Eric Wilson of Fireproof gives Never Ceese 4 Stars!

Say it ain't so? Yep. Some time back I earned a grand review from New York Times Best Selling author of the novelization of "Fireproof" Eric Wilson. He posted it on Amazon one day out of the blue. I didn't expect it and was quite surprised to even see it there. Why would a New York Times Best Selling Author of anything leave a review of one of my books.

Well as luck would have it, he posted it on Amazon who recently started removing reviews by authors on other authors books. Good thing I copied the review before they deleted it so here it is in all its glory!

Eric Wilson
September 6, 2007
4 Stars

Circling the Camp

Sue Dent has done the unthinkable. She's pushed the boundaries of Christian fiction, circling the camp with a small publisher, howling for someone to take notice. And it's working.

"Never Ceese" is a blend of traditional vampire themes and modern smart-mouthed characters. Ceese is a werewolf on her way to a British castle, where she will rendezvous with Richard the vampire. Ceese is in a constant struggle with "the wolf" inside, while Richard is trying to maintain a modicum of control over his fang-toothed desires. This unlikely pair, united by an old woman named Penny, discover they have mutual childhood links. As they travel to meet a young college-age researcher, their pasts come to light. Romance flits about in unexpected places. And a self-seeking professor angles to take their immortality for himself.

The standbys are in play--garlic, crucifixes, wolfsbane, etc--but Dent adds a few of her own elements to this classic battle between the old ways and new. There are few surprises, but the story moves at a quick pace, leavened with humorous dialogue and clever insights. Dent's characters struggle with their cursed sinful natures, seeking release--if such a thing is possible.

In the end, all is resolved--if not a bit suddenly on some levels--and possibilities are left open for the sequel, "Forever Richard." I guess I know what book to add to my Christmas list. With Dent circling the camp, someone's bound to wake up to this genre's possibilities.

 
Actually I've not done the unthinkable at all. In fact, as far as what he's talking about here, I've done nothing at all. I'm not circling any camp and no one in that camp cares at all that a puny little POD author even wrote a book. Ah but thanks for the kind words Mr. Wilson.

Third Installment in Sue Dent's Thirsting for Blood Series Coming Soon

Yes, the editing process has begun and I'm wrapping things up on my third installment and hopefully in time for Christmas. Do be advised though, I've asked my publisher to make this book short-run through Lightning Source. This means third-party sites like Amazon and GoodReads won't be able to post about the book or sell it. Others will be able to sell copies on Amazon or other third party sites but not the sites themselves meaning my publisher will have full control over the information concerning this title. 

The main reason I'm doing this is because sites like Amazon and GoodReads allow folks to leave reviews and what not on books they can legally list but they do not monitor or control the content in any shape, way form or fashion. I've therefore decided to take that power away from sites like Amazon and GoodReads. 

If you want to purchase the third installment of my book, you'll have to go straight to the publisher to pre-order or buy it. 

Because my publisher uses Lightning Source, the books will still be available for a reasonable rate wherever LSI is set up to print books. Therefore the decision to make my book short-run doesn't affect the limited distribution POD books have at all!!!! 

Just means I can sue the daylights out of Amazon or any other third party site if they attempt to sell the third installment themselves. Oh what fun!

Do keep in mind that I'm an independently published author who writes stories for folks to enjoy. The only distribution available to me is through POD printers. I've only had one publisher who came close to getting on with Ingram and they went under. The third installment in my Thirsting for Blood Series won't be any "less available" than it is now EXCEPT that you won't be able to go into a Barnes & Noble or other large bookstore to order it. But guess what, I don't make any sales that way anyhow. So there ya go! 

A blog post you WON'T find on GoodReads!

After learning that in spite of my efforts to have all of my books removed from GoodReads, where they were listed without my publishers consent or mine, I FINALLY have some closure--so to speak.

You see, sites like GoodReads and Amazon and Shelfari think they're doing authors a favor by listing their books once they're "published/printed" (btw anyone, qualified or not, can publish these days and yes, there should be qualifications for something that is considered a profession duh!) It gives them content. They encourage folks to leave their thoughts or reviews on the content but do so very little to monitor said reviews or comments nor do they do anything to protect publishers or authors from personal attacks or from folks who just think it's fun to post ludicrous reviews and hateful words just because they can.

I've met so many authors and publishers who were targeted and not protected that it isn't even funny or worth the time to use GoodReads, Amazon or any of these third-party sites as a source of publicity. I deleted my account on GoodReads only to find they were still posting my blog post from my personal blog as if I cared to show up at ALL on this site. Having a friend and fellow author remind me that this was a copyright issue, I set out to fix this problem by presenting GoodReads with this question:

question:
After participating on Goodreads and being subjected to an atrocious lack of monitoring, I opted out of participating. I attempted to pull my books but was told in a ninny-ninny-poo-poo sort of way that this couldn't happen because my books were available everywhere. I solved this problem by making all of my books short-run so sites like GoodReads can't post my books. ;)

However, it seems that as of late, GoodReads is posting feeds from my personal author blog as if I authorized this. I may have at one time but deleted my account. Please do whatever it takes to stop my blog feeds from showing up on GoodReads. I don't support this site or sites like it. Also syndicating a blog without permission is copyright infringement. If you had my permission once, you most certainly do not have it now. Thank you in advance for "unsyndicating" my blog from GoodReads.

Sue Dent

I will tell you that I expected another, "we don't have to do anything you say," response but was pleased to read this. This will be my first post since the email to follow so we'll see if they stuck to their word. ;)

GoodReads response:

Hi Sue,
Thanks for alerting us. We’re so sorry for that mistaken oversight! I just removed all the remaining personal information that was added to your author profile, including that blog feed and all the former posts: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/313656.Sue_Dent
Once again, we apologize for the inconvenience!
Cheers,

Those who run this site have been nothing but rude and arrogant to me when I approached them with obvious issues that were going on with other authors as well as myself. The fact that they continue to list my books even when I've asked them not to is absolutely insane. Same with Amazon. Same with all of these third party sites. I certainly appreciate being able to use sites like this for publicity but not when they do nothing to make sure things don't get out of hand and even move into the "slander" category. Of course they don't do anything because that takes money they don't want to part with. They'd have to hire others to keep track etc . . . At least with my books NOT being listed there, they can't make what little money they make at MY EXPENSE!!

It will be interesting to see if they've corrected THEIR admitted oversight.

Please Purchase My Books Via My Publisher

I'm not sure what drives authors whose books are for sale by their publisher, to push folks to Amazon to purchase their product. But I'm here to tell you that in the case with my books, if you purchase through anyone BUT my publisher, you won't get the best price. 

Everyone but the large publishers use the same method of distribution. POD distributors. Amazon and sites like Amazon can't offer anyone a better price than the publisher can if the publisher sells books through their site. Of course, the publisher can sale the book for more if they want to but rest assured they can match Amazon's price all day long and most publisher's who do sell their author's books through their site list them for less. 

Also, Amazon and sites like Amazon don't even go to the publisher or their distributor for book information. They usually pull this information out of their ahem "backsides" most of the time. Sorry but it's true and none of these sites will talk to the publisher when the publisher attempts to get a hold of them to change it. They'll simply respond with, "talk to your publisher." LOLROFL Amazon is notorious about responding in this manner even when they're communicating with the publisher. Amazon . . . you so make me laugh! 

Anyhoo, my publisher's site is http:/www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheetstore 

For Electric Angel the link is: Electric Angel
For Never Ceese the link is: Never Ceese
For Forever Richard the link is: Forever Richard

Also, if you list my book for sale please DON'T put Amazon down as the place to purchase it. Send them to my publisher's site. Thank-you. 

Having said that let me assure you none of the sites such as GOOD READS will change the link on where to purchase my books because A. Goodreads used to be connected with Amazon and so I guess they feel an alliance of sorts and B. Good Reads doesn't listen to the publisher of the book anymore than Amazon. 

Also Good Reads, even though I'm not a Good Reads author and never will be again, constantly post items from my blog here even though I've told them I've no interest in showing up on their site. They don't have my permission and yet it doesn't seem to matter. So if you're reading this blog post on Good Reads do know that you shouldn't be and I don't appreciate Good Reads lack of regard--for what it's worth.
 

Make sure you understand what you're NOT getting.

The key to book sales in the publishing industry has always been distribution. Large publishers and bookstores created a system back in the day that worked well for them and actually still works well for them. Bookstores purchase a LARGE number of books, put some on the store shelves and warehouse the rest. That way publishers don't/didn't have to pay so much in overhead and bookstores got to "throw away" the overage in the trash because publishers didn't care to ever see the books again. 

Eventually, bookstores were called on their trashing of perfectly good books with the cover torn off because at one time they actually had to return the cover to show that they actually bought the book from the publisher (speculation here. Don't actually know for sure why they tore the cover off) and soon a law of sorts was put in place to keep this from happening.

The solution for bookstores was an ingenious one. Stores like Books-A-Million sprang up or rather stores that sell "new" returned-from-the-bookstore books (sorry BAM but if they're returned, they ain't new.) At any rate, distribution through large publishers is the only distribution that works. Unfortunately, Independent presses never qualify for distribution through the big distributors such as Ingram and Baker & Taylor because to be considered a publisher has to have SOLD an enormous amount of books. Gotta love that catch-22.

So Independent presses use POD publishers (and by the way so do the large established publishers as well but it doesn't hurt them because they still have the distribution that matters.) But why can't small independent presses make POD publishing work for them. Well it's quite simple. POD publishers such as Lightning Source and Create Space never, ever, ever, return the returned-from-the-bookstore book to the publisher. If a bookstore actually purchases a POD book and it doesn't sell, it is forever gone. The publisher has to return the profit to the bookstore and never sees their product again. 

Oddly enough, Lightning Source gives you an option when you sign on with them to have the book returned to you. This never happens though. I called them on this and their reply was, "we really need to change that wording." There was absolutely no fear of being sued for stating one thing and doing another. 

This is from Ingram's Lighting Source's Chain of Custody:

At Lightning Source, we have always maintained that the print on demand (POD) model offers significant environmental advantages over traditional offset manufacturing. With offset manufacturing books often go unsold and are destroyed, usually after being shipped and handled multiple times. Wasted paper, wasted energy, greenhouse emissions, pulping, and landfill overflows can result. 

LSI seems to like the word "usually." Actually the books they're referring to are "usually" resold to returned-from-the-bookstore dealers for a double profit for the bookstores not destroyed. After all, with so many returned-from-the-bookstore resellers, these books are a hot commodity making money for everyone except the publisher and author.


The environmental advantages of utilizing POD technology allow books to be printed to fill an existing demand. POD lessens the possibility of returns, reduces supply chain waste, greenhouse emissions, and conserves valuable natural resources.

There is no waste to lessen, returned-from-the-bookstore books are no longer destroyed by bookstores. I do believe LSI destroys the book though and that's fine since they say this is what happens to the returned books. Yet I'm looking for a POD who will actually do what they say and that is to give me the option to have the book returned to the publisher to lessen the loss of product once they're returned. LSI's interpretation of the misguided wording in the their Mode of Operations manual: you don't get the actual returned book back. They print you a new one for free--and charge a fee for shipping. In case anyone is wondering. The fee for shipping equals the print cost of the book. Interesting to say the least.

Bottom line is, if a publisher uses a POD, they essentially don't have access to the kind of distribution that will make any kind of a difference in sales. In fact, if a bookstore actually decides to purchase books from a publisher who uses a POD, the publisher will end up losing money hand over fist and eventually going under. I've been with two publishers who went under for this very reason. 

One other interesting option POD distributors give publishers: make your books returnable so bookstores will order. My interpretation of this based on my experience to date with how this works: here's a knife go kill yourself. If your book happens to catch the eye of bookstores so that they're inclined to order it, it will most likely be "returned" or if you're with a POD distributor, "destroyed." And these books are "usually" in perfect condition for resale because "usually" the books are never taken out of the box.

By the way, this is true of all POD distributors and not just LSI which is why I say to make sure you understand what you're NOT getting. The absolute BEST way to purchase my books is to go to my publisher's website. Thanks again to those who already have. ;)

http://www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheetstore

Nothing to see here.

Just received this e-mail from Amazon:

Today we have added a new feature, AMAZON AUTHOR RANK, the definitive list of best-selling authors on Amazon.com.

This list makes it easy for readers to discover the best-selling authors on Amazon.com overall and within a selection of major genres. Amazon Author Rank is your rank based on the sales of all of your books on Amazon.com. Just like Amazon Best Sellers, it is updated hourly.

The top 100 authors overall and the top 100 in selected genres will be displayed on Amazon.com. You can see your Amazon Author Rank trended over time in Author Central.

You can find your Amazon Author Rank in Author Central under the Rank tab. Historical rank data is available from September 28, 2012. We’re always interested in feedback, so please let us know what you think.

THE AUTHOR CENTRAL TEAM

Just so y'all know, being a best-seller on Amazon isn't reflective of the quality of the book or what readers are purchasing. So far there's no way to determine what readers are buying. There never has been. Best-selling status by the New York Times is determined by how many books sell to bookstores. 

Of course, the only publishers large bookstores buy from in bulk are the larger established publishers who now only make up a small percentage of legitimate publishers. The title best-selling author has run its course. 

Give it a rest already. 

I don't aspire to be a best-selling author at Amazon or at any other  on-line reseller site. I do encourage folks to buy straight from the publisher. Since distribution for small publishers is vastly different than distribution for larger publishers, buying straight from the publisher is the ONLY way for readers to get the best deal and for authors and publishers to get the best deal as well. 

My publisher's site: http://www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheetstore Also I don't sell kindles on Amazon and never will. But you can get all e-book versions through my publisher . . . including kindle. 

Also, I in no way claim to accurately know anything about the "real" publishing industry just in case anyone wants to say that I don't know what I'm talking about. In regards to the "real" publishing industry, I'm sure I don't know what I'm talking about. So don't put any stock in my words. What I do know and what I do share are the facts from my own personal experiences.  

Amazon Author Page

As many know, Amazon allows those who have books listed on Amazon (which is everybody and anybody without discretion) to have an Author Page. They also allow for blog posts from outside blogs to show up on that page. I often take advantage of this to let potential buyers know that they'll get the better price and correct information about any of my books via my publisher and not Amazon.

Amazon isn't a distributor, they don't get information from the publisher and they don't worry about whether the book they're listing is something they can legally list or not. But then, they don't have to because technically they're not a distributor.

What Amazon does (in relation to selling published books) is to merely list the data dump of books with official ISBN's that they receive on a regular basis. It's a quite an ineffective method to say the least. Currently Amazon has for sale by Amazon two of my books that they can't even legally list yet they won't remove them. Other sellers can of course sell them but not Amazon. They pretty much operate above the law most of the time. 

For every publisher who is forced to use "distributors" such as Ingram's Lightning Source or Amazon's Create Space, because they don't and never will qualify to use Ingram and Baker & Taylor or Heaven forbid Bookmasters, selling directly to the buying public is their best bet. The publisher can even offer deeper discounts than ALL the on-line retailers. And of course they can offer better prices than Brick & Mortar stores because . . . well . . . unless you're using the big distributors one doesn't get into Brick & Mortar stores, at least not if you choose not to use an "industry" standard return policy set up to only work for publishers who have distribution through the larger distributors. 

So yes, visit my publishers site and visit SueDent.net to learn more. Hopefully soon it will all come out in the wash!!! Won't that be grand!

Indiegogo.com/ElectricAngelGraphicNovel

Do take a moment and check this fundraiser out. The overall funding is a huge number but only $7500 is needed to begin and hopefully the first on-line section of the three will generate funds for the rest of the project. This information is also in the project information as well. Thank you in advance for taking the time to check it out.

Sue Dent's Electric Angel to Graphic Novel. 

It's official!

After talking with my publisher it has been decided that Cyn No More, the third installment of my Thirsting For Blood Series, will be short-run only. 

What does that mean?  

Well, I can only tell you what that means through Lightning Source as it has different meanings in different publishing circles. Through Lightning Source short-run simply means that one's book doesn't go into distribution. And this means that thousands of sites set up for distribution such as Amazon and mainly Amazon will not have access to the titles.

In order to get Cyn No More, one will HAVE to go to the publishers site. Since distribution has come so far, with entities like Lightning Source having locations throughout the world, it is completely possible for a publisher to handle their own distribution. This is fantastic news as battling with on-line distributors such as Amazon is exasperating. And their  priority of concerns places those who choose to distribute through them, at the bottom--the very bottom of a very long list. Not a good scenario at all especially when the publisher can get the job done themselves.


Therefore I say so-long to Amazon and all the other on-line distributors. Hello new world of publishing. My publisher's website and store is of course: 

www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheet

Having a choice is wonderful and I must say that knowing this will put an end to my complaining about Amazon and sites like Amazon. *Many cheer loudly.* But I'd no idea I could "choose" not to be listed. This is wonderful news indeed.


Also my publisher's site has a place for reviews. If it's on your heart, after reading any of my books, to share how much you enjoyed them, please go there and share. No need to leave a review on Amazon or any other site that lists my books presently as I will soon take all of my books out of distribution which will bring my books off those sites ergo all reviews will go with it. Thank y'all sooooooo much for all your support thus far. 

Love y'all,

Fan Expo Canada - Don't miss this one!

I registered in April and was accepted as a guest author and will be in with the other Horror Authors. I am looking forward to meeting fans in one of the few venues available to small published authors. I will have give-aways and much more. Watch this site for details.
 

Buy books/e-books from Publishers when available.

Technology has brought the world of publishing to its knees. In the very, very, distant past it was extremely expensive to print books. That is no longer the case. In the past there was no such thing as affordable free-lancing professional editors. That is no longer the case. And in the past authors and publishers "had" to have distribution to succeed. That also is no longer the case. 


Print on Demand technology means no more overwhelming expense to print or stock books. Using an editor to get a novel into tip-top shape is no longer an elusive feat and distribution is no longer a road block.


Publisher's and authors can now operate as efficiently as the larger houses that founded this industry. Because most publishers use Print on Demand printers such as LSI or Create Space (yes, even the large houses,) on-line retailers can't even get the books for less than the publisher. They can help save on shipping however. In that respect, distribution is still lacking. 


But yes, times they are a changing! Do check out the publisher's site, in most instances, for the best prices out there. My publisher's site:

Black Bed Sheet Books

Anne Rice Takes a Moment on her Fan Page on FaceBook . . . . .

Anne Rice takes a moment on her Fan Page to humor ways to fix a deplorable issue that affects ALL writers; targeted attacks just for the heck of it. 

It began when I commented on one of her post that it wasn't worth it for me as a writer to have my books show up on sites like Goodreads and Amazon because such sites aren't obligated to uphold the very guidelines they set for posting "reviews" and leaving comments. Authors are openly bashed to the point where they go off and set up private groups which is fine until one considers that no author has a choice about whether they end up on these sites. The second an ISBN goes on a book, an author is open prey.

Ms. Rice's response on her Fan Page on Facebook directed to me:

--- I hear you. There is a lot of hatred and hate negative review campaigning on sites like Amazon where people use authors as punching bags. It is quite horrible. But I do think we are doing something positive here on this page, and by posting articles about books that are responsible and informative I am fighting back against the darkness of the internet. Maybe we should discuss a little more the kind of libelous hate that swirls out there and what we can do about it.

She added in another comment directed toward me that 

"--- . . . I've put up with campaign reviewers on Amazon for years who treat me like a video game. It's nonsense really all the garbage these people spew. And I can imagine how these kinds of people hurt other authors. So let's talk about it a bit. Let's see if we can generate some interest. I'm pondering how to do it. I might publish some "negative" reviews of my books from Amazon and open the topic. . ."

Ms. Rice's suggested some steps that could immediately improve the site[Amazon] such as (in her own words)

"make reviews carry not only "a real name" but an email. Nobody should be able to "strike" on the web without an email to hear a response. Most of the really hateful and ugly and unfair reviews I see are by "anonymous" people or people with made up names and profiles. So again, first make it "real name" situation and make an email part of it. That might be hard to police but Amazon could do it. If you aren't willing to use your own name and your own email (the email through which Amazon contacts you, etc.) then you don't get to post a review, or post in the viewer discussions."

But Amazon is a retailer and it seems like other retailers, they "skimp" on the capital it takes to create a system to protect authors from the "hate negative review campaigning" that takes place. Their primary interest is of course, their readers. No retail site that encourages "anyone" to leave reviews is willing to monitor such things or to "police" policies already in place or so it seems. An author should therefore suit up in their thickest armor and wait for the inevitable. 

One solution for an author, to keep from showing up on such sites to begin with, is to not assign an ISBN to their work. They could simply sell their books through their publisher's site or a site of their making. Of course, large bookstores won't carry a book with no ISBN but then they won't carry any publisher's books or self-published book unless one plays by the "hang-by-the-neck-until-dead-industry-standard-non-industry-standard-return-policy" game.

You may find these comments and more on Anne Rice's Fan Page on Facebook, one of the few, if not only, large published authors/legends who actually takes the time to talk with her fans--personally. Love me some Anne Rice. 

Just like Video killed the Radio Star . . .

Just like "Video killed the Radio Star" and "Internet Killed the Video Star," or so the songs go, one could easily say that technology killed the publishing world. In the publishing world however, it would be more accurate to replace "killed" with "changed." And for writer's around the world, it's a very welcome change at that. 

For decades the publishing industry has struggled with the cost of printing books. It was so costly back in the day that the few publishers around would have to print thousands of each title at a time due to the expense of simply printing one. And then there was the dilemma of stocking the "all those books" until they sold or were returned to be trashed. 

The few publishers around back in that time, utilized bookstores to help with this inventory dilemma and this worked well until the depression hit. Bookstores could no longer "afford" to stock large volumes of a publisher's books and then "pay" to have what didn't sell returned. Simon & Schuster rose to the occasion by allowing bookstores no charge for returning just the book covers from books purchased and no deadline on when those covers had to be returned (for credit.) The other few publishers of the day were forced to comply or "sink."
   
So you can see it hasn't been an easy road. 

But publishers no longer have to worry about the cost of printing books, they can print-on-demand which means more economically priced books for readers. It's a wonderful day for publishers as far as the cost of operating goes. 

Do keep in mind that most physical bookstores both Independent and large chain bookstores, don't order in volume (or at all in most cases) any book from any author or publisher that doesn't agree to abide by what has become an "industry" standard return policy that has not changed with the times. Therefore while it is every authors dream to show up in mass in one of these stores, it isn't a reality. That's okay. The dream will change as the reality changes but presently it means the best fiction out there can only be found . . . elsewhere.


My books are available for purchase at all venues where books are sold with of course the exception being availability at physical or brick and mortar bookstores. I've opted to "save" my publisher by asking that my books be made non-returnable. My titles will remain non-returnable, a classification that means I won't participate in any "industry" standard return policy (that no longer works for the industry,) until an updated return policy is implemented.  

I would strongly recommend and ask that you purchase any of my titles through:

 Black Bed Sheet Books. 

 Since my books are POD through Ingram's Lightning Source, no other distributor such as Amazon or any other on-line retailer can get them for less. This goes for Kindle format and any other e-book format.


Here are the exact links for each of my titles, all formats, via my publisher. International shoppers should use Amazon and other on-line sites who can have the books printed in their respective countries thus saving on shipping. This is the ONLY time when buying from anyone but the publisher will actually save you money.:

Electric Angel

Forever Richard

Never Ceese

And to my current readers and fans, thank you for your support and love. I couldn't do it without you and I wouldn't even try.

Black Bed Sheet Books site going strong!

Publisher Nicholas Grabowsky has worked over-time to get the Black Bed Sheet Books site up and running. Do go over there and check out the goods! There is even a place to leave reviews as well as forums one can add or join. The link:


www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheet


Great job Nicholas, if I do say so myself. You've outdone yourself and as a Black Bed Sheet author, I applaud you.

Amazon Author Central: The continuing saga.

Short but sweet: An author can have an Author's Page on Amazon Author Central. They can post a bibliography, and list their books. On my author page I noticed that two of my published works weren't showing but rather two editions that were out of print. I pointed this out to Amazon. They told me I was correct and they fixed it.


I then noticed that when you sort on popularity, those same two books showed up and not the currently published titles. Granted the out of print titles may be the most popular because they're cheaper, the two published ones should at least show up!!!!!


I also noticed that when sorting on Highest to Lowest price and Lowest to Highest, the same thing was true. The published titles of my work on those two books NEVER displayed.


I asked Amazon and here is there response:

 The order of the titles that appear on your bibliography is determined automatically and based on many factors, such as past sales history, current availability, and length of time the items have been listed on our site. It is not something we are able to manually alter. Author Page bibliographies have also been designed to be convenient and easier for our customers and readers to view while they're browsing for books on our website. In order to provide the best browsing experience, we display only one edition of each work.


For example, the paperback edition may primarily be displayed on the Author Page, although the hardcover and Kindle editions of the same work also exist.

I sincerely regret that we haven't been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction regarding this issue.

My response was to point them to several Author Central pages where several editions of the same books were in fact showing up. Actually I told Amazon Author Central that if they wanted me to, I'd sit down for as long as it took to point them to all links where this happened. LOL Really. They made it that easy.


So just know that when you go to any Author Page on Author Central, other than that of a large published author like John Grisham or Anne Rice, when you sort on price, you won't be given all the actual pricing. In fact, in most cases, as is the case with my books, you'll only see pricing, low to high or high to low for out of print books that neither I nor my publisher make any money off of. Guess who does make money? If you guessed Amazon, you're right. ;D


And to make it even more deceitful--Amazon lists two of my out of print titles for sale as NEW through AMAZON even though I've asked them time and time again to stop selling my out of print books as NEW. I even sent the reversion of rights letter to prove I have the authority to tell them to stop. Gotta love Amazon. If you don't like how they play, you can't run away.

Amazon's Author Central is just that.

Please visit my publisher's site at http://www.downwarden.com/BlackBedSheet for complete and accurate information concerning all my titles including reviews.


****Update 7-6-2012 As I previously stated, it was clear Author Central "read" my concerns and responded because I noticed that, all of a sudden, the most recently published books showed up when one sorted on publications as opposed to those books not showing up at all with only out of print editions being viewable. I couldn't wait to read the delightful response Amazon must have for me. Well here it is:

Hello Sue,

I've looked at the Sue Dent Author Page and you are indeed right in saying that the Author Page isn't showing the correct Black Bed Sheet Books edition for both the books. I'm sorry about this.

I've corrected the problem, and the Black Bed Sheet Books edition shall show up on the Author Page in 2-3 business days. We appreciate your patience in this matter. I'll monitor these changes to ensure they appear on time and will contact you if there's any delay.

If you'd like to update the cover images for the older editions with the Black Bed Sheet Books cover image, please let us know here https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us

Aw, they called me Sue and said I was right! Imagine that! I know more about my books than they do. Go figure! So they fixed ONE of the issues and have yet to address the other issues. They've made it possible for a customer to sort on popular. This is a bit of a ridiculous premise to begin with as everything under the sun is sorted EXCEPT popular books for that author. Also you may sort from high to low pricing of an "authors" book or low to high which again seems mindless as "again" everything in the world shows up. On my Author Central page the only books I have that are published and in print didn't show up at all until I pinged Amazon to ask if that's what they meant to happen when they added that sort to the Author Central page. 

Bottom line, Amazon's Author Central isn't anything but a retailers ploy to get authors to send their readers to their site to possibly purchase books. I must say though, Amazon seems to be working harder to "fix" things that are screwed up when those things are brought to their attention. However they do little to ensure accurate information is available. In fact, they don't care at all about accurate information. They're primary goal is to sell books period. BUT that's pretty much true of all retailers.


****Update 7-6-2012 Mid-morning: I asked Amazon's Author Central why the most recent publication didn't even show up but rather the out of print book. They've not responded to my email . . . yet. But did seem to miraculously "fix" that on my Author Central Page. What remains to be fixed is having out of print books (that only Amazon makes money on and not necessarily the author or publisher, in fact rarely the author or publisher) showing up when they aren't in fact the most popular and I can prove this in one instance. Also sorting by highest and lowest price never, ever, ever, ever shows the most recently published books. What is that about?




While Amazon's Author Central proposes to be a tool for "helping" authors it falls miserably flat in this department because an author/publisher actually has very limited control over the content. In this particular instance I'm referring to books that show up on the Author's Page that one can sort by. You can choose "popular," Highest Price first, Lowest Price first etc . . . In the instance of my books the CURRENTLY published titles, the only ones my publisher and I make money off of NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER show up no matter WHAT option you choose. Not even most recently published. Way to go Amazon!


Basically an author may mark the EXACT books listed on Amazon that belong to them but that doesn't mean those are the books that will display on one's Author Central page. For those of us who have had several publishers go under and have several editions of one book out there, control of what shows up on our page is IMPORTANT!!!


When I went to my page today, two of my newest releases weren't even showing up but rather two titles that are no longer in print or rather two books I'd NOT selected as belonging to me and books I make no money off of. I queried Amazon to see what could be done about this. Here's the response I received:


"Due to recent design changes in our search features, titles on Author Pages are now sorted by popularity."


Since my first publisher liquidated over 4000 copies of my debut novel before they went under, there are tons of this title available for as little as .01 cent. I'm fairly certain a book that sells for .01 cent is going to be more popular than one that sells a little below retail meaning the books showing when someone searches on "Sue Dent" are titles that are out of print and no longer available for sale as new. 


Just keep in mind, as most readers do, a Publisher/Author has very limited control over the content on Amazon's Author Central. Amazon controls it for the most part with little to no regard to the author/publisher. The reason these books are allowed to show up is because Amazon is a retail site! DUH! It isn't hurting them if the out of print books show up on an author's page. They still make money . . . at an author/publisher's expense.


Given that Amazon can make it affordable for readers to purchase an author's/publisher's books in all countries, all authors/publishers have to tolerate them. UGH!

Aw, thank-you reader!

Hi Sue,


I enjoyed Never Ceese and I am really looking forward to Forever Richard. My wife wanted me to hurry up and finish Never Ceese so she can read it now. I work ten hour shifts and I have time to read, usually non-fiction, sometimes novels but yours was different. There are some books that I like to read just a chapter at a time so I can savor them and this was one of them. 


Thanks.

This is why I write. This is what matters. This is what will always matter. Thank you so much Jim!!! Forever Richard is on the way. ;D

I promise, I'm working on it!

Just had to stop writing long enough to to tell yet another fan that, "I promise, I AM working on the third book in my Thirsting for Blood Series." I gave this reader, (a local fan,) a copy of Electric Angel to hold them until I could get the third book out. Not good to have fans who work on your vehicle. They tend to want to hold things for collateral. "You don't get your car back unless I see evidence that you're writing." And yes. That was their threat. Fortunately I had my laptop with me and could prove it. ;D

Love each and every ONE of you! And y'all know it. 

Group hug! ((((((HUG)))))))

Dear fellow Independent and Self-pubbed author . . .

Dear fellow Independent and Self-pubbed author, don't ever belief you don't have the right to defend yourself. And do understand that if you try, there will be those who will label you the aggressor and an embarrassment to the publishing community in spite of everything about you that proves otherwise. Perhaps that's enough to keep you from standing up for yourself but I hope not. Believe in yourself. Believe in who you are and keep it real.