John Doppler, Author at The Self-Publishing Advice Center

Charity Publishing: What Indie Authors Should Know

Charity publishing is fraught with risks and responsibilities, and good intentions can lead down very dark paths. Here's what you should be aware of when taking part in a charity anthology, box set, or other charitable publishing venture.

November 12, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

Watchdog Advisory: Octa Group

A devious and prolific impostor is targeting indie authors with cookie cutter businesses. Meet Octa Group and its endless aliases.

October 15, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

5 Important Tips for Vetting Community-Specific Publishers

Publishing services that serve specific communities are increasingly popular, but exploitative and predatory operators follow close behind.

September 10, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

Watchdog Advisory: Bookplate Press

The owners of Dog Ear Publishing are apparently attempting to evade angry authors by assuming a new identity: Bookplate Press.

August 13, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

Fool Me Twice: How Victims of Vanity Presses Become Repeat Victims

Authors who fall prey to a vanity press are frequently victimized by scammers or other vanity presses. It's easy to accuse those authors of being gullible or not doing their research, but there's more to the story.

July 9, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

What Is Vanity Publishing?

Vanity presses are almost universally reviled, but is the nearly 80-year-old definition still appropriate in the self-publishing renaissance?

Friends Don’t Let Friends Use Vanity Presses

How do you explain the dark reality of vanity presses to an author who desperately wants to believe the sales pitch? Show them the proof.

April 9, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

5 Reasons Why Publishers Fail (and How to Avoid Them)

When small publishers fail, they often implode spectacularly. How can publishers avoid this? And how can authors stay safe?

March 12, 2020
John Doppler
Watchdog

The Periodic Table of Self-Publishing Services

There's a service for any element of the publishing process — including some you've probably never heard of. We're here to help you make sense of it all.