You've written a book and found a publisher that wants to publish it. You're excited—until the publisher tells you how much it's going to cost.

How do you know you're going to get your money's worth? Do your research and ask the right questions.

The publishing landscape has changed substantially. Self-publishing and paying to get your book published no longer carries the stigma it once did, but it still carries risk.

Pay-to-publish companies are operations that function much like a traditional publisher, except the author pays all the book's production and promotion costs. Their fees range from a few thousand dollars to $25,000 and more. Some are legitimate; many are not.

The abundance of pay-to-publish companies (also known as hybrid publishers and vanity presses) has increased the risk of inexperienced authors getting ripped off in their eagerness to get their books published.

Jacquelyn Lynn, author of The Simple Facts About Self-Publishing, has put together a comprehensive list of questions to ask before you sign a contract and pay money to get your book published. She explains how to assess the answers and thoroughly evaluate a pay-to-publish company so you spend your money wisely and don't get ripped off.

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