One day "Lucy" called and told me that her book was about to be published, but that her publisher wouldn't edit it. When Lucy explained her "publication deal" to me, I realized she'd been trapped by a vanity press.

Lucy was intent on having professional editing, so, even though she was on a fixed income and couldn't pay me, I said, "Send me your book, and the contract you signed, and I'll contact your publisher." She only wanted to pass her story on to her grandchildren. After examining the contract and speaking with her publisher, I called Lucy back and explained that she'd been fleeced by a publisher more interested in profit than in her story, that she'd signed away all her rights, and that she had little recourse.

Lucy didn't need an editor. She needed an honest friend. I talked to a few lawyers, and helped her untangle herself from the contract, but most importantly, I spent the next month teaching her how to revise her manuscript herself. We still talk every once in a while, and she always mentions how much her writing has improved. I feel good about the work I did with her, but that isn't enough. People fall for scams with vanity presses every day because they have no experience in publishing. People also get burned by the high costs of other editors, who are eager to charge high fees, but unwilling to provide detailed, constructive criticism that can teach the writer what they need to know to improve their own writing.

I started The Iowa Book Doctors to change all that. We make use of the combined experience and knowledge of professional writers to help others. We are here to provide sincere advice and assistance in editing and writing to individuals and businesses unfamiliar with the snake oil salesmen in the publishing and editing industry. Now people have an alternative, a friend they can trust. Just like a good country doctor, we're only a phone call away.