Dorrance Publishing Company
 | |
| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Gordon Dorrance |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Publication types | Books, ebooks |
| Fiction genres | Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, how-to, business, children’s literature, coffee table books |
| Imprints | I-Proclaim Books Red Lead Press Rose Dog Books Whitmore Publishing Company[1] |
| Official website | www.dorrancepublishing.com |
Dorrance Publishing Company, Inc. is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania–based self-publishing company. The company publishes both traditional printed books as well as ebooks.
History
The company's website reports that they were founded by Gordon Dorrance in 1920. The Catalogue of Copyright Entries for that year lists "Dorrance & company, inc." publishing works The Pocket Chesterfield and Broken Shackles.[2] Dorrance set up the company after a work he was editing did not complete publication with Scribners.[3]
The company was established in Philadelphia and periodically changed address within Philadelphia and environs. By 1989 it was located in Monroeville, outside Pittsburgh. By 1991, the company's address was in Pittsburgh.[4]
They have been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 1995.[1] The BBB lists them as having started in June 1989, and also operating under the alternate business names I-Proclaim Books, Red Lead Press, Rose Dog Books, and Whitmore Publishing Company.[1]
Services
Dorrance Publishing is a vanity book printer that offers book production, promotion, distribution, and ghostwriting services.
After publication, authors’ books are made available through the Dorrance Publishing bookstore, and may be sold through other large-scale book retailers, including Google Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
In popular culture
Gordon Dorrance, the founder of Dorrance Publishing, was portrayed by actor Pierre Watkin in an episode of I Love Lucy entitled "Lucy Writes A Novel."[5]
Self-publishing contract and Better Business Bureau reviews
Dorrance Publishing does not attempt to hide its charges and makes no claims of selecting clients based on potential for commercial success.[6][7]
As of May 2020, Dorrance Publishing has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau.[8]
References
- ^ a b c "Dorrance Publishing Company Inc Review". Better Business Bureau Accredited Business Directory. Better Business Bureau. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ "Catalogue of Copyright Entries 1920". Library of Congress. 1920. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ^ "Dorrance Publishing - Reviewed". The Independent Publishing Magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ Survey of classified ads and book reviews in historical newspapers.
- ^ Asher, William (April 5, 1954), Lucy Writes a Novel, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, retrieved January 29, 2018
- ^ "Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc. :: FAQ". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Blurred Distinctions: Vanity Publishing vs. Self-Publishing". Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "BBB Business Profile | Dorrance Publishing Company Inc". www.bbb.org. Retrieved March 29, 2018.