Print on Demand (POD) publishing is filled with hassles, but this author seems to have had extraordinary challenges when using Lulu’s system.

Macopinion reports:

“Unfortunately, my impressions of Lulu went downhill when I began researching the details of the publishing process. For one, there is almost too much information on their site. Publishing is complicated and there are hundreds of FAQs split among thousands of pages: I spent many hours reading through their site trying to understand all of the available options and procedures.”

Lulu is hardly a new kid on the block, and they seem to be successful. So why can’t they get their site organized?

As Macopinion says, they offer “free” publishing; you just pay for the books.

You should read his entire post, but as for me, I’d rather pay for decent service than go through this kind of nonsense.

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Three weeks after completing the class one student wrote:

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Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury has some unhappy authors.

Bloomsbury authors revolt over Harry Potter - Telegraph reports:

“One of their bestselling authors said: ‘I wouldn’t place another book with them.

‘They treat you with complete disregard and I know of four other writers who are very discontented.’”

Joanna Trollope has moved to Transworld, and the publisher has paid vast sums for celebrity “books” - viz “Gary Barlow, the singer with boy band Take That, received a £1 million advance for his autobiography, while the young boxer, Amir Khan, was said to have received £400,000 for his memoirs.”

Romance writer, publisher split up over plagiarism claims - Boston.com reports:

“‘Signet has conducted an extensive review of all its Cassie Edwards novels and due to irreconcilable editorial differences, Ms. Edwards and Signet have mutually agreed to part ways,’ the publisher said in a statement Friday.

‘Cassie Edwards novels will no longer be published with Signet Books. All rights to Ms. Edwards’ previously published Signet books have reverted to the author.’”

There’s more information on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, which first broke the plagiarism story.

If you’re writing a novel (or indeed, any kind of book) please learn how to cite sources, and how to work with source information. It’s vital.

Since we all work on computer these days, it’s easy to confuse your own words with those of others. It’s up to you to work out how you handle this. I keep all my own notes separate from research (different folders, and different programs), and when I’m using a digital recorder to take notes, I emphasize which words are someone else’s and which are my own.

This is a sad story, because Cassie Edwards has been writing for years.

Let this story be a moral to you. Develop professional work habits, right from the start. Take nothing for granted.