Balboa Press is another one of the many options for authors to choose from in the self-publishing universe. What makes them unique, however, is that Balboa only publishes self-help titles ranging from alternative health to meditation to spirituality and more.
Balboa is a division of Hay House Publishing, a company founded in 1984 by Louisa Hay that also publishes inspirational, spiritual and personal growth works exclusively. While it may seem comforting knowing that Balboa is directly related to an actual publishing house (and that all works are candidates for acquisition), all of Balboa’s packages and services are administered by… You guessed it, Author Solutions.
Most of the companies who associate with the Author Solutions brand, like Trafford, iUniverse, AuthorHouse and Xlibris, provide poor services that track with their poor reputations. Will Balboa prove itself the better candidate? Don’t get your hopes up.
Pushy publishers
Of all the reviews circulating around Balboa, the most common complaint seems to be their high-pressure sales tactics followed by utter silence. One customer reported that when they were ready to publish their book, they reached out to Balboa to see if it would be a good match. “Balboa made me feel that my book was indeed one that needed to be out there for people to read,” the customer explained, “but after I signed on the dotted line that’s where the enthusiasm from Balboa ended.”
Some have reported being brought to tears by Balboa sales representatives refusing to address their problems and choosing to upsell more add-ons and services instead. From the looks of it, Balboa opens their palms and asks for more, more and more as soon as a contract is signed. However, once customers pay for the services in full, Balboa, unsurprisingly, ghosts them. This is typical behavior coming from an Author House brand.
Other common complaints include, but are by no means limited to, unprofessional customer service, questionable marketing, long and harrowing publishing processes, low and infrequent royalty checks, debt-ensuing prices, the list goes on. Balboa has even found itself at the center of legal action due to their failure to comply with contracts. They seem to forget that these binding papers apply to themselves as well.
Stay away from the Balboa bullies
Most authors who take their business to places like Balboa are most likely unfamiliar with publishing and need a little help to get started. It’s nice to have someone guide you through a process that tends to be lengthy and confusing rather than going at it alone. This is what companies like Balboa prey upon. There are countless horror stories related to the unethical lines that Balboa crosses. They shamelessly creep their way into customers’ wallets with flattery and promises but fail to deliver.
The better solution
If you’re looking for a company that does right by the customers, I recommend MindStir Media. MindStir is the top-rated self-publisher in the world for a reason: it cares about its writers.
They’re the #1 ranked self-publisher in the United States for a reason: constantly delivering consistent and expert-level work, and most importantly, by caring about their customers and helping bring their ideas to life.
Balboa Press Review