Let’s skip the suspense. After reading the company’s website, its privacy policy, and its Trustpilot and Sortlist pages, we can say they are not a scam or match classic scam manual. But “not obviously a scam” will not convince you and it didn’t convince us too. So this article does two things: it lays out the evidence, it shows you where the gaps are and how you can consult them for missing queries.
The Scorecard
| Check | What was found | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Traceable business | Los Angeles address, phone, email | Pass |
| Copyright stays with author | Site says authors keep 100% | Pass, verify in contract |
| Public pricing | No price list; custom estimates | Unclear |
| Royalty terms | 100% authors | Unclear |
| ISBN ownership | Full ownership to authors | Unclear |
| Outside reviews | Sortlist 4.87/5 (137); Trustpilot 4.0 (4) | Positive, small sample |
| Outcome guarantees | Site says results vary | Pass |
| Privacy policy | Mentioned in their website with the STOP option. | Mixed |
Is American Book Publications a Scam?
The most heinous thing about publishers is that they are good marketers and can convince debut authors to work with them if they lack knowledge. How to know if you are hiring a legit one? Three of the scammers’ bad habits: they go under the radar, they pressure you to pay up before you see the paperwork, they make promises no one can complete.
If we talk about American Book Publications, they list a physical address and phone number, promises an upfront estimate with “no hidden costs,” and states it makes no unrealistic promises about marketing. That is the opposite of the playbook.
Trust & Credibility Check
Credibility is built from small, checkable claims. The estimated promise, the timeline of 4 to 8 weeks and the 100% copyright statement are all things you can hold the company to, so ask for each in your contract. American Book Publications have a 50% discount pop up which is a normal sales tactic, just do not let it rush you and take time while consultating.
Is American Book Publications a Vanity Publisher?
Not a Vanity Publisher
Vanity publishing is a swap: your money for their control. According to the site, you keep copyright and related rights, set your own retail price, and hold the sales accounts. Those are the opposite of vanity terms. The caveat is what the site leaves out, since it never mentions royalties or ISBN ownership. Because you pay for services either way, the practical test is simple: at the end, does the book, the accounts and the rights belong to you? Get that sentence into the contract.
How Much Does American Book Publications Cost?
Nobody can quote you from the website. Pricing is custom, and the estimate comes after a conversation. Sortlist gives only starting points: €1,000 per project for copywriting and marketing, with other services listing no budget. Audiobook quotes depend on length, number of characters and voice complexity.
Transparency
- Request an itemized quote that names every service
- Ask what the quote excludes, such as extra editing rounds or illustrations
- Ask for the price without the 50% discount
- Get cancellation and refund terms before paying
How Does American Book Publications Work?
The process has five stages: draft submission, primary editing, formatting, secondary editing and finalization. The company says the whole run takes roughly 4 to 8 weeks, depending mostly on how fast you return drafts. There are no submission deadlines, and you choose your retail price with the team’s recommendations.
Author-Centric Approach
Reviewers keep returning to one theme: being included. Sortlist’s Kendall Gaylord, Mikel Moen and Gordon Legros each described a team that respected their creative direction, and Mikel Moen wrote, “I appreciated being included in important decisions.”
Does American Book Publications Have a Privacy Policy?
Yes, and it is worth reading closely because it raises questions an author should ask.
| Topic | What the policy says | Your follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Data collected | Contact details, IP address, browser and device data | Why is device data needed? |
| Sharing | Not shared with third parties, yet shared with service providers | Who are those providers? |
| Production | Work may go to overseas centers under NDAs | Where will my manuscript be handled? |
| Staff names | Pseudonyms may be used for continuity | What is my account manager’s real name? |
| Payments | Staff are not authorized to collect card details | Where do I pay securely? |
| Discontinue | Email provided to STOP data collection for any purpose | How will they manage without necessary data required for publishing? |
How Many Reviews Does American Book Publications Have?
American Book Publications authentic ratings and reviews on two platforms.
- Sortlist shows 137 reviews averaging 4.87 out of 5.
- Trustpilot shows just four, all five stars, from July 2026.
The Trustpilot reviewers named the production team: TiAnthony Wagner thanked Anita and Kate for delivering on time, Carrie S. praised the updates, Patricia B. said the process was easier than expected, and Claire W. credited Anita Alfred’s patience through several correction rounds. A pattern of staff praise is encouraging, though four reviews is a small base as compared to Sortlist.
Does American Book Publications Have Real Customers?
Satisfied Clients
Real, named authors appear on the company’s testimonials page with links to Amazon listings. Three of them:
| Author | Book |
|---|---|
| Mary Langer Thompson | From Silence to Speech: Women of the Bible Speak Out |
| G. M. Krause | Slides, Rides, and a Little Homicide (A Seagull Shores Mystery Book 1) |
| Carrie F. Dailey-Shough | Book Queen Kailey and The Great Meadow Adventures |
You can even check the listings yourself to look at the cover, the interior preview and the reader reviews.
Does American Book Publications Provide Video Testimonials?
It does. The testimonials page embeds four videos, and Sortlist’s portfolio features Carrie F. Dailey-Shough, Mary Langer Thompson, G. M. Krause and Mario Gutiérrez. Videos show tone, not terms. Use them to see how authors talk about the experience, and then ask a few directly about price, revisions and royalties.
Is American Book Publications Legitimate?
Legitimate Company
Yes, on available evidence: a Los Angeles base, working contact details, a published policy and independent profiles. Sortlist reports 2010 as the founding year and about 200 staff, though the company’s own site states neither. It also lists recognition entries:
- Independent Book Publisher Award, 2023
- PEN America, 2022
- NYC Big Book Award, 2024
- ALLi Partner Member, 2025 (a membership, not a competition prize)
What Services Does American Book Publications Offer?
Professional Publishing Services
American Book Publications states on their website about editing and proofreading, ghostwriting, cover and interior design, custom illustration, publishing, audiobook production and marketing. They also list genres that include fiction, non fiction, poetry, self help, children’s and academic titles. Sortlist also files the company under advertising, PR and digital strategy.
Does American Book Publications Help With Book Distribution?
Yes, depending on the plan. The Global Publishing Plan names Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Google Books, Walmart.com, Target.com, Kobo, Waterstones, Indigo and “over 40 other leading platforms.”
What Should I Ask American Book Publications Before Signing?
Educational Content
Before the twelve questions, a quick filter that works on any publisher. You can walk away if you see any of these:
- Pressure to pay today to lock in a price
- A refusal to put the estimate or terms in writing
- Guaranteed bestseller, sales or review promises
- Vague rights language, or a contract that claims your copyright
- Reviews that all sound alike, or none you can check elsewhere
Now the twelve questions, with the short answer the company’s public materials support:
| # | Question | Short answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who owns the copyright? | The author |
| 2 | Who controls the ISBN? | The author |
| 3 | What rights does the contract grant? | Site says the author keeps them; verify |
| 4 | How long do those rights last? | Not published |
| 5 | What is included in the quoted price? | Whatever the itemized estimate lists |
| 6 | Are there additional fees? | Site says none hidden; get it in writing |
| 7 | Which retailers are included? | Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and more |
| 8 | What royalties does the author receive? | Full royalties |
| 9 | Who receives sales payments? | Accounts are in the author’s name |
| 10 | What if I want to end the agreement? | Not published; request terms |
| 11 | What marketing is specifically promised? | Not itemized; ask for named tasks |
| 12 | Are sales or bestsellers guaranteed? | No; the site says results vary |
Our Take
American Book Publications reads as a genuine services company, with the usual open questions for this kind of business. The strongest points are the author-keeps-copyright claim, the named distribution list and consistently warm reviews. The weakest are the missing exit terms and price. If we consider their ratings and reviews on Sortlist and Trustpilot, we can conclude American Book Publications is not a scam company.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional publishing advice. Company details, pricing, service descriptions, founding year, staff count, awards, reviews, and ratings are based on the company’s own website and third-party platforms (Sortlist, Trustpilot) and have not been independently verified; they may change without notice. A “not a scam” conclusion based on available public evidence is not a guarantee of service quality, and author-paid publishing models place financial risk on the author. No legitimate publisher can guarantee bestseller status or sales results. Readers should obtain a written contract, confirm copyright and ISBN ownership, verify royalty and payment arrangements, and check cancellation and refund terms directly with the company—and consult a qualified publishing attorney—before signing anything. Any mention of specific companies, authors, or titles does not imply endorsement. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for decisions made based on this content.
Learn to lead change instead of chasing it—our change-leadership guides help you stay ahead with purpose.
