Stratton Press
Thinking about publishing with Stratton Press? 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.
- ALLi rates it Caution; Writer Beware lists it.
- Author pays: Publishing packages start at approximately $1,800 and range up to $10,500 (per 2018 Writer Beware investigation); a basic "complete book selling system" package has been reported at approximately $3,000 in more recent author accounts. Aggressive upsells for audiobooks, translations, book-fair displays, and promotional services are widely documented..
- Distribution: online retailers only.
- Watch for: overseas boiler-room operation.
Our assessment
Stratton Press Publishing, LLC was incorporated on August 22, 2017, and operated under the trade names Stratton Press Inc. and Stratton Direct. Its principal address of record is New Hyde Park, New York, with a secondary Delaware registration.
Writer Beware (Victoria Strauss / SFWA) identifies Stratton Press by name in its "Army of Clones" investigation as a Philippines-based Author Solutions clone: co-owner Aaron Dancel is documented as a former three-year Sales Supervisor at Author Solutions' Cebu City call center, and the company's own Contact page listed a Cebu City address. Stratton Press is also listed in Writer Beware's dedicated Philippine Publishing Scams archive.
The Alliance of Independent Authors places Stratton Press in its "Caution" tier — services that do not align with ALLi's Code of Standards — as reported by BuildBookBuzz citing page 17 of the ALLi watchdog list. The Better Business Bureau revoked Stratton Press's accreditation on May 10, 2023, for failure to address disputes forwarded by the BBB in good faith; seven complaints are on file, all unanswered, covering unpaid royalties, non-delivery of services, and communication breakdown after payment.
The company's primary website (stratton-press.com) currently resolves to a domain-for-sale page, consistent with multiple customer reports that the company became unreachable by phone and email. The company cold-calls authors of books two or more years old, with callers claiming fabricated connections (e.g., Amazon providing phone numbers, conference scouting).
Publishing packages were priced between $1,800 and $10,500 per a 2018 Writer Beware review; more recent author accounts cite approximately $3,000 for a baseline package. Distribution is limited to the company's own Stratton Direct author-facing storefront rather than established retail channels.
Print-on-demand fulfillment was marketed as physical warehouse storage. Authors widely report receiving minimal or no royalties over multi-year periods.
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 · source
- Writer Beware
- Listed · source
- BBB
- Not BBB Accredited; accreditation revoked May 10, 2023 (F rating at time of revocation; current BBB profile shows D-)
Writer Beware (Victoria Strauss / SFWA) specifically names Stratton Press in its "Army of Clones" investigation as a Philippines-based Author Solutions clone. The company's co-owner Aaron Dancel is documented as a former three-year Sales Supervisor at Author Solutions' Cebu City call center. Stratton Press is also listed by name in Writer Beware's Philippine Publishing Scams archive.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Money required upfront
- Solicits authors via cold outreach
- Overseas boiler-room operation
- Aggressive upsells
- No real trade distribution
- Vague or hidden pricing
Terms
- Typical cost
- Publishing packages start at approximately $1,800 and range up to $10,500 (per 2018 Writer Beware investigation); a basic "complete book selling system" package has been reported at approximately $3,000 in more recent author accounts. Aggressive upsells for audiobooks, translations, book-fair displays, and promotional services are widely documented.
- Royalty to author
- Not publicly disclosed; multiple authors report receiving one royalty payment or none over multi-year periods, with the company becoming unresponsive to royalty inquiries after initial payment.
- Author keeps rights
- Unknown
- Distribution
- Online retailers only
- What you get
- Publication under the Stratton Press imprint, a personal sales page on the Stratton Direct storefront, social media promotion, and print-on-demand fulfillment (marketed as physical warehouse storage, which is inaccurate). Claims of bookstore shelf placement have been characterized by observers as unverified and aspirational rather than contractually guaranteed.
- Website
- stratton-press.com
Stratton Press: frequently asked questions
Is Stratton Press 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 ALLi rates it Caution, and Writer Beware lists it.
How much does Stratton Press cost?
Publishing packages start at approximately $1,800 and range up to $10,500 (per 2018 Writer Beware investigation); a basic "complete book selling system" package has been reported at approximately $3,000 in more recent author accounts. Aggressive upsells for audiobooks, translations, book-fair displays, and promotional services are widely documented. Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Stratton Press pay authors?
Not publicly disclosed; multiple authors report receiving one royalty payment or none over multi-year periods, with the company becoming unresponsive to royalty inquiries after initial payment.
Does Stratton Press take your rights?
We could not confirm the rights terms. Ask for the contract and check the rights and reversion clauses before signing.
Is Stratton Press on Writer Beware or ALLi's watchdog list?
Writer Beware lists Stratton Press. See the sources on this page for the listings, and research independently before paying anything.
Should I publish with Stratton Press?
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: Army of Clones — Author Solutions Spawns a Legion of Copycats (names Stratton Press, documents Aaron Dancel / Cebu connection) (writerbeware.blog)
- Writer Beware: Philippine Publishing Scams Archive (Stratton Press listed under S) (writerbeware.blog)
- BuildBookBuzz: Is Stratton Press a publishing predator? (ALLi Caution rating, $3,000 package, cold-call tactics) (buildbookbuzz.com)
- WritersWeekly: BBB revokes Stratton Press accreditation, F rating (May 2023) (writersweekly.com)
- BBB: Stratton Press Publishing LLC — Business Profile (D- rating, 7 unanswered complaints, incorporated 2017) (bbb.org)
- BBB: Stratton Press Publishing LLC — Complaints (7 unanswered) (bbb.org)
- BBB: Stratton Press Publishing LLC — Customer Reviews (7 reviews, 1-star average) (bbb.org)
- Inside the Inkwell: Is Stratton Press a Scam? (cold-call tactics, Philippines employee comment, royalty complaints) (authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com)
- WritersWeekly: Complaints about Stratton Press sales tactics (2021) (writersweekly.com)
- WritersWeekly: Author unable to contact Stratton Press for 4 months (writersweekly.com)
- ALLi Watchdog Desk (selfpublishingadvice.org)