
Authorhouse
Authorhouse Overview
The aggregated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
Authorhouse has 1.8 star rating based on 150 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied.
- Rating Distribution
Pros: Very unsatisfied, Cover of my book, Good final product.
Cons: Aggressive marketing services associates, Fact that they misled me, Fact that they were evasive.Recent recommendations regarding this business are as follows: "If they have no intention to do business in a professional manor publish with another company", "Beware", "Do not get your book published with Authorhouse! They will steal your royalties!", "Do NOT contract with this publisher. They change rules constantly and hang up on you when trying to contact them. Find someone else.", "Avoid at all costs".
The aggregated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.
Authorhouse has 1.8 star rating based on 150 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied.
- Rating Distribution
Pros: Very unsatisfied, Cover of my book, Good final product.
Cons: Aggressive marketing services associates, Fact that they misled me, Fact that they were evasive.Recent recommendations regarding this business are as follows: "If they have no intention to do business in a professional manor publish with another company", "Beware", "Do not get your book published with Authorhouse! They will steal your royalties!", "Do NOT contract with this publisher. They change rules constantly and hang up on you when trying to contact them. Find someone else.", "Avoid at all costs".
Most users ask Authorhouse for the refund as a solution to their issues.
Consumers are not pleased with Customer service and Diversity of Products or Services. The price level of this organization is high according to consumer reviews.
Media from reviews






































This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |Terrible experience
Do NOT Trust Authors House Publishing!
I wish I had taken the time to read the reviews before I was scammed into believing this company was going to help bring my book to life. I was promised a smooth, professional experience and that they would support my passion for helping people.
Instead, theyve ruined my experience and taken my hard-earned money.
Not only did they fail to deliver my book as intended, but they also refused to give me a refund, despite me explaining multiple times how much the $1,700 I paid meant to me and how it was a huge financial stretch. They assured me they would "take such good care of me" and that the investment would be worth it. It was not worth it at all.
Their communication was abysmal, their customer service non-existent, and I honestly feel like Ive been completely taken advantage of. Its hard enough to pursue a passion like writing, and this company has only made it harder for me.
Please save yourself the stress, the heartache, and the money there are much better options out there for aspiring authors.
Do NOT trust Authors House Publishing. I would give zero stars if I could.
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerBooks I've purchased
I purchased two books in May of 2024 and had them delivered to a man on the east coast. I found out a month ago that he never received them. Author House refused to resend them, nor would they give me a refund.
- Great product
- Bad customer service
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: Beware
I have been contacting them for quarterly reviews
I have been reaching out for the quarterly reviews that I was promised letting me know how my books is doing. No one returns calls.
They only teach out to offer more copies. I am afraid that I am going to have to contact the bbb
User's recommendation: If they have no intention to do business in a professional manor publish with another company

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerPoor customer service
Poor customer service after the sale. It turns out my book of poetry "Convenient Memory" has been selling through places they initially said they couldn't do buisness with unless I paid substantially more money to them but recently found out differently...
although I've received NO royalties whatsoever.
Thanks Authorhouse... for nothing.
- Expensive with little to no return
Preferred solution: Royalties from all the places my book is being sold
User's recommendation: Do NOT contract with this publisher. They change rules constantly and hang up on you when trying to contact them. Find someone else.
Authorhouse is a massive scam. I has them publish my book and they stole thousands of dollars in royalties from me, and they also stole millions from other others.
They lie, they steal millions in royalties from hundreds of other authors. They are the icon of scammers and need to be shut down for good!
User's recommendation: Do not get your book published with Authorhouse! They will steal your royalties!
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |Took my money and gave me nothing in return
Authorhouse will charge you a fortune and constantly come back for more. When you ask them for anything - copies of your so-called published book, sales figures, income or anything you won't get anything back.
I was constantly chased to give them more money.
Don't go anywhere near these people. They are the worst.
User's recommendation: Avoid at all costs

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerCorrupt Publishing Company
AuthorHouse has stolen all proceeds from a book my wife self-published years ago. When she contacted AuthorHouse to ask why she has not received a check since 2012 for the sales of her book, AuthorHouse replied with personal threats and continuous harassment. We are filing a lawsuit against AuthorHouse.
- Illegal activities
Preferred solution: Just informing consumers about Authorhouse corruption
User's recommendation: Stay away from Authorhouse

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerI got scammed
Do not use this company! This company uses its name to pose as another famous book publisher - Penguin Random House.
This company does not have experience in selling books.
I have just been scammed by them. I stupidly read the bad reviews after I paid them. I thought I recognized the name. I immediately asked for a refund before they started any work.
This was 2 weeks ago and I still have no money in my account. They promise they have refunded me and are sending me fake refund transaction screenshots.
To try and get me to believe they published best sellers online, they sent me a listing of great books published by the real - Penguin Authors House.
They tried to tell me that they were under the same umbrella as them when I caught them out. They are most definitely not.
Don't be fooled like me.
Preferred solution: Full refund
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerUnhappy customer
So, I give it a two. The people are respectful, but I dont trust them.
They tried deceptive business with me. I dont understand why I had to pay a little over $1,000 for my work. The company said that I sold eighteen books. Is it going to be eighteen books forever?
I think that I wasted my money on Author House. I remember reading a company worker writing to an author, Why did you wait until you were on your death bed? Thats nasty. Truly, I would never use them again.
I used a free publishing company for the second one. I dont trust nasty and rude people as being honest. I hope that when I get my book back that I loaned to someone, I get honest answers.
I would not be surprised if they get 100% royalties for many books that I wrote. Its just that what I read about Author House makes me think they will lie to me.
- You get around thirteen free books
- Try deceptive business
Preferred solution: Honest answers with pure proof.
User's recommendation: Try a different publishing company. There are free ones
Lousy customer service
I was talked into self-publishing a book for several thousand dollars with AuthorHouse by a fast-talking salesgirl. She lied on the phone that AuthorHouse had published books similar to mine before.
Although I had already finished writing my manuscript, AuthorHouse proved incapable of converting the manuscript into a normal-sized book.
Instead, one of their bureaucrats insisted on publishing it as a "full-size" 8 x 11 inch book, which I thought made for a very awkward look and feel. It was a thoroughly lousy experience.
User's recommendation: Don't deal with them.
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerI Am An Author With Them And This Business Needs An Auditor
My book was recently placed as one of the best in its class by Book Authority and yet my royalties are 12 cents per book sold and my last royalty check was for 24 cents! I am down 90% of the money paid to Authorhouse, sold only about 200 books in over a decade and yet my book is so highly rated online and ranked highly on two major sites.
How can this be possible? I found a way to get back so that was fine, but I warn anyone considering self-publishing with Authorhouse to not do so. I thought this was a legitimate company but it is not. Penguin Random House bought Author Solutions (parent company) and then booted them out (check online for this story).
I had planned to do a big marketing campaign with them but will not do so. Maybe that's their strategy, withhold legitimate royalties and contact you to say if only you marketed it with them you could be the greatest author?
LOL but not LOR (royalties). Avoid.
- Book layout
- Named recognition
- Marketing is insufficient
- Makes mistakes publishing books and needs redoing
- Questionable ethics
User's recommendation: Read All About Parent Company Author Solutions Online Before Committing To Authorhouse
Scammers
I have used Authorhouse for my book publishing and marketing. This is one of the deepest regrets of my life. Once you sign up, they will continuously tell you your book is the best book they every read and you will make millions .and will push you to buy more expensive package from them.
I spend around $15000 for marketing and They sold around 65 books.
User's recommendation: Even if you try to sell yourself still it’s better than Author house
Harassment
I enquired into AuthorHouse in 2018. I never signed any contracts after realising it was a scam.
Its the end of 2023 and theyre still calling me, 5 years later(!!) to try and get me to publish with them. Ive blocked multiple numbers theyve used, and emailed saying Im no longer interested.
They still continue to harass me. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
- Greed
- Harassment
Preferred solution: Apology
User's recommendation: AVOID
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |Update author contact information
I want to update my contact information and want to know of any outstanding royalty checks for me as I have not been bothered to make inquiries up until now that a friend of mine check up for the novel online and asked that I prove am the author if the novel as per the different names I used to published the novel from my actual name. I was given the logging but that was about 8 years ago while in Amsterdam and a lot have changed in my life I have lost lots of useful information that I didn't save. I want to update my information now and it will never change again save natural disasters like death do us path, my address could change and phone numbers because I move around different countries but my email will never change as it's been verified with google ezvozlishtraa@***.com
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified Reviewer |My calls are being ignored
Hello
My name is Dror Rofe.
In November 2021, I contacted Ms. Kelly Allison for book writing.
Ms.
Allison sold me on the premium package. At that time, I
paid in full $7500.
I believe the order number is 90805****.
I had some trouble coming up with a manuscript due to personal problems.
I recently sent several emails to Ms. Allison to inform her that I am ready with my manuscript. I was hoping she would direct me to whom I should be working.
Unfortunately, Ms. Allison did not reply to my emails. In addition, I called and left a message with the operator several times yesterday and on her answering machine.
Ms.
Allison ignores all my attempts to reach her.
I feel misled and wish to be refunded my money to go somewhere else and publish my book.
Please respect my wish and process my refund as soon as possible.
Thank you, D. Rofe
Preferred solution: Full refund
User's recommendation: None at this time
This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ
Verified ReviewerI have been let down by this AuthorHouse. I am a writer
They were very quick to get the money off me.
My book was published, and I am happy with this.
I paid £1500 to market the book and they have done nothing at all.
I told them to market in US Amazon, but they sponsored the book in USA Amazon.
They have not paid me any royalties - they just say 'check your account'.
I haven't made any money on the book but have spent £4000 .
I am very disappointed with this publishing shark scam company.
I have many other books to publish - so they have been very short-sighted .
If they were trustworthy and followed their promises , I would have given them my 5 books and also my son is a writer, and they would have published his book as well.
- Publishing
- Royalties
- Finanace
- Marketing
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
User's recommendation: Avoid like the the plague
About
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AuthorHouse (originally 1stBooks) is a leading company launched in January 1997 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA for self-publishers around the world. AuthorHouse offers a great selection of tools and services for authors like editorial services, design services, marketing services, bookselling and much more. The company has released more than 60,000 titles so far. AuthorHouse also provides different types of print formats such as paperback publishing and hardcover publishing. Authors can also choose electronic formats. The company offers services that help to prepare manuscript for publishing. AuthorHouse provides each author of the publication with a personal adviser. Each author can make his own choice of all the publishing process.

Authorhouse is ranked 327 out of 5733 in Periodicals & Publishing category
Worldwide, USA, UK, Other
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They are just pure scam alledgedly run by the Mafia to pull scam after scam and they use Authorhouse, Xlibris, Iuniverse etc... to launder money from other criminal activity. If you can get your bank to cancel the payments do so.