Thank you for your patience during this process, I understand it can be tedious awaiting responses from publishers regarding your writing. However, we have now completed our evaluations of your illustrated children’s fiction ‘Swish Fish Wish’.



Over the past few weeks my colleagues and I have been discussing various aspects of your work and have agreed that your book is suitable for children with an enjoyable narrative. We believe that it deserves a chance to reach the general readership and this can be achieved with the marketing capabilities we can provide. However, the illustrations you have provided did not meet our standards for publication so we would look to replace these using one of our freelance illustrators, if you do choose to move ahead.



As I’m sure you know – as it is explained on our website – we receive hundreds of submissions each month, many of which are rejected, when we accept a work we can offer either a traditional publishing contract or a contribution-based publishing contract. At this time, I can proudly state that we would love to publish your work under the xxxxxx banner and wish to make a contribution-based offer for ‘Swish Fish Wish’.



Please consider this offer carefully. This will be a one-off, finite figure. Any future costs, to cover marketing over the lifetime of the book, will be covered by xxxxxxx.



We understand this decision cannot be taken lightly and you’ll need to see the contract before you can make a decision. The contract, along with contribution and royalties, will be finalised once we have a request to view it.



At this stage we are seeking only an agreement in principle to view the contract. Please note, there is no obligation with the contract and both parties are still free to withdraw at any point, until contracts have been signed.



Please note the finite figure can be paid in monthly instalments over 10 months.



Please let me know whether or not you wish to view the proposed publishing contract for your work. If you have any other questions regarding publishing then please do not hesitate to contact us.



Yours sincerely,

Olympia Publishers UK, part of Ashwell Publishing, began sometime around late 2007. The publisher lists its address at 60 Cannon Street, smack in the heart of the City of London. That’s a pretty nice piece of office real estate to lease and operate out of, but when you’re a publisher with 250 listed titles (on Amazon UK), a catalogue filled mainly with new or unknown authors, something doesn’t quite ring true. I’m a pretty frequent traveller now, and I’ve learned from experience when I’ve decided to ‘call around’ to the offices of publishers or companies offering self-publishing services, I’ve discovered vacant rooms above laundrettes, fast food shops, residential homes, derelict or abandoned buildings with no more sign of a thriving publishing house than rusting galvanised shutters and a overstuffed ‘mailbox’ and a builder with a steaming-hot Pot Noodle clutched to his bosom. I’ve had experiences like this with several UK self-publishing services – are you taking note Mr Miller from BookForce/UnDiscovered/discovered Authors/Callio Press? Olympia Publishers actually operate out of a less attractive piece of real estate in a business industrial estate in Cambridge.....It should be noted that fees cited from the above links by authors, after they submitted to Olympia, ranged on average from £2500 – £3500. Publishing should be a democracy – open to everyone – but you simply cannot operate an imprint that claims to publish one author for free, and another for £3500, and give both the same marketing and promotion.
RATING: 3.6/10

Judie Barrington - March 30, 2018 said:
I know I shouldn’t laugh….but…..the email I received – only 2 days ago – is almost word perfect to those sent to others, Having jumped for joy, and treated my friends to a glass of bubbly each, and imagining the life of J.K.Rowling…….I asked for their contract to be sent, which they did yesterday……..say no more !
If I was absolutely stupid I would be sending them a total of £2,200 over the next 10 months, and expecting 50% royalties, plus 20 copies of my ‘paperback’ ( my ‘work’ being a children’s novel would not look good in paperback !) Thank the Lord, and all you lovely honest people on this site……for your reviews, that have made me wake up, smell coffee and burst my own balloon (s)……To think that I WAS going to travel to 60 Cannon Street, with signed contract in hand, with part payment cheque ( to show good faith ) and meet Mr James H——-ton in person ! who most likely runs the taxi cab company downstairs !!!! Lets’s not give up guys, J.K. Rowling was turned down 12 times ! Good luck everybody.

SafeAsMilk wrote: If you're paying for everything, what obligation do they have to even push your work?

I was a ignorant and naïve and I stupidly paid them the 2,500 English pounds ($5,000 Australian for me). They certainly produced the book – and sent me ten free copies. My book is available through amazon but it is available nowhere else. I have written many times to them asking for details as to their distribution network, promotion and marketing details which they promised on my original contract. It would appear that they have done nothing to get my book into any bookshop...I am beginning to realise that this is an evil industry – preying on the unwary and naïve authors.