Publishing Pirates: How Crooked Publishers Pillage Authors
About this audiobook
Think your publisher is your partner? Think again.
In Publishing Pirates: How Crooked Publishers Pillage Authors, RJ Salerno takes you below deck into the murky world of shady book deals, phantom royalties, and “author services” that plunder your wallet faster than you can say “Arrr!”
With a sharp wit and a sharper cutlass, Salerno exposes the dirty tricks unethical publishers use to exploit writers—from the PLR (Print-Loot-Racket) schemes and disappearing books, to gatekeeping goons who hold your manuscript hostage. Each chapter blends laugh-out-loud pirate satire with eye-opening industry insights, giving authors the tools they need to spot publishing scams and sail toward real literary success.
Whether you’re an aspiring novelist, a self-publishing dreamer, or a seasoned author who’s been burned before, this book will make you laugh, learn, and take back control of your writing career.
Inside, you’ll discover:
- How to spot royalty mirages before they vanish your profits
- The sneaky “author packages” that rob you blind
- Publishing red flags that every writer should memorize
- How to outsmart the crooks and keep your creative rights safe
If you’ve ever felt like your publisher was steering you toward the rocks, this hilarious-yet-practical guide is your lifeboat. And if you happen to be a crooked publisher… well, you might want to walk the plank now.
About the author
RJ Salerno has been on both sides of the book publishing battlefield — the wide-eyed rookie who thought getting published was the finish line, and the battle-hardened veteran who knows the real fight starts after you hit “submit.”
Armed with a sharp wit, a suspiciously large coffee mug, and an allergy to fine print, RJ has spent years navigating the murky waters of publishing contracts, royalty statements, and “helpful” emails from companies who swear they have authors’ best interests at heart. (Spoiler: they don’t.)
When not writing books that blend humor with hard truths, RJ helps other authors dodge scams, keep their rights, and actually enjoy the business of writing. He believes every author should own their work, their audience, and their path — preferably without losing their sanity along the way.
