iUniverseReviews of iuniverse.com

The editing process is the strongest part of the experience. I was very happy with the initial content editor's suggestions for improvement. The line editing service was also fantastic. My only issue with it was that I put much effort into avoiding passive voice, only to see the passive voice placed in many sentences. I would have liked it if I had a 15 minute conversation with the line editor - just to explain the reasoning behind the editing. The cover design team did a good job, I wish there was an option for me to purchase the rights to the cover as it was very difficult for me to market my book without a high definition image of the cover. This brings me to the marketing issue which I think is the weakest part of the service. I never had a comfortable feeling with the marketing team. At times, I felt like I was on a used car lot. The price tag was very expensive even with my author learning center membership. In the end, the social media guide was very fundamental, not telling me how to do anything that I wanted to learn. I believe that I could have conducted a more effective marketing campaign on my own using the money that I gave to the marketing team. Kudos to Tiffany, Tami and Mark Frances - I hated to see him go.

Everyone i spoke to was quite lovely. However the editing process left much to be desired. I found misplaced quotation marks, simple grammatical errors. The book was beautiful when I received it however I found an error on the back cover. Which was probably my fault since I didn't catch it. I found out it would cost 300.00 to fix it. Never-ending. Next book I will hire my own editor

It started off well. I'm a struggling student who wanted to self publish for free. They kept telling me my content was amazing! and that it could take me somewhere. So, I agreed to the marketing services Rey Tome offered. He convinced me it would be great. it is said in the agreement only if I sign anything I will not get a refund. So, I took time to think about such things. After awhile I signed about 3 forms and did not sign the rest. After I asked for a refund for the content I DID NOT SIGN. They just stopped talking to me. I finally got a hold of someone after months of emails and they said "we can not give refunds after 6 months" Could that be why they are not responding to me? Could they be waiting for the time to come up? I definitely would not recommend this site and do not give them any of your money. My experience as of now is horrible. Amazon has a place called Kindle Publishing that I heard is good for the wallet and environment. It's also FREE and has more creative options. (iUniverse only has Hardcover and Glossy cover - for those who prefer matte, amazon has it). Try starting there. I wish I had.

Publishing consultant, Karen Stansberry, provided clear alternatives in choosing my package for publication of my new book, Our Blood Runs Red. She was informative, pleasant and a pleasure to work with. This is my second publication working with Karen and look forward to the next...

I published my first book with iUniverse when it first started, the second book the next year. My third book this month 11/20. The experience for all Three was very good. The Editoring service is not like tradional publishers for which you pay lots of $$$$$. They provide an Editoral Evaluation, one of their employees read the book and provide general coments and plus or minus over certain areas. As the author has the final approval of their design and content of the internal part, provided 2 editing reviews. That is the same for the front and back covers. No agent taking roalty $ from it. It is 10% if bought from B&N, Amazon, etc. and 25% if direct from iUniverse.

I appreciate the learning process between becoming a "self published author", the business of becoming familiar with the contract, the chain of command (ex.: what department does what task); and the time it took for me to become a better writer, especially one who has learned the mechanics of self publishing to the point where I learned exactly what I want in terms of text and design.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, or so they say. In 2020 I increased my book count to 5 with the additions of #NorthernECHO and #GipsyMOTH as I continue my writing journey. I first engaged with iUniverse with my first book #OperationARGUS, I found the packages appealing in as much as it was clear what was included and what was not. With each book and through #BikiniBRAVO and then #ColdCOURAGE the process got a lot easier. My editor and Book Doctor has been the same for all 5 and he has been wonderful - guiding my writing, making constructive suggestions for change, and ultimately taking the pen to finesse the final product. The books themselves are nicely designed, and the actual books printed and presented to an exceptional quality. The iUniverse global network means that the books are available through not only their own online bookstore, but also with most of the major online retailers which makes marketing, distribution, and availability easy and accessible, globally. I aim to continue with my writing, and would have no hesitation in continuing to publish my next book, #SSIndigo and future titles to come with iUniverse.

There is no other 'duty' that a teenager can really do other than to be a companion. Look at HR Pufnstuf or Pete's Dragon or, really Star Trek's _Metamorphosis_ (Season 2, episode 9)--a human and 'companion'. On this, 'you can't go no better'. Read it and see!