History Main / VanityPublishing

* ''LatawnyaTheNaughtyHorseLearnsToSayNoToDrugs'' is a hilarious [[SoBadItsGood piece of vanity-published gold]]. It's the only children's book in which a non-anthropomorphic horse OD's from marijuana, with an illustration of his family (of horses) crying over him. The surreal illustrations and repetitive, {{Anvilicious}} writing seal the deal. While marijuana ''is'' toxic to horses, applying this to people may be an example of FantasticAesop.

* [[http://www.wikipedia.org/Kenneth_Eng Kenneth Eng]] is proof-positive that white supremacists aren't the only insane racist bunch around. A self-proclaimed Asian supremacist who '''''claimed credit for inciting the Virginia Tech massacre''''', Kenneth Eng published obvious FlameBait articles in the California newspaper ''Asian Week'' titled "Why I Hate Black People" and "Why I Hate White People." Once word of this got out to the mainstream media, he used the exposure to '''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK4fjMhGn-I plug his vanity-published science-fiction book!]]''' Said book, ''[[http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Triumvirate-Kenneth-Che-Tew-Eng/dp/097487650X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252608288&sr=8-1 Dragons:]] [[WordSaladTitle Lexicon Triumvirate]]'', is pretty much awful, but he's written glowing five-star reviews of it on Amazon, while [[SockPuppet pretending to be someone else]]. He even writes reviews of other books just to mention it. His review of ''TheWarOfTheWorlds'' amounted to: "This book is good, go read ''Dragons: Lexicon Triumvirate.''" He's also stooped to sock-puppet antics on various literary fora, bringing up a topic and then using it to plug his book.

* [[http://www.wikipedia.org/Kenneth_Eng Kenneth Eng]] is proof-positive that white supremacists aren't the only insane racist bunch around. A self-proclaimed Asian supremacist who '''''claimed credit for inciting the Virginia Tech massacre''''', Kenneth Eng published obvious FlameBait articles in the California newspaper ''Asian Week'' titled "Why I Hate Black People" and "Why I Hate White People." Once word of this got out to the mainstream media, he used the exposure to '''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK4fjMhGn-I plug his vanity-published science-fiction book!]]''' Said book, ''[[http://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Triumvirate-Kenneth-Che-Tew-Eng/dp/097487650X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252608288&sr=8-1 Dragons:]] [[WordSaladTitle Lexicon Triumvirate]]'', is pretty much awful, but he's written glowing five-star reviews of it on Amazon, while [[SockPuppet pretending to be someone else]]. He even writes reviews of other books just to mention it. His review of ''WarOfTheWorlds'' amounted to: "This book is good, go read ''Dragons: Lexicon Triumvirate.''" He's also stooped to sock-puppet antics on various literary fora, bringing up a topic and then using it to plug his book.

* The aforementioned [=PublishAmerica=] claims to be a "traditional publisher". In response to a comment on the company's website denigrating science fiction and fantasy authors, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Nights a group of these authors put together]] ''AtlantaNights'', an [[StylisticSuck intentionally low-quality]] manuscript under the name [[PunnyName Travis Tea]]. The "novel" was accepted by [=PublishAmerica=] (which purports to have high standards and to reject the majority of submissions), despite the fact that it contained numerous deliberate plot holes and inconsistencies, a missing chapter, a duplicate chapter, a chapter written by a [[ArtificialStupidity computer text-generating program]], and other flaws that should have rendered it unpublishable on its face (at least, by any "traditional publisher"). After the hoax was revealed, the acceptance was swiftly withdrawn.

* ''ADistantSoil'', but for a different reason - it was originally published by Richard Pini of ''ElfQuest''. However, author Coleen Doran severed the contract after nine issues because of the ExecutiveMeddling. (Wherein dialogue, art, and cover changes were made without her approval, and she even stated in one of her memos that they even wanted to take ''her'' off the project. Pini has allegedly also tried to get the rights to it, too.)

It's worth noting that there are differences between a vanity press and a self-publisher. In self-publishing, the writer takes on the duties of editor and formatter himself, simply contracting with a printing firm to produce the physical book. Naturally, for similar reasons, many (but not all) self-published books also suck. It may also be used for master's and doctoral dissertations, if the university expects them to be bound, and for writers whose texts are not in the dominant language of the country they're publishing in. Self-publishing is also very common in the developing world, where in some countries (India, most notably) more books are self-published than are published by commercial publishers. Online self-publishing has also been taking off as well, with sites such as [[http://www.lulu.com Lulu]] letting any aspiring author submit his manuscript, choose the printing and binding options, and printing and delivering them on demand to anyone who buys the book.

* ''Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys'', published in 2011, is a children's fantasy novel intended as the first in a franchise of five books ''and'' their film adaptations, suggesting vanity ''filmmaking'' as well as publishing. It came to public attention only when Paris Jackson (Michael's daughter) was announced as playing the lead in the movie -- she even appears on the cover -- and the book is only available through the official website and Amazon.com. The makers claim that 50% of book, film, and merchandising profits will be given to schools (which can also order the book in bulk at a discount through the website), actually saying it's a ''good'' thing that bookstores and toy stores won't be getting a slice of the moneymaking pie because schools are more important.

* ''[[http://www.amazon.com/Control-Christian-Marriages-Priesthood-Children/dp/1425992609/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_2 BIRTH CONTROL IS SINFUL IN THE CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES AND ALSO ROBBING GOD OF PRIESTHOOD CHILDREN!!]]'' Not only is the title of the book capitalized just as shown, ''[[UpToEleven but the entire book is!!!!!]]'' The book consists exactly of what the title suggests it does; some insane fundamentalist christian woman under the impression she is God's ChosenOne ranting about birth control and abortion being evil and how she's going to convert all the Jews, Muslims and atheists to Christianity. Did we mention she charges $135 for a copy? Greed is a sin too, you know...

* ''Literature/MaradoniaSaga'': Once upon a time, a girl named Gloria Tesch wrote a [[ClicheStorm woefully generic]] young adult fantasy novel about a [[MartyStu Gary-Stu]] and [[MarySue Mary-Sue]] who discover a magical land adjacent to the US, ''à la'' ''{{Narnia}}'', fulfill a prophecy, turn out to be [[ChosenOne Chosen Ones]], and fight against an "Evil Empire" (yes, [[ObviouslyEvil that is]] [[{{Strawman}} what it is called]]; in spite of the fact that a reading of the first chapter reveals that isn't actually an empire anyway). Random words being italicized or in quotation marks for no fucking reason does not help. Her parents told her it was brilliant, published it, and the girl has since developed an ego the size of a planet; proclaiming herself the world's youngest published author (which she isn't), dismissing the most meager negative criticism as the work of "haters", and is under the impression that a Maradonia movie and amusement park are on the way. Amazon.com and other such websites are [[SockPuppet full of reviews written by the girl, her parents and her friends in which they relentlessly praise the series]].

* ''Literature/MaradoniaSaga'': Once upon a time, a girl named Gloria Tesch wrote a [[ClicheStorm woefully generic]] young adult fantasy novel about a Gary and Mary Sue who discover a magical land adjacent to the US, ''à la'' ''{{Narnia}}'', fulfill a prophecy, turn out to be [[ChosenOne Chosen Ones]], and fight against an "Evil Empire" (yes, [[ObviouslyEvil that is]] [[{{Strawman}} what it is called]]; in spite of the fact that a reading of the first chapter reveals that isn't actually an empire anyway). Random words being italicized or in quotation marks for no fucking reason does not help. Her parents told her it was brilliant, published it, and the girl has since developed an ego the size of a planet; proclaiming herself the world's youngest published author (which she isn't), dismissing the most meager negative criticism as the work of "haters", and is under the impression that a Maradonia movie and amusement park are on the way. Amazon.com and other such websites are [[SockPuppet full of reviews written by the girl, her parents and her friends in which they relentlessly praise the series]].

* Some of the worse prose of all time is in''The Shadow Mouse of Everjade''. If you look it up on Amazon and read an excerpt, you will get some idea of the quality.

* In the play ''CyranoDeBergerac'' by Edmond Rostand, there is an InUniverse example. At Act II Scene VII, [[StarvingArtist Cyrano]] [[DiscussedTrope discuss this trope]] with [[TheWatson Le Bret]], claiming that he will [[DefiedTrope defy it]].[[hottip:*: Because this play is VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory, there was a real poet called CyranoDeBergerac and Sercy was his real editor, implying the very thing the fictional Cyrano vehemently denies]].

* ''ADistantSoil'', but evidently not because the author thought she was great, it was more because her previous publisher had wanted to take her off of it. Now, given that ''ADistantSoil'' is ''her'' brainchild,..

* "Music/{{Friday}}" by Rebecca Black was the product of [[http://arkmusicfactory.com/ Ark Music Factory]], a vanity record label. However, her video [[MemeticMutation didn't exactly fall into obscurity.]]

* ''ADistantSoil'', but evidently not because the author thought she was great, it was more because her previous publisher had wanted to take her off of it. Now, given that ''ADistantSoil'' is ''her'' Brianchild,..

* Arguably some of the worse prose of all time goes to ''The Shadow Mouse of Everjade''. If you look it up on Amazon and read an excerpt, you will get some idea of the quality.

* The first few books of ''Literature/TheCrossTimeEngineer'' series were published by Creator/BaenBooks, but the later novels are entirely self published.

* Victoria Foyt's ''Literature/SaveThePearls'' might have gone unnoticed entirely, but for the fact that it gathered extremely negative attention for its clumsy and insensitive handling of the PersecutionFlip that serves as its main premise: a dystopian future where minority whites are discriminated against by a black majority, because higher melanin counts were less likely to get skin cancer when the Earth was bombarded with increased UV radiation. In the book it's a plot point that "Pearls" (whites) cover themselves in dark makeup to fit in... meaning {{blackface}}. The book also had [[http://www.youtube.com/user/savethepearls several promotional videos]] done, with actors in blackface. With the author point-blank refusing to acknowledge there being anything remotely problematic about this, deleting all negative criticism of the topic on her Facebook page, and having apparently fabricated the majority of her own book reviews, it went from unheard of to infamous almost overnight, generally turning into BileFascination as the depths of the author's ignorance and insensitivity went on seemingly without end.

* Victoria Hoyt's ''Literature/SaveThePearls'' might have gone unnoticed entirely, but for the fact that it gathered extremely negative attention for its clumsy and insensitive handling of the PersecutionFlip that serves as its main premise: a dystopian future where minority whites are discriminated against by a black majority, because higher melanin counts were less likely to get skin cancer when the Earth was bombarded with increased UV radiation. In the book it's a plot point that "Pearls" (whites) cover themselves in dark makeup to fit in... meaning {{blackface}}. The book also had [[http://www.youtube.com/user/savethepearls several promotional videos]] done, with actors in blackface. With the author point-blank refusing to acknowledge there being anything remotely problematic about this, deleting all negative criticism of the topic on her Facebook page, and having apparently fabricated the majority of her own book reviews, it went from unheard of to infamous almost overnight, generally turning into BileFascination as the depths of the author's ignorance and insensitivity went on seemingly without end.

[[AC:Videogames]]
* A subversion in ''Videogame/ManiacMansion'' with the ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRol0O9CzvM 3 guys who publish anything]]'' . The name and the commercial implies it, but they aren't on of these companies. By anything they mean any ''line'' of product, provided it's good enough to begin with as one guy first evaluates the quality of the material sent.

* An in-universe example happens in one episode of WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants. Patrick writes a song and sends it to a music company, who has to make the song since they already used the money that came with it. Said song ends up killing the musicians that had to play it.

* The first few books of ''Literature/TheCrossTimeEngineer'' series were published by BaenBooks, but the later novels are entirely self published.

[[AC:Videogames]]
* ''Videogame/ManiacMansion'' features one of these companies, ''3 guys who publish anything'' (even for free, just for a share of the potential profit). Many sorts of works can be sent to them, some are mere jokes while others are relevant to advance the plot and solve puzzles.

* ''Videogames/ManiacMansion'' features one of these companies, ''3 guys who publish anything'' and many sorts of works can be sent to them, some are mere jokes while others are relevant to advance the plot and solve puzzles.

Occasionally (''very'' occasionally) a vanity published book can break out and end up being published by a legitimate publishing company. This happened with the children's book series ''TheFairyChronicles''. It originally cost a lot and had only 32 pages (due to its small [[UsefulNotes/{{Fonts}} typeface]]), with no color and no illustrations. Once moved to a new publisher, it had vibrant color, many illustrations, and more pages (with a larger, more appropriately sized font).

[[AC:Literature]]

* ''The Great American Parade'', a novel which attempts at political satire by retired English professor Robert Burrows, was vanity published in 2002. Since then it's been called "the worst novel ever published in the English language" by a Washington post review. The story deals with George W. Bush organizing a huge parade to thank all the evil corporate robber barons who helped him get into office; somehow hardly anyone in America notices, except for a plucky band of college students who set out to single-handedly stop the parade, end the war in Iraq, and undo the Bush tax cuts. It features such brilliant dialog as this gem (spoken by a character immediately after witnessing the events of 9/11): "What an almost unimaginable tragedy! It will take a great deal of unity and hard work to recover from this crippling blow!"

* ''Literature/{{Maradonia Saga}}'': Once upon a time, a girl named Gloria Tesch wrote a [[ClicheStorm woefully generic]] young adult fantasy novel about a Gary and Mary Sue who discover a magical land adjacent to the US, ''à la'' ''{{Narnia}}'', fulfill a prophecy, turn out to be [[ChosenOne Chosen Ones]], and fight against an "Evil Empire" (yes, [[ObviouslyEvil that is]] [[{{Strawman}} what it is called]]; in spite of the fact that a reading of the first chapter reveals that isn't actually an empire anyway). Random words being italicized or in quotation marks for no fucking reason does not help. Her parents told her it was brilliant, published it, and the girl has since developed an ego the size of a planet; proclaiming herself the world's youngest published author (which she isn't), dismissing the most meager negative criticism as the work of "haters", and is under the impression that a Maradonia movie and amusement park are on the way. Amazon.com and other such websites are [[SockPuppet full of reviews written by the girl, her parents and her friends in which they relentlessly praise the series]].

* In-universe example in ''[[FoucaultsPendulum Foucault's Pendulum]]'': The three main characters, who all work at a vanity press that's been getting a lot of manuscripts from occultists and conspiracy crackpots, decide to one-up them all by creating the Ultimate Conspiracy Theory. Things then [[GoneHorriblyRight go horribly right.]]

[[AC:Music]]

* "{{Music/Friday}}" by Rebecca Black was the product of [[http://arkmusicfactory.com/ Ark Music Factory]], a vanity record label. However, her video [[MemeticMutation didn't exactly fall into obscurity.]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

* In a twist, the not-terribly-obscure, not-at-all vanity published HowNotToWriteANovel is a how-to guide for writers taking the form of how to remain completely unpublishable. In addition to providing tips on how to make your protagonist insufferable, your plot horrid, and how to make sure no editor talks to an unprofessional boor such as yourself, it contains a truly sincere and serious warning about this business practice. The vanity publisher in the book is even called Fuxom and Snickers.