This is a list of resources because I've spent too much time trawling and researching to withhold any of this and I should be crediting those who have posted this info of their own volition because they care.
https://annerallen.com/2020/02/new-publishing-scams-2020/
https://victoriastrauss.com/writer-beware/
https://gatekeeperpress.com/self-publishing-companies-to-avoid/
https://blog.reedsy.com/scams-and-publishing-companies-to-avoid/
https://self-publishingschool.com/vanity-press/
The amount of research you have to do on your own just to find anything eats up a lot of time and energy I've chosen not to invest right now. Just that first blog post I listed illustrated how much worse the playing field is now compared to when I started.
I've put my own opinions out there, written blog posts, etc. My previous publisher appears to have shut down and has ironically reprinted to Amazon in new editions, however I have no idea if the authors will get their royalties still (not that we were much to begin with). Given it appears they're not operational, I've not reported them to Writer Beware or any other sites, though I did consider it. I'm not sure if they are actually trying to rebuild the company elsewhere or they gave up entirely, provided they're not taking new submissions or money for books they weren't sending, my conscience isn't so bothered.
I don't discuss this much. I took my last rejection with good graces because for once, I was given a reason for their rejection: it wasn't sitting in their wheelhouse for marketing, though they "agonised" over the decision, which I don't believe they did before.
Anyway, Amazon's decided to finally join forces with a printer in Australia so we no longer have to depend on print copies coming solely from the US. While the printing costs have gone up, I don't know what will happen in terms of postage (it should be lower realistically), and I'm waiting for them to switch to cream page printing, since I don't think this was facilitated as yet. I've ordered copies from the US for now as I've updated the covers but being short on cash from my wedding last year, I was reluctant to splurge on this. Previous copies are being left with local book depositories, I should take a shot of the quaint little red box in my neighbourhood. My books have been taken from there so I hope someone found them enjoyable. I still see these as little messages in bottles floating on the ether, if anyone wants to tell me what they think, at least online, they might bring it up. But I'm on hiatus otherwise, aside from the kids book which is still in production.
Even I'm forgetting to check in on people.
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