Balboa Press Reviews

Balboa was a good experience for me. However, I’ve been around and had a very long list of questions to ask before I ever signed. Included was the question, “What have I not asked that surprises new authors the most?” I asked many, many questions and did my part to go over everything they sent with a fine tooth comb, never signing off on anything until I was satisfied.
I also had no need for the add ons such as marketing, paying 6200$ for someone to read it for audio versions, etc.
As for a new author, getting a basic book published and out into the world, it was great. And I was diligent.

Date of experience: August 10, 2022

They responses are usually prompt and they are helpful. I think though that because different people are contacting me from different departments, some order needs to be in place. e.g you shouldn't be asking a client to purchase a marketing package when the client has not been notified that the book is published, nor have they approved such publication.

Date of experience: August 22, 2022

Okay Folks this is my second review. I spoke with upper management I got an apology but they still rendered poor service. I still have not received copies of my books as of yet when we spoke they were 10 days behind mailing them, I'm past 15 days. The people that gave 5 stars who were your reps so people can request them because this is the most unprofessional, unorganized publisher. And they have the nerve to try to continue to get you to purchase add-on. SMH is there any publisher rights like the FCC for Broadcast who do we write to for publishers? if you know please share.

Date of experience: August 01, 2022

Five Star Operation, everyone has been great right from the beginning of my first book. Everyone has been helpful, kind, and professional and they feel like friends. I just sent in my sixth book and in a month I will send in my seventh book, thanks to the Balboa Press Team...

Date of experience: March 05, 2023

My book was published by Balboa in January 2023. I have been waiting all year to receive the promised royalties from the sales of my book. I spent thousands on publishing and thousands on the extra marketing, they hounded me for more and more money saying they saw huge potential in my writing.
Im now MASSIVELY disappointed with the journey thus far, Balboa outsources straight over to Author Solutions.
My book has been for sale all over the World for 10 months. incase you are wondering how much money have I actually received back into my bank account to date? $106 - thats it!
A great quality book is in my hand, compared to Amazon printed books. But the promises, the wait times, different consultant every call! All the marketing hard selling is not worth it. Australian authors BEWARE seek out someone local!! Balboa is not associated with HAY HOUSE its more involved with Author Solutions, you are just another number.

Date of experience: October 05, 2023

I worked with Balboa Press on my cookbook "For the Love of Shabbos" (Favorite Shabbat recipes from my home to yours.) Everyone I interacted with at Balboa was kind, courteous, and professional. They helped me bring my legacy project to life. Thank you!!

Date of experience: September 12, 2022

I am so thankful I reached out to Balboa press when I decided to publish my book.
From the moment I first spoke to Yuki Kenzo I knew I made the right decision. Yuki supported me each week to see the book go from chapter to chapter. He guidance and feedback allowed my skills to be honed and perfected so the end result was book I feel like extremely proud.
of. As the book writing stage completed I gained more family from Balboa- Grace Ben was there to guide me through the final polishing and preparation for Printing. Marj has instrumental in taking care of the marketing and social media campaign. And today I got to talk to my distribution guru Tony Adams.
I feel supported as a new author and could not have asked for a better team to make my dream come true.
Yuki is such an amazing consultant that he consistently made me feel he genuinely cared about me as a person going through grief and a new author.
Thank you Balboa family.

Date of experience: April 07, 2022

After a few hiccups, namely a lack of communication,which they promised in the beginning, my experience of a first time published author was very good. Yuki Kenzo and via Nielsen were excellent and did an awesome job for my poetry book. The only thing I would say is that you need to ask lots of questions in the beginning. Because they sell the deal to you telling you that once your book is published it goes on all the main sites like Amazon. What they don't tell you in the beginning is that's as far as it goes. They won’t market your book. That's a separate package. I was quoted around $2000 on top of the $2000 publishing fee.
Self published means self marketing and self selling if you don't pay the separate marketing fee.

Date of experience: November 26, 2022

I wish there was more guidance in what to expect as an author. New authors don’t know what they don’t know.
Also in regards to changes it would be helpful if a representative if they see something that looks grammatically wrong or typo that they would question the author. Sometimes after reading some thing so many times you miss things. The response was alittle delayed. Lastly I am ordering books from Offset, had I known a few steps ahead that it was going to take 8 to 10 weeks for delivery I may have placed the order sooner.
The Balboa reps have been great though. And patient with me.

Date of experience: November 16, 2021

"Opening a Can of Words" was my first effort at publishing a book. Balboa Press offered me excellent support throughout the whole process. Whenever a problem arose, I was shown how to navigate my way through it in an encouraging way. A crop of emails to Balboa are proof positive that the lines of communication were always open and the replies were prompt. I was delighted with the way the cover turned out and with the physical quality of the printing which add to the reader-friendliness of the book. I would certainly recommend Balboa to any new author looking for a supportive publisher.

Date of experience: June 02, 2022

I will tell you what made my experience great-surrendering, patience and trusting (that all would go well) and to me, it went more than well. I say this because when I first looked into publishing a book (I hadn’t yet written), with Balboa Press, I looked at the reviews others had left behind and honestly, I was put off. But karma has a way to bring you where you need to be and somehow, due to my economic situation at that moment and the fact that Hay House publishing is associated with Balboa Press, I decided to give it a shot and allow balboa to publish my book once it would be ready. Mind you that, I was a bit skeptical about this decision but, decided to leave it all up to the Universe and trust. I am glad I did, and am very satisfied with the end result.

Date of experience: April 12, 2023

Overall, Balboa Press has been wonderful. There have been a couple of times during my book writing process where a team member has dropped the ball. With that said, once I follow up with them, things get back on track pretty quick.

Date of experience: June 15, 2023

I recommend partnering with Balboa House in getting your book published. My journey has been interesting...lots to learn about the publishing world and the staff have been courteous and supportive. I just got the book published and am starting to experience their marketing services. I am hopeful they will be successful.

Date of experience: April 13, 2022

I would highly recommend working with Balboa Press to self-publish your book! The entire team has been exceptional every step of the way, providing this first-time author the support and guidance necessary to launch my memoir successfully. I will definitely reach out to Balboa Press without hesitation when I'm ready to publish my second book.

Date of experience: June 27, 2022

Prices are too high. I felt that they haven't really done anything, other than making the format of the book. I haven't received my business cards even though it was in the package. I've sent a mail about it and haven't gotten an answer.
Before this they were quite quick with answering mails though but apparantly when the book is online, they don't answer.
For the price I paid I'd expect they would review the book, get at least some marketing and more distribution. I'm disappointed.

Date of experience: September 12, 2022

Initially I was prepared to give Balboa a very good review but then it became quite clear that they were only interested in getting me to sign up for more and more expenditures but providing very little by way of return on the investments. Even then, they would stop all (alleged) work on the project until the account was full up to date. I am not at all impressed.

Date of experience: February 01, 2022

I paid for a expensive marketing plan and I cannot get Kean Wilson to respond at all. He's the second marketing person assigned to me, no idea what happened to the first one but she didn't respond either. I call and email and nothing. They are very eager to sell their service but lack greatly in work product outlet and customer services. I won't use them again.

Date of experience: September 19, 2022

Not a good experience at all!!! Communication was terrible. Follow up was terrible. Follow thru was terrible. And the people who help are like subbed out to China and never help or serve outside a basic script. I say go straight to Amazon to publish your book.

Date of experience: July 27, 2023

As a newcomer to publishing a book, I always found helpful and friendly contact persons to ask about the procedures, when I was insecure. Glad that I chose the package that I did; all was fulfilled in a smooth way and I got value for my money.

Date of experience: November 23, 2022

The folks at Balboa are great! All phases of the process from securing the right package to the final production of the book are managed carefully and professionally. I am very pleased and will continue to seek out their services.

Date of experience: February 08, 2022