In bygone times vanity publishers offered to produce hardcover editions of an author's work at considerable cost. These firms had lofty names that echoed the names of storied legitimate publishers. But their work was second rate. The material was poorly edited, barely copyedited, poorly proofed, and miserably packaged. The books usually ended up unsold in someone's bedroom closet.

Today, digital technologies have resulted in an onslaught of amateur publishing, much of it done by small companies that are as devoid of skills as the older vanity presses. They are nothing more than fly-by-night deals that have gotten an ISBN number and sell their "services" to dreaming writers who ache to see their stuff in print.

They lack the expertise of real publishers. They don't evaluate stories for quality or marketability. Authors don't work with editors for months on end, revising stories, cutting slow spots, enabling readers to grasp events, etc. Their copyediting is minimal. They don't know the difference between it's and its. They make egregious errors. Spelling errors, punctuation troubles, typesetting problems, design and format problems, and flap-copy weaknesses abound.

It is called independent publishing, but that is simply a euphemism for vanity publishing. Few of the books turn out well, and even fewer earn money. Independent publishing is simply a harbor for people who shouldn't be publishing because they do not have the talent or training to write successfully.

If you would like some assurance that you are buying a book worth reading, stick to traditional publishers. They are more likely to select good stories, vet and edit the material, and package the books elegantly.