My name is Brien Jones and I am the President and co-founder of Jones Harvest Publishing. I am also an author myself. My wife Brandy and I lead a team of 12 professionals that publish the highest quality books and more importantly sell those titles to stores and readers.
However, if I was looking for a publisher I would certainly be discouraged by all the negative information on the internet about Jones Harvest.
Perhaps after wading through the “impartial forums” I might see the Better Business Bureau emblem on the Jones Harvest website. If I clicked on that emblem I would then see that Jones Harvest Publishing has a PERFECT record with the BBB. That would probably change my mind but it would also make me wonder, “Where did all this negative trash come from?”
I don’t usually waste time answering garbage—I have 500 clients that have paid me to publish and/or sell their books and I owe my time to them. Now however, these great friends and authors are being hurt by baseless and vicious attacks from competing publishers. It hurts them, it hurts their books and it has a direct impact on their image. I cannot let that pass. I now feel compelled to answer.
So again, why is all that negative information on the internet when Jones Harvest Publishing has a perfect record with the Better Business Bureau? There are four reasons:
1. One crusader who hates men in general and me specifically. Once I finally said “no” to extortion, this person contacted all of our clients, using information that I supplied, and tried to turn them against Jones Harvest Publishing—unsuccessfully in all but a handful of cases. In one instance this crusader had one of our clients convinced that we did not actually go to book shows or Hollywood at all (I guess like Apollo 11 never went to the Moon) despite the fact this author was with us in Hollywood. Coincidently, this crusader now has a new publishing company.
2. One disgusting, dishonest, despicable and disgruntled ex-employee that went to work for, you guessed it, another publishing company. Again, using information that I supplied they again contacted all of our clients. In fact, before a rain delay, this company’s only clients were the few Jones Harvest Publishing authors they were able to persuade with lies. Happily this company turned out to be far less buoyant than Jones Harvest Publishing and the disgruntled ex-employee has moved on to terrorize another industry entirely.
3. Four blogging women, who have never met me, never spoke to me, and never gave me a dime. These ladies all have “independent forums” and are happy to post every negative thing that is said without fact-checking any of it. These ladies all also have, you guessed it, their own publishing companies.
4. I picked a bad company to work for. I was an employee of another publishing company and despite being called the “mastermind” of this operation I was not in charge of anything at all. I never had access that company’s check book, company credit cards, accounts payable, or accounts receivable. I never saw a bank statement, not one time. Most amazing of all, I was not allowed to look at the mail!
I also had no information, none, about book sales. Despite nearly constant pleas I never had any clue how many copies of client’s books were sold. I had no clue how many of MY books were sold, even though I had to pay out of my pocket (just like the other authors) to print them! I DO know that I never got paid a percentage of any book sales, including my own.
When I figured out what was really happening at this company I resigned. The people I am defending myself against now STAYED, some for more than a year. Finally my former employer was mercifully shut down. I had already been gone for well over a year.
When I left that publishing company it was up to me to decide how much of the responsibility was mine. I decided I deserved my fair share of the blame. So I sent out apologies. I published 30 books for free (including the crusader’s), and 30 more at our hard cost. I also used and use the same vendors that got stiffed by my former boss. In other words I have done all I can to atone for my role in that other company. Since many of our client’s now were clients there, I guess we must be doing something right.
However, I NEVER told any author that a movie was being made, or booked an author on a cruise, or sold an author a full-page ad in Readers Digest or any of the other absurd services that were offered once I resigned. All I knew when I left was that vendors and authors were not being paid. I was as surprised by the outright fraud as much as everyone else.
By the way, I am not naming names for two reasons. One, even our country’s President can easily watch the internets, use the Google and see for the real names and lies for themselves. Second, my attorney assures me that the things people post, especially things that are not true, are actionable. I presume the reverse is true, even if I am telling the truth. Besides I don’t want to be that childish anyway.
So what about Jones Harvest Publishing clients? Their comments are listed below:
August 19, 2008
Why I do business with Jones Harvest Publishers:
No matter how much love you pour into the parchment, the matter of business is business. That in mind my quest to find the connection was of great importance.
I have worked with Brien. I found him knowledgeable, fair tentative, and honest.
When I want advice, I get straight answers from solid experience. Harvest makes it well to prevent problems. Got a current problem it disappears with out the aspirin.
I‘ve had special needs and they work with me. They have done so in many occasions.
When there are times to try new things, Brien is at the edge of new alternatives.
It is comforting to know that a publisher is aggressively marketing new methods.
From what I have gathered Brien doesn’t sit on his laurels. More goods things will continue to evolve.
However, one of the best things Brian has done is to form a sharp competent staff.
I have also found that there staff works in unison for the benefit of the author.
They are a hard working group, smart, polite, nice and professional.
The folks at Jones Harvest are in compliant with Brien’s values.
This sits well with me. My book is important and my publisher reflects it too.
Tom Crayns
Author: Exhale in Phosphorus
Web Site: www.evokedquill.com
8/20/08
I am one of Brien Jones authors. I say AMEN to Tom Crayns blog to Brien and Diane. I say again, “if anyone desires to find out about Brien Jones character and integrity contact the BBB in Bloomington, IN.”
Dr. Clyde Kendall.
8-5-08
Carol Fosdick
Dove Creek, CO 81324
970-677-2614 ray093@centurytel.net
Bonnie Kay,
I told you in my first email to you that I was not interested in joining your class action suit against Airleaf. I later reconsidered and asked that my name be added to the list of unhappy Airleaf authors. I now request that my name be permanently taken off the list. I no longer wish to be associated with you in any way, shape, or form or under any circumstances. I am very sorry I ever joined.
I am quitting you for ethical reasons, reasons that are so ingrained in my core that I cannot break them. I felt your attack on Airleaf was justifiable because they did scam people. However, I have tried to live my life in such a way that I will not say or do something hurtful or mean to another person. I have fallen short of this goal sometimes, but one of my major motivations in life is to be friendly, pleasant, and supportive of others, and if isn’t, keep my mouth shut. I can in no way justify being a partner to your efforts to destroy Brien Jones. Brien is my friend; we traveled a long road together even when he worked at Airleaf, and I respect him. I’ve gotten mad, I’ve cried, I’ve shared my triumphs, and likewise he has shared with me, too. This is true friendship and I value mine with Brien.
I see your attacks as both malicious and dangerous, not just to Brien, but to many other people. Below are my reasons:
1) Your hateful, unsubstantiated, mean-spirited propaganda against Brien Jones. A good example is your quote from a previous letter talking about Brien’s ‘scary Halloween jack-o-lantern logo.’ Hey, if that logo scares you, he has half a dozen others to choose from that are more pleasant. What a nit-picky thing to complain about. Further, what in blazes is scary about a jack-o-lantern? I love Halloween (for personal reason revolving around my son) and think jack-o-lanterns are neat myself. You were just trying to use words to hurt Brien.
2) In your fanaticism to damage Brien, you will also damage authors such as myself. As of right now, there are 200 authors whose books Brien has published in the last year and a half, many of whom are probably counting on him to help market these books. I think you need to put your own antagonism and vitriolic attacks aside and consider someone other than Bonkay. I am one of the 200 and if you have your way, some people will pick up my book, see Brien’s logo and think something to the effect, “I’ve heard this outfit is shady and I won’t buy a book with his logo in it.” Get the picture? Further, Brien has several employees and with the economy so bad and everything costing so much, this would be a terrible time to have them lose their job because of your unfounded attacks.
3. You obviously hope to benefit if you can demolish Brien. I believe your vindictiveness will eventually backfire on you. If you think for one moment that the reputation you are building right now isn’t going to backfire, think again. Brien will be the second publishing house you have taken on that I know about. There may be others. Do you honestly think authors are going to think, “Go for it lady?” Authors are not dumb. You will get what you sow.
4. You seem to be following the same path that Airleaf and what you think Brien is doing — charging authors for goods you cannot guarantee you can deliver. “Send me $75.00 and you can join my group of authors.” How many authors sent you $75.00? Could this be a scam? I get emails and snail mails ALL the time from other publishing houses with promos and other offerings they have for sale. I wouldn’t expect them to do something like this for free. In fact, I got one from Gayla representing Fideli Publishing House dated 5-01-08 with a really neat offer that I was considering. This was before the flood. By the way, I consider Gayla a friend, too.
5. Brien published my third book. I have my books, the 50 he sent me free for publishing with him and the others I asked him to order for me for my own sales program. They are well-done, almost free from mistakes, and quite attractive. It was the longest book he published out of the 200. There were several publishing houses that I approached that told me they could not publish anything that long. Brien told me several famous authors such as Tom Clancy and James Mitchener have published longer books and he was glad to work on mine. I have worked with three different publishing houses in my life as an author, and I have found Brien by far the easiest to work with. I can call daily and he has time for me. I can email him three or four times a day and he answers almost immediately. So refreshing!
6. Right now Brien has attended book shows in Manhattan, Philadelphia, Virginia, and San Diego with my books as well as others. He has gone to Hollywood twice. Gayla herself represented my books there on the last trip. He has my books in 22 stores. He never promised me he would get my book made into a movie, but just told me to come and have fun if I wished. He is currently having Steve work up an author’s website for me, free of charge, as well as updating my current SOARR website free and linking the 2 together. I paid over $400 several years ago to have my SOARR website developed. Brien was willing to go back in and make corrections on my third book after it had been published. He did this for free. The first publishing company I worked with charged something like $200 to make changes and this was before the book had been published. Brien told me my book would be read by someone at his publishing house before marketing it and I am quite sure Gayla did before she left Jones Harvest House and I know that Brien himself read an earlier version because of comments he made afterwards. It’s awfully hard to fake to the author the fact that someone says they read the book when they hadn’t. I am working on a 4th book and plan on having Brien publish it.
These are my reasons. Please remove my name from your list.
Carolyn J. Fosdick
Brien,
Good for you! I applaud you for not letting others take advantage of you. You are not being a nice smuck. You are showing your back-bone and making others realize that you are not going to taken advantage of. I admire you for your strength of your convictions.
Nancy Bauser
Gerry Edwards Aug 6, 08
4715 Ganns Corral Rd.
Mariposa, ca 95338
To Who it may Concern;
I have been doing business with Brien Jones and Jones Harvest Publishing for many years, He has through various publishing agencies always handled all my books. I have found him to be extremely helpful and totally honest in my business dealings with him. All my books were done a timely fashion and to my complete satisfaction, even at companies he didn’t own or control. His honesty and integrity have led me to publish various books with several of the companies he has been employed by. Never has there been a problem caused by Brien, and if there was a problem he handled it in a timely and reasonable fashion immediately. I highly recommend him for those who want their books done with the highest of quality available. His candor and honesty is refreshing in a business filled with frauds, and people who take advantage of those trying to publish their manuscripts. I will be using Jones Harvest Publishing solely for several new books I am writing as I write this letter. I look forward to the excellent results from him, and my new books that I have achieved with my other books with Brien and Jones Harvest.
Sincerely
Mr. Gerry Edwards
I just want to testify that Brien Jones is a very honest and reputable publisher who desires to treat all of his authors right in every manner.
The Reverend Dr. Clyde Kendall, Author of Life Changing Truths for These Crucial Times
“There are fringe people that are, simply put, angry or unhappy people, that, rather than kick their kids or dogs, attack publishing companies. Now some have sunk their claws into you. There are many honest publishing companies that are being constantly attacked by this fringe, and now you are one of those unfortunate companies.”
Jon Fitch
To All Interested Parties –
I am a working author with fourteen published books and seven plays either published or produced. I mention that fact only to validate my professional endorsement of Jones Harvest Publishing and Great Concept Books.
Not only do they have one of the most accessible and courteous staffs of industry professionals (with over 75 years of combined experience), they are also brilliant marketers who have keen insights into the advertising and publishing marketplace.
What’s more, their profit-sharing strategies of co-op publishing for their authors are unique, innovative and exceptionally generous. They have one of the best royalty options I’ve seen. And they’re nice people too.
They have my heartiest professional recommendation.
Sincerely,
Robert Joseph Ahola, Author of: Return of the Hummingbird Wizard & I, Dragon
Please visit my website: www.robertahola.com
I have been doing business with the folks at Jones Harvest Publishing since the middle of 2007 and I have only positive remarks to make about my experiences. From the time my manuscript was a mere galley until it became the book it is today, the staff at Author Celebrity Associates, especially Brien Jones, were encouraging and supportive. They provided me with expert advice when I had questions about publishing and marketing my book.
If the future is like the past, I’m sure that myself and my book - ACCEPTANCE GROUPS for SURVIVORS, A Guide for Facilitators will only encounter good fortune.
Nancy Bauser, A.C.S.W., B.C.E.T.S., B.C.D.T.
Please visit my website: www.survivoracceptance.com
August 5, 2008
To whom it may concern:
Having been involved with self-publishing for many years and with many different publishers, it is my pleasure to recommend Brien Jones at Jones Harvest Publishing as the best I’ve encountered.
From the outset, Brien’s cordial and professional advice has been most helpful and consistently correct. He has on every occasion delivered beyond any contractual requirements and the services of my accounts have never been anything less than excellent.
Beyond that were the several occasions when he personally involved himself in guiding me through some difficult professional decisions that have saved me a number of problems that have caused me to abandon my three former publishers.
As an author I am frequently asked my advice on who a novice writer should seek as a publisher. I can give no higher recommendation for Brien Jones and the entire Jones Harvest staff than to say that they are consistently my top referral.
Ron Schnitzius
Author: “Timecastle,” ”Braintoots,” “My Dog Ate My Mission Statement”
496 N. Jefferson ST.
Danville, IN
46122
(317) 745-0446
timecastle@att.net