Well, hi fellow authors. I was embarrassed by my bad experience -- so much that I've been silent here for months. Remember? I got a great blurb for my book from a famous author. Then my "publisher" turned out to be POD, so not in bookstores! Wasted. I want those who get themselves screwed like this that there is a solution. I rewrote the book completely, so now it is a popular history book instead of an historical novel. My first publisher (a respectable offset publisher)is reading it now and telling me they like it. On the back cover will be the famous writer's blurb for the POD novel. So things are working out. I won't make much money but I will have two real books out and in the bookstores in the history sections. "Civil War" is a big section. I have three POD books out, two Lulu, a PA and one Whitmore. I don't even consider them really published. The Whitmore contract dies in three years, thank goodness -- then maybe I can place it with a "real" publisher. It'll still have that blurb. Anyway, this is mostly to let my friends here know that I came out of the depression and decided to say hello, especially to Carol, Dave, Gary and those who'd rather I didn't mention their names. I remain you all's Southern Gentleman friend and fellow author. Richard (my real name.) I wrote "Appalchian Genesis" - my one real book so far. I think the lesson I've learned is this: once you've found a publisher who likes your work, stick with them. It's hard to find another and the world is chock full of POD con outfits posing as "traditional publishers".