Covenant Books Murrells Inlet SC review: Publishing

I have done two book collaborations with Covenant. The first went well but this time did not.

When the cover design was completed I suggested a different font then waited for the change to be made. After several weeks, I questioned the delay and was told it was in process.

After nearly two months I sent a costly overnight letter to the CEO, hoping to get the process moving. The delivery tracker verified the CEO signed for the letter noon the next day, but I didn’t get a reply until Wednesday of the following week. She called, saying the delay was because the designers didn’t know if the font change was for the front cover or the back cover blurb. This seemed an excuse because I had specifically requested the text change for the front cover. If the designers were confused, why hadn’t they asked for clarification. Due to a bad connection, the call was ended, and I didn’t pursue the matter because of the CEO’s uncaring attitude.

Finally, after three months, the cover design was released. It was perfect except for a new problem: two words run together in the blurb. Where was the proofreader? This caused further needless delay.

After a month the problem was fixed, but it’s amazing it took this long to put a space between two words. An honest merchant who makes a mistake will make it right for the customer as quickly as possible.

At a recent trade show, I was asked by a customer for advice on how to get published. I suggested Covenant Books and a week later he sent me an email thanking me, saying he had a signed contract. While they are quick to take on new authors to grow their business, once the contract is inked, I’ve found Covenant to be rigid and unresponsive.

When a writer’s book is nearing publication, unexpected and needless delay is not only annoying but may affect the author’s income. When I spoke directly with Covenant about my concerns I was met with a tepid response and an uncaring attitude. This is not a customer friendly way of doing business.