Dorrance Publishing
Thinking about publishing with Dorrance Publishing? Here’s an independent, sourced look at whether it’s a legitimate vanity press 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
- Not recommended — meets 1 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- ALLi rates it Caution.
- Author pays: $2,400–$18,000+ upfront (customized per manuscript; not disclosed publicly).
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: online retailers only.
Our assessment
Dorrance Publishing, founded in 1920 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is one of the oldest operating vanity/subsidy presses in the United States. It operates under four documented imprints confirmed by the BBB and Wikipedia: RoseDog Books, Red Lead Press, I-Proclaim Books, and Whitmore Publishing Company.
Authors pay all production costs upfront — independently reviewed packages range from approximately $2,400 to $18,000 or more — but Dorrance does not disclose pricing on its website, requiring manuscript submission before quoting fees. The company accepts most submissions without vetting for commercial viability.
Royalties are structured on a sliding scale: 40% of retail for print sold through its own store, dropping to 20% of wholesale through third-party retailers such as Amazon; ebook royalties are 80% (Dorrance store) and 40% (third parties), per the Independent Publishing Magazine review. Copyright is registered in the author's name, making rights retention technically true, but Dorrance registers as publisher of origin on ISBNs and holds a 2-year exclusive contract with 30-day termination notice required.
Distribution runs through Ingram/Lightning Source, Baker and Taylor, and online retail channels; physical bookstore stocking is outreach-based and not contractually guaranteed. Dorrance is also documented to solicit authors using copyright registration data and web crawling — a confirmed cold-outreach practice noted by Writer Beware and multiple author accounts.
An active class action lawsuit (Lockhart v. Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc., D.N.J.
No. 3:22-cv-02929, last filing October 2025) alleges Dorrance concealed true book sales figures and withheld royalty payments. The BBB rates Dorrance an A with 66 complaints on file over three years (accredited since October 1995), with only 9 of 57 company-answered complaints resolved to the customer's satisfaction.
Trustpilot sentiment is rated "Poor" at 2.4/5, per multiple third-party sources (direct fetch blocked). Dorrance is indexed in the ALLi/selfpublishingadvice.org ratings database; the specific tier was not confirmed from a live URL but multiple secondary sources place it in a caution/not-recommended category, and it is not an ALLi Partner Member.
Writer Beware does not formally list Dorrance but has historically described it as a very expensive vanity publisher and does not recommend it. Against IBPA's 11 hybrid-publisher criteria, Dorrance meets only 1 (provides distribution channels); it fails on vetting, transparency, author-controlled ISBNs, negotiable contracts, and royalty standards.
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
- Caution
- Writer Beware
- Not listed · source
- BBB
- A
Writer Beware does not formally list Dorrance Publishing because it openly operates as a vanity press and does not disguise its fee-based model. The Thumbs Down Publishers List — which previously named problematic publishers — is now largely defunct, with most listed companies having closed. Dorrance's exclusion from it is explicitly because it is an admitted vanity press, not because Writer Beware endorses it. Writer Beware has historically characterized Dorrance as a very expensive vanity publisher.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Money required upfront
- Vague or hidden pricing
- No real trade distribution
- Solicits authors via cold outreach
- Aggressive upsells
Terms
- Typical cost
- $2,400–$18,000+ upfront (customized per manuscript; not disclosed publicly)
- Royalty to author
- 40% of retail on print sold via Dorrance store; 20% of wholesale on print via third parties (e.g., Amazon); 80% of retail on ebooks via Dorrance store; 40% of retail on ebooks via third parties. Royalties paid semi-annually once a payment threshold is met. Note: an active 2022 class action (Lockhart v. Dorrance) alleges Dorrance concealed true sales figures and withheld royalty payments from at least one author.
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Online retailers only
- What you get
- Editing, cover design, print and ebook production, ISBN registration, Library of Congress copyright registration in the author's name, listing on Amazon/B&N/Google Books via Ingram Lightning Source/Baker & Taylor, complimentary copies, press kit, and optional add-on marketing services. Books are submitted to Ingram (used by brick-and-mortar retailers), but physical bookstore stocking is outreach-based and not contractually guaranteed, making effective distribution online-only in practice.
- Website
- www.dorrancepublishing.com
Dorrance Publishing: frequently asked questions
Is Dorrance Publishing a legitimate hybrid publisher or a vanity press?
Glass Elevator's assessment is "Not recommended." Watchdog advisories, serious red flags, or membership in a known bad network. We do not recommend it. It meets 1 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria, and ALLi rates it Caution.
How much does Dorrance Publishing cost?
$2,400–$18,000+ upfront (customized per manuscript; not disclosed publicly) Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Dorrance Publishing pay authors?
40% of retail on print sold via Dorrance store; 20% of wholesale on print via third parties (e.g., Amazon); 80% of retail on ebooks via Dorrance store; 40% of retail on ebooks via third parties. Royalties paid semi-annually once a payment threshold is met. Note: an active 2022 class action (Lockhart v. Dorrance) alleges Dorrance concealed true sales figures and withheld royalty payments from at least one author.
Does Dorrance Publishing take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Should I publish with Dorrance Publishing?
That's your call, but here's the basis: Watchdog advisories, serious red flags, or membership in a known bad network. We do not recommend it. 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
- Dorrance Publishing official FAQ (dorrancepublishing.com)
- Wikipedia – Dorrance Publishing Company (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Independent Publishing Magazine – Dorrance Publishing Reviewed (independentpublishing.com)
- BBB Business Profile – Dorrance Publishing Company Inc (bbb.org)
- BBB Complaints – Dorrance Publishing Company Inc (66 complaints, A rating confirmed) (bbb.org)
- Trustpilot – Dorrance Publishing (rated Poor, 2.4/5, multiple sources) (trustpilot.com)
- Writer Beware – About (Dorrance excluded from Thumbs Down list as admitted vanity press) (writerbeware.blog)
- SFWA – What Happened to Writer Beware Thumbs Down Lists (sfwa.org)
- ALLi Watchdog Desk overview (allianceindependentauthors.org)
- ALLi Self-Publishing Services Reviews and Ratings (Dorrance indexed) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- GigHustlers – Dorrance Publishing review (red flags, cost, royalty details) (gighustlers.com)
- ClassAction.org – Lockhart v. Dorrance Publishing Company class action (filed 2022, pending 2025) (classaction.org)
- Absolute Write – Dorrance/Whitmore/RoseDog/Red Lead/I-Proclaim imprints thread (absolutewrite.com)
- Dorrance Publishing distribution page (official) (dorrancepublishing.com)