before beginning : this piece is based on personal experience but none of the accusations or allegations against Tate Publishing has been proven and the instigation is ongoing. I am speaking from my heart and I have come to these conclusions from the stories and my own experience.
With an uneasy felling I write today for thousands of authors who have had a real life lesson that was provided via one of the largest and well known Christian publishing companies.
As one of the many authors caught up in this legal and moral emotional rolercoaster I decided to tell our story the only way I know how.
On January 17th 2017 35,000 authors and artists from around the United States and the World where shocked to find out that their publishing company closed the doors. Without so much as a letter, email, or phone call they sat in disbelief wondering what had happened and what to do next.
Many of them did not find out until trying to reach out to Tate regarding there book or music. When they did not receive any response and attempted to call, the phone would just ring and ring. Without so much as an explanation many would turn to the social media forum and the story began to piece itself together. More disturbing than just bad business, stories of fraud and corruption began to circulate.
As quickly as they began to band together the stories would become all too familiar and the evidence would begin to mount. With many of the authors being self proclaimed Christian's and openly admitting that Christianity was the leading draw to bring their work to Tate in the first place, there was a sense of forgiveness and disbelief . An unexplained rationalization for Tate Publishing. None of these people wanted to believe that it was outright criminal activities that was tearing down this company and leaving them out of pocket with no where to turn.
As of May 5th 2017 upon the arrest of father and son CEO's Ryan and Richard Tate ordered by the Oklahoma Attorney General on felony charges of fraud, embezzlement, and extortion the hope of bad business is fading. A gradual feeling of sorrow and anger mixed with a hope for justice and an understanding of each and individual story has began to grow with the authors and musicians abandoned by the publishing company that many paid for lifetime contracts with.
Working together as one and helping each other pick up the pieces is the main agenda on many social media sites. From beginner's to successfully and established authors the Internet is buzzing with people scrambling to republish their work. They spend their valuable time warning each other of the wolves who are praying on these individuals who have already lost thousands of dollars and leading people to doable options. Sharing each others stories and attempting to send traffic to those who have turned to self publishing sights is a daily occurrence. In fact these authors and artist are doing more for each other than Tate Publishing has done in several years. It is an awesome and reviving experience to be associated with so many people who could be focusing on their personal agenda, but instead they have created such a media frenzy that since the initial closing in January more than a thousand complaints have been filed at the Oklahoma Attorney Generals office.
Many authors and artist have been filled with doubt in there abilities knowing that for some years now the Tate's have allegedly been taking in any and all manuscripts for the average publishing fee of $4000.00. Several authors have stated that their not sure if their book was even good enough to be published. Others have found huge problems with the editing and layouts since re publishing, all things that they paid to have done through Tate publishing. Allegations of never receiving royalties mixed with wonder whether or not the books where selling are swarming through their minds. Some have thrown their hands up and walked away with doubt and disappointment, fearing that they will never see a dime for their work.
Many have found a new purpose in telling the stories of their fellow authors. While others are speaking to television reporter's and using their skills to spread the word to reach all those authors and artist who may not know what is going on. Everyday more and more people are joining this great bunch of Christian's begging for guidance and help. All of which are expressing gratitude for any help they can get at all.
I find myself elated each and every day to hear one more person say I can do this. I too was ready to give up until someone found me and invited me into this group. I now believe that my story was good but my book was not ready to hit print. I am grateful that I persisted and self published my second edition but I am looking at it in a more realistic point of view. It is my first attempt at writing and it shows. That being said I want to point out a couple of consistent claims that people are repeatedly stating.
The first real consistency is the claim of no royalties. Over and over authors and artist alike are claiming that they never received royalties and if they did it would be a measly $.47.
Then their is the claim of marketing being paid for , such as their trailers that the contract states will be aired on national television. I have never seen a Tate Publishing trailer air on any of my tv channels. Others claim paying for marketing materials such as flyers, cups and more, but never received them.
Another claim of actually paying for books ranging from small amounts to the huge $12,000 dollar range, and never receiving them.
Many have stated that in the beginning the promise of marketing was a huge deal, but they say that the only marketing they ever saw was listing there book on sites such as Amazon, Barns and Noble and other sites that anyone can list there product on. In Tate's defense all agree that weekly marketing blasts would be sent to there e mail explaining how the author should be marketing their product themselves.
My thoughts on this is if there are so many claims that sound alike there might be some truth to the felony charges that have been filed against this giant publishing company and with any luck there will be justice for those who have possibly been scammed out of there money, and there faith in Christians.
My heart goes out to those who wrote personal stories of abuse, addiction, loss of loved ones , murder, abandonment, and many more true personal and dark stories. How many of the 35,000 authors and artist bled their heart and soul and told their secrets to what they thought would be the world, only to find out that there story was just a quick buck in the long list of people who would find out that vanity press is legal and there usually is nothing you can do when you hand over your wallet along with your work. Lets pray that if all these allegations are true justice will be served and laws will change. Letting large companies prey on so many individuals who are just trying to make a life long dream come true is truly a criminal offence.
In the mean time please share our stories and let others who may still be in the dark find there way to us. We are waiting to help as much as we can and if by chance you are or know anyone who is a former Tate Publishing author who has any complaints please contact the Oklahoma Attorneys Office to file an official complaint. Lets help bring justice where justice is not prevailing. (allegedly)
Renata Kell
Author of Post Trauma: Facing My Pain and embracing Change 2nd Edition
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