Abbott Press Authors: What Happened to Your Book

Abbott Press was a self-publishing imprint created through a partnership between Author Solutions and Writer's Digest, one of the most trusted names in writing education. The Writer's Digest brand gave Abbott Press credibility that many authors trusted. When the imprint closed in 2016, those authors were left without a platform, without clear access to their files, and without a path forward for their books.

By Gia Kahn, Book Production ManagerUpdated May 20267 min read
Disclaimer: This page draws on publicly available sources including Writer Beware and author forums. Columbia Publication is an alternative publishing service. Not legal advice.

The Writer's Digest Connection

Abbott Press launched around 2011 as the self-publishing arm of Writer's Digest, marketed to the magazine's large readership of aspiring authors. The association was powerful. Writer's Digest had spent decades as the definitive resource for authors, and many assumed that an imprint carrying its name would reflect the same standards.

In practice, Abbott Press was operated by Author Solutions, which managed the day-to-day publishing services. The Author Solutions operating model — which has accumulated extensive documented complaints from Writer Beware and the Alliance of Independent Authors — was the engine behind the Writer's Digest brand. The partnership ended in 2016 and Abbott Press ceased operations.

What Abbott Press Authors Experienced

Author forums and writing communities documented consistent reports from Abbott Press authors: packages priced from $1,000 to over $8,000 with aggressive post-signing contact about marketing add-ons; marketing services that produced no measurable book sales; and difficulty accessing production files after the imprint closed.

The closure in 2016 left authors without the ability to update their listings, access their interior files, or manage their books through the platform. Many authors found their books still listed on Amazon under Abbott Press as publisher of record years after the company ceased operations.

What You Own and How to Move Forward

Your manuscript is yours. Copyright was retained by authors in Abbott Press contracts. The practical questions are: can you recover your production files, and what does republishing require?

File recovery from Author Solutions imprints after closure is inconsistent. Some authors have successfully requested files; others have not. Your first step is to contact Author Solutions directly and request your formatted interior PDF and cover source files in writing. If files are unavailable, Columbia Publication can work from your original manuscript document to produce a new edition.

A new ISBN from Bowker ($125 for a single ISBN) registers you as the publisher of record on the new edition, completely separating the book from Abbott Press. Columbia Publication handles this as part of every publishing engagement.

Republishing Options

Columbia Publication works with Abbott Press authors at every stage of recovery. Kindle Launch at $499 covers formatting review, ISBN registration and Amazon KDP distribution for authors with existing production files. Global Publish at $1,499 covers full new cover design, interior formatting and distribution across Amazon, IngramSpark, Kobo, Apple Books and 40+ platforms. Full Production at $2,499 adds proofreading and a dedicated Book Production Manager.

Every engagement starts with a free consultation. Gia K. reviews your manuscript and situation and confirms what your book needs before any commitment is made.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Abbott Press?
Abbott Press was an Author Solutions imprint operating under the Writer's Digest brand. It closed in 2016 when the partnership ended. Authors lost access to their books on the platform and file retrieval became difficult.
Do I still own my Abbott Press book?
Yes. Copyright remains with the author. The ISBN on your current edition lists Abbott Press as publisher of record, which a new Bowker ISBN resolves when you republish.
Can I republish my Abbott Press book elsewhere?
In most cases yes, subject to your contract. Columbia Publication publishes former Abbott Press books from $499. A free consultation confirms your specific situation.
Is my Abbott Press book still for sale?
Some Abbott Press books remain listed on Amazon under the old publisher record even after closure. You can request removal or republish a new edition under your own ISBN which takes priority in search results.

Free Consultation for Abbott Press Authors

Gia K. reviews every request personally and responds within one business day. Free, no obligation.

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Reviewed by Gia K. Sources: Writer Beware, Alliance of Independent Authors, author forums. Updated May 2026.