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In case you've never heard of it, there's a website out there called Xlibris.com. It's a site for authors to get published, without having to run the agent/editor/publisher gauntlet.

It's not a vanity press, in that the author pays no money up front. (They can, if they want more control over how their book appears, but it's not necessary.) In fact, on paper the idea is a good one. An author (named, for example, Joe Schmoe) writes a book. He sends it to Xlibris electronically, in Word or WordPerfect or RTF format.

After Xlibris gets the copy, they design a cover for it and tack on Joe's bio notes, his dedication, and the back cover blurb. They send a galley back to Joe, and he approves it. Then, his book is listed on Xlibris' page, Amazon.com and Borders.com. Joe needs to take care of marketing and press releases himself.

When someone orders Joe's book, Xlibris takes the disk that contains his book, and puts it into a special machine. After a few minutes, a printed, bound hardcover or softcover book emerges from the machine, and is shipped off to the buyer. Joe gets the royalties, and everyone's happy.

Like I said, it sounds good on paper. But apparently Xlibris has no real editorial staff to stop a book from being listed. I'm sure they'll halt publication of a book that is plagiarized or which contains illegal material (whatever that might be), but otherwise, they don't say anything about a book that's just bad.

Just browsing around their online bookstore was an eye-opener. They have some "real" authors here, such as Piers Anthony. For your entertainment, I've listed some of the cover blurbs here (remember that the cover blurbs were also written by the authors), along with a link in case you're interested in that book. (I'm presenting the blurbs exactly as they appear.)

Heh.

What Dreamers Be These Rocks (Tableland: Book One) by R.P. Nettelhorst
A respected hermaphrodite astronomer finds himself in a quest for the Tree of Life. Soon, he's lost in an alternate universe where the world is flat, the sky is blue plastic, the stars are light bulbs, and the Aztecs perform human sacrifices in St. Louis. Yes, this is book one of a trilogy.

Palm Pointe by Murray Levine
Louis Rosenbaum, a retired widower, still sexually vital, is seduced by a friend whose husband has just died. But Louis would rather deal with a younger woman. A series of events links Louis to assignations with women he shouldn't be involved with and to a final realization that January and June romances often do not work out.

Transdimensional Blues by Raymond M. Coulombe
Jake Stonewall's life is in constant danger as he is pulled through parallel worlds, with little warning, and with almost no control. He is aided by the teachings of an enigmatic martial arts master. Through many trials and adventures, he learns about the true nature of reality and his place in it.

Dulce's Revenge, by Christopher R. Harris
Based in New Orleans and the marshes south to the Gulf of Mexico. Federal agents assassinate a Cuban exile leader; and, a maligned black community retaliates against years of abuse by a group of bad cops. A confrontation ensues after the rogue cops kill a child in their community: Dulce. Computer manipulated images seal the fate of the leader of the rogue agents.

Now, I may be wrong about these books. They might be award-winning, top-notch material... Which is why I didn't say anything specifically about them. I'll let you judge for yourself. grin