Elijah D.
★☆☆☆☆ — Disappointed by the lack of clarity about author costs
I submitted I Feel Like I’ve Met You Before to Franklin Publishers because I understood their marketing to describe a traditional publishing arrangement in which the publisher covers editing and publication costs. During our discussions, I was asked to contribute $1,300 toward editorial work. Franklin explained that this was an editorial contribution rather than a publication fee, with publication dependent on completing revisions and receiving editorial clearance. That distinction did not resolve my concern about the difference between the arrangement I expected from their marketing and the one offered to me. I made clear that I was willing to undertake substantial revisions and respond to editorial guidance, but would not proceed with the proposed author payment. My one-star rating concerns transparency and the trust lost during this process—not whether they chose to publish my book. Any circumstances in which authors may be asked to pay for required editorial work should be clearly disclosed before submission. I sincerely hope Franklin improves that clarity for future authors.