When I started my publishing journey, I was full of excitement and hope. I had written something deeply meaningful to me and wanted to share it with the world. That’s when I came across Balboa Press, a division of Hay House — a publisher I had long admired and trusted.
Their association with Hay House gave me confidence. I believed I was stepping into a space of integrity, experience, and genuine care for the author’s message.
I filled out their form and expressed interest. From that moment on, I was welcomed with enthusiasm, regular contact, and what felt like a truly supportive environment.
Unfortunately, that initial impression was misleading.
💼 When the Service Was “Amazing” — But Only on the Surface
The two times the service truly felt exceptional were:
- Before I paid, and
- After I decided to cancel — when they handled the closure with surprising precision and professionalism.
The sales phase was polished. I received frequent, friendly, and professional calls. I was offered “special promotions,” “limited-time packages,” and “exclusive publishing deals” — all expiring soon. The urgency was subtle but strategic, and it led me to act faster than I normally would.
But once the payment was made, the entire tone changed.
📉 The Reality Behind the Curtain
After I paid:
- I was sent a basic intake form and left to figure most things out myself.
- It became hard to get proper guidance unless it was tied to an upsell.
- The support team seemed distant, fragmented, and transactional.
While I did receive names and contact points for people throughout the process, none of them could be found on LinkedIn or any professional network. It made it difficult to build trust — I couldn’t verify who I was really working with. These names might have been real, or they might have been part of a script. You just don’t know.
And most importantly: when it came to editing — I never got there, because I would have had to pay extra for it on top of the main package. The editing services weren’t included. You had to pick them a la carte from a long and pricey list, with little transparency on who would actually be handling your work.
There was no proofreading included, and the editing process offered only one round — no revisions. It felt transactional, not collaborative. There was no real “publishing path” — just a menu of expensive options you were left to assemble yourself, without meaningful guidance or care.
🚨 The Wake-Up Call
The biggest red flag came when they told me my manuscript had been “reviewed and approved” in just two days.
That made me pause.
How could anyone properly read and assess a book that fast? The answer was: they didn’t. It became clear I was just moving through a pipeline.
I realized I was not receiving a professional publishing experience. I was dealing with a book-canning operation, designed to push people through a system with as little involvement and cost as possible.
📚 Learning Through Experience
When I began this journey, I knew little about publishing. But as these concerns surfaced, I started reading blogs, listening to author interviews, comparing contracts, and learning how the process should work.
That knowledge changed everything. I began asking real questions — and the answers I received confirmed that their service wasn’t designed to help authors grow, refine their work, or launch with quality.
It was designed to complete a service as quickly and efficiently as possible — and make more sales along the way.
💸 Cancelling — And Paying the Price
When I finally decided to cancel, I was surprised that the process was handled better than anything before. They were responsive and clear — but the financial damage had already been done.
I lost a significant amount of money, all due to contract terms I hadn’t paid close attention to in the beginning — swept up in sales energy and a trusted brand name.
It was a painful, humbling lesson.
🛠 What I’m Doing Differently Now
With a bit more effort, I discovered that there are better, more author-focused alternatives:
- Amazon KDP and IngramSpark offer reliable self-publishing platforms with global distribution and transparent pricing.
- Reedsy.com is a fantastic place to find editors, designers, and marketers who are real professionals with profiles, reviews, and portfolios.
- ciep.uk (Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading) connects authors with vetted, experienced editors you can actually research and trust.
Now, I’m self-publishing — on my own terms. With real people. Real conversations. Real support.
And I finally feel like I’m giving my book the care it deserves.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Balboa Press taught me a hard but valuable lesson.
Never confuse a polished sales pitch with genuine author support.
If you’re just starting out:
- Don’t let urgency pressure you.
- Read every clause.
- Ask uncomfortable questions.
- Make sure what they offer truly fits your needs — not just what’s easy to deliver.
Your book is too important to be treated like a product on a conveyor belt.
And so are you.
🤍 A Final Note from Me
There are authors who have published successfully with Balboa Press and are happy with their experience — and that’s truly great. I’m happy for them.
But for me, this wasn’t the path. And maybe that’s exactly how it was meant to be.
My journey as an author turned out to be a deeper one. It wasn’t just about getting my book out. It was about learning how to honor the story, trust my instincts, and choose the people who care about the work they deliver.
If you’re reading this and standing at the start of your publishing journey — I sincerely wish you clarity, discernment, and the confidence to follow the path that feels most aligned with you.
Because in the end, that’s what matters most.
Wishing you all the best on your way
