It’s a mixed bag, on publisher. We went with Page Publishing. It has mixed reviews, but have seemed pretty legit. They likely don’t turn too many away; but the contract is very straightforward. I get the sense that some go into these deals thinking they’re the next Stephen King and when their books don’t sell, or they are not getting accolades, they leave bad reviews.
My wife and I have a marketing plan (this is me using my MBA, it might come in handy. Maybe... With a lot of luck).
We went hybrid publishing for the convenience in using their network. They work with book design, cover art (though we are using our own cover design), distribution, marketing, audio books, etc.
With both my wife and I working full-time, and running a separate LLC, having to do all the other legwork for the novelette, welikely would have never gotten it off the ground.
Regarding Page Publishing: If you have not sent them money yet, I’d steer clear.
What I read was not good. This is from ChatGPT:
Page Publishing is a legally registered, fee-based publishing service headquartered in Meadville, PA. It does deliver the product it promises—a printed and digital book distributed to the major online retailers—but nearly every independent watchdog classifies it as a vanity press rather than a traditional or author-friendly hybrid publisher. Up-front costs can run into the low five figures; watchdogs cite opaque upsells, aggressive telemarketing, and poor post-launch sales for most titles. Authors do occasionally report smooth experiences, and the company holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, yet overall consumer ratings, professional assessments, and the sales record of its catalog all point to a “buyer-beware”
There is much more, but it is poorly formatted for Free Republic.
I also work a full time job, but I still make time for DIY publishing and for marketing.