IUniverse.com IUniverse is not good for authors. Internet scammers steal your money and don't deliver! Bloomington Indiana

I published my novel in 2012 with IUniverse.com.  Ever since then, the largest royalty check I received was just over $3.00.

Yesterday I received a call from Marcus Castro, a marketing agent.  He had great news for my book, and had invited me to attend a Hollywood Pitchfest, which was supposed to help me with connecting to producers in Hollywood.  He congratulated me, told me that this was going to make a HUGE difference in my life.  

He urged me to pay to have a book trailer made.  It would cost me $4000.  I told him that there was NO WAY I could afford that, as I am a student and my husband is the sole working person in our home.  He put me on hold, and then told me that he could have his production staff pay for 50% of the fee, because there was something special about my book and they felt this was a good investment on their part. 

I reluctantly agreed to this, but there was something in the back of my mind that didn't quite sit well with me.  I shook those worries away, thinking that this might be the biggest opportunity of my life, and I should go with the flow.  

I was super excited, thinking this was something that I could do to promote my book.  I called my family and told them about going to Hollywood, and talking to people in the movie industry.  I was to meet some producers for big name companies in the film industry, and this was my break.  My husband bought a bottle of champagne, and we celebrated.  

This morning I called Markus to ask for some more information regarding this pitchfest.  It turns out that I would have to PAY to speak to these executives, to the tune of $2499, as well as pay for my own airfare.  I would have gladly paid for the airfare, but I didn't feel that I should have to pay for pitching my book.  

I told him that I would NEVER have signed up for the $2000 book trailer, had I known that I would also have to pay for the pitchfest.  I told him that I felt misled.  That's where our conversation deteriorated into an argument over the phone, which lasted for nearly an hour.  

I demanded that they refund my money for the book trailer immediately.  I am so disappointed and angry.  I am also upset with myself, because I allowed my own vanity to guide my judgement on this one.  Now I have to tell my family that this was all a money-making scheme on IUniverse's part, and I am not going to do it.  

I do believe that my book has some merit to it, so I will be removing my book from them and taking it to another publisher.  

Please don't believe a word that they say.  I haven't received my royalties, and all I ever get from them is calls requiring massive amounts of money for various services.  

If you have had a similar experience with iuniverse, please email me at:  lioness7@telus.net.  Maybe if enough unhappy authors get together and complain about these deceptive practices, we can help to prevent others from making IUniverse rich on their hard work and effort.