- I paid my money up front in the Fall of 2019 so BL could get the books out to buyers in time for the 2019 Christmas rush. They insisted I pay for all eleven though I suggested they take only two or three. They would only accept eleven. Keep in mind we started our relationship on July 6, 2019, where I contracted for them to write a screenplay from one of my books ... they drafted a screenplay for one book ... not the one specified on my check.
- I reread my books and made changes after they sent me the first draft. Unfortunately, I later received many drafts and they were sometimes missing paragraphs and had sentences in the wrong chapters.
- BL asked me to submit new covers. I did so, but some of the books on my website still have the old cover photos. This makes me unsure, because of all the errors, whether my text changes were incorporated into the books.
- I made an author video and sent it to them. It’s not on the website, nor had there been a press release as promised.
- I don’t own the domain name or website so I can’t make needed changes myself. I noticed the website has the same cover pictures and trailer I had when I was with another publisher. That is a problem. The website and domain name were supposed to be free for three years. Now I can' even buy the domain name from BL or whoever owns it?
- When I went to Amazon, and some of the books have the correct (new) covers, but unfortunately, some have the paperbacks listed from $902+ to $800+, and even 25 cents, which is definitely not correct.
- The contract says my books would be available on Amazon, Apple, Kobo and Barnes and Noble. I’ve only seen them on Barnes and Noble, and more recently on Amazon.
- I was told if I published the books under my name, all my problems would be resolved and I would receive most of the price of the books as profit. I received one reasonable and encouraging check from Ingram, but I suspect they bought some of my books to jack up my royalties and show how great the books were doing They used that report to get me to invest in further services from them.
- I was promised five free copies of my books so I could either sell or promote them. I never received even one. I needed to proof them again before they were published because I wasn't sure they had made all the changes needed. All the errors had been formatting mistakes (not found in the books I initially sent them).
- I received a draft screen treatment for Shady Springs Ranch, which was not the title I wrote on my check to them. I sent it back with corrections and suggestions. Never heard back.
I realize it was probably difficult working with eleven titles, but they assured me they would take care of it. I suggested submitting them, maybe three at a time, and putting them online so I could begin making sales.
So far I have paid $17,500 to take care of these issues and all I have is a mess I will probably have to find the money to straighten out. So no, I would not recommend Brightlights, even to an enemy.
I'd like to report Bright Lights Distribution LLC who scammed me for over $20,000 for my childrens book!!! They promised the world to me and even told me that my book will be adapted into film if I do business with them!
They offered to create a screenplay for my book with other obsolete marketing services but I haven't gotten anything from them in return! They took all of my money and I feel so crushed right now!! I never thought that they would do this to an 83 year old!! I'm having suicidal thoughts now. They've used me!!!
Brightlights Distribution, LLC. Reviews
- I paid my money up front in the Fall of 2019 so BL could get the books out to buyers in time for the 2019 Christmas rush. They insisted I pay for all eleven though I suggested they take only two or three. They would only accept eleven. Keep in mind we started our relationship on July 6, 2019, where I contracted for them to write a screenplay from one of my books ... they drafted a screenplay for one book ... not the one specified on my check.
- I reread my books and made changes after they sent me the first draft. Unfortunately, I later received many drafts and they were sometimes missing paragraphs and had sentences in the wrong chapters.
- BL asked me to submit new covers. I did so, but some of the books on my website still have the old cover photos. This makes me unsure, because of all the errors, whether my text changes were incorporated into the books.
- I made an author video and sent it to them. It’s not on the website, nor had there been a press release as promised.
- I don’t own the domain name or website so I can’t make needed changes myself. I noticed the website has the same cover pictures and trailer I had when I was with another publisher. That is a problem. The website and domain name were supposed to be free for three years. Now I can' even buy the domain name from BL or whoever owns it?
- When I went to Amazon, and some of the books have the correct (new) covers, but unfortunately, some have the paperbacks listed from $902+ to $800+, and even 25 cents, which is definitely not correct.
- The contract says my books would be available on Amazon, Apple, Kobo and Barnes and Noble. I’ve only seen them on Barnes and Noble, and more recently on Amazon.
- I was told if I published the books under my name, all my problems would be resolved and I would receive most of the price of the books as profit. I received one reasonable and encouraging check from Ingram, but I suspect they bought some of my books to jack up my royalties and show how great the books were doing They used that report to get me to invest in further services from them.
- I was promised five free copies of my books so I could either sell or promote them. I never received even one. I needed to proof them again before they were published because I wasn't sure they had made all the changes needed. All the errors had been formatting mistakes (not found in the books I initially sent them).
- I received a draft screen treatment for Shady Springs Ranch, which was not the title I wrote on my check to them. I sent it back with corrections and suggestions. Never heard back.
I realize it was probably difficult working with eleven titles, but they assured me they would take care of it. I suggested submitting them, maybe three at a time, and putting them online so I could begin making sales.
So far I have paid $17,500 to take care of these issues and all I have is a mess I will probably have to find the money to straighten out. So no, I would not recommend Brightlights, even to an enemy.
Connie Squiers
I'd like to report Bright Lights Distribution LLC who scammed me for over $20,000 for my childrens book!!! They promised the world to me and even told me that my book will be adapted into film if I do business with them!
They offered to create a screenplay for my book with other obsolete marketing services but I haven't gotten anything from them in return! They took all of my money and I feel so crushed right now!! I never thought that they would do this to an 83 year old!! I'm having suicidal thoughts now. They've used me!!!