Exactly how I feel. . . about B&N and OTHER large bookstores, including large "Christian" bookstores such as Lifeway and Mardel's who discriminate but don't make that clear. And yes most definitely Amazon as well!
Showing posts with label Lifeway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifeway. Show all posts
Monday, September 26, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Spring Arbor Bound.
Yes, my publisher confirmed that Never Ceese and Electric Angel have both been submitted to Ingram's Spring Arbor for approval (at my request.) Never Ceese was once approved by Spring Arbor already but I pulled it because I felt that my work showing up on sites selling books specifically for that "targeted" Christian market (that so many folks shun and for good reason) wasn't really all that good for me.
HOWEVER, I have many readers from that market that deserve to be exposed to something very different and so I've taken the plunge once more since they seem to like my work. Doesn't mean I won't still be bullied or rather not allowed on blogs where "targeted" Christian fiction is being pushed as general market fiction or treated like a dog in a cat show when it comes to awards I'd possibly stand a chance at winning if the rules were actually designed to consider all general market work as opposed to only work put out by publishers who provide fiction for that "targeted" Christian market but that's -- okay. ;)
Do keep in mind I consider Spring Arbor a very bad joke as they massage the theory proposed by CBA and ECPA that CBA and ECPA are "THE" Christian market when they can't possibly be since they only provide fiction for a very specific demographic of Christiandome (though they now include SOME Catholics or so it says on their site CBA.org Whatever that means.)
So when my books show up on these sites just know it's so those readers that like to support these sites (I don't but it's about making your work available, right) can order my books. Funny thing is that even though Spring Arbor approval is "supposed" to make your work available to "the" Christian market, unless you write "targeted" Christian fiction for that ONE demographic, you won't show up on sites that really get the sales ie . . .www.ChristianBook.com because they only pull from CBA and ECPA's database and not Spring Arbor. It's their way of discriminating and they just keep getting away with it. It's sad but that's life I suppose. All the large Christian Bookstores like Lifeway and Mardel's are the same way, not that many shop there for their fiction anyway because they've already learned, but no, they don't automatically carry books approved for their market by Spring Arbor. They still go to CBA and ECPA ONLY and occasionally non-affiliated publishers whose work is just as "targeted."
Please let anyone and everyone know that I only ever write general market (whatever genre I choose) and not for any "targeted" market at this time. If I do choose to write "targeted" fiction for any market, you'll know what market I'm targeting. Why wouldn't I tell you that? That's the entire purpose of writing "targeted" anything. Good Grief!
HOWEVER, I have many readers from that market that deserve to be exposed to something very different and so I've taken the plunge once more since they seem to like my work. Doesn't mean I won't still be bullied or rather not allowed on blogs where "targeted" Christian fiction is being pushed as general market fiction or treated like a dog in a cat show when it comes to awards I'd possibly stand a chance at winning if the rules were actually designed to consider all general market work as opposed to only work put out by publishers who provide fiction for that "targeted" Christian market but that's -- okay. ;)
Do keep in mind I consider Spring Arbor a very bad joke as they massage the theory proposed by CBA and ECPA that CBA and ECPA are "THE" Christian market when they can't possibly be since they only provide fiction for a very specific demographic of Christiandome (though they now include SOME Catholics or so it says on their site CBA.org Whatever that means.)
So when my books show up on these sites just know it's so those readers that like to support these sites (I don't but it's about making your work available, right) can order my books. Funny thing is that even though Spring Arbor approval is "supposed" to make your work available to "the" Christian market, unless you write "targeted" Christian fiction for that ONE demographic, you won't show up on sites that really get the sales ie . . .www.ChristianBook.com because they only pull from CBA and ECPA's database and not Spring Arbor. It's their way of discriminating and they just keep getting away with it. It's sad but that's life I suppose. All the large Christian Bookstores like Lifeway and Mardel's are the same way, not that many shop there for their fiction anyway because they've already learned, but no, they don't automatically carry books approved for their market by Spring Arbor. They still go to CBA and ECPA ONLY and occasionally non-affiliated publishers whose work is just as "targeted."
Please let anyone and everyone know that I only ever write general market (whatever genre I choose) and not for any "targeted" market at this time. If I do choose to write "targeted" fiction for any market, you'll know what market I'm targeting. Why wouldn't I tell you that? That's the entire purpose of writing "targeted" anything. Good Grief!
Monday, February 7, 2011
UGH!!!
I don't mind google ads really as it seems they're here to stay. And I do understand that these ads are targeted ads based on what a viewer has viewed in the past. But God as my witness, I am having a VERY DIFFICULT time dealing with seeing ChristianBook.com ads show up on each and everything I view simply because I often use the label Christian etc . . . Especially in light of the fact that they are a heavily discriminating on-line bookstore that ONLY automatically lists books from fee paying CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers (and now some non-affiliated copy-cat publishers) and NEVER books from a publisher/author who has gone through the trouble of having their work approved by Spring Arbor because the publisher/author was told that doing so would make their books available to the "Christian" market. Bull hockey!!!!
Change your name or change the way you operate. Nothing right about this. The only way I can keep from being offended is to stop using the label Christian. Guess what ain't gonna stop happening!
Change your name or change the way you operate. Nothing right about this. The only way I can keep from being offended is to stop using the label Christian. Guess what ain't gonna stop happening!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Books Signings for Small Press Authors
Just in case it still isn't clear, Small Press Authors would love to come to your local chain bookstore to do signings but Chain Bookstores SUCH AS Barnes & Nobles and quite a few others won't purchase POD published books which is the publishing choice for most small presses due to the fact that it's the most economical choice. AND large chain bookstores won't allow ANY author to bring in books to sell on consignment which is the only way to get around the bookstore not ordering books ahead of time for a signing.
There's an even bigger trap waiting at Christian Bookstores. 99% of them are affiliated and will only bring your book in if it's published by an affiliated publisher who writes for a very restrictive denominational market. It's the first question I'm asked when I call these stores to see about a signing. And so much for explaining. As soon as they find out my publisher isn't a fee paying CBA member, they hang up.
So just know that for most small pubbed authors, book signings at chain bookstores aren't a thing of the past. They never were and never will be. *sigh*
There's an even bigger trap waiting at Christian Bookstores. 99% of them are affiliated and will only bring your book in if it's published by an affiliated publisher who writes for a very restrictive denominational market. It's the first question I'm asked when I call these stores to see about a signing. And so much for explaining. As soon as they find out my publisher isn't a fee paying CBA member, they hang up.
So just know that for most small pubbed authors, book signings at chain bookstores aren't a thing of the past. They never were and never will be. *sigh*
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Books ordered!
So I ordered a box of books of Never Ceese from Black Bed Sheet Books and am ready to sell! The books should be here in about a week or two so get your order in now. I would be more than happy to come to your area to sign books but can only do so if I don't lose money (because how fair is that?) That means you can have an Independent bookstore get in touch with me or give me information about an Independent bookstore in your area so I can see how they work with small pubbed authors. Libraries are nice too. Some of those allow signings and who doesn't like to support libraries.
Do keep in mind that all chain-bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders or whoever can order Never Ceese, the newest Black Bed Sheet Edition but they won't order POD published books or rather small press books unless someone is buying them. And as an added rub, they won't let small publishers sell on commission either. It's always lovely when a bookstore operates under the guise that they're out to support all publishers yet they keep over 75% of the publishers off their shelves because they were never set up to make money off of them. And chain bookstores wonder why they're all going under. Their wonderful distributors Ingam *cough, cough* and Baker & Taylor *cough, cough* aren't any more accommodating either asking small publishers to play the large publishers game as if they can. Ah, but that's okay they're just doing their job, right?
Sooooo, don't look for my books in chain bookstores and don't look for them on best-sellers list because as you should know all the official best-sellers list are determined by how many books chain bookstores (and actually Indy bookstores too) buy from the large publishers. It isn't based on how many sell to customers. That's why you rarely see small press authors on these lists. Chain bookstores don't order these books in mass. They ignore small pub authors.
But yes, let's get us a tour going, shall we. Let me know and we'll see what happens.
Love y'all!
Oops! Almost forget. "Christian" bookstores are out of the question too because though both of my books have been approved by Spring Arbor for distribution to the Christian market, 99.9% of all Christian bookstores are actually "Christian" or rather CBA member bookstores and they don't allow any book in unless it's published by a fee-paying member publisher. That's so they can be assured the content is censored so that it only appeals to their core market readers. There are few Christian bookstores that aren't member bookstores. But that's because all general market bookstores carry and have carried Christian books forever and there was no need. It's actually still that way. So no, I can't get into a Mardel's or a Lifeway or any other member bookstore despite many of my readers looking for my books there and in spite of going through the trouble of having them approved. Sorry. I tried. It ain't happening. Ironically, I had the edition of Never Ceese that I published through S D Enterprises "unapproved" after I learned it actually served no real purpose to be "approved" and it's still showing up for sell on some sites that can't sell books unless they are approved which basically means Ingram/Spring Arbor doesn't operate the way they state they do which is no real surprise. Never Ceese should not show up as available to any Christian bookstore. I had it pulled months ago.
Do keep in mind that all chain-bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders or whoever can order Never Ceese, the newest Black Bed Sheet Edition but they won't order POD published books or rather small press books unless someone is buying them. And as an added rub, they won't let small publishers sell on commission either. It's always lovely when a bookstore operates under the guise that they're out to support all publishers yet they keep over 75% of the publishers off their shelves because they were never set up to make money off of them. And chain bookstores wonder why they're all going under. Their wonderful distributors Ingam *cough, cough* and Baker & Taylor *cough, cough* aren't any more accommodating either asking small publishers to play the large publishers game as if they can. Ah, but that's okay they're just doing their job, right?
Sooooo, don't look for my books in chain bookstores and don't look for them on best-sellers list because as you should know all the official best-sellers list are determined by how many books chain bookstores (and actually Indy bookstores too) buy from the large publishers. It isn't based on how many sell to customers. That's why you rarely see small press authors on these lists. Chain bookstores don't order these books in mass. They ignore small pub authors.
But yes, let's get us a tour going, shall we. Let me know and we'll see what happens.
Love y'all!
Oops! Almost forget. "Christian" bookstores are out of the question too because though both of my books have been approved by Spring Arbor for distribution to the Christian market, 99.9% of all Christian bookstores are actually "Christian" or rather CBA member bookstores and they don't allow any book in unless it's published by a fee-paying member publisher. That's so they can be assured the content is censored so that it only appeals to their core market readers. There are few Christian bookstores that aren't member bookstores. But that's because all general market bookstores carry and have carried Christian books forever and there was no need. It's actually still that way. So no, I can't get into a Mardel's or a Lifeway or any other member bookstore despite many of my readers looking for my books there and in spite of going through the trouble of having them approved. Sorry. I tried. It ain't happening. Ironically, I had the edition of Never Ceese that I published through S D Enterprises "unapproved" after I learned it actually served no real purpose to be "approved" and it's still showing up for sell on some sites that can't sell books unless they are approved which basically means Ingram/Spring Arbor doesn't operate the way they state they do which is no real surprise. Never Ceese should not show up as available to any Christian bookstore. I had it pulled months ago.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Christian Horror Genre.
An intriguing question was asked of me last night during my interview with the wonderful Leo Steel (too bad if you missed it) and company concerning the genre of my book. I was asked about the genre Christian Horror! *gasp*
Sadly, I was asked this when there was very little time left to explain as this takes quite a bit of explaining ever since the Christian Booksellers Association (fee-based affiliation formed in 1950 by a group of Baptist bookstores) and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (CBA publishers affiliation formed in the seventies) came along.
Before CBA and ECPA, publishers whose writers wrote with any sort of religious slant to their work were simply put on stores shelves and categorized by the usual genres. Yes. There was Christian Horror then, if you will, there just wasn't any REAL reason to separate it out and create a "genre" for it.
Neither CBA nor ECPA affiliated publishers recognize the horror genre though they do call some of the work produced by some of their authors Christian horror (as they tag the label "Christian" onto everything they put out even though their work is very targeted and their affiliation is fee-based and denominationally restrictive.) But technically the work isn't horror at all. I know this because the affiliated publishers I contacted, Thomas Nelson, Waterbrook/Multnomah and quite a few others, explained that they would never stray into producing work that would fit into the classic "horror" genre as their core market readers wouldn't stand for it.
Yet both CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers apply the label Christian Horror to their work thus confusing and creating great chaos and forcing writers like me to explain just what Christian Horror is and more importantly, what it isn't.
On another note, publishers are allowed to put their book in whatever genre they feel it fits into without regard as to whether it fits or not which is really fine since bookstores can change this at will. To prove this point I will tell you that my first title was initially marked by my publisher as young adult (that's actually a genre believe it or not.) And even though this publisher did not pay to belong to CBA or ECPA but called themselves a Christian publisher my title (about a vampire and a werewolf, first showed up, when it did show up, next to Chicken Soup for the Soul in a non-fiction section at B&N.
Why? Because that's where B&N decided it needed to go. And I was through a small publisher so they didn't really care.
Do keep in mind that there is a ginormous difference between books approved for distribution to the Christian market by Spring Arbor and books put out by the fee-based CBA with the biggest one being that no publisher not affiliated with CBA or ECPA will ever show up in larger Christian bookstores on-line or otherwise because these stores are all supplied with books by CBA. They can order books approved by Spring Arbor but they won't carry them as a rule. There's an affiliated Lifeway Bookstore a stones throw from my house. When my books were approved for distribution to the Christian market I went back to tell the manager. He happily called Michael Robbins, (book buyer for all Lifeway stores at the time and I believe he still is) and was told by Mr. Robbins that Lifeway had not plans of carrying my work.
Wow! Just wow!
Calling my work Christian Horror for the most part is harmless so long as you keep in mind what I just wrote above. ;)
Monday, October 19, 2009
New Christian Book releases from Amazon.
Well, I know I was interested right away when this came to me via e-mail! I'm happy to report that out of the seven books listed only two were from a CBA affiliated publisher, that being Waterbrook Multnomah and Howard Books. *WaterBrook Multnomah was launched in September 1996 as an autonomous evangelical Christian publishing division of Random House. Howard Books is Simon and Schuster's CBA affiliated Christian imprint. The other titles were from general market publishers, I'm assuming with distribution through Spring Arbor since this is supposed to be the only way they can officially claim to be Christian titles.
I'm also not so happy to report that the only one of these Christian titles to show up in any of the larger Christian Bookstores, on-line or otherwise, is the one published through Waterbrook Multnomah and Howard Books. Go figure.
So just in case anyone is paying attention, Christian authors who pay to be affiliated with CBA and ECPA are able to take advantage of massive shelf space in all larger Christian bookstores (thus driving book sales up whether they sell or not) AND because of the merger of Spring Arbor with Ingram, the affiliated authors can also flood general market bookstores with their very targeted fiction.
Other Christian authors who choose not to write targeted fiction or pay CBA or ECPA (even though their work officially qualifies as Christian because it has been approved by Spring Arbor) are excluded from all larger Christian Bookstores.
I would say they're excluded from on-line larger Christian bookstores but upon further investigation, Christianbook.com (one of the larger Christian on-line sites) actually did carry all seven of the books. So it seems that while Christianbook.com is primarily exclusive to CBA and ECPA fiction, they will list books simply from Spring Arbor if the publisher is big enough. I consider that quasi-exclusive and still certainly not the place to shop for Christian fiction that appeals to all. IMO.
Upon googling I did find this article seemingly written by someone from Lifeway. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what to make of it. Take it for what it's worth. It could be propaganda but it's not in me to research it further. It does make for very interesting reading though and certainly makes one wonder. Here's the link
*Excerpt from Random Houses site.
I'm also not so happy to report that the only one of these Christian titles to show up in any of the larger Christian Bookstores, on-line or otherwise, is the one published through Waterbrook Multnomah and Howard Books. Go figure.
So just in case anyone is paying attention, Christian authors who pay to be affiliated with CBA and ECPA are able to take advantage of massive shelf space in all larger Christian bookstores (thus driving book sales up whether they sell or not) AND because of the merger of Spring Arbor with Ingram, the affiliated authors can also flood general market bookstores with their very targeted fiction.
Other Christian authors who choose not to write targeted fiction or pay CBA or ECPA (even though their work officially qualifies as Christian because it has been approved by Spring Arbor) are excluded from all larger Christian Bookstores.
I would say they're excluded from on-line larger Christian bookstores but upon further investigation, Christianbook.com (one of the larger Christian on-line sites) actually did carry all seven of the books. So it seems that while Christianbook.com is primarily exclusive to CBA and ECPA fiction, they will list books simply from Spring Arbor if the publisher is big enough. I consider that quasi-exclusive and still certainly not the place to shop for Christian fiction that appeals to all. IMO.
Upon googling I did find this article seemingly written by someone from Lifeway. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what to make of it. Take it for what it's worth. It could be propaganda but it's not in me to research it further. It does make for very interesting reading though and certainly makes one wonder. Here's the link
*Excerpt from Random Houses site.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Discount for my Christian readers.
Since I just learned today that the larger Christian Bookstores will only order my book if a customer asks for it and then only have it shipped to that customers address making the customer pay shipping, I decided to take a stand.
My stand would be to tell you to please not order Never Ceese the paperback or Forever Richard through any of the larger Christian Booksellers. Save yourself a bundle by ordering on-line through any other venue. There are a host of true Christian websites selling both books at a very reasonable cost and of course, all general market booksellers.
Also, should on-line sales continue as they are going, and larger Christian Booksellers decide it might be worth the money to carry my book after all, please continue to buy my books anywhere else. There are sooooo many smaller Christian brick and mortar stores carrying fiction books to appeal to all Christians and not just a very narrow market. Support these stores if you prefer to keep your money supporting Christian businesses.
Just don't want any of my readers to get burned and if some are buying through the larger Christian booksellers, they are in fact not getting a good deal at all.
My stand would be to tell you to please not order Never Ceese the paperback or Forever Richard through any of the larger Christian Booksellers. Save yourself a bundle by ordering on-line through any other venue. There are a host of true Christian websites selling both books at a very reasonable cost and of course, all general market booksellers.
Also, should on-line sales continue as they are going, and larger Christian Booksellers decide it might be worth the money to carry my book after all, please continue to buy my books anywhere else. There are sooooo many smaller Christian brick and mortar stores carrying fiction books to appeal to all Christians and not just a very narrow market. Support these stores if you prefer to keep your money supporting Christian businesses.
Just don't want any of my readers to get burned and if some are buying through the larger Christian booksellers, they are in fact not getting a good deal at all.
7-31-09 Changed Hearts Christian Bookstore
Yes, I have a local Christian Bookstore right up the street here in Jackson, Mississippi but you'll have to go to Changed Hearts Creations in Lucedale, Mississippi to find me signing. A true Christian Bookstore serving all Christian faiths.
Though both my books have been deemed socially acceptable for the Christian Market and therefore distributable by Spring Arbor, none of the larger Christian Bookstores will carry it. They can only order it for you and send it to your house and you will have to pay shipping. How nice! So please don't frequent these stores if you're not looking for narrowly targeted and usually quite overt fiction specific to the very conservative audience that visit the larger Christian Bookstores.
Come instead to venues like Changed Hearts who can and will carry books like mine (books that appeal to a wide variety of Christian readers, including general market readers) all day long without question. My paperback version of Never Ceese will be available along with Forever Richard of course. So unless something changes, here's the "deets":
Changed Hearts Christian Bookstore
Lucedale, Mississippi
11:00 until whenever y'all get sick of me. :)
BTW, my local Lifeway can't even offer me a local signing because Michael Robbins, their bookbuyer, sees no reason to add a book already approved by Spring Arbor to LIfeway's system because I guess he just doesn't want to take the time to look at it and approve it himself for their stores. Who knows.
*In case you didn't know it, all the larger Christian Bookstores only carry fiction specific to a very narrow market. They just don't say it.*
So see you guys in Lucedale. I'll be off to the beach next. Follow me down and we'll have a grand time. :)
Though both my books have been deemed socially acceptable for the Christian Market and therefore distributable by Spring Arbor, none of the larger Christian Bookstores will carry it. They can only order it for you and send it to your house and you will have to pay shipping. How nice! So please don't frequent these stores if you're not looking for narrowly targeted and usually quite overt fiction specific to the very conservative audience that visit the larger Christian Bookstores.
Come instead to venues like Changed Hearts who can and will carry books like mine (books that appeal to a wide variety of Christian readers, including general market readers) all day long without question. My paperback version of Never Ceese will be available along with Forever Richard of course. So unless something changes, here's the "deets":
Changed Hearts Christian Bookstore
Lucedale, Mississippi
11:00 until whenever y'all get sick of me. :)
BTW, my local Lifeway can't even offer me a local signing because Michael Robbins, their bookbuyer, sees no reason to add a book already approved by Spring Arbor to LIfeway's system because I guess he just doesn't want to take the time to look at it and approve it himself for their stores. Who knows.
*In case you didn't know it, all the larger Christian Bookstores only carry fiction specific to a very narrow market. They just don't say it.*
So see you guys in Lucedale. I'll be off to the beach next. Follow me down and we'll have a grand time. :)
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