americanpublishingstudios.comReviews of americanpublishingstudios.com

American Publishing Studios are con artists and thieves. Their suite address doesn't exist and once they get your money, you'll most likely never hear from them again. Also, their phone numbers don't work or the phones always give a busy signal. They engage in Bait and Switch tactics. I lost $1,300 dealing with them. Now, they've disappeared and no where to be found.

To All Aspiring Authors and Writers, This communication serves as my second formal follow-up concerning the ongoing and deeply troubling issues I have faced with American Publishing Studios (APS). I share this information not out of hostility, but out of integrity, transparency, and genuine concern for any author considering signing with this company. After many months of dialogue with APS—particularly with their representative, Mr. Kevin Smith—the contrast between what APS claims to have fulfilled and what my signed contracts clearly outline has become undeniable. Throughout this entire process, APS has repeatedly failed to uphold its obligations, shifted all responsibility onto me as a paying client, and treated me more like an employee than a valued author. What I experienced was not loyalty or professionalism, but betrayal, avoidance, and deflection. Most recently, Mr. Smith attempted to “rectify” an already failed contractual obligation by informing me—without my consent—that APS had placed my book in an unauthorized book event “this year.” This admission alone confirms that APS remains in breach of the 2024 book festival requirement, which was fully paid for and documented. Furthermore, APS has provided no royalty statements or sales reports for any event it claims to have attended on my behalf. According to contract and copyright law, royalties are required whenever a book is displayed, marketed, or sold. Yet despite the company’s claims, including alleged participation at the American Association of School Librarians, I have received no royalty statements, no proof of participation, and no quarterly reports, although three quarters have already passed. When I requested verification, none was given. When I asked questions, they went unanswered. The only “evidence” ever supplied was a single forwarded photo in October 2025 showing my book displayed at an event held earlier in the year. This photo proves nothing and does not fulfill APS’s original contractual obligations. Of even greater concern is APS’s complete failure to deliver its promised four-city international book tour, including the event in New York specifically listed in the 2024 agreement. That contract included: Twenty printed author copies for each of the four events A display standee A brochure or catalogue featuring my book and mission Business cards for distribution Promotional giveaways A brand reputation manager A professional designer A marketing and media advisor Senior content writers Professional literary agents High-class distributors None of these services were ever delivered. None appeared in the single photo APS provided. None were fulfilled. The truth is clear: APS does not listen to its clients, does not honor its commitments, does not operate with transparency, and does not carry out the services it sells. Every promise appears to be a gamble made with the author’s money. Yet every contract I possess is legally binding. I invested over $20,000 into APS contracts. These agreements included: A guaranteed sale of 15,000 copies of my first book—now denied by APS despite being contractually documented A completed audiobook—never delivered A 2024 multi-city European book tour—never executed Delivery of $10,000 worth of books to 20 Barnes & Noble stores—never completed Partial completion of my second book—never completed Author copies of my second book—never provided A contracted video trailer—never produced To be fair, APS did produce my first book. However, the clause directly above that obligation—the guaranteed sale of 15,000 copies—remains unfulfilled. Additionally, in February 2025, an APS consultant provided documentation showing $119,000 in sales and over 7,000 units sold through Barnes & Noble. To date, I have received none of the royalties owed for those sales. This experience is not unique. Numerous online reviews and complaints mirror the same pattern: services undelivered, money taken, promises broken, and communication abruptly cut off whenever accountability is requested. In my own case, phone numbers changed, email addresses disappeared, and websites were taken down—all after I asked for updates. I share this information so future authors can make informed and cautious decisions. Your book, your story, your creative work, and your financial investment deserve far better than empty promises and delayed excuses. I have moved on from APS for these clear reasons. I have rebranded my books, partnered with trustworthy companies, and continued forward independently. My message is simple: Do your research. Choose wisely. Your work deserves better than unpaid obligations and unfulfilled promises. Respectfully, Joseph Stemple

My experience with APS started off well at first. They were very responsive and receptive to starting the publishing process with me. I had a really helpful person help me by the name of Richard. After money was paid (almost $8,000), Richard left the company randomly and they kept directing me to other members, who weren't as receptive. It was a lot of back and forth and a lot of unkept promises. In my contract, they promised a refund of $5000 if my book sales were not met (they GUARANTEED to sell 6,000 copies within a YEAR). After the year passed, I contacted them to get my refund but SAM KEEBLE who is currently in charge now told me that I will not receive one. I gave them multiple chances and warnings, but I still have not received anything. SAM KEEBLE even said I was acting like a baby who wants a lollipop all because I was asking for my refund which I was promised. I have reported them to the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission. He contacted me afterwards and had the nerve to get mad at me for filing these reports on them. He was extremely bitter and I still have not received my refund. I am in the process of going to court with them because this is not fair to new authors. They take advantage of your spark and desire to want to publish a book, then leave you high and dry with empty promises. DO NOT publish with them. I hope any other people who have committed to these crooks get the justice that they deserve. There is currently a video of me on their website with me talking about how reliable and good they are. However, that video was recorded while I was still working with Richard, before I was lied to, and before the year was up when my refund was owed to me. I requested that they take it down immediately.

Bunch of Crap People to Work with. Total SCAM. They only after your Money and NO service or quality at all. Beware, they grab your money and then vanish.

This should not even be a 1. I have been asking for a refund of $450.00 for a month. The "book" they were supposed to do for me does not have a copyright or ISBN number. This company is a scam. I am still trying to get my money back.

This company is fraudulent. They took my money, promising me a book deal with Hudson Books, but I never received anything in return after depositing $6,000. Please don't fall for their lies; protect yourself from this scam. Those people who make reviews are all part of their plans. They are now being investigated.

It's a shame I had to come back and do a second review on a company who I allowed and trusted to do the right thing and returning my money for bad service or no service I'm calling you out William and Tyler William after I filed a complaint with my bank decided to call me and say let's work it out if you take back the claim filing I will return your money I did that and now he's a no-show in responding and thinks it's a game to play with me like they can't be found now I'm going to go after you legally and every possible way I can so you won't do this to anybody else and I will go on every social media platform and let everyone know the fraudulent and fake service that you offer overlook these positive reviews on here because I think they're a fake or people that they pay to do so cuz if you're a legitimate company and person you don't scam people out of their money you return what's not yours and then play text messages game texting me hey Sheryl you know like this is a game so now I must show these it is how the game is played I may not get my money back but you will be exposed for the fraudulent crooks you are on every social media platform I can reach out to to let people know not to deal with these people of an India accent which is where I think there calling from and if you do deal with them FaceTime them to get an accurate picture of them now I am onto my next platform to expose these individuals

stole $10,000 from me running a Barns and Noble swindle were they promise you'll make your money back some time in the future... which Barns and Noble doesn't do. They ONLY purchase books and then put them on the shelf, they do not sell shelf space in their stores. I filed a complaint with my state attorney generals office. The response Is also a swindle. The Trust Pilot site is made of fake accounts the only books these folks from India have worked on are the 1 star reviews. common swindlers from outside the country.