WestBow needs to verbally tell a person…
WestBow needs to verbally tell a person the next step involved, especially the possible costs as one step is finished. I was encouraged to submit my manuscript, but when I was hesitant, I was told I would always have control over the final printing. I was not told that once I submitted, each change and correction could only be done in modification forms with a small number of changes, including punctuation, and each time I used a modification form the cost was $100. I will say I was allowed more changes than the directions said, but at first I did try to stay in the 24 changes, and I would have had more if I had not felt constrained. I made a number of changes after giving the OK to submit over the phone, and I did not remember where or how many, so I had to re-submit costing $299. I would have saved that money if they had told me then any changes could only be in the modification forms at a cost, when I was encouraged to submit because it was about a year after I paid to have it published. I was informed that I could take as long as I wanted. I do admit I could possibly have saved $300 on modification forms if I had thought to wait to re-submit. Even now after publication, I see errors that I would like to change. I am also displeased that as the author who wrote the book and paid every step of the way to publish it, I must buy the book at the retail price with only a 20% discount unless I buy larger quantities. I am not able to distribute the book on my own in larger quantities and be paid for it, and I wanted to be able to give a sample to churches in my area to be used in Sunday school or a Bible study. I did receive 5 copies in print included in the cost of publishing. I have been contacted by their marketing division and they want more money to help sell the book. I heard on TBN that they will advertise the book if they publish a Christian commentary. WestBow decides the retail cost of the book by the number of pages, and to change that is a bigger cost. Because my book is a Bible commentary, I am only trying to help people understand difficult scripture and I am pleased anyone can purchase the e-book at a lower cost.