Olympia Publishers Scam

It was in the winter of 2008 that I heard for the first time of this publisher from London. Scanning over their website I couldn’t find anything wrong with them. Everything looked very professional. There I was struggling to finish the manuscript of my first novel I decided to approach them by letter and inquire whether they were interested in my book. After several weeks I received a positive reply; if could sent a synopsis and four chapters of the manuscript.  I then prepared a 400 word synopsis and choose the four strongest chapters. After waiting for more than two months another positive reply came form the Olympia publishers corner. They were very enthusiastic and wanted to see more.  Thus I pushed myself to finish and shape up the manuscript which I sent to London in the spring of 2009.  This time I had to wait a lot longer before I received a reply. Getting inpatient I decided after nearly three months to inquire what the status  of my manuscript was.  In July 2009 Olympia sent me a letter in which they applied that although the manuscript had been suitable for a large public, they thought it necessary that I contributed to the cost to publish the book.

There is no mention in their website that Olympia is a vanity, self publisher or supported self publisher. I have scanned their complete website as I told you before. I could not find any trace to proof any of the above. If you can find it, let me know; this is their site http://olympiapublishers.com

I thought this was odd and decided not to take up their ‘offer’. If I had to pay them to get published I might as well do everything my self and find one of the print on demand publishers on the Internet that was suitable for me. I finally choose http:lulu.com and are quite content with them. They are clear and to the point and form the beginning on you know who and what they are. Another POD self publisher I have been considering was http://authorhouse.com they have several packets and ask between $ 500 and $ 1000.-. Again this is clearly stated in their site.

Thinking that the chapter of Olympia was closed I was mistaken and received another letter from them at the end of September. They had reconsidered my situation and were prepared to publish me. No mention of any payment from my side was made in the letter. To see what would happen I replied to their letter. Within 14 days I received a contract.  At first everything seemed plausible, until I came to the page where they asked me for £ 3.300.- as a contribution.  So, first they let me wait for months and when they finally think they have me hanging on their fishing line they haul me in within two weeks. OK I don’t mind paying a fee for editing and other services like promotion, but more than three grant? This is absurd. I hope that my testimonial can prevent other writers from waisting their time.