Amplify Publishing Group
Thinking about publishing with Amplify Publishing Group? Here’s an independent, sourced look at whether it’s a legitimate hybrid publisher or one to avoid — measured against the IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria, the ALLi Watchdog, and Writer Beware, and last checked on 2026-06-09.
Key findings
- Proceed with caution — meets 9 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- Author pays: Not publicly disclosed; custom proposals issued per project; the company's own FAQ explicitly states costs vary by book specifications.
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: trade distribution.
Our assessment
Amplify Publishing Group (formerly Mascot Books, founded 2003 by Naren Aryal) is a Herndon, VA–based hybrid publisher that charges authors upfront production fees and claims to return 85% of royalties while authors retain full IP. Both the royalty rate and rights-retention claims appear on the company's own website and are corroborated by multiple independent reviewers.
No ALLi Watchdog listing exists for this company as of June 2026 — a search of both the ALLi watchdog page and its services ratings page returned no entry. Writer Beware carries no listing or warning.
The Better Business Bureau rates the entity (now filed as Amplify Publishing Group, Inc.) A+ with accreditation since May 2019. Trustpilot shows a 2.9-star score on the Mascot Books profile, with documented complaints alleging royalty accounting misattribution — specifically, sales recorded as Amazon returns resulting in zero net royalties — and one BBB complaint alleging a unilateral post-contract price increase of approximately 35% that the company attributed to inflation and a delayed manuscript timeline.
Pricing is entirely opaque: the company's own FAQ states costs vary by project with no published ranges, which independent reviewers flag as a barrier to author decision-making. Two IBPA criteria — truth and transparency, and negotiable clear contract — cannot be confirmed without access to a signed agreement, so they remain unrated.
The company self-asserts compliance with all 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria. In September 2025 the company was acquired by Civica Media, a private-equity-backed entity (BlackBern Partners) that also owns Greenleaf Book Group.
One widely cited review of this publisher (J.J. Hebert, April 2025) was authored by the founder of MindStir Media, a direct competitor; claims in that review should be weighted accordingly.
Authors should request a full contract and itemized cost proposal before committing, and should specifically scrutinize royalty accounting definitions, return handling terms, and any post-contract price adjustment clauses.
This is Glass Elevator’s assessment based on the sources listed below. Facts are attributed; opinions are the watchdogs’ own.
IBPA hybrid criteria
- Defines a clear mission & vision
- Vets submissions (is selective)
- Commits to truth & transparency
- Provides a negotiable, clear contract
- Publishes under its own imprint & ISBNs
- Publishes to industry standards
- Ensures editorial & design quality
- Manages a range of rights
- Provides real distribution
- Demonstrates respectable sales
- Pays higher-than-standard royalties
Watchdog ratings
- ALLi Watchdog
- Not rated · source
- Writer Beware
- Not listed · source
- BBB
- A+ (BBB Accredited since May 2019; profile now filed under Amplify Publishing Group, Inc.)
No listing or warning found on Writer Beware blog (searched June 2026; blog search returned zero results for "amplify publishing").
Observable red flags
- Vague or hidden pricing
- Charges authors to publish
Terms
- Typical cost
- Not publicly disclosed; custom proposals issued per project; the company's own FAQ explicitly states costs vary by book specifications
- Royalty to author
- 85% of royalties (per company's own website and corroborated by multiple third-party reviews; paid after author covers upfront production costs)
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Trade distribution
- What you get
- Full-service hybrid publishing: editorial (developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, ghostwriting), design, production, marketing, and distribution; distribution via Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Follett, and ReaderLink into Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Chapters/Indigo, Hudson News, Costco, and independent bookstores; print, e-book, and audiobook formats; 85% royalties; author retains IP and creative control. Note: the company explicitly states it cannot guarantee brick-and-mortar placement, only online availability.
- Website
- amplifypublishinggroup.com/
Amplify Publishing Group: frequently asked questions
Is Amplify Publishing Group a legitimate hybrid publisher or a vanity press?
Glass Elevator's assessment is "Proceed with caution." Mixed signals — meets some criteria but not all, or has notable terms to weigh. Do your due diligence. It meets 9 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria.
How much does Amplify Publishing Group cost?
Not publicly disclosed; custom proposals issued per project; the company's own FAQ explicitly states costs vary by book specifications Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Amplify Publishing Group pay authors?
85% of royalties (per company's own website and corroborated by multiple third-party reviews; paid after author covers upfront production costs)
Does Amplify Publishing Group take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Should I publish with Amplify Publishing Group?
That's your call, but here's the basis: Mixed signals — meets some criteria but not all, or has notable terms to weigh. Do your due diligence. Compare it against the IBPA checklist and watchdog ratings above, get every term in writing, and remember that traditional trade publishers pay authors rather than charging them.
Sources
- Amplify Publishing Group official site – book publishing services page (amplifypublishinggroup.com)
- Amplify Publishing Group official site – FAQ (amplifypublishinggroup.com)
- Amplify Publishing Group official site – distribution services (amplifypublishinggroup.com)
- selfpublishing.com – Amplify Publishing Review (2.5 stars; notes opaque pricing) (selfpublishing.com)
- J.J. Hebert: Comprehensive Review of Amplify Publishing Group (Mascot Books) – April 2025 (note: author is founder of competitor MindStir Media) (jjhebertonline.com)
- BBB – Amplify Publishing Group, Inc. profile (formerly Mascot Books, Inc.) (bbb.org)
- BBB – Amplify Publishing Group, Inc. complaints (bbb.org)
- Trustpilot – Mascot Books reviews (2.9 stars) (trustpilot.com)
- PR Newswire – Civica Media acquires Greenleaf and Amplify (Sept 24, 2025) (prnewswire.com)
- Publishers Weekly – Private equity firm acquires two leading hybrid publishers (Sept 2025) (publishersweekw.com)
- Writer Beware blog – search for Amplify Publishing (no results) (writerbeware.blog)
- ALLi Self-Publishing Services Watchdog – general page (no listing found for Amplify) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- Wikipedia – Amplify Publishing Group (en.wikipedia.org)