Newman Springs Publishing
Thinking about publishing with Newman Springs 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 0 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- Writer Beware lists it.
- Author pays: $3,000–$5,000 paid in installments over 10–12 months (per Writer Beware, July 2019); company website discloses no pricing. An ~$48/year renewal fee has been reported by third-party reviewers but is not confirmed on the company's own site..
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: online retailers only.
- Watch for: overseas boiler-room operation, part of a known bad network.
Our assessment
Newman Springs Publishing was incorporated in early 2017 and maintains a registered address in Red Bank, NJ, with operational offices at 830 Park Ave Suite 155, Meadville, PA. It markets itself as "The One-Stop Solution for Serious Authors" and describes its model as a "partner publisher" arrangement.
Writer Beware named it explicitly in a July 2019 post identifying it as one of seven prolific vanity publishers, documenting upfront author costs of $3,000–$5,000 paid in installments, recruitment via late-night TV commercials (CNN, Fox News) and Google ads targeting inexperienced authors, and near-identical "Writers Guide" contract documents shared with co-located publishers Christian Faith Publishing (832 Park Ave, same Meadville building) and Page Publishing (also Park Ave, Meadville). All three companies are documented as using the same overseas editing vendor, Krutherford, based in Cebu, Philippines, with no US-based editors.
The company's website discloses no pricing. Distribution is online retail listing via Ingram aggregation, not physical trade placement, despite website claims of reaching "tens of thousands of bookstores." The company's own FAQ describes a recoupment-first royalty structure (100% to author until investment is recouped, then $0.20/book to publisher); "net proceeds" deductions are not defined.
BBB records (not accredited; A+ rating) show 16 complaints as of mid-2025, with recurring issues around royalty payment and sales-dashboard access. No ALLi rating has been published for this company.
Newman Springs meets none of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria: it does not vet submissions, pricing is non-transparent, contract terms are non-negotiable, editorial quality relies on an offshore subcontractor, and no demonstrated sales results are provided to prospective authors.
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
- Writer Beware
- Listed · source
- BBB
- A+ (not accredited; 16 complaints on file as of mid-2025 per search data, with recurring issues around royalty payments and sales-tracking access; BBB lists operational address as 830 Park Ave Suite 155, Meadville PA)
Writer Beware (Victoria Strauss, July 2019) named Newman Springs in a post titled "Seven Prolific Vanity Publishers," documenting fees of $3,000–$5,000, marketing via Google ads and late-night TV commercials (CNN, Fox News) targeting inexperienced authors, near-identical "Writers Guide" contract documents shared with co-located publishers Page Publishing and Christian Faith Publishing, and use of an overseas editing vendor (Krutherford, Cebu, Philippines) with no US-based editors. Writer Beware characterized the business model as vanity publishing despite the company's "partner publisher" branding.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Money required upfront
- Vague or hidden pricing
- Overseas boiler-room operation
- Part of a known bad network
Terms
- Typical cost
- $3,000–$5,000 paid in installments over 10–12 months (per Writer Beware, July 2019); company website discloses no pricing. An ~$48/year renewal fee has been reported by third-party reviewers but is not confirmed on the company's own site.
- Royalty to author
- Company FAQ describes a recoupment-first structure: author receives 100% of profit until the publishing investment is recouped, after which the publisher takes $0.20 per book. External reviewers characterize this as a "94/6 net-proceeds profit share in favor of the author," but that specific ratio does not appear on the company's own site. "Net proceeds" deductions are not clearly defined.
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Online retailers only
- What you get
- Editing (performed by Krutherford, an offshore subcontractor in Cebu, Philippines), cover design, layout, ISBN, distribution listing on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Google Play via Ingram aggregation; author portal with quarterly sales reports. The company's website claims reach to "tens of thousands of bookstores and bookseller outlets," but this refers to Ingram listing availability, not physical placement in bookstores.
- Website
- www.newmansprings.com/
Newman Springs Publishing: frequently asked questions
Is Newman Springs 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 0 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria, and Writer Beware lists it.
How much does Newman Springs Publishing cost?
$3,000–$5,000 paid in installments over 10–12 months (per Writer Beware, July 2019); company website discloses no pricing. An ~$48/year renewal fee has been reported by third-party reviewers but is not confirmed on the company's own site. Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Newman Springs Publishing pay authors?
Company FAQ describes a recoupment-first structure: author receives 100% of profit until the publishing investment is recouped, after which the publisher takes $0.20 per book. External reviewers characterize this as a "94/6 net-proceeds profit share in favor of the author," but that specific ratio does not appear on the company's own site. "Net proceeds" deductions are not clearly defined.
Does Newman Springs Publishing take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Is Newman Springs Publishing on Writer Beware or ALLi's watchdog list?
Writer Beware lists Newman Springs Publishing. See the sources on this page for the listings, and research independently before paying anything.
Should I publish with Newman Springs 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
- Writer Beware: Seven Prolific Vanity Publishers (July 2019) (writerbeware.blog)
- Newman Springs Publishing official website (newmansprings.com)
- Newman Springs Publishing Royalties FAQ (newmansprings.com)
- BBB Business Profile: Newman Springs Publishing (Meadville PA) (bbb.org)
- BBB Business Profile: Newman Springs Publishing (Red Bank NJ) (bbb.org)
- SelfPublishing.com: Newman Springs Publishing Review (selfpublishing.com)
- ALLi Self-Publishing Services Ratings Index (Newman Springs not rated) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- Krutherford Corp LinkedIn profile (Cebu, Philippines) (linkedin.com)