# For fifty bucks someone will throw your book at J.K. Rowling **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824 "2011-08-15T20:38:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/1 "2011-08-15T20:38:37Z")
Publish America will “bring your book to the attention of Harry Potter’s author” for fifty bucks. (More info here: [http://www.publishamerica.net/JKRowling.html](http://www.publishamerica.net/JKRowling.html)) Now, I would bet my first-born child against a day-old bagel that they don’t even have an appointment with her. I seriously doubt they have even tried to contact her. I wonder how many people are taking them up on this offer? Do they imagine that Rowling will be meeting with PA reps at length to discuss these vanity published books, picking the ones she likes best, reading them, loving them, and helping the authors get major book deals? Well, yeah, I guess that IS what they think, but it’s the saddest scam I’ve ever seen. It’s even sadder than the “pre-written” book scam at Outskirts Press ([Personalized kid’s books make great gifts. Publish & sell it online. at OutskirtsPress Self Publishing](http://www.outskirtspress.com/options/17701_fully_illustrated_custom_children_s_book_for_a_boy.html)) Bonus material: I was curious to see if this ballsy venture into utter soullessness on the part of the most sued company in publishing had prompted any news stories, so I googled Publish America J.K. Rowling, and found this, the saddest thread about writing and publishing I have ever read. This woman was excited to have a form letter from Rowling’s people after suggesting that Rowling steer the Harry Potter books into her own creepy self pubbed Christian-fantasy series which already has 45 volumes (!). The grammatically fractured letter adds to the overwhelming pathos of the whole letter. [http://www.publishamerica.com/cgi-bin/pamessageboard/data/lounge/4363.htm](http://www.publishamerica.com/cgi-bin/pamessageboard/data/lounge/4363.htm) > [@](#): > > I’d asked him if JK was going to end the series by HP’s death. Then could he meet up with my Angel Shanaya where he’d go to her Higher Calling school. Then he’d have wings to fly, but he’d also have to learn how to fly the Angel doved oar boats in the molting contest, to how to use his new Higher powers from God as a new Angel in heaven with his friends. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/2 "2011-08-15T20:52:54Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > the most sued company in publishing Really? What is Publish America and why do they get sued so much? Are they like the publishing company in _Foucault’s Pendulum_, preying on vanity authors? > [@](#): > > This woman was excited to have a form letter from Rowling’s people after suggesting that Rowling steer the Harry Potter books into her own creepy self pubbed Christian-fantasy series which already has 45 volumes I thought that was the way Harry Potter’s adventures ended. [http://www.homeonthestrange.com/view.php?ID=169](http://www.homeonthestrange.com/view.php?ID=169) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/3 "2011-08-15T21:03:24Z")
. . . . . How hard? ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/4 "2011-08-15T22:28:15Z")
Well, at least one (?) of the angel lady’s books has a five star rating on Amazon… > **[Angels in the Mist: Grimmett, Darlene Roseanne: 9781413719659: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Mist-Darlene-Roseanne-Grimmett/dp/1413719651)** > > Angels in the Mist \[Grimmett, Darlene Roseanne\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Angels in the Mist “This book is a must for Adults with children, as well as adults alike.” ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/5 "2011-08-15T22:35:07Z")
Psst… most reviews of little-known authors on Amazon are by friends and family of the author, if not transparently the author his- or herself. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/6 "2011-08-15T22:36:26Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > . > . > . > . > . > How hard? That was my first thought too. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/7 "2011-08-15T22:38:19Z")
> [@lavenderviolet](#): > > “This book is a must for Adults with children, as well as adults alike.” Spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/8 "2011-08-15T22:47:55Z")
Sales rank in the 8 millions. I didn’t know sales ranks got that low, and I’ve tested the low end rather admirably myself. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/9 "2011-08-15T22:50:05Z")
I don’t understand people hating on J.K. Rowling. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/10 "2011-08-15T22:56:48Z")
I think it might have something to do with the 10,000 pages of overrated huffle-puffle, argle-bargle kid’s _‘ooh, I wish I was a wizard too’_ stories, that are lapped up by the masses as though they were flung down from Olympus by Zeus himself. But I suppose it could be her incessant nose-picking too. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/11 "2011-08-16T00:59:04Z")
Well, the thread was about something else, but I forget what now. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/12 "2011-08-16T02:03:26Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Really? What is Publish America and why do they get sued so much? Are they like the publishing company in _Foucault’s Pendulum_, preying on vanity authors? Exactly. Here’s the **[Atlanta Nights](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Nights)** story, which is an entertaining read. Here’s [Atlanta Nights](http://web.cs.du.edu/~aburt/StingManuscript.pdf) itself (pdf). Remember PublishAmerica was willing to publish it. Signed Travis Tea ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/13 "2011-08-16T02:25:48Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Psst… most reviews of little-known authors on Amazon are by friends and family of the author, if not transparently the author his- or herself. Are you sure? I totally believe that someone unrelated to the author read that book and thought so highly of it that they now want to purchase toys based on characters from the book. Totally. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/14 "2011-08-16T05:08:28Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > . > . > . > . > . > How hard? And how much extra to include a cream pie with that vanity novel? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/15 "2011-08-16T05:45:17Z")
Didn’t Publish America previously work the same scam with Nora Roberts’ name? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/16 "2011-08-16T05:51:44Z")
I wonder how much someone would charge me to throw a book at Stephen King? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/17 "2011-08-16T19:25:32Z")
> [@](#): > > And how much extra to include a cream pie with that vanity novel? I beg your pardon! My book is _not_ a vanity novel! Bur it’s not all that heavy, which is why I ask “How Hard?” You’d have to throw it with some heft, or hir her with the corner or something to do any damage. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/18 "2011-08-17T05:41:21Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Bur it’s not all that heavy, which is why I ask “How Hard?” You’d have to throw it with some heft, or hir her with the corner or something to do any damage. I’ll throw my book point blank. And forget the cream pie! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/19 "2011-08-17T11:55:31Z")
[Follow-up from J.K.R.](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5juUboJyrleuqHmpWXjFlLe_1nafg?docId=c06aa1a80d1546c9954588c73b97f2c0) [Similar scam involving Random House Publishing.](http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/012212.html) It seems they’ve tried pulling this with fans of Nora Roberts, Steven King, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824/20 "2011-08-17T12:16:12Z")
From the second link: > [@](#): > > Every writer dreams about becoming a published author. Once they have reached that goal, as you have, many dream of the next step up: to become a Random House author. I’m living the dream! > [@](#): > > Their extensive operation a few miles from our own headquarters makes them virtual neighbors. The bindery is in Maryland. The editors are in New York. (I just checked on Google Maps, and there’s more than 30 miles between PA and the RH bindery, but it’s beside the point since the bindery doesn’t have editorial offices and the geographical proximity to the RH bindery means less than nothing when they submit the bound books to New York). > [@](#): > > We will submit not one, but up to five copies of your book to Random House’s acquisition editors, so that they can also pass the book around their imprints if they want. Ha ha. So you pay for five books instead of one. And since they won’t even match submission guidelines they won’t be read. And yet I am pleasantly surprised that there’s not a surcharge of some ridiculous amount to have them mail the books for you. > [@](#): > > By using the coupon you are authorizing us to **donate** the books to Random House. Donate? LOL. I particularly like the David and Goliath text at the end of the article. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-fifty-bucks-someone-will-throw-your-book-at-j-k-rowling/592824.md?page=2)