Tate Publishing

I wrote a children's book in July. I found Tate Publishing online. Their sales pitch sounded good to me. It sounded like they were legit, as I wanted to avoid those publishers asking me for money. I knew better. You don't pay them. If it's legit, they pay you! They liked my book and wanted to publish it. They sent me a contract, asking of course for $3990.00.

I was so disappointed! I thought they would send the contracts along with a signing bonus check! Instead, they were asking me for money. I've been in the music business for over 35 years, and I know the scams! I don't see how companies can get away with this. I should have known it was a scam in the first place, when they claim to be Christians! This is the biggest scam since the beginning of time! Do not self publish! It is a scam! I can have a book made myself and sell it! You can have anything made for a price. After some research, my advice is to get yourself an agent or entertainment lawyer for a fee, and to shop your book to legit companies! Look for an agent or entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles or New York. This is your best bet! Thanks.

I sent a book off to Tate Publishing a few years back and was given a phone call from them back in August of '05. A man by the name of Dr. Jack Tate told me, "Everyone is talking about your book here. My daughter, Trinity, stayed up all night reading it and couldn't put it down. When can you send us the rest of your work?" I was given a contract without them reading all of it and that should have made me suspicious but I was star struck at the time and convinced they would sell the title. I signed a contract with them and gave them a check for $3,998.00 or thereabouts and trusted that they would invest their $16,000. to promote it.

They told me I was to provide contacts in the name of book signing coordinators etc. at bookstores and I did. I had to do all the work and they followed up with an email to the person I contacted. I invited friends and family to book signings and sold a few to people I knew from my church, but beyond that, I had to do all the work including most of the editing, writing hundreds of emails and sending off copies for review etc. and to my knowledge Tate did virtually nothing to promote the book. I want my money back and would like them to prove they invested $16,000. of their own money to promote the work. I filed a complaint with BBB in Oklahoma but they eventually dropped the case. Perhaps they are in bed with Tate. I'm angry and would love to get my investment back.

Back in 2008, I submitted a manuscript to Tate Publishing and they accepted my children's book, but asked me to contribute money towards it (just under $4,000). They said that they would market it, etc. Well, that didn't happen. My first book signing wasn't even on their event calendar and they said they would do a media blitz. It didn't happen.

The list goes on about things that happened but in my contract, it says that my book would be published and distributed within one year of me signing the contract. I signed and mailed the contract at the end of June 2008 and my book was not released until August 1st, 2009, putting them in breach of the contract, which they flat out deny. The wording is "the publisher agrees to publish and distribute the work of the author within a time frame not to exceed one year from the execution of this contract unless agreed upon in writing".

Where do I stand in all of this? I just want my money back. I am on disability and have a very meager income, I told them this and I can't believe they would take advantage of people like this. It is really publishing on demand with a couple of bonuses, like illustrations (which I collaborated on) and an audio book, even for one book signing, I ordered books and they never even sent them. I just feel so inadequate against them. Thank you.