Beware Alpha Book Publishers

ID: A screenshot of the front page of alphapublisher.com. The top banner gives contact info and tabs for Book Publishing, Process, Editing, Publishing Plans, Bookstore, Internships, and Contact Us. The page reads "Find a Publishing Company Near You" and gives a collection of US states to click on.

As a new post-grad facing the summer of 2024, I was desperate for jobs and experience. But perhaps I should have been more cautious.

I found Alpha Book Publishers online, a small publishing company that offered an internship that was everything I was looking for, omitting the fact it was unpaid. What most excited me was the claim of having my work published by the end of the internship, because I wanted a holistic understanding of a book's life cycle. They promised a co-author credit, rights, and a percentage of sales profits too. I looked up the company's catalogue of work and wasn't too impressed, but figured I had to start somewhere.

I emailed - yes emailed - my application to Alpha and got it right away. No interview. That should have been my first red flag.

The "internship" was an online module of videos presenting basic information about editing and the book publishing process; recorded scripts over stock photos. I was not given the names of my supervisors or CEO, nor any mode of communication aside from email. I had no previous experience to compare this to, so how could I have known it was sketchy?

I was given two options: (1) Send in my own manuscript for them to edit and publish, or (2) ask for a pre-written manuscript, edit it myself, create cover art, and submit it for publishing. I chose the latter.

They sent me a novel MS (that was more like a novella in length), but did not specify what kind of editing to do for it. Did they want developmental editing that required more heavy lifting and alterations to the story's foundation? Or did they just want proofreading? I sent about 5 emails over the course of two months asking for clarification. I had also lost access to the module at one point, so I was unable to proceed any further. I was eager to put out good content and proactive in learning my boundaries as an editorial intern; I didn't want to overstep my bounds and edit more than requested, as that would be unprofessional for my field. 

IF they got back to me, it was two weeks later with vague non-answers.

Eventually, I had to admit that they were being even more unprofessional.

When I scored another internship with YourBookTeam, everything changed. I actually had to interview for it! I signed a contract! I actually met my supervisor and CEO! I video-conferenced every weekday with a dedicated team of hardworking people who typically replied within 24 hours. Seeing what a real editorial startup looked like -- as well as a quality approach to publishing and communication -- was a deciding factor in how I responded to Alpha Book Publishers.

ID: Digital cover art for the ms. It features a dark green background with green and gold ribbon-like symmetrical patterns flowing across the middle, connecting two clusters of illustrated stars. The border features ornate corners and suns and moons at the top and bottom edges. It reads The Hidden Portal of Solaris. Conquer the dark. Find the light. Alpha Book Publishers. Anna Ferguson. 

I was conflicted on how to leave. Part of me wanted to cut them off as they had with me so they couldn't profit on the content I worked on. The other part of me wanted to see it through for integrity's sake; I didn't want to have to tell people that I quit my first internship. In early November of 2024, I sent in a polished turd of a MS and original cover art (which should NOT have been an editorial intern's job in the first place) and waited. I kept holding off in the hopes they would get back to me at some point.

But December rolled around and I decided enough was enough.

I emailed my notice and reasons for leaving before I could assist in the publishing process, not that they likely "noticed" though.

So, if you're new to searching and are considering your first internship, do these things first:

1. Investigate their profile pictures.

   • Copy any profile pictures you find and do a reverse Google Image search. This will show you if they're stealing someone else's picture (they may even be using ai filters, so look closely).

   • If the picture is fake, sever contact immediately and report their profile for fraud.

   • If their profile/website doesn't have any photos, only proceed contact if you have a mutual connection.

2. Investigate their LinkedIn.

   • If they have less than 10 followers, connections, or posts, it's likely just a facade. (ex: "I noticed you’re currently exploring new career opportunities. Please send a connection request so we can discuss further. Thank you!"

   • Same goes if their profile is devoid of any unique markers (like a catchphrase personal banner).

   • Pay attention to how they they reach out to you.

     • They give a vague invitation to connect or talk that isn't specified to your industry. 

     • They read like every other person's invitation and/or the automatic suggestions provided by LinkedIn.

     • Their grammar, spelling, and tone shift when you go off script. They may become pushy and demanding when you give complicated or negative answers.

3. Look at their catalogue.

   • Do they publish stuff that you're personally interested in?

   • Or stuff that you possess a lot of skills/knowledge for?

   • Or stuff that meets quality, peer-reviewed standards?

4. Find what others are saying about them.

   • Check Reddit for threads like r/internships or r/scams to see if other people have shared negative experiences.

   • Check Glassdoor for honest insider reviews on companies.

   • DM other interns on LinkedIn. Kindly ask about their experience, typical work day, and opinions on management.

5. Ask yourself if this internship is something you actually want to be a part of as a professional.

   • "Do I want this on my resume? Would it provide significant experience and career boost?"

     • If no, then don't feel anxious about turning it down.

   • "Would I work for them as a full-time employee?"

     • If no, then they're probably not worth a part-time, unpaid internship either.

   • "Can I still trust them since they're not bots asking for my personal information?"

     • Even if real people are running the program and they're not asking for your money, that doesn't mean it's not a scam or a waste of your time. Content farms are real and may prey on creatives for free content that they can then turn around and sell for themselves.

I share this in the hopes that my cautionary tale will help even one person desperate for a gig in editorial. There are better companies out there and, even if you're desperate, worthy opportunities are worth waiting for.