Two questions really
Does anyone know anything about Austin Macauley publishers? They have offered me a partnership contract for my first book. I will have to put some money upfront and they will do the rest , is this what used to be called vanity publishing?
How much does it actually cost a publisher to produce a book
Duck if they're asking for money up front... and if you can't find an agent or publisher willing to take your work on otherwise, why not do it yourself? It's relatively easy these days. But before you start, ask yourself if your work's good enough and if you want to spend the time promoting it (you'll need to to stand out from the millions of others out there). If an agent's unwilling to take you on it may have flaws. It doesn't mean you're a bad writer... lots of great and successful writers failed with their first efforts.
I self published 'Conjuring the Blood' on amazon when an agent called my work impressive but still felt he couldn't risk taking it on (at least I had a review!). I wonder now if the time would be better spent on my new novel and learning from the mistakes of my first.
Don't pay them a penny. They are vanity publishers in all but name.
Thanks Linda very sound advice
Colin