Penguin Book WritersReviews 11

Found them online. First spoke with Jason, then a Sr. Project Manager. They want money upfront before any work is done. The illustrations were slow in getting done and more than likely done by AI. Then another different Sr. Project Manager called trying to sell a marketing package. I had nothing to market. They didn't listen to my suggestions or ideas on the illustrations. Another call to push hard for a marketing package. First one person, then a second one, and then a third person. Again, I told them there was no book to market. The illustrations were not done. It started feeling like things were way off. I told them to STOP work on the project and refund my money. I got a reply from one person stating that they will refund. Then a second email from another person stating they will keep everything. They can't. DO NOT USE THIS "Company". They are robbers and thieves. Promise you the moon, and bleed you for money. They use bait and switch. I wish I had read these reviews first.

I signed up in Jan 2023 for a pretty high-ticket price but I was promised more than other publishing companies. Within a week after submitting my finished but unedited draft I received a call from a "sales manager" saying that they made a mistake and couldn't possibly do the work for the measly $5800.00 and it would cost another 2k or so. It was a very emotional time for me and very important that I get my book published so I caved and paid the extra. It's 4.29.2024, over a year later and they still have not completely my audio files or contacted me with any updates. I've had about 5 different project managers randomly join in without notice, the manager is avoiding me and my request for the business information. I've asked 5 times and she keeps avoiding me. This company is a scam as far as who they claim to be. They answer the phone with "hello" and when you ask for someone, they are pretty sketchy. You can tell they are worried. They have called me over 50 times trying to get more money out of me. Example: "Hey we would love to get you in our book fair this year. Of course, the price is only good for today as there is a deadline." Price 6k. Wow 6K! Other pricing from different companies, $500.00, a big difference. They shoot very high and will haggle with you of course. I had to disassociate with the first sales manager because she made me ill with her lies and BS stories. She does not listen and is brutally obnoxious. They will not give me a business address or any other business info. I could have gone with another company and spent about 5k total, with additional benefits such as a guaranteed #1 best seller seal, and promos, but unfortunately, I believed them. Do not get scammed, do not go with this trash. I am going to file a lawsuit and have them investigated as they signed the owner's name to my contract but I don't think he has a clue. Naming names: I worked with Haley, who initially set a price then Jane Foster, my sales thief came in and said Haley made a mistake and charged me 2k more after my contract was signed. Samantha Hayes is the manager overseeing my project. All thieves and liars.

NEVER DELIVER! They crashed my dream and took my money away, then they disappeared.

Classic Scammer

Be aware and stay away!

On the following basis I conclude these people are scammers.
1. Their name is not registered. It can't be. It's listed as fraudulent on Penguin Random House's website.
2. The good reviews are fake as the authors do not appear in Amazon for sale.
3. Their address is not legitimate. I put in a request to have the New York PD check them out.
Unfortunately they took at lot of money from me and keeping sending polite emails and nothing else. I had to register my books with copyright to protect them. I will change this review when I have spoken with half a dozen legitimate authors about their work.

Promised a swift publication of my manuscript, I've been bamboozled by a courteous-but-incompetent "team" that has moved the project forward at a snail's pace, three months to be exact. Poor communication skills, in part due to a language barrier or so I surmise, have turned a simple process into slow agony. Finally reaching the breaking point of requesting a partial refund, I was called a "bad human being" for aiming high at recouping a good portion of the $1,999 I foolishly paid. Authors beware. Select a more reputable company to publish your work, one that does not waste your phone time on strategies involving hiring an attorney to protect your intellectual property or paying Penguin more money to build a website for you while you still have no product to promote.

I went to have a book printed with them and had to pay up front for a large amount a copies before seeing one. It took months to get the project right with them, they got almost everything wrong including my address so it took a month for me to even see the copy of the book. It was then printed through another company I was also considering so I don't know why they offer book printing when they are probably upcharging clients that could go through LuLu book printing themselves. I thought they were apart of Penguin but it seems like a scam. They kept my $4000 after I asked for multiple refunds. After finally getting the approval for the full refund, I have still not received it. The whole time I had a bad feeling about this company and wished I would of listened to my instincts. Avoid them at all costs.

I hired this company to edit my book on Jan 17th, 2023 and to this day I have nothing but one chapter edited. They several attempts using Artificial Intelligence, but I caught their sloppy work where tenses were mixed. Turns out they didn't even read their own work. Super disappointing. They made many promises. Promised to deliver the whole script in 2 weeks, 4 months later, all I have is one measly chapter. Save yourself time and go elsewhere!