Woke up to a nice surprise. My article is on page four!
Happy 2013 and enjoy.
Showing posts with label Cyn No More. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyn No More. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Nothing to see here.
Just received this e-mail from Amazon:
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.
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 TEAMJust 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.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
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.
Sue Dent's Electric Angel to Graphic Novel.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
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:
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,
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:
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,
Monday, July 16, 2012
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.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
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:
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:
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
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!
****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!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Are EBM's the Publishing Industry's Saviour?
First I'd like to point you to this blog which I found very interesting and intriguing. It concerns a customer's first hand experience with this machine. Click Here for the link if you're interested in reading the article yourself.
One particular line answered one of my questions straight away. The writer of the article states:
"I’ll probably go back and do it again, simply because of how satisfying it is to have a print-on-demand book made in such an astonishingly short period of time."Priced at well over $100,000 dollars with an almost $1000 dollar monthly "maintenance" fee, a quote I was sent by Xerox, the EBM is well out of most small bookstores price range which means the only bookstores that "might" benefit from it are the large chain bookstores. Sadly they are only around to promote their publishers, or rather large publishers. There have been a few out-of-print titles that some large publishers have decided to make available but nothing significant. Nothing that would make it worth anyone's while to purchase one of these machines.
Until large publishers open up and make the books that readers have been brainwashed to believe they need to read available, this machine isn't anything other than a glorified small bookstore. You can go to this link to see just what books are available on an EBM. I can save you some time however and tell you myself. POD books are the only thing available mostly, with Ingram's POD company Lightning Source being one of the main distributors. Go figure. I will go one step further and say that POD books from small publishers are actually the only books worth reading as more of these authors are concerned with quality and presenting something different while large publishers are only concerned with cookie-cutter stories and cookie-cutter edits.
A small bookstore stepping forward to buy one of these machines is sure to sink even faster than they're already sinking. There is a solution to the publishing industry's woes but buddy at this price (and with the "big dogs" holding out to keep customers coming to their sinking "brick &mortar" exclusive bookstores,) the EBM is not the answer. Plus it doesn't do color so all Graphic Novels are out and magazines too. So yes, it still goes back to those large publishers and their reluctance to let go of the past. They seem to be just fine dragging their bookstores down with them . . . the very bookstores they stepped forward to save during the depression. Sorry Xerox. I'm gonna have to hold off on my purchase.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
2012 Book Tour event in Chicago.
SUE DENT SIGNING WITH HER BOOK COVER MODEL FOR ELECTRIC ANGEL RON FITZGERALD
Click on the banner above for specific details. For non-specific details read on. I will be sharing a table at the Portage Theater with Ron Fitzgerald who will be hosting
the official Ron Fitzgerald I Wanna Hear You Scream Contest. I'll have all of my titles through Black Bed Sheet Books with me including Never Ceese and Forever Richard along with a few other hmm . . . shocking merchandising surprises. But that's all I'm saying about that.
Do keep in mind that these conventions and venues are one of the last opportunities for Independent authors to host book tours since large chain bookstores were only ever set up to help large published authors and no longer even humor small press authors who make their titles non-returnable according to an out-dated return policy that "kills" small publishers if they unwittingly sign onto it. So for sure all you Chicago fans come out and support me. Of course I'll have copies of Electric Angel ( why wouldn't I? LOL) and my gracious cover model Ron Fitzgerald will be there to sign them as well. You can even purchase some of his other fantastic photos while your there too. Or perhaps a couple of his DVD's. Hope to see you there. Don't forget to click on the banner above to find out more about the weekend! Also I'll have a tip jar set up to help pay for gas. LOL As usual, I'll be "driving" up from Mississippi. Aw, just buy my books. That should help get me back.
Love y'all!
See y'all there.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
2012 Book Tour event in Chicago.
SUE DENT SIGNING WITH HER BOOK COVER MODEL RON FITZGERALD
Click on the banner above for specific details. For non-specific details read on. I will be sharing a table at the Portage Theater with Ron Fitzgerald who
be hosting the official Ron Fitzgerald I Wanna Hear You Scream Contest. I'll have all of my titles through Black Bed Sheet Books including Never Ceese and Forever Richard and a few other surprises as well.
These conventions and venues are one of the last opportunities for Independent authors to host book tours since large chain bookstore were only ever set up to help large published authors and no longer even humor small press authors who make their titles non-returnable according to an out-dated return policy that "kills" small publishers if they unwittingly sign onto it. So for sure all you Chicago fans come out and support me. Of course I'll have copies of Electric Angel ( why wouldn't I? LOL) and my gracious cover model Ron Fitzgerald will be there to sign them as well. You can even purchase some of his other fantastic photos while your there too. Or perhaps a couple of his DVD's. Hope to see you there. Don't forget to click on the banner above to find out more about the weekend! Also I'll have a tip jar set up to help pay for gas. LOL As usual, I'll be "driving" up from Mississippi. Aw, just buy my books and that'll help get me back. Love y'all! See y'all there.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Name Your Market!!!
The song has been sung. The time is upon us. Now we must stand together as one to preserve the integrity of freedom of speech and freedom of religion on which this country was founded. For too long the "conservative evangelical Baptist" (sorry, but they started it) have been allowed to reign supreme in publishing, have stripped the broad meaning from the label "Christian" and have used and abused every author who dare call themselves that.
I dare say there's no greater grievance against an author than to take a broad label and apply it to a very targeted and discriminating lot. Aye they lassoed it, tied it up and held it hostage for far too long. But now it's time. Since their inception in 1950, they've relentlessly claimed to be the ONLY voice in Christian fiction but published nothing beyond restrictively written and "safe" fiction for "Christian" bookstores, formerly known as Baptist Bookstores. Any author who dare approach them with general market fiction is spit upon, beat up and cast out as heathen.
I say no more.
Change the name. Be proud of your market and call it what it is. Your intimidating ways do not scare us. They sadden us. It's deeply disturbing. Now all you scallywags who've read this, jump over to my interview at http://thechristianmanifesto.com/archives/3602#comments and speak your mind. This interview was done three years ago. As grand as it was then, it was moved shortly after going public without the pictures that went with it. It of course eventually went into archive and was moved a second time. Not intentionally I might add but just because that's the way most interviews are handled if your a "general market" small published author whose work happened to appeal to many of this markets readers.
Upon asking where the link went this second time, I was accused of throwing a temper-tantrum and called unprofessional because I dared to infer the site wasn't being run very professionally.
So be it.
The interview is up once again. Take it and run. I don't care what comments you make but for the love of God, if you're sick of the bully, intimidating ways of the "Christian" publishers, now including publishers who don't actually pay a fee to belong to the Christian Booksellers Association, then say so. I'm sure that like me, many of you have been kicked off many sites where these authors reign supreme, (if you were ever allowed in,) have been told you aren't a "Christian," which of course is true if you strip off the broader meaning of the label Christian, and have been drug across the coals and cast out as though you were yesterdays garbage. As I said in the beginning, the song as been sung. Now is your chance. In conclusion, all I'm asking for is a name change. Targeted markets are great but not when they strip the meaning from a broad label to abuse it accordingly.
Name your market!
If the story is to be believed, David carried five stones with him to defeat Goliath. It only took one.
I dare say there's no greater grievance against an author than to take a broad label and apply it to a very targeted and discriminating lot. Aye they lassoed it, tied it up and held it hostage for far too long. But now it's time. Since their inception in 1950, they've relentlessly claimed to be the ONLY voice in Christian fiction but published nothing beyond restrictively written and "safe" fiction for "Christian" bookstores, formerly known as Baptist Bookstores. Any author who dare approach them with general market fiction is spit upon, beat up and cast out as heathen.
I say no more.
Change the name. Be proud of your market and call it what it is. Your intimidating ways do not scare us. They sadden us. It's deeply disturbing. Now all you scallywags who've read this, jump over to my interview at http://thechristianmanifesto.com/archives/3602#comments and speak your mind. This interview was done three years ago. As grand as it was then, it was moved shortly after going public without the pictures that went with it. It of course eventually went into archive and was moved a second time. Not intentionally I might add but just because that's the way most interviews are handled if your a "general market" small published author whose work happened to appeal to many of this markets readers.
Upon asking where the link went this second time, I was accused of throwing a temper-tantrum and called unprofessional because I dared to infer the site wasn't being run very professionally.
So be it.
The interview is up once again. Take it and run. I don't care what comments you make but for the love of God, if you're sick of the bully, intimidating ways of the "Christian" publishers, now including publishers who don't actually pay a fee to belong to the Christian Booksellers Association, then say so. I'm sure that like me, many of you have been kicked off many sites where these authors reign supreme, (if you were ever allowed in,) have been told you aren't a "Christian," which of course is true if you strip off the broader meaning of the label Christian, and have been drug across the coals and cast out as though you were yesterdays garbage. As I said in the beginning, the song as been sung. Now is your chance. In conclusion, all I'm asking for is a name change. Targeted markets are great but not when they strip the meaning from a broad label to abuse it accordingly.
Name your market!
If the story is to be believed, David carried five stones with him to defeat Goliath. It only took one.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sue Dent's NEW kickstarter project!
Ya, cancelled the other one. LOL Gonna start out small. Right now all I need is to purchase "Final Draft" for creating the Graphic Novel story. You can help by clicking on the donate button over there to your left. You can donate up to $20.00 for three signed bookmarks, one for each of my books or for $20.00 get a signed copy of Electric Angel with shipping paid in the US and $4.00 going toward any international shipping.For $25.00 you get your choice of Never Ceese or Forever Richard, signed of course and same shipping as above. The goal amount is $250. Y'all help a sister out! LOL But seriously help me. Here's the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/suedent/sue-dents-electric-angel-novel-to-graphic-novel
Thanks in advance for your help.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
All my books are on Amazon and Barnes & Noble blah, blah blah!!!
All my books are on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and blah, blah blah!!! OOOOOOOMMMMMMGGGGGG! If I have to read that ONE MORE TIME, as if this is something to be heralded in the publishing industry!!! Yes, if I read that one more time . . . well . . . well . . . . *Sue balls up her fist* Clearly I'd be an idiot to put anything dire here as I will undoubtedly see this again and again and again and would then have to carry out whatever dire deed I propose!
First off, EVERY single book and EVERY single ebook and anything you stick an ISBN on, all the way from "A Pedophiles Guide to Love and Romance" (yes, I went there) to books even more "illegal" (yes I went there too) are listed on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and EVERY OTHER ON-LINE vendors site!!!!! So being on these sites doesn't prove anything except that perhaps a "large piece of fecal matter" could publish a book if it knew how to write and get an ISBN.
I'd like to state right here and now that ALL my books are on these sites as well and even some that shouldn't be there because they no longer exist. And if they are being sold then the one selling them is selling stolen goods and making money where I never did.
I'm on Amazon and don't have a choice about it. I'm on B&N and every other book site as well and don't have a choice about it. I don't even want to be on these sites. Half of the time they don't even post accurate information about my books. Half of the time they're selling books I no longer and never did make any money off of and they're getting away with it.
If you want to support me and the work I put out then you purchase my books through my publisher at Black Bed Sheet Books and not anywhere else. Oh. You can use the links on my site at http://www.SueDent.net as well. That's where you'll find all my physical books and e-books.
Do not trust any other site or even brick and mortar bookstore to carry my books. Research the quality of what I write based on the solid reviews from unbiased reviewers and the fact that all of my work is professionally edited. I put out a LOT of my own money so you can ENJOY a good story. I would never list my books on Amazon if I wanted to get that money back.
I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!!!
How about them apples?
First off, EVERY single book and EVERY single ebook and anything you stick an ISBN on, all the way from "A Pedophiles Guide to Love and Romance" (yes, I went there) to books even more "illegal" (yes I went there too) are listed on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and EVERY OTHER ON-LINE vendors site!!!!! So being on these sites doesn't prove anything except that perhaps a "large piece of fecal matter" could publish a book if it knew how to write and get an ISBN.
I'd like to state right here and now that ALL my books are on these sites as well and even some that shouldn't be there because they no longer exist. And if they are being sold then the one selling them is selling stolen goods and making money where I never did.
I'm on Amazon and don't have a choice about it. I'm on B&N and every other book site as well and don't have a choice about it. I don't even want to be on these sites. Half of the time they don't even post accurate information about my books. Half of the time they're selling books I no longer and never did make any money off of and they're getting away with it.
If you want to support me and the work I put out then you purchase my books through my publisher at Black Bed Sheet Books and not anywhere else. Oh. You can use the links on my site at http://www.SueDent.net as well. That's where you'll find all my physical books and e-books.
Do not trust any other site or even brick and mortar bookstore to carry my books. Research the quality of what I write based on the solid reviews from unbiased reviewers and the fact that all of my work is professionally edited. I put out a LOT of my own money so you can ENJOY a good story. I would never list my books on Amazon if I wanted to get that money back.
I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!!!
How about them apples?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A video I made dedicated to "large" publishers. ;)
Actually, I just wanted to use some photos I had done at my last photo shoot with Jim Sorfleet of SnS-photo.com and this was a neat way to do it. ;)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Are Independent Bookstores really any different than Barnes & Nobles and other large chain bookstores?
Are Independent Bookstores really any different than Barnes & Nobles and other large chain bookstores?
Sadly, they aren't. For the most part, they're exactly like the bigger bookstores, at least for us Independent authors who are attempting to utilize our supposed Independent bookstores to get sales.
Here's an example. My daughter wants to go to a book event that Octavia Bookstore in New Orleans is hosting. We have to buy a ticket or rather pay for a book before we get there. The event is being held at a larger facility because the author is a NYT best-selling author (not an independent author) who will undoubtedly draw a pretty big crowd NO MATTER IF OCTAVIA BOOKSTORE ADVERTISES.
I called to find out when we needed to arrive to make sure we got there in time to get the book we paid for. I also asked what did it take to set up a similar event as I was an author attempting to put a book tour together. Immediately (or perhaps it was just my imagination) the tone of the one I was speaking to became somewhat condescending. They rattled off all the "big published" authors who had just graced the steps of their "independent" bookstore such as Stephen King. Wow! Really? Why is he doing an event at an Independent bookstore? The large bookstores are for the larger published authors. The Independent bookstores are supposed to give us independent authors a chance or at least that's the way I understood it.
That's not to be though. Because when I asked what would it take for me to put Octavia books on my book tour, I was told that "they" would have to look at my book and "they" would have to see if it was something their store would want to carry. WHAT!!! And I'd have to "give" them a review copy to "look" at. WHAT!! And then "they'd" get back with me. WHAT!!! They didn't bother to ask my name, my credentials or anything. Just wrote me off (at least that's my opinion.)
To this day I will NEVER understand why INDEPENDENT bookstores CLAIM to be there for the small published author or small publishers nor will I EVER understand why they humor book events by large published authors. Those authors don't need the help. Their "large chain bookstores" won't even allow small published authors in to do events (sometimes they will if the books are returnable by that "industry standard" return policy that ensures your books will be stolen and resold.)
For the love of God and for the sake of the authors Independent Bookstores pretend to be helping, would somebody tell them to WAKE UP! We're dying here and most of us don't want to see brick and mortar stores go. We'd like to help but they won't even give us a chance.
*Sue takes deep breaths. Tries to breath without spitting.*
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Sadly, they aren't. For the most part, they're exactly like the bigger bookstores, at least for us Independent authors who are attempting to utilize our supposed Independent bookstores to get sales.
Here's an example. My daughter wants to go to a book event that Octavia Bookstore in New Orleans is hosting. We have to buy a ticket or rather pay for a book before we get there. The event is being held at a larger facility because the author is a NYT best-selling author (not an independent author) who will undoubtedly draw a pretty big crowd NO MATTER IF OCTAVIA BOOKSTORE ADVERTISES.
I called to find out when we needed to arrive to make sure we got there in time to get the book we paid for. I also asked what did it take to set up a similar event as I was an author attempting to put a book tour together. Immediately (or perhaps it was just my imagination) the tone of the one I was speaking to became somewhat condescending. They rattled off all the "big published" authors who had just graced the steps of their "independent" bookstore such as Stephen King. Wow! Really? Why is he doing an event at an Independent bookstore? The large bookstores are for the larger published authors. The Independent bookstores are supposed to give us independent authors a chance or at least that's the way I understood it.
That's not to be though. Because when I asked what would it take for me to put Octavia books on my book tour, I was told that "they" would have to look at my book and "they" would have to see if it was something their store would want to carry. WHAT!!! And I'd have to "give" them a review copy to "look" at. WHAT!! And then "they'd" get back with me. WHAT!!! They didn't bother to ask my name, my credentials or anything. Just wrote me off (at least that's my opinion.)
To this day I will NEVER understand why INDEPENDENT bookstores CLAIM to be there for the small published author or small publishers nor will I EVER understand why they humor book events by large published authors. Those authors don't need the help. Their "large chain bookstores" won't even allow small published authors in to do events (sometimes they will if the books are returnable by that "industry standard" return policy that ensures your books will be stolen and resold.)
For the love of God and for the sake of the authors Independent Bookstores pretend to be helping, would somebody tell them to WAKE UP! We're dying here and most of us don't want to see brick and mortar stores go. We'd like to help but they won't even give us a chance.
*Sue takes deep breaths. Tries to breath without spitting.*
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Forever Richard finally here . . . AGAIN!
It is my pleasure to bring to you the re-published and re-vamped, Black Bed Sheet Books Edition of my 2009 British Fantasy Society long-listed, (hey, it meant something to me) 2009 Pluto Award short-listed Forever Richard. My Thirsting for Blood Series is now officially under one publisher and a damn good publisher at that. Any copy of Forever Richard that you see for sale out there with any ISBN other than: 9780976994770 is stolen and I don't make any money off of it. Book Masters, my second publisher's distributor states they send all "returned-from-the-bookstore" books back to the publisher. When my publisher left Book Masters they were supposedly sent all these books and actually had to pay for them. But apparently Book Masters lies as some of these books (many in fact) are still showing up for sale as new. The rights reverted back to me and I can guarantee you that I've not republished that version of the book. Just the same old same old. Distributors stealing because they can get away with it.
But enough of that!
Go straight away to www.blackbedsheet.goshopper.net and get you the only legitimate copy of Forever Richard out there!!!! Just in time for Christmas!!! Also, as soon as I get my copies I'll offer signed copies from my site. ;)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
BOOK GIVE AWAY ALERT!!
How cool is this?! And author friend of mine is having a fantabulous book give away which includes but is not limited to ONE e-book copy of Electric Angel, winners choice of format and ONE print copy (that is the format HA!) so rush right over to:
blog to see what you have to do to participate. Trust me. This isn't going to happen often. At least not with my books so you best check it out for your best chance. ;D
blog to see what you have to do to participate. Trust me. This isn't going to happen often. At least not with my books so you best check it out for your best chance. ;D
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I dare you to read this review!
ELECTRIC ANGEL
“I got Whiplash and Paper cuts from reading ELECTRIC ANGEL...Could…Not put it down!
Oh. You need the link don't you:
You do have to be a big boy or girl to read it on the site though. Meaning that yes, you'll have to click that you understand you might see adult content. If you're under 18 and want to read this review just make sure your legal guardian checks it out first. Then make sure that legal guardian orders a few copies from Black Bed Sheet Books for you to read (because the content of Electric Angel is actually fine for any age reader.) Hey, I'm a mom too! You kiddies best follow the rules!!! Now go eat your veggies! ;D
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