Is American Book Publications a Vanity Publisher? Understanding Its Publishing Model
Mention “vanity press” to a writer and you’ll see their shoulders stiffen. It brings the bad image of the pile of remaining copies of books that didn’t sell, the heft of a bill, and a “publisher” who didn’t care to read the book after chapter one. So when you see a company appear in your searches, you unconsciously get wary of it.
But this guide is not listing sweet talk about a company but the truth through evidence available online like ratings, reviews, etc. Here get to know who American Book Publications are through their website, its privacy policy, and third party review pages.
Is American Book Publications a vanity publisher?
American Book Publications presents itself as a self assisted publishing and author services company, not a vanity press. The difference lies in who holds the power. A classic vanity press charges the author, grabs rights, and flatters everyone into “acceptance.” ABP’s website says something different: the author keeps full copyright, the sales and distribution accounts are set up in the author’s name, and the author sets the retail price.
| Trait | Classic vanity press | ABP’s stated model |
| Copyright | Often claimed or licensed broadly | Author keeps 100% |
| Selection | “Everyone is accepted” flattery | Open to fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s, academic and more |
| Retail price | Publisher decides | Author decides, with guidance |
| Sales accounts | Publisher’s | Opened in the author’s name |
| Manuscript deadline | Often pressure to sign fast | None imposed |
One honest caveat: authors do pay for services here, so the label that matters is the contract, not the marketing. Everything below helps you test that.
Is American Book Publications legitimate?
Legitimacy starts with being findable. American Book Publications has a Los Angeles business address, phone number provided in the contact us page, email, social media pages, plus privacy policy.
Its background says it has six years of experience and has published books since 2010 with a team of 200 people and successful eight portfolio projects.
The profile also lists four awards or recognitions:
| Recognition | Date listed |
| PEN America | June 2022 |
| Independent Book Publisher Award | February 2023 |
| NYC Big Book Award | October 2024 |
| ALLi Partner Member | May 2025 |
Their profile also lists a campaign that features Authors on NY Times Square. It shows they promote books publicly.
Is American Book Publications a scam?
American Books Publications have no complaints about non delivery or disappearing authors in the available sources. The reviews there all are positive and tells about their good communication, patience with corrections, and timely delivery.
That is encouraging, not conclusive. The review samples are small (more on that below), so treat “no red flags found” as a starting point.
Things a careful author should still weigh:
- American Book Publications has no public price list to compare.
- You get a 50% discount sign up pop up when you open their website, which is a sales tactic worth taking written quotes.
- Their staff use pseudonyms so keep your own record of who you are working with.
What services does American Book Publications offer?
ABP is a bundle of services around the manuscript rather than a traditional acquiring house.
| Service | What it covers |
| Ghostwriting | White-label writing, with a ghostwriter assigned from the start |
| Editing and proofreading | Developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading |
| Formatting and design | Cover design, interior layout, custom illustrations |
| Publishing | Manuscript evaluation, ISBN assignment, metadata, Global Publishing Plan |
| Marketing | Customized book marketing strategies |
| Audiobook | Production and publishing of narrated editions |
| Agent connections | Introductions to literary agents |
How much does American Book Publications cost?
They don’t have a fixed price listed on the site. It says pricing varies by project and you get a detailed quote up front with no surprise costs. American Book Publications audiobook pricing depends on its requirements. Their publishing takes 4 to 8 weeks, though they say that is not guaranteed and depends on your book complexity.
You first get a written quote from them and compare it line by line with what you want.
Does American Book Publications help with book distribution?
Yes. American Book Publications has a Global Publishing Plan. It states they are connected to more than 40 platforms like Apple Books, Google Books, Walmart.com, Target.com, Amazon and Indigo etc. Also, the distribution list depends on the plan you select, so confirm where your book will be presented.
What should I ask American Book Publications before signing?
Here are the twelve questions that separate a transparent deal from a foggy one, with what ABP’s public pages say.
| Question | Short answer from public information |
| Who owns the copyright? | The author, 100% |
| Who controls the ISBN? | ISBN assignment is offered; registrant name not stated, so ask |
| What rights does the contract grant? | Site says author keeps all rights; get the contract wording |
| How long do those rights last? | Not published; ask |
| What services are in the quoted price? | Depends on package; itemized estimate promised |
| Are there additional fees? | Site says no hidden costs; get it in writing |
| Which retailers are included? | Global plan names 40+ platforms |
| What royalties does the author receive? | Not published; ask for the rate |
| Who receives sales payments? | Accounts are in the author’s name, so confirm payments go to you |
| What if I want to end the agreement? | Not published on pages reviewed; read the Terms |
| What marketing is specifically promised? | “Customized” strategies; ask for a deliverables list |
| Are bestseller results guaranteed? | No; ABP says results vary |
How does American Book Publications work?
ABP’s process runs in five beats: draft submission, primary editing, formatting, secondary editing and finalization. Design and publishing follow, and the company states an average of four to eight weeks from start to finish. Account managers are described as available around the clock.
Does American Book Publications have real customers?
The evidence points to yes. Named authors appear on ABP’s testimonials page and on Sortlist, and individual reviewers on Trustpilot mention specific team members by first name and describe concrete details, such as an About the Author page that included a reviewer’s dog. Three authors you can look up on Amazon:
- 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, Queen Kailey and The Great Meadow Adventures
How many reviews does American Book Publications have?
| Platform | Rating | Volume | Notes |
| Trustpilot | 4.0 | 4 reviews, all 5-star | Claimed profile since Sept 2025; marked unprompted |
| Sortlist | About 4.8/5 | Roughly 90 to 113, depending on page version | Member since 2025 |
| ProvenExpert | 100% recommended | A handful of anonymous reviews | Profile active since July 2026 |
The takeaway: ratings are high, but Trustpilot’s sample is tiny and Trustpilot itself notes the company has not recently invited reviews, so it may not be representative.
Does American Book Publications provide video testimonials?
Yes. The testimonials page hosts four author videos: Mary Langer Thompson, G. M. Krause, Mario Gutiérrez and Carrie F. Dailey-Shough, each linked to the author’s Amazon book page. Watching them is free and a good way to hear how authors describe the process in their own words.
Does American Book Publications have a privacy policy?
Yes, American Book Publications have a privacy policy which says:
- They collect your info that means your name, email, phone, plus usage data like IP address and browser.
- They use it for updates, support, service delivery, improvement and legal compliance.
- They share it with service providers and legal authorities when required.
- They protect through encryption, secure servers and regular security checks.
- You have rights to access, correct or delete your data via American Book Publications email.
- You can opt out if you reply STOP to texts or use the email unsubscribe link.
The final verdict
With this guide, American Book Publications is not a vanity press. It is a fee for service author services that leaves copyright, pricing and sales accounts with the author. That is the opposite of the vanity press playbook. Still go consult them and ask the right questions and take the first step to your dream book.