Background I almost didn’t write this article. I was almost going to leave “well enough alone.” I am a book editor, and the way I work is to provide my authors with any assistance that I am capable of giving them. So rather than limit myself to doing only editing, I will bring my skills…
Breaking up is hard to do: Penguin Random House has Sold Author Solutions
Penguin Random House (PRH) has sold its self-publishing division Author Solutions to an affiliate of private investment firm, Najafi Companies. PRH parent company Pearson purchased Author Solutions in 2012 for $116m from Bertram Capital. Following the merger of publishing goliaths Random House and Penguin, Author Solutions became a part of the Penguin Group. Over the…
Author Solutions and Alliant University Launch Academic Press
Author Solutions, fresh from having two recent lawsuits against it dismissed, has this week continued its long-term strategy of partnership agreements with the announcement of Alliant Press. The new imprint is in partnership with Alliant International University and will be operated by Author Solutions’ iUniverse imprint. Alliant is a private, independent university offering graduate study in psychology,…
Second Class Action Lawsuit Against Author Solutions is Dismissed
The second class action lawsuit against Author Solutions, a self publishing service provider, was voluntarily dismissed yesterday, September 14th, in the state of Indiana. The news comes after last month’s decision by Judge Denise Cote to ‘discontinue without prejudice’ a similar case filed by two authors in the Southern District Court in New York. Both parties agreed to end litigation…
Author Solutions Lawsuit is Discontinued & Settlement Reached
Judge Denise Cote has ordered the lawsuit filed by two authors (originally three) in April 2013 ‘discontinued without prejudice’ when she was informed earlier this month that both parties had reached a settlement. This follows on from Judge Cote’s decision in July to deny class action status to the plaintiffs because certification requirements had not been met and that…
The Case Against Author Solutions (Part 4): New York Class Action Denial
Last week TIPM reported that the filing for class action lawsuit certification against Author Solutions in the Southern District Court of New York had been denied by presiding Judge Denise Cote. The case was first filed in April 2013 by law firm Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart on behalf of self-published authors Kelvin James, Mary Simmons and Jodi…
Breaking: New York Court Denies Class Action Certification in Author Solutions Lawsuit
The filing for class action lawsuit status against Author Solutions taken by three authors in the Southern District Court of New York has been denied by Judge Denise Cote. The case was first filed in April 2013 by law firm Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart on behalf of self-published authors Kelvin James, Mary Simmons and Jodi Foster.…
The Authors Guild Ends its Partnership with Author Solutions
The Authors Guild — a US-based organisation that supports working writers — has become the latest in a growing group of publishers and organisations to end its partnership with Author Solutions (currently the subject of a proposed class action lawsuit). The Authors Guild formed a partnership with iUniverse in 1999 to offer publishing services to its membership as part of…
Author Solutions Due to File More Papers in New York Lawsuit
Dorsey & Whitney, the law firm representing Author Solutions in a class action lawsuit currently lodged with the Southern District of New York, is due to file more legal papers by close of business today, 14th May 2015. Lawyers at Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart (GSAS) are representing several authors who contracted services from Author Solutions and the law firm has so…
Writers Be Warned: The Case Against Author Solutions (Part 3)
Over the past few weeks TIPM has taken a close look a close look at extracts from a thirty page Memorandum of Law and depositions in support of certification for a class action filed in the Southern District Court of New York in February by law firm Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart (GSAS) against Author…