POD PSA*

A few months ago my hometown started putting out a free monthly "magazine" (basically a glossy community newsletter filled mostly with ads), the latest of which was lying on the kitchen counter this morning while I was drinking my daily portion of calcium. One of the headlines on the cover read, "Local Author Publishes Novel," so I opened it up and flipped to the article. My first thought as I did so was, of course, pure envy. As I read the article my envy was tempered by the suspicion that said "author" self-published through a POD, even though the publisher was never mentioned in the article (or maybe because the publisher was never mentioned). Then, as I put the 'zine away and headed out the door for the morning rush, I felt good and ashamed of myself for being such a cynical critic who can't just be happy for a fellow local writer's success.

And then I got to work and did some digging: Yup. POD. Worse, one with a big red scam flag, being that they don't mention on their site that they require a $4,000 "investment" to publish and market your work.

I mention this not because I want to be petty and out the local gal as being not "really" published (notice how I don't mention her name or the title of her book) and anyway, hey, good for her if the POD road works for her and makes her happy. But it kind of makes my blood boil that this fishy POD is not only trying to deceive aspiring writers into thinking that they're a legitimate publishing company, but that they're doing so under the banner of Christ.

Um... NOT.

Look, they may be Christians, and they may even believe that they are legitimate and aren't doing anything wrong. I guess that part's between them and God. I think my real point is that just because a company labels itself as "Christian" does not mean that they're on the up-and-up, and a quick Google search showed me that this one isn't. Basically, don't wave your Christian flag around while engaging in buttholish behavior. I've been guilty of this at times as well -- I'm sure every Christian has -- but, well, this is exactly why I don't have a Jesus fish or one of those praying Calvin decals on my car. I'm too susceptible to road rage and until I can develop the ability to maintain driving zen and keep my middling finger on the steering wheel, I don't need to be advertising my Christian status to my fellow drivers.

...

So anyway, Tate Publishing = expensive POD, in case you were checking them out and too misdirected by all of the evangelizing to realize that you have to give them money for your book to see the light of day.

I hope the local gal makes her money back. That's all.

*Procrastinating Sneakily Always