Contract offered by Pegasus Publishers - scam?

[RaisinsOfMildAnnoyance]

They have offered me a contract that requires author contribution before going to print. I submitted my manuscript to them before doing due diligence, so that's my rookie error. It seems like they'd just accept any submissions if their standard contract means authors are paying them.

I would go the self publishing route, but it's a children's book and I'd need illustrations.

Any experiences with this sort of thing?

[LuckOfTheDrawer]

A quick Google suggests that there are some issues...

[RaisinsOfMildAnnoyance]

Well, yes, but I'd be interested in any first-hand accounts here. 😊

[Grmumpy]

Just Google Pegasus..not good imo. My friend just paid someone four hundred pounds to prep her children’s book and put it on Amazon. I think it is free if you can get your head around the technology. Same person offered her a person to contact to do illustrations but she did her own. However, imo a book on Amazon without marketing is unlikely to generate many sales.

[RaisinsOfMildAnnoyance]

Yeah, I'll likely give them a swerve. I might look into self publishing, will just need to find an artist!

[JT5]

What sort of pictures? I might consider it. I looked at Pegasus, but suspect they were a con, but they don't accept just any book apparently.

[Dibilnik]

Check out Reedsy Marketplace OP, for designers and other pros to help you refine the book.

[blackrabbitwhiterabbit]

AVOID AVOID AVOID. Please. My friend got sucked in.

[Cecivale]

I simply tell you my experience with Pegasus publisher so far:

on November 22nd 2022 I signed a contract for the publication of my novel and I paid 2500 pounds for the publication of my work. The publisher had, according to the contract, 325 days to produce the publisher's edition.

I waited for some months, then I started the revision of the manuscript, strictly respecting their deadlines. On April 14th 2023, I signed the final proof of the manuscript.

I waited for a few months (all these long periods without any update) and on June 22nd I received the outline illustration for my book cover. There were some mistakes and I made some suggestions. On September 11th I received an updated version of the cover, which I approved. They immediately replied that they were going to colour the illustration.

From then on I haven't received any more updates and the Production doesn't answer to my requests (I think perfectly legitimate) of updates any more.

I asked my accountant and my legal representative to calculate (I live in Italy, so working days may be different) 325 working days in the UK, and they told me that the book must be published by March 7th. They have 3 working days left to publish my book, and I still don't receive any update.

Clause 15 of the contract states that I will receive a complete refund if they fail to publish my book. I hope so, at least!

[blackrabbitwhiterabbit]

@Cecivale

I simply tell you my experience with Pegasus publisher so far:

on November 22nd 2022 I signed a contract for the publication of my novel and I paid 2500 pounds for the publication of my work. The publisher had, according to the contract, 325 days to produce the publisher's edition.

I waited for some months, then I started the revision of the manuscript, strictly respecting their deadlines. On April 14th 2023, I signed the final proof of the manuscript.

I waited for a few months (all these long periods without any update) and on June 22nd I received the outline illustration for my book cover. There were some mistakes and I made some suggestions. On September 11th I received an updated version of the cover, which I approved. They immediately replied that they were going to colour the illustration.

From then on I haven't received any more updates and the Production doesn't answer to my requests (I think perfectly legitimate) of updates any more.

I asked my accountant and my legal representative to calculate (I live in Italy, so working days may be different) 325 working days in the UK, and they told me that the book must be published by March 7th. They have 3 working days left to publish my book, and I still don't receive any update.

Clause 15 of the contract states that I will receive a complete refund if they fail to publish my book. I hope so, at least!

Sorry to hear this. Sounds so disappointing...and they've got your money. Were you OK spending that money in the first place?