I have recently sent off samples of my first manuscript to a few literary agents and have received communication with one called Olympia Publishers where they asked to view my complete manuscript. They have come back to me but have discussed terms of contribution-based offer. Is this vanity publishing? Has anyone ever used this publishing company
You can check here:
http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
They have 'thumbs down' agency and publisher lists.
Also:
http://pred-ed.com/
Look under Agents, and then you'll be able to go through the a-z listing to see any warnings. Under Book Publishers, Olympia are decidedly not recommended.
As a general rule, to avoid heartache, google anyone before you approach them.
Lorraine
What disturbs me most in all this is that apparently - as Lorraine has pointed out - an agent to whom you sent your ms has passed it on to a vanity publisher.
Since agents earn their salaries through a percentage of their client WRITERS' royalties, and since you won't be MAKING any royalties through Olympia (but paying for the thrill of having your book "out there"), this hints that Olympia has set up bogus literary agencies to channel unsuspecting writers their way.
Please do the rest of us a favour by making a list of all the agents to whom you sent your ms, and sending it to a reputable watch body which will be able to investigate further and put the offending "agent" on a warning list.
Yes, it is vanity publishing, and no, you shouldn't go near them. Google them and look a the article by the Independent Publishing Magazine. The London address is a maildrop; it is a ploy to make them look prosperous - look at the prestigious area! They must be doing well! - and should sound a huge warning bell.
People like this prey upon innocents who want to say 'I have a publisher interested in my work'. What they're interested in is your money, first, last and always. They will be paid upfront and then have no need whatsoever to do anything else for you. You will have to do everything that you would have done if you'd published it yourself via Amazon or Ingram Sparks.
If any such company contacts you, Google them. Furthermore, one of those agents has presumably alerted this company to your contact details, so someone out there is not playing the game.
Be wary: there are sharks circling!
Lorraine