustrations and wish this had been brought to our attention back in 2022 when we were working together, as we always strive to address concerns promptly. Your comments will be shared with our team to ensure we improve our services. If you'd like to discuss this further, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Westbow press representatives were extremely nice until AFTER they published my book. They continuously contacted me in an effort to get me to agree to more expensive advertising packages. Even though I said I couldn't afford it they continued to email and call with offers for payment plans and such. Several representatives were rude in response to telling them I wasn't interested. My most recent concern is when I received my book and the publish date says "rev date". This is the first and only book I've had published. It is very embarrassing when people ask about the previous version when infact there is no other version. They are not prompt when responding to an issue. When they do finally contact me with their excuses, they don't offer proof of why they're denying to resolve the issue. They're sometimes bossy during phone calls. One representative would cut me off while I was trying to speak to her. They claim to be a Christian publishing company but they didn't treat me with Christian values. Paying for more edits than the package I chose allowed was extremely overpriced. In my opinion this company is only out to make money. I suggest publishing a book yourself instead of paying thousands of dollars only to receive sometimes less than a dollar in three months for all books sold. They asked for information regarding my complaint that I previously submitted. I originally requested a few books that have the word "rev" removed as an attempt to rectify the problem. After dealing with Westbow Press to no prevail I lowered my request to a hardcover author's copy without the word "rev" before the publish date. I am currently awaiting their reply, or should I say denial. ***They will most likely reply to this review saying they are going to improve their services but I guarantee they will NOT negotiate a way to resolve this issue unless it benefits their pocketbook. Shelly Miller Fronterhouse ********In response to your excuse wouldn't it have saved a lot of time and frustration if you would have told me these things BEFORE this review. Also, I did unsubscribe and still received emails. This doesn't dismiss how rude some of your staff are. Thanks for responding so quickly when it is important to your satisfaction. You aren't kidding about making a profit. Information for authors... This is an example of what you will receive. Example: NET SALE $242.42 AUTHOR EARNINGS $59.44 God Bless!
First, to address the sales calls, we have added you to our "Do Not Contact" list. This means you will no longer receive promotional calls or emails about advertising packages or any other sales-related communications. We understand your confusion regarding the "rev date" on your published book. Let me clarify the purpose and importance of this practice. The "rev date" is not an indication of previous versions or publications of your book. Rather, it's a standard industry practice to protect authors and maintain quality control. Here's why we use it: 1. Quality assurance: The "rev date" allows us to track the most current version of your book's file. This ensures that printers always use the most up-to-date version, preventing any outdated content from being printed. 2. Author protection: In case of any issues or complaints, the "rev date" helps us quickly identify which exact version of the book a reader has. This is crucial for addressing any concerns efficiently. 3. Industry standard: This practice is similar to traditional publishing houses which use roman numerals to track print runs. Our "rev date" serves a similar purpose in the modern publishing landscape. As for your opinion that the company is only out to make money, we are indeed a business that needs to generate revenue to operate and provide services to authors. Our pricing structure reflects the expertise, time, and resources invested. We offer various packages to cater to different needs and budgets. Additional services naturally incur extra costs. We acknowledge that publishing paths vary, and authors must choose what works best for their goals and resources. Our aim is to provide value to those who seek our expertise, but we respect that it may not be the right fit for everyone.
I suppose I have to admire this outfit for their persistence. I'm not an author, I've never published anything, and I'm not in the USA, but still their pleading emails come despite my attempts to unsubscribe from them. Where they got my address from in the first place is a mystery too! If an actual human being reads this, please can you unsubscribe me? I received the following letter from you on 28th June. It makes claims that are simply not true - I have never been in contact with you, and I have never heard of you. I classified the address as spam, and asked to be unsubscribed. Hi Roger, I see that you had previously expressed interest in our publishing services. (NOT TRUE) I just wanted to make sure you received all the information you were looking for. (I WASN’T LOOKING) WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan, offers supported self-publishing packages and services for Christian authors. May I assist in setting up a call with your publishing consultant to discuss this further? Best regards and have a good day, Maria Parker | Publishing Assistant WestBow Press 1.844.714.3454 However, I received further letters into my spam folder (so didn’t see them) on July 1, 5, 10 and 16, all pressing me urgently to respond. On July 18 I once again looked in the spam folder and saw all these letters. Once again I “unsubscribed” and saw the invitation to write a Trustpilot review - which I did. As I said in the original review, I am not an author, I have never been published, I’m not in the USA, and I have no idea where you got my address from. This is why I assumed that all these letters were just spam.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced with our persistent emails. We deeply regret the mix-up that led to you being included in our mailing list. We want to assure you that we have taken immediate action to remove your email address from our database. You will no longer receive any further communications from us. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you have any other concerns or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our support team at [email protected]
I have to say that giving a one star review is painful. I am joyful that we have a book, but the level of frustration, especially at the end, was unacceptable. After repeated attempts and paying almost $5,000 to have an audio book published, we were forced to cancel the order receiving only a portion of our payment back. WestBow completely failed on meeting multiple deadlines and fulfilling their obligation. Emails were not answered and phone calls were not returned. We also bought their expensive "marketing package" that they unbelievably executed before the audio book and website were ready and available, which resulted in potentially lost sales and the ability to capture readers' names. WestBow was not communicative during this time. I finally realized that they have a system and authors need to suck it up and follow their system, no questions asked. I highly recommend that authors review other marketing avenues, which I discovered are more affordably priced. Additionally, their publishing process involves moving from one consultant to another during each phase. Some consultants were excellent. If they wanted to sell you something, they were fabulous. The process does not allow the author to form a relationship with any one person so after a while, it felt like I was drowning in emails especially all the ones asking me to spend more money on marketing. Very, very disappointing to have lost money. Even more disappointing is having the joy of a finished book diminished by level of frustration. I expect so much more from a Christian organization.
We deeply regret the frustration and disappointment you experienced during your publishing journey with WestBow Press. Your feedback is invaluable, and we are sincerely sorry for the challenges you faced. We understand how important this project was to you and are disheartened that we did not meet your expectations. The issues you mentioned, including missed deadlines, lack of communication, and the premature execution of your marketing package, are not reflective of the standards we strive to uphold. We are actively reviewing our processes. As a Christian organization, we hold ourselves to high standards of integrity and service. We are truly sorry that we fell short in your case.
In 2021 July I was instructed by email to submit my WB8 form to my Country's Revenue department in order to receive my Royalties.Since I submitted all my forms until today I have not received a dime and I write emails without receiving any response. It's been Three years now. Even today I still have not received any response to my emails. It's been Seven years today and a few months added. Please send me an email to communicate.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. We understand the challenges faced by international authors regarding withholding taxes and payment methods. Please know that we are actively working on a solution for international payments, including direct deposits for authors. Our goal is to make the process smoother and more convenient for all our authors. We appreciate your patience as we strive to improve our services.
All connections have been positive and helpful. One outstanding response: I was told in presale conversations that my package would include developing a website for my book. I have had no follow-up or responses for the requested service at this point.
Thank you for your positive feedback regarding our connections and interactions. However, we apologize for the lack of follow-up on the website development promised in your package. We will have your marketing service rep reach out. Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to resolving this issue for you.
Reaching out to me with a scheduled telephone appointment provided the setting for a productive and personal exchange of information. Keeping the appointment on time convinced me the caller took my inquiry seriously. Listening carefully to my needs, my intention to publish and why, confirmed the caller's sincerity in wanting to help me accomplish my goals, not just make a sale.
Thank you for your feedback. We're delighted to hear that your scheduled telephone appointment provided a productive and personal exchange of information. It's great to know that the punctuality and attentiveness of our team member reassured you of our commitment to your book. We strive to listen carefully to your needs and understand your intentions, ensuring that our primary goal is to help you accomplish your publishing goals, not just make a sale. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we're here to support you every step of the way.
The best printing press ever! Very good customer service provider!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience. Thank you for choosing us!
What went wrong this time? I gave a low rating because after my book moved to the design and marketing phase, it has been nothing but problematic. In addition, the marketing person does not return calls and or emails. Some people do well with communicating by emails and some don't. I need to talk with you directly and even when his voicemail message says leave me an mail and you will get ready back to us, that is not the case. So that is why I gave them such a low rating. All it takes is one person on the team to impact the entire process and I have been impacted. It is so disheartening seeing that I am a new author.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience. We sincerely apologize for the issues you've encountered during the design and marketing phase of your book. Effective communication is crucial, and it's clear we fell short in this regard. We are committed to improving our communication and making sure your project moves forward smoothly. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
This was my first experience at self publishing. WestBow Press staff in every department walked me through things I didn't understand and patiently explained everything. They even gave me a little tech support when I needed it. They were always kind and supportive. If I publish again, my first choice would be WestBow Press.
Thank you for sharing your experience with WestBow Press! We are delighted to hear that your first venture into self-publishing was a positive one, thanks to the support and guidance from our team. We strive to make the publishing process as smooth and understandable as possible, especially for new authors. Your feedback about the kindness and support you received is truly appreciated and motivates us to continue providing excellent service. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you again on your next publishing project. Thank you for choosing WestBow Press as your first choice!
Good customer service. Professional product.
Thank you for your kind review! We're pleased to hear that you were happy with our customer service and found our product to be professional. We strive to meet and exceed our customers' expectations, and your feedback is greatly appreciated. If you have any further needs or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Did a good job of answering my questions and producing my book in a timely manner
Thank you for your positive review! We're delighted to hear that you were satisfied with how we answered your questions and delivered your book promptly. Your feedback motivates us to continue providing excellent service. If you need anything else or have further projects, we're here to help!
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