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
Showing posts with label Lightning Source. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lightning Source. Show all posts
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Distribution is key--if you can get it.
It's not a matter of proving this so much as it is educating those not involved in publishing (as in publishing novels.) Actually, those involved in publishing need educating too in many instances.
Here's an example. I pinged an international publisher recently (trust me, saying one is international isn't the same as saying "I run with the big boys" or even come close. Far from it. At any rate, they attempt to act like the "big boy" publishers.
They were open for submissions and I'm always open for anyone who has achieved some level of distribution through the corporate bookstores that doesn't come back to bite the publisher and author in the butt.
I explained that I technically have distribution through a "non-distributor" distributor, specifically Ingram's Lightning Source (it isn't distribution if you never see your returned-from-the-bookstore book again,) but I was always searching for that less-than-large publisher who has managed to work a viable contract or deal of distribution with the larger bookstores that hasn't been achieved yet.
Here was their response:
I explained in return what I was looking for and asked to know who they used for distribution so I could decide whether it was worth my time to send them an MS. But the the first line of their response pegs how they distribute.
The large corporate bookstores made a deal with large publishers back in the day, when large publishers were the only publishers. It stated, in effect, that they did NOT have to pay to return the massive inventory of books they'd order from publishers to help quell some of the cost of on-hand inventory for publishers. That has morphed into large corporate bookstores sending books back hand over fist which is an okay policy if you can snap a "large" distributor which isn't easy to do because it all comes down to sales which a small publisher can't possibly generate given the current state of affairs.
Ingram's Lightning Source and Amazon's Create Space, two of the larger distributors for "small press" (technically non-distributors) never get the returned-from-the-bookstore books back if you play along and make it returnable. LSI will "print you a new copy" for a sizable fee which they say is to cover shipping of a book that is never shipped. The publisher is then out the cost of the book, the cost to print the book and the money they made . . . before the bookstore decided to send it back because they can.
Such is the state of publishing.
*le sigh*
Here's an example. I pinged an international publisher recently (trust me, saying one is international isn't the same as saying "I run with the big boys" or even come close. Far from it. At any rate, they attempt to act like the "big boy" publishers.
They were open for submissions and I'm always open for anyone who has achieved some level of distribution through the corporate bookstores that doesn't come back to bite the publisher and author in the butt.
I explained that I technically have distribution through a "non-distributor" distributor, specifically Ingram's Lightning Source (it isn't distribution if you never see your returned-from-the-bookstore book again,) but I was always searching for that less-than-large publisher who has managed to work a viable contract or deal of distribution with the larger bookstores that hasn't been achieved yet.
Here was their response:
(name of company) print books are all fully returnable, because if we don't allow them to be so, booksellers generally won't stock them.So sad.
I'm not quite sure what you're looking for, but it might be that, because of this policy, (name of company) doesn't suit your needs at this time.
If you would like us to consider a manuscript, though, you're very welcome to submit one.
I explained in return what I was looking for and asked to know who they used for distribution so I could decide whether it was worth my time to send them an MS. But the the first line of their response pegs how they distribute.
The large corporate bookstores made a deal with large publishers back in the day, when large publishers were the only publishers. It stated, in effect, that they did NOT have to pay to return the massive inventory of books they'd order from publishers to help quell some of the cost of on-hand inventory for publishers. That has morphed into large corporate bookstores sending books back hand over fist which is an okay policy if you can snap a "large" distributor which isn't easy to do because it all comes down to sales which a small publisher can't possibly generate given the current state of affairs.
Ingram's Lightning Source and Amazon's Create Space, two of the larger distributors for "small press" (technically non-distributors) never get the returned-from-the-bookstore books back if you play along and make it returnable. LSI will "print you a new copy" for a sizable fee which they say is to cover shipping of a book that is never shipped. The publisher is then out the cost of the book, the cost to print the book and the money they made . . . before the bookstore decided to send it back because they can.
Such is the state of publishing.
*le sigh*
Sunday, September 16, 2012
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!
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!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Books-A-Million-2nd largest Chain Bookstore?
Wow! Really? Books-A-Million, according to a tiring blog concerning B&N and Amazon fighting over exclusivity rights (more or less) let this little statistic out of the bag. And OH MY what an eye-opener as far as the publishing industry and the fate of Brick and Mortar stores goes.
Books-A-Million is the second largest chain bookstore and they don't sell anything but "returned from the bookstore" books? Meaning that if you're a smart publisher and you make your books non-returnable according to that "industry" standard return policy designed by large publishers for large publishers back in the depression, you can't get your books into a BAM.
Go google it people. It's easy to find. Each and every one of BAM's distributors (three at last count) only sell those books that are sent in mass to other Chain Bookstores so that the large publisher who sent them can make the NYT best sellers list. Then over 75% of them (that's actually my statistic) are "SOLD" to second hand distributors. A smaller publisher will only go under if they play that "industry" standard return policy game because small publishers who have to deal with distributors such as Ingram's Lightning Source or Bookmasters don't even get the option to get their "returned from the bookstore" books back (nor any of the money if those books are sold to "returned from the bookstore" dealers.) Small publishers are told those books are destroyed in most instances. And still they have to give the money back to the book store that returned it, should that bookstore ever purchase a few copies in the first place. I know, right?
BookMaster's is actually supposed to put the "returned" book back into the publisher's inventory but clearly doesn't since at least 20 copies of Forever Richard showed up in my Local BAM!!! This means BookMasters made a little "something, something" on the side, leaving both my publisher at the time and myself scratching our head. How nice!
But there ya go folks!!! The second largest chain bookstore in the Nation is a used bookstore and can't even carry books by the "smart" publishers because "smart" publishers make their books non-returnable to keep from going under.
And for the record, I've tried to get BAM to order my books but they can't because BAM's "returned from the bookstore" distributors don't have any . . . obviously.
Books-A-Million is the second largest chain bookstore and they don't sell anything but "returned from the bookstore" books? Meaning that if you're a smart publisher and you make your books non-returnable according to that "industry" standard return policy designed by large publishers for large publishers back in the depression, you can't get your books into a BAM.
Go google it people. It's easy to find. Each and every one of BAM's distributors (three at last count) only sell those books that are sent in mass to other Chain Bookstores so that the large publisher who sent them can make the NYT best sellers list. Then over 75% of them (that's actually my statistic) are "SOLD" to second hand distributors. A smaller publisher will only go under if they play that "industry" standard return policy game because small publishers who have to deal with distributors such as Ingram's Lightning Source or Bookmasters don't even get the option to get their "returned from the bookstore" books back (nor any of the money if those books are sold to "returned from the bookstore" dealers.) Small publishers are told those books are destroyed in most instances. And still they have to give the money back to the book store that returned it, should that bookstore ever purchase a few copies in the first place. I know, right?
BookMaster's is actually supposed to put the "returned" book back into the publisher's inventory but clearly doesn't since at least 20 copies of Forever Richard showed up in my Local BAM!!! This means BookMasters made a little "something, something" on the side, leaving both my publisher at the time and myself scratching our head. How nice!
But there ya go folks!!! The second largest chain bookstore in the Nation is a used bookstore and can't even carry books by the "smart" publishers because "smart" publishers make their books non-returnable to keep from going under.
And for the record, I've tried to get BAM to order my books but they can't because BAM's "returned from the bookstore" distributors don't have any . . . obviously.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Stephanie Meyer speaks: Get ready for heartbreak [authors.]
It's so very nice to find little tidbits like this. And if you're wanting the link from which the quote was taken, well, here it is: Twilight Stephenie Meyer
Now here's the quote:
Now here's the quote:
. . . and the truth shall set you free. I have preached it until I can preach it no more. The odds of hooking up with an agent that can do ANYTHING but waste your time are 1 in a 1,000,000,000,000. You may like those odds. I don't. And I don't have time to waste pretending I'll win this lottery before I've passed on. Also, if I'm not mistaken and didn't hear wrong. Ms. Myers had a few connections with her husband working and/or published by either her first publisher or one of the big "six." Don't hold me to that. Whether it's true or not, the facts remain as they are. Agents are trash collectors for large publishers who got tired of looking at MS's a looooooooooong time ago and decided to turn the job over to "agents." A dirty little game I'll not be playing.How did you get it published?
Stephenie Meyer: "Sheer luck or fate or what have you. I had the easiest publishing experience in the entire world. I sent out 15 courier letters to agents, got five no replies, nine rejections and one I want to see it. A month later I had an agent. Another month later I had a three book deal with Little Brown. And it does not happen that way. If you [an author] expect that going in, get ready for heartbreak."
Friday, October 7, 2011
A fantastic blog reply from Goodread!
First off the comment was left by a fantastic author Werner Lind who wrote Lifeblood, a book I thourghly enjoyed.
Werner said in regards to my blog on the "industry standard" return policy blues:
Here's my response:
Werner said in regards to my blog on the "industry standard" return policy blues:
WHOA! That's an eye-opener! I'd always surmised that "returned" books were called that because they were at least actually returned to the publisher for re-sale. But leave it to Big Business to create ever more Orwellian distortions of language. The "industry standard" return policy is beginning to stink even more pungently!
Here's my response:
I can't believe how many times I've posted about this problem and still folks act surprised. LOL That "industry" standard return policy allowed for bookstores to NEVER return books to the publisher. There was a "great" uproar about this when bookstores started trashing the books behind their bookstores as opposed to having to store "unsold" copies. All the bookstores were required to do according to that "industry standard" return policy was to return the book cover!!! That's why you see this printed in books sometimes: Do not buy this book if the cover has been removed. LOL Yeah, right!
Distributors such as Lightning Source don't work a "new" deal for small publishers either. They don't even offer for the small publisher to get the "returned from the bookstore" book back. They print you a "new" copy and charge you $2.00 for shipping which in reality is just to cover the cost of reprinting the book. So if you made 1.25 off a book you sold to B&N, you eat seventy-five cents when it's returned. AND you never see the returned-from-the-bookstore book again.
Bookmasters, a much larger distributor, says they return "return from the bookstore" books to the publishers inventory but I can tell you that they don't do this in every instance. If they did then nearly 50 copies of my now out of print Forever Richard wouldn't have ended up at Books-A-Million, a store that only shelves "returned from the bookstore" books. My publisher didn't sell the books to BAM.
Bookmasters also sent me "returned from the bookstore" books when I ordered author copies of Forever Richard. How do I know? They were signed by me and had a B&N sticker on the dang cover that said, "Signed By Author." They said I could keep them and they'd send me "new" copies. Then they asked if I'd send them back so they could show their folks what to look for next time. I said, "no thanks." I'll keep them and I'll spread the word that Bookmasters doesn't operate according to their contract. Yes it's real fun out there. UGH!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Lighting Source's definition of "Return Policy."
Let's begin.
Sue's thoughts: Pay very close attention to this. The ONLY publishers who grant booksellers the right to return unwanted and/or overstocked copies of books are large publishers AND not only do they give bookstores that privilege but grant them other privileges as well. It is part of that warped "industry" standard return policy Simon & Schuster [and soon the other few large publishers] set up during the depression to keep bookstores from going under. The problem: once the depression ended and bookstores were able to stand on their own again, no one changed the blasted return policy and in fact, it became the "industry standard."
Sue's thoughts: If only that was how it worked. It isn't and you can research for yourself to see that there is WAY more to it than that. What's listed above is only a very, very, very small part of how it really works. Keep in mind it's part of that "warped" industry standard return policy. The only part that makes a modicum of sense.
Sue's thoughts: Let's go ahead and say it right now. No larger bookseller such as Barnes & Noble will purchase your book unless you make it returnable by that warped "industry" standard return policy EVER, no matter what. MOST small booksellers will which is refreshing as this means a very workable "return policy" is used.
Sue's thoughts: For the publisher, and I'm not talking about the large publishers who that warped "industry standard return policy works I mean the small publisher, there is GREAT risk of returns and the absolute unbelievable hard truth is that small publishers typically NEVER get their returned books back so they're out the print cost of the book. More on that in a moment. Needless to say, the above statement is only speaking about larger publishers.
Having said that, here are the choices you get to make as a publisher if you use Lightning Source, Ingram's POD distributor. Pay very close attention.
I'm going to give you a few seconds to decide what YOU think that means . . . . . . . . . . okay, times up. If you thought it meant you will get your "returned-from-the-bookstore" book back, guess again. YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN! It isn't even an option. When I contacted LSI to ask them "what up" they had this to say. And yes, I have the emails:
"No you don't get the book back, what we do is print you a NEW copy and charge you $2.00 shipping for it."
I said, "where is my returned book?"
"Oh we destroy that."
What? What? What?
"I didn't choose "Yes - destroy" so I want my damn book back like your contract states."
"Well, that wording really needs to be changed."
At this point I just sit in silence thinking WOW! And this is legal. They've no fear whatsoever. Their contract is full of wording that infers one thing but means another. Unbelievable. I did tell them at that point that I felt this was illegal and they blew me off. I told them to tell me where it was they destroyed the books as I wanted to "see" my book before it was destroyed as I didn't believe it ever came back to them as they "inferred." Their response, "oh trust me. We take care of it." I never did get a location I could visit.
Bottom line is, LSI never sees the returned books. They don't want to pay to have it shipped back and neither do they want to pay to destroy it. Since they won't divulge the location were the destruction of the book occurs, I'm going to assume they don't destroy them either. Were do said books go . . . hmmmm . . . there's lots of money to be made selling returned-from-the-bookstore books to wholesalers who dabble in such things.
Now before you go on and think I've got it "in" for LSI, ALL POD distributors operate this way and it's due to that warped "industry" standard return policy. LSI is so bold about it because apparently they think the well-they're-doing-it-too mentality will protect them. So far so good.
If you're a publisher and you make your books returnable according to that standard then you're basically sunk. I've asked my publisher to make ALL my books non-returnable according to that "industry" standard. But basically my books aren't non-returnable at all. If you'd like to work out a return policy that benefits both the publisher and the bookseller he'll be more than happy to work with you. Hopefully my decision will help keep my publisher alive and kicking for a LONG, LONG WHILE.
But to be so bold as to sit there and tell me that I don't ever get my returned book back when the contract clearly read that I will . . . wow, just wow!
From LSI's contract
BACKGROUND ON RETURNS
Typically publishers grant booksellers the right to return unwanted and/or overstocked copies ofbooks. These books are considered “returnable”.
Sue's thoughts: Pay very close attention to this. The ONLY publishers who grant booksellers the right to return unwanted and/or overstocked copies of books are large publishers AND not only do they give bookstores that privilege but grant them other privileges as well. It is part of that warped "industry" standard return policy Simon & Schuster [and soon the other few large publishers] set up during the depression to keep bookstores from going under. The problem: once the depression ended and bookstores were able to stand on their own again, no one changed the blasted return policy and in fact, it became the "industry standard."
As books are returned, booksellers charge publishers for the cost (i.e. their purchase price) of any books returned and expect to be reimbursed. The cost of returned books is either deducted or netted against the proceeds of book sales of the publishers’ titles in the month returns are shipped to the publisher.
Sue's thoughts: If only that was how it worked. It isn't and you can research for yourself to see that there is WAY more to it than that. What's listed above is only a very, very, very small part of how it really works. Keep in mind it's part of that "warped" industry standard return policy. The only part that makes a modicum of sense.
Some booksellers will only purchase books on a returnable basis;
Sue's thoughts: Let's go ahead and say it right now. No larger bookseller such as Barnes & Noble will purchase your book unless you make it returnable by that warped "industry" standard return policy EVER, no matter what. MOST small booksellers will which is refreshing as this means a very workable "return policy" is used.
therefore, there is a probability that sales may be reduced if a title is designated as non-returnable.Sue's thoughts: LOL You bet sales will be reduced. No large bookstore will ever order your books period! But then, when you make your book returnable according to the "industry" standard, even when a large bookstore buys your book they aren't technically buying it because they get to send it right back whenever they want to and they get to do so for FREE! They don't even have to pay shipping, according to that warped "industry" standard return policy.
Publishers must weigh the risk of returns against the potential for increased sales and be prepared to reimburse booksellers for the cost of returns as they occur. Publishers who make their titles returnable typically place a designated percentage of their proceeds from sales into a fund (or reserve account) that is used exclusively to pay for the cost of future returns.
Sue's thoughts: For the publisher, and I'm not talking about the large publishers who that warped "industry standard return policy works I mean the small publisher, there is GREAT risk of returns and the absolute unbelievable hard truth is that small publishers typically NEVER get their returned books back so they're out the print cost of the book. More on that in a moment. Needless to say, the above statement is only speaking about larger publishers.
Having said that, here are the choices you get to make as a publisher if you use Lightning Source, Ingram's POD distributor. Pay very close attention.
Returns Designation MeaningSue's Experience with Lightning Source: No matter what option you choose, you NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER will see your "returned-from-the-bookstore" book. I chose Yes-Deliver and expected to see my returned book sent back to me. Hahahahahahaha! Yeah right. I thought this because of this statement " and you would like to receive A physical copy of THE book upon ITS return."
No - Select this designation if you do not want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis. LSUS will not accept returns from booksellers for any title so designated.
Yes-Deliver - Select this designation if you want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis and you would like to receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. If you select this option, you will be charged for the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $2.00 per book shipping and handling charge. LSUS does not guarantee the condition of the book being returned
Yes-Destroy - Select this designation if you want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis and you would not like to receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. If you select this option, you will be charged only for the current wholesale cost of each book returned. No shipping and handling fees will apply. LSUS will destroy any returned books that it receives if this option is selected
I'm going to give you a few seconds to decide what YOU think that means . . . . . . . . . . okay, times up. If you thought it meant you will get your "returned-from-the-bookstore" book back, guess again. YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT AGAIN! It isn't even an option. When I contacted LSI to ask them "what up" they had this to say. And yes, I have the emails:
"No you don't get the book back, what we do is print you a NEW copy and charge you $2.00 shipping for it."
I said, "where is my returned book?"
"Oh we destroy that."
What? What? What?
"I didn't choose "Yes - destroy" so I want my damn book back like your contract states."
"Well, that wording really needs to be changed."
At this point I just sit in silence thinking WOW! And this is legal. They've no fear whatsoever. Their contract is full of wording that infers one thing but means another. Unbelievable. I did tell them at that point that I felt this was illegal and they blew me off. I told them to tell me where it was they destroyed the books as I wanted to "see" my book before it was destroyed as I didn't believe it ever came back to them as they "inferred." Their response, "oh trust me. We take care of it." I never did get a location I could visit.
Bottom line is, LSI never sees the returned books. They don't want to pay to have it shipped back and neither do they want to pay to destroy it. Since they won't divulge the location were the destruction of the book occurs, I'm going to assume they don't destroy them either. Were do said books go . . . hmmmm . . . there's lots of money to be made selling returned-from-the-bookstore books to wholesalers who dabble in such things.
Now before you go on and think I've got it "in" for LSI, ALL POD distributors operate this way and it's due to that warped "industry" standard return policy. LSI is so bold about it because apparently they think the well-they're-doing-it-too mentality will protect them. So far so good.
If you're a publisher and you make your books returnable according to that standard then you're basically sunk. I've asked my publisher to make ALL my books non-returnable according to that "industry" standard. But basically my books aren't non-returnable at all. If you'd like to work out a return policy that benefits both the publisher and the bookseller he'll be more than happy to work with you. Hopefully my decision will help keep my publisher alive and kicking for a LONG, LONG WHILE.
But to be so bold as to sit there and tell me that I don't ever get my returned book back when the contract clearly read that I will . . . wow, just wow!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Get them directly from the author!
About this time, if one were with a large publisher, large chain bookstores would be receiving the customary onslaught of books that would push said title to the top of the New York Times Best sellers list without ONE person buying the book (just from what bookstores buy because you can't accurately track sales through a register.) I know, right?
The display above is hardly representative of the number of books large publishers will DUMP into ALL their large bookstores just to get those numbers. Not long after that the books they sent (and in most cases never even taken out of the box)are sold to wholesalers who dabble in "returned from the bookstore" books, wholesalers that sell to stores like Books-A-Million.
This is a sad scenario that plays out every day in the publishing world. Regular Joe authors are adored and held on a pedestal due to their ability to write so fantastically that they made it to the New York Times Best Sellers List. Small publishers don't have that set-up with bookstores so there's no way they can even compete on this level of . . . well . . . I like to call it deceit. Needless to say, you won't find this authors books flooding into large bookstore chains because large bookstores don't operate like this with small publishers. In fact, they never see their returned-from-the-bookstore books to even benefit from selling them to wholesalers.
What you see above is MY STOCK of Electric Angel, all fifty that I've ordered so far. As much as I could afford. Three are gone out for review and what you see are ready to sell. You buy it from clicking the book cover on your left and it will be sent out straight away. I'm going to take a picture every few days to show you how many have gone out. I won't restock until most of these are gone because . . . well . . . I can't afford to. The price is retail $12.98 but that includes shipping. Also it is only for those in the US.
Yes you can order Electric Angel anywhere books are sold. But this way you get one signed if you like that and you get the assurance that it will arrive quickly. That's my warehouse right there at the top of the screen. LOL
Friday, August 19, 2011
This just in from INGRAM!
Received this via Ingram because I've got an edition of Never Ceese published through Lightning Source. Oh do read on:
What does this mean? It means you should go straight away to Black Bed Sheet Books to buy ALL your ebooks because they WON'T stop offering .lit format. Many folks still use MicroSoft Reader and will for quite some time. Here's a bigger question: if ebooks are in such demand, why is microsoft getting out of the ebook business? Because e-books aren't in big demand. Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Apple just want you to think that so you'll buy their "exclusive" reader. All of Black Bed Sheet Books e-books are DRM free. No exclusivity here. ;)
Oh, the link: http://blackbedsheet.goshopper.net/
And to reply on this claim: "At Microsoft's request, Ingram will cease making .lit eBooks available . . . " More like, Ingram decided all by themselves to do this. Why would Microsoft care? They don't. But it's a nice spin that keeps Ingram from looking bad I guess.
Oh and notice how INGRAM came right out and said the "industry" standard was EPUB or PDF. Oh, I'm laughing my butt off at that. *sniff, sniff* I smell "big dog" publishers marking their territory. Hear that Amazon. MOBI isn't the "industry" standard according to Ingram. You better go set them straight. LOLROFL Oh, I love starting things.
Hey Ingram, did you know that the New York Times Best Selling e-book statistics are pulled from AMAZON Kindles ONLY!!! So much for your idea of what "industry standard" is and so much for anyone who chooses NOT to publish a Kindle through Amazon (because they take returns on ebooks and offer ebooks published through them out for free without the publisher's permission) ever making that list. RACKET!!!!
August 19, 2011
Dear Publisher:
Earlier this week Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Microsoft Reader effective August 30, 2012. This includes download access of the Microsoft Reader application. Users can continue to use the Microsoft Reader application and their .lit eBooks after full discontinuation on August 30, 2012. Ingram and Microsoft will continue to provide technical support until July 10, 2012.
At Microsoft's request, Ingram will cease making .lit eBooks available for initial download on November 8, 2011. Users will still be able to re-download .lit eBooks from original links through August 20, 2012, but no new purchases can be made after November 7, 2011 (US).
If .lit is the only format currently submitted to Ingram, we recommended replacing those files with industry standard EPUBs (http://idpf.org/epub) or PDF's.
For questions or more information, please contact your Account Manager.
Sincerely,
Ingram Content Group
What does this mean? It means you should go straight away to Black Bed Sheet Books to buy ALL your ebooks because they WON'T stop offering .lit format. Many folks still use MicroSoft Reader and will for quite some time. Here's a bigger question: if ebooks are in such demand, why is microsoft getting out of the ebook business? Because e-books aren't in big demand. Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Apple just want you to think that so you'll buy their "exclusive" reader. All of Black Bed Sheet Books e-books are DRM free. No exclusivity here. ;)
Oh, the link: http://blackbedsheet.goshopper.net/
And to reply on this claim: "At Microsoft's request, Ingram will cease making .lit eBooks available . . . " More like, Ingram decided all by themselves to do this. Why would Microsoft care? They don't. But it's a nice spin that keeps Ingram from looking bad I guess.
Oh and notice how INGRAM came right out and said the "industry" standard was EPUB or PDF. Oh, I'm laughing my butt off at that. *sniff, sniff* I smell "big dog" publishers marking their territory. Hear that Amazon. MOBI isn't the "industry" standard according to Ingram. You better go set them straight. LOLROFL Oh, I love starting things.
Hey Ingram, did you know that the New York Times Best Selling e-book statistics are pulled from AMAZON Kindles ONLY!!! So much for your idea of what "industry standard" is and so much for anyone who chooses NOT to publish a Kindle through Amazon (because they take returns on ebooks and offer ebooks published through them out for free without the publisher's permission) ever making that list. RACKET!!!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
And so the Amazon shenanigans begin!
Yep. Go check this out:
Electric Angel, temporarily out of stock at Amazon!
Yes, the madness started yesterday when the listing came up as, "let us know if you want to be told when this book becomes available at Amazon." LOLROFL Really? By the end of the day it was showing up as "In Stock" which in itself is a lie because no one stocks books that aren't made returnable by "industry standard." They only order them when an order is placed. But it's a lie that Amazon puts up all the time. They aren't singling anyone out. They'll say that since Lightning Source (the distributor) shows there is an availability of 99 books (when there isn't. The books are POD and aren't printed until an order is placed. That's Lightning Sources lie) then Amazon can "claim" the book is in stock at Amazon. And really who does that hurt, I guess.
But today Amazon has gone out of their way, or not, to show Electric Angel as being "temporarily out of stock!" Well, that sort of puts my first theory to rest. I'm laughing so hard now my sides hurt. Oh, yes. You missed out! Electric Angel, which is never stocked by Amazon to begin with is now temporarily "out of stock."
Well believe that lie (or mindless misrepresentation of the facts) if you want to, Electric Angel is available ALL DAY LONG at Black Bed Sheet Books in all DRM free ebook formats including but not limited to: non-Amazon Kindle, non B&N Nook which is also readable on your IPAD etc . . .
Even B&N will order it for you in their Brick & Mortar stores and on-line and for right now at a darn good price unless shipping takes it back up to more than the $10.00 you can get it for at Black Bed Sheet Books.
And keep this in mind, no publisher has a choice about whether their books show up on Amazon. It's an automatic. It's a gift from Bowker that comes when you purchase your block of ISBN's. When you assign the number the book is automatically listed on Amazon on-line and Barnes & Noble on-line. Some gift. Sort of like that Christmas present you just smile an nod at but know that it will go straight in the garbage as soon as the giver leaves.
Electric Angel, temporarily out of stock at Amazon!
Yes, the madness started yesterday when the listing came up as, "let us know if you want to be told when this book becomes available at Amazon." LOLROFL Really? By the end of the day it was showing up as "In Stock" which in itself is a lie because no one stocks books that aren't made returnable by "industry standard." They only order them when an order is placed. But it's a lie that Amazon puts up all the time. They aren't singling anyone out. They'll say that since Lightning Source (the distributor) shows there is an availability of 99 books (when there isn't. The books are POD and aren't printed until an order is placed. That's Lightning Sources lie) then Amazon can "claim" the book is in stock at Amazon. And really who does that hurt, I guess.
But today Amazon has gone out of their way, or not, to show Electric Angel as being "temporarily out of stock!" Well, that sort of puts my first theory to rest. I'm laughing so hard now my sides hurt. Oh, yes. You missed out! Electric Angel, which is never stocked by Amazon to begin with is now temporarily "out of stock."
Well believe that lie (or mindless misrepresentation of the facts) if you want to, Electric Angel is available ALL DAY LONG at Black Bed Sheet Books in all DRM free ebook formats including but not limited to: non-Amazon Kindle, non B&N Nook which is also readable on your IPAD etc . . .
Even B&N will order it for you in their Brick & Mortar stores and on-line and for right now at a darn good price unless shipping takes it back up to more than the $10.00 you can get it for at Black Bed Sheet Books.
And keep this in mind, no publisher has a choice about whether their books show up on Amazon. It's an automatic. It's a gift from Bowker that comes when you purchase your block of ISBN's. When you assign the number the book is automatically listed on Amazon on-line and Barnes & Noble on-line. Some gift. Sort of like that Christmas present you just smile an nod at but know that it will go straight in the garbage as soon as the giver leaves.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Get it while you can!
Barnes & Noble has Electric Angel listed at $7.41!! That's because Ingram's Lightning Source tells publishers with Lightning Source to offer the big bookstores the deepest discounts so they'll buy their books.
Weeeeellll, since I've made my books "Industry standard" non-returnable, B&N won't buy them anyway (only order it when a customer ask) so guess what? I'm going to ask my publisher to take their deep discount away. ;)
It will take a bit for it to take affect but it will take affect.
So you better get it while you can for $7.41 because it isn't going to last!!!
*This just in. B&N isn't getting any deep discount. LOL If you add the shipping in it's just as much as what Amazon is selling for. Sooooo for the best price at $10.00 got to Black Bed Sheet Books to order this wonderful book. Cha-ching!*
Weeeeellll, since I've made my books "Industry standard" non-returnable, B&N won't buy them anyway (only order it when a customer ask) so guess what? I'm going to ask my publisher to take their deep discount away. ;)
It will take a bit for it to take affect but it will take affect.
So you better get it while you can for $7.41 because it isn't going to last!!!
*This just in. B&N isn't getting any deep discount. LOL If you add the shipping in it's just as much as what Amazon is selling for. Sooooo for the best price at $10.00 got to Black Bed Sheet Books to order this wonderful book. Cha-ching!*
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The broken "Industy Standard Return Policy" put in place by large publishers.
It was a deal made between one publisher, Simon & Shuster, and small bookstores of the day. The depression hit everyone hard. The way publishing worked then, ALL publishers (there were only five or six larger ones) had to print a LOT of books at once to make printing profitable. They therefore had to have an outlet for these books and it looked like the depression was going to take that outlet away.
The policy that Simon & Schuster proposed: any bookstore could return bought books whenever they wanted to for a full refund. And they didn't have to pay shipping either way nor did the bookstore have to worry about what shape the book came back in. In fact, this policy mutated into something even more horrific. Bookstores soon only had to return the front cover. The rest of the book they could throw away in the dumpster. Which is why you see warnings now about buying books without covers. You don't hear it so much today but you do still hear it.
Wow! What a deal though? How do you take something like that back? Apparently you don't. No. Instead it becomes the "industry standard."
But what if the industry changes as it has?
What about that?
You think bookstores are going to change this policy? And all large publishers would have to work "together" if they were to make the change and why would they do that when it would stand to let the competition get a foot hold. It's not a horrible policy for them anyway. It is devastating for new publishers though. It's devastating because they don't have the relationship with bookstores that larger publishers have. When small publishers opt in for this "industry standard" return policy they NEVER see the returned book again. So there out the print cost of the book and in most cases the distributor makes them pay to have the books they'll never see again destroyed. They're being forced into an "industry standard return policy" that will ensure they're demise.
This is why I say to any bookstore that my books are indeed returnable. You get with my publisher and work out a deal. I'll not sign my publisher's death certificate. I know the facts. I've experienced them with two separate publishers. Not again. I respect my publisher more than that! I just wish other small press authors knew the facts. If bookstores are allowed to continue to operate this way, it won't matter anyhow. All the bookstores will be gone. But not because of ebooks. They'll be gone because of greed and stupidity. I can't think of one person who'd do business with a company that says, "yes, we'll order your product and put it on our shelf to sell. But only if we don't have to pay you for 90 days and we get to send it back before we even pay you. But of course we'll want a full refund straight away. And no, we won't be responsible for getting the product back to you. Neither will it be our responsibility to get it back to you at all."
Sadly, that's not an exaggeration. That's exactly how it happens every day if you make your books returnable as proposed by the "industry standard."
So yes, if you care to do business in a business like manner then you can contact my publisher. I'm sure he'll be happy to work something out with you--on my books only though. All their other authors still believe that opting in for an "industry standard return policy" is the way to go. Go figure!
The policy that Simon & Schuster proposed: any bookstore could return bought books whenever they wanted to for a full refund. And they didn't have to pay shipping either way nor did the bookstore have to worry about what shape the book came back in. In fact, this policy mutated into something even more horrific. Bookstores soon only had to return the front cover. The rest of the book they could throw away in the dumpster. Which is why you see warnings now about buying books without covers. You don't hear it so much today but you do still hear it.
Wow! What a deal though? How do you take something like that back? Apparently you don't. No. Instead it becomes the "industry standard."
But what if the industry changes as it has?
What about that?
You think bookstores are going to change this policy? And all large publishers would have to work "together" if they were to make the change and why would they do that when it would stand to let the competition get a foot hold. It's not a horrible policy for them anyway. It is devastating for new publishers though. It's devastating because they don't have the relationship with bookstores that larger publishers have. When small publishers opt in for this "industry standard" return policy they NEVER see the returned book again. So there out the print cost of the book and in most cases the distributor makes them pay to have the books they'll never see again destroyed. They're being forced into an "industry standard return policy" that will ensure they're demise.
This is why I say to any bookstore that my books are indeed returnable. You get with my publisher and work out a deal. I'll not sign my publisher's death certificate. I know the facts. I've experienced them with two separate publishers. Not again. I respect my publisher more than that! I just wish other small press authors knew the facts. If bookstores are allowed to continue to operate this way, it won't matter anyhow. All the bookstores will be gone. But not because of ebooks. They'll be gone because of greed and stupidity. I can't think of one person who'd do business with a company that says, "yes, we'll order your product and put it on our shelf to sell. But only if we don't have to pay you for 90 days and we get to send it back before we even pay you. But of course we'll want a full refund straight away. And no, we won't be responsible for getting the product back to you. Neither will it be our responsibility to get it back to you at all."
Sadly, that's not an exaggeration. That's exactly how it happens every day if you make your books returnable as proposed by the "industry standard."
So yes, if you care to do business in a business like manner then you can contact my publisher. I'm sure he'll be happy to work something out with you--on my books only though. All their other authors still believe that opting in for an "industry standard return policy" is the way to go. Go figure!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Any Independent Bookstores out there willing to help.
To the best of my knowledge all Indy bookstores work very much the same way large bookstores do with the exception that they will take books on consignment (at least some will anyway.) Sadly this means I'll have to CALL any Independent Bookstore to chat with them about the "possibility" of them taking a few books to put on their shelves for my readers to find. And yes, my readers will have to FIND my books if they are placed as all the coveted shelf space goes to the large publishers even in Independent bookstores because bookstores have to put out soooooo much money just to get these books to begin with. Meaning they have to actually buy so many just to stock them. Of course this isn't a real problem because bookstores can then send unsold books back for a full refund, eventually. But it is a lot of money for them up front just to carry books by large publishers. Not to mention fees and all of that and I think they have to actually qualify.
So in the meantime us small publishers who've put as much money, time and energy (some who've even earned legitimate awards) have to peddle our goods in a way that keeps us from making any real sales. At least we do unless we make our books returnable.
Only there's a very real problem with making ones books returnable if you're with a small publisher. The only distributors small press can afford, like Ingram's Lightning Source, they don't allow for small publishers to ever see their returned books again. Therefore small publishers lose product if the book is returned (or destroyed which is what Lightning Source SAYS they do with ALL returned books.) Large publisher's returned books are resold to second hand booksellers like Books-A-Million so that large publishers actually make money off books that didn't sell when they first flood their large bookstores with their latest books to drive those books to the top of the "New York Times" best-sellers list. Yes. A win-win situation for them. Sorry crooks.
Lightning Source doesn't even give you the option to see your returned book again. They make claims that the books have been through so many hands that it isn't something you'll want back. So they conveniently destroy them (or so they say. They wouldn't tell me, when I asked, where I could go to see where the destruction occurs.) They offer to reprint you a "new" book for "half" the price. Oh wow! Now their customers only eat "half" the recovery cost. I've seen returned from the bookstore books. I've not seen one that wasn't in impeccable condition. They have to be because they're a commodity. Books-A-Million will scarf them right up and so will other second hand resellers.
Bottom line is, Lightning Source isn't the only distributor that operates like this. My second publisher went through Book Masters. When I ordered new author copies from them I was sent books that I'd hand delivered to a Barnes & Noble in Louisiana. Books I had signed and books that had an autographed by author sticker on the FRONT COVER!!! They had been sent back and were being resold as NEW through Book Masters who claim ALL returned books go to "returned books" inventory for the publisher to deal with. They claimed what happened to me was an accident and next time they'd be more CAREFUL!! There was a sticker on the front of six of the books I ordered. These books shouldn't have been with new books. EVER!
Due to this sort of activity I've made my books non-returnable. It makes my job tougher as far as getting my books into brick and mortar stores and onto the shelves but at least my books aren't stolen and at least my publisher doesn't lose more money than they stand to make.
How can Independent Bookstores help? Give us small published authors the time of day. Many of us are going to start making our books non-returnable just to survive. Give us the same chance you give any publishers who play a game they can't possibly win.
So in the meantime us small publishers who've put as much money, time and energy (some who've even earned legitimate awards) have to peddle our goods in a way that keeps us from making any real sales. At least we do unless we make our books returnable.
Only there's a very real problem with making ones books returnable if you're with a small publisher. The only distributors small press can afford, like Ingram's Lightning Source, they don't allow for small publishers to ever see their returned books again. Therefore small publishers lose product if the book is returned (or destroyed which is what Lightning Source SAYS they do with ALL returned books.) Large publisher's returned books are resold to second hand booksellers like Books-A-Million so that large publishers actually make money off books that didn't sell when they first flood their large bookstores with their latest books to drive those books to the top of the "New York Times" best-sellers list. Yes. A win-win situation for them. Sorry crooks.
Lightning Source doesn't even give you the option to see your returned book again. They make claims that the books have been through so many hands that it isn't something you'll want back. So they conveniently destroy them (or so they say. They wouldn't tell me, when I asked, where I could go to see where the destruction occurs.) They offer to reprint you a "new" book for "half" the price. Oh wow! Now their customers only eat "half" the recovery cost. I've seen returned from the bookstore books. I've not seen one that wasn't in impeccable condition. They have to be because they're a commodity. Books-A-Million will scarf them right up and so will other second hand resellers.
Bottom line is, Lightning Source isn't the only distributor that operates like this. My second publisher went through Book Masters. When I ordered new author copies from them I was sent books that I'd hand delivered to a Barnes & Noble in Louisiana. Books I had signed and books that had an autographed by author sticker on the FRONT COVER!!! They had been sent back and were being resold as NEW through Book Masters who claim ALL returned books go to "returned books" inventory for the publisher to deal with. They claimed what happened to me was an accident and next time they'd be more CAREFUL!! There was a sticker on the front of six of the books I ordered. These books shouldn't have been with new books. EVER!
Due to this sort of activity I've made my books non-returnable. It makes my job tougher as far as getting my books into brick and mortar stores and onto the shelves but at least my books aren't stolen and at least my publisher doesn't lose more money than they stand to make.
How can Independent Bookstores help? Give us small published authors the time of day. Many of us are going to start making our books non-returnable just to survive. Give us the same chance you give any publishers who play a game they can't possibly win.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
To all and any Independent Bookstores . . .
To all and any Independent Bookstores interested in carrying my books please note that while I have distribution through Ingram's Lightning Source, which means you can order my work, I DO NOT subscribe to any return policy crap invented by large publishers to keep bookstores of the day up and running. The policy was barely workable then and certainly doesn't work for Small Independent houses who can't afford to EAT the print cost of any "returned from the bookstore" books because Ingram's Lightning Source "destroys" them (actually I'm not convinced Lightning Source EVER sees ANY "returned from the bookstore" books as who would pay return postage for something AND THEN DESTROY IT!
Nevertheless, that's the deal. You can work through my publisher to set up a deal that's workable for both parties or at the very least one that has the publisher and author NOT losing money. ;)
Nevertheless, that's the deal. You can work through my publisher to set up a deal that's workable for both parties or at the very least one that has the publisher and author NOT losing money. ;)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Let me clarify about large bookstores like B&N.
They actually DO put books by small published authors on the shelf IF the publisher makes the books returnable. That way they can order the books without a worry in the world. Put them out for the book signing or event and then box them back up (if they even unboxed them which is unlikely) and send them out free of charge (and signed as well if the author did that) back to the distributor the publisher uses. The small publisher will think they've accomplished some grand thing until they see the bill THEY have to pay because the books were returned AND to top that off the elusive "returned from the bookstore books" are never seen by the publisher again so they're out the print fee too.
The return policy on books was set up in the depression by Simon & Shuster to keep bookstores from going under. If you're a big publisher the policy can work for you. There is absolutely no way this policy will EVER work for small publishers. EVER! My current publisher actually makes most of their books returnable. I asked him specifically NOT to make mine returnable. I've been with two publishers who went under due to this insane policy that needs to be reworked for small publishers. I'll not take another publisher down. But yes, you can find small published authors in large bookstores and yes, they will humor you and let you do events so long as you make your books returnable because that way they aren't out anything but you sure as hell will be when you see what you have to pay for the books that are returned to your publisher -- minus the books most of the time so you've lost your printing fee too!
Yep. Things need to change but large bookstores don't care about that. Small publishers aren't the ones who made them what they are. Large publishers "own" them.
The return policy on books was set up in the depression by Simon & Shuster to keep bookstores from going under. If you're a big publisher the policy can work for you. There is absolutely no way this policy will EVER work for small publishers. EVER! My current publisher actually makes most of their books returnable. I asked him specifically NOT to make mine returnable. I've been with two publishers who went under due to this insane policy that needs to be reworked for small publishers. I'll not take another publisher down. But yes, you can find small published authors in large bookstores and yes, they will humor you and let you do events so long as you make your books returnable because that way they aren't out anything but you sure as hell will be when you see what you have to pay for the books that are returned to your publisher -- minus the books most of the time so you've lost your printing fee too!
Yep. Things need to change but large bookstores don't care about that. Small publishers aren't the ones who made them what they are. Large publishers "own" them.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Kindle version of Never Ceese!
What's that you say? Never Ceese is now available in the infamous KINDLE format? Has Sue Dent lost her mind?
That's right folks, Never Ceese is now available in KINDLE format and not through Amazon!!! Simply go to this link here. Say it once, say it twice, say it three times.:
SmashwordsSmashwordsSmashwords
and purchase Never Ceese in a variety of e-book formats including but not limited to Kindle. Straight from the publisher, Black Bed Sheet Books via Smashwords.
The jokes on you too Amazon, as you won't be giving this Kindle away for FREE via your little "Lending Library" scheme that you force Kindle publishers to participate in just so Amazon can sell more Kindle e-readers.
So off you go people with Kindles and every other e-reader device. The future is here and so are the e-books.
That's right folks, Never Ceese is now available in KINDLE format and not through Amazon!!! Simply go to this link here. Say it once, say it twice, say it three times.:
SmashwordsSmashwordsSmashwords
and purchase Never Ceese in a variety of e-book formats including but not limited to Kindle. Straight from the publisher, Black Bed Sheet Books via Smashwords.
The jokes on you too Amazon, as you won't be giving this Kindle away for FREE via your little "Lending Library" scheme that you force Kindle publishers to participate in just so Amazon can sell more Kindle e-readers.
So off you go people with Kindles and every other e-reader device. The future is here and so are the e-books.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
B &N Screws yet another author. And they're working the big dogs now!
I came across an interesting post on my FB page two days ago, from another author. As usual, I checked the publisher. I don't want any authors writing for publishers who discriminate based on denomination littering my page. Well this author actually did write for one of those publishers. His latest book was published by Stone House, Wesscott Marketing's "Christian" arm. I raised my finger to hit unfriend when something stopped me. I'm not sure what it was but something said, "hold up. Give him a chance."
So I perused his FB wall and found from his recent post that he was recently screwed by Barnes & Noble. Still I felt little remorse. After all, he's published by "one of those" publishers. I perused his wall a little longer to find him freely using words like "ass" and "f&*k" and oh MY!!! LOL Maybe I was wrong about Stone House. Maybe they weren't targeting that "Christian" market at all.
As it turns out Vincent Zandri is a straight up kind of guy (whom I'm quite honored to have met.) He's been published by some of the big dog publishers (in the day when such a thing was possible and actually happened.) His Barnes & Noble nightmare is outlined here in a blog post he made on his blog. It pretty much mirrors ALL the experiences EVERY small press or self-pubbed author is going through and has gone through since forever. Only now it's waaaaaay worse.
As I said in another blog, there is no mystery behind why chain bookstores are failing. They refuse to embrace that publishers exist outside their little world of Simon & Schuster and Random House and Knopf and the list goes on. It isn't the economy and it certainly isn't technology that's bringing them down. If anything technology has leveled the playing field. It has done what needs to be done.
Watch large publishers as they try to maintain a foothold outside their little story-book fairy tale of an existence. Welcome to the Jungle remains my motto.
My feelings on Stone House publishing taking on Vince Zandri, well I certainly have some but I'll keep from sharing them here. ;D
Feel free to ask though.
So I perused his FB wall and found from his recent post that he was recently screwed by Barnes & Noble. Still I felt little remorse. After all, he's published by "one of those" publishers. I perused his wall a little longer to find him freely using words like "ass" and "f&*k" and oh MY!!! LOL Maybe I was wrong about Stone House. Maybe they weren't targeting that "Christian" market at all.
As it turns out Vincent Zandri is a straight up kind of guy (whom I'm quite honored to have met.) He's been published by some of the big dog publishers (in the day when such a thing was possible and actually happened.) His Barnes & Noble nightmare is outlined here in a blog post he made on his blog. It pretty much mirrors ALL the experiences EVERY small press or self-pubbed author is going through and has gone through since forever. Only now it's waaaaaay worse.
As I said in another blog, there is no mystery behind why chain bookstores are failing. They refuse to embrace that publishers exist outside their little world of Simon & Schuster and Random House and Knopf and the list goes on. It isn't the economy and it certainly isn't technology that's bringing them down. If anything technology has leveled the playing field. It has done what needs to be done.
Watch large publishers as they try to maintain a foothold outside their little story-book fairy tale of an existence. Welcome to the Jungle remains my motto.
My feelings on Stone House publishing taking on Vince Zandri, well I certainly have some but I'll keep from sharing them here. ;D
Feel free to ask though.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award
Below is a fine example of what everyone should know about anything labeled "Christian" when it comes to publishing.
Nothing can be grander for an author than to learn their work appeals to an audience they never knew existed. At the same time nothing could be more disconcerting than to be collectively ignored by each and every publisher and media outlet that serve that audience.
Even the awards for books written for this specific audience are geared to "weed out" undesirables or rather those authors who dare to write outside CBA's restrictive guidelines that target a denomination instead of embracing the fact that we all serve the same God.
Yes, like many awards labeled "Christian" I considered entering this one (why wouldn't I? I are one.) I went straight to eligibility and found this:
Wow! They even went a step further to define "Christian market place." Even took it one more step further to say that CBA, an exclusive trade organization (because member publishers and bookstores have to pay fees to belong) actually serves a specific audience of Christians and not all Christian readers.
For those who are new to my blog, I'll briefly lay out my experiences with attempting to gain marketability in the "Christian Marketplace." I was told that all I needed to do was have my books approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor. I did that. Keep in mind, I don't write for CBA's audience. Didn't even know what a CBA was until their audience started raving about my books. The next thing I learned was that Spring Arbor approval isn't what it's cracked up to be. Large Christian Bookstores do not order books based on Spring Arbor approval. They only order books from publishers who serve their "target" audience.
In the past they only ordered books from CBA affiliated publishers but have moved a tiny minuscule nudge to allow books from non-affiliated "targeted" publishers. I've since had my books "unapproved" by Spring Arbor.
The conclusion is that based on the eligibility rules, the winner will be the same old same old. Tacking the label "Christian" on simply marks it as "targeted" work which is fine if that's what you enjoy reading. Just don't think it represents titles that appeal to general market readers, Christian or otherwise.
Aw, you probably didn't anyway. Most folks already know. ;D
Nothing can be grander for an author than to learn their work appeals to an audience they never knew existed. At the same time nothing could be more disconcerting than to be collectively ignored by each and every publisher and media outlet that serve that audience.
Even the awards for books written for this specific audience are geared to "weed out" undesirables or rather those authors who dare to write outside CBA's restrictive guidelines that target a denomination instead of embracing the fact that we all serve the same God.
Yes, like many awards labeled "Christian" I considered entering this one (why wouldn't I? I are one.) I went straight to eligibility and found this:
Books must be Christian in nature, promote the Christian faith, and intended for the Christian marketplace. The Christian marketplace is defined as the marketplace that is served by CBA member retail stores
Wow! They even went a step further to define "Christian market place." Even took it one more step further to say that CBA, an exclusive trade organization (because member publishers and bookstores have to pay fees to belong) actually serves a specific audience of Christians and not all Christian readers.
For those who are new to my blog, I'll briefly lay out my experiences with attempting to gain marketability in the "Christian Marketplace." I was told that all I needed to do was have my books approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor. I did that. Keep in mind, I don't write for CBA's audience. Didn't even know what a CBA was until their audience started raving about my books. The next thing I learned was that Spring Arbor approval isn't what it's cracked up to be. Large Christian Bookstores do not order books based on Spring Arbor approval. They only order books from publishers who serve their "target" audience.
In the past they only ordered books from CBA affiliated publishers but have moved a tiny minuscule nudge to allow books from non-affiliated "targeted" publishers. I've since had my books "unapproved" by Spring Arbor.
The conclusion is that based on the eligibility rules, the winner will be the same old same old. Tacking the label "Christian" on simply marks it as "targeted" work which is fine if that's what you enjoy reading. Just don't think it represents titles that appeal to general market readers, Christian or otherwise.
Aw, you probably didn't anyway. Most folks already know. ;D
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Kindle Lending Library? Part 2
Here's a response to my blog about Amazon's Kindle Lending library idea. I chose to respond here so I could see the comment in front of me as I respond. ;D
I see your point, Sue, but I'm not sure it is a black and white as you present it.
When I purchase a print book, it's mine to do with as I please. I can lend it to anyone I want, for as long as I want. When money has been tight, friends and I have taken turns buying the next in a series we wanted to read and loaning the books to each other.
How is what Amazon is offering any different? The book will not be readable by the original purchaser during the loan period.
Granted, I'm sure there are issues and unintended results to consider, learn from and avoid, but this is inevitable as we transition from print publishing to digital publishing.
I'm not sure the problem is what Amazon is doing, but rather the possibility that those using it will use it unethically and immorally. Unfortunately, that is also inevitable. But that is a societal issue, not a business one. Although, business-wise, the digital market probably needs to develop the equivalent of those impossible to open blister packs or bulky attachments created to deter thieves.
Just a few of my random thoughts on the issue. It would be an interesting discussion if anyone is interested.
Loaning a book to a friend to save money is one thing. For a distributor of e-books, in this case Amazon's Kindle, to start a lending program without first consulting publishers is another.
Some publishers may actually see an advantage to the program but heaven help you if you don't. The two-week lending period is unbelievable. Most books can be read in two to three days. The chance that the borrower will decide to buy a book they've finished is slim. Very SLIM! If Amazon shortened the borrowing period it might make more since or make the lending program less suspect. As it is it screams only one thing: Amazon wants to sell more Kindle Readers not kindle e-books.
The logic that if there are more readers there will be more kindle e-books sold is slightly skewed. Why would anyone buy a Kindle e-book when they can read it for free? And why debate whether it makes since or not because if you're the publisher of a Kindle e-book your stuck with the program whether you like or not. Very few are allowed to opt-out and from what I've heard, the link to opt-out doesn't even work. And the window of opportunity is short. In most cases that window has passed and the link still doesn't work.
Bottom line is publisher's of a Kindle should have a choice and they don't. I can only guess it's because Amazon knows what will happen if they give publisher's a choice.
As far as loaning books to save money, Kindle's sell most of the time for less than five dollars. They don't cost as much as physical books.
*******added 02/10/11******************
Also, if your gauging your feelings around the Amazon's forced Kindle Lending Library based on how larger publishers react, you might consider this. Larger publishers are treated differently by Amazon. They have the ability to actually hurt Amazon and they use that leverage regularly.
The Kindle Lending library idea probably doesn't bother them all that much because they already fought and won the major battle to control the pricing of Kindle books. Their kindle books sell pretty close to the price of a physical copy, something Amazon wasn't going to allow at first. But of course, money talks.
If Amazon had been able to force larger publishers to sell their kindle books at a more reasonable price then larger publishers would be screaming too. Except part of their threat for not getting their way was to pull their books from Amazon listings (something small press can't do even if they wanted to at least not easily) if Amazon didn't do what they said. So I guess they wouldn't be screaming because if they hadn't gotten their way on pricing, they'd be gone. So big dog publishers win again. Small press sits by and watches the fall out.
I see your point, Sue, but I'm not sure it is a black and white as you present it.
When I purchase a print book, it's mine to do with as I please. I can lend it to anyone I want, for as long as I want. When money has been tight, friends and I have taken turns buying the next in a series we wanted to read and loaning the books to each other.
How is what Amazon is offering any different? The book will not be readable by the original purchaser during the loan period.
Granted, I'm sure there are issues and unintended results to consider, learn from and avoid, but this is inevitable as we transition from print publishing to digital publishing.
I'm not sure the problem is what Amazon is doing, but rather the possibility that those using it will use it unethically and immorally. Unfortunately, that is also inevitable. But that is a societal issue, not a business one. Although, business-wise, the digital market probably needs to develop the equivalent of those impossible to open blister packs or bulky attachments created to deter thieves.
Just a few of my random thoughts on the issue. It would be an interesting discussion if anyone is interested.
Loaning a book to a friend to save money is one thing. For a distributor of e-books, in this case Amazon's Kindle, to start a lending program without first consulting publishers is another.
Some publishers may actually see an advantage to the program but heaven help you if you don't. The two-week lending period is unbelievable. Most books can be read in two to three days. The chance that the borrower will decide to buy a book they've finished is slim. Very SLIM! If Amazon shortened the borrowing period it might make more since or make the lending program less suspect. As it is it screams only one thing: Amazon wants to sell more Kindle Readers not kindle e-books.
The logic that if there are more readers there will be more kindle e-books sold is slightly skewed. Why would anyone buy a Kindle e-book when they can read it for free? And why debate whether it makes since or not because if you're the publisher of a Kindle e-book your stuck with the program whether you like or not. Very few are allowed to opt-out and from what I've heard, the link to opt-out doesn't even work. And the window of opportunity is short. In most cases that window has passed and the link still doesn't work.
Bottom line is publisher's of a Kindle should have a choice and they don't. I can only guess it's because Amazon knows what will happen if they give publisher's a choice.
As far as loaning books to save money, Kindle's sell most of the time for less than five dollars. They don't cost as much as physical books.
*******added 02/10/11******************
Also, if your gauging your feelings around the Amazon's forced Kindle Lending Library based on how larger publishers react, you might consider this. Larger publishers are treated differently by Amazon. They have the ability to actually hurt Amazon and they use that leverage regularly.
The Kindle Lending library idea probably doesn't bother them all that much because they already fought and won the major battle to control the pricing of Kindle books. Their kindle books sell pretty close to the price of a physical copy, something Amazon wasn't going to allow at first. But of course, money talks.
If Amazon had been able to force larger publishers to sell their kindle books at a more reasonable price then larger publishers would be screaming too. Except part of their threat for not getting their way was to pull their books from Amazon listings (something small press can't do even if they wanted to at least not easily) if Amazon didn't do what they said. So I guess they wouldn't be screaming because if they hadn't gotten their way on pricing, they'd be gone. So big dog publishers win again. Small press sits by and watches the fall out.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Yay! Another question from a writer. ;D
Sorry fans, another blog for aspiring and published authors. Booooring for you I know. Will get something exciting for you up soon. ;D
A question from an author.
I do have one question, right off the bat, pertaining to Lightning Source: I've noticed that when I receive shipments of my books, the box always says Lightning Source on the outer label, and yet I am currently through WestBow. What is the connection there? Can I go directly through Lightning Source? Is WestBow a "middle man?"
West Bow is Thomas Nelson's POD. This actually means nothing other than Thomas Nelson decided to attempt to make a little money off those authors they won't publish traditionally (which means anyone who doesn't write targeted Christian fiction.) As a side note, I find it humorous that they infer an authors work will show up in Christian Bookstores. I wonder if it's accidental that they don't mention West Bow books aren't anymore likely to show up in Brick & Mortar Christian bookstores than if the author would've chosen Iuniverse (B&N's POD) or Create Space (Amazon's POD) or have gone straight through LSI (Ingram's POD)
Oh, the question. If you are with West Bow and the box your books come to you in say LSI then there is only one conclusion to draw. West Bow, Thomas Nelson's POD is using LSI Ingram's POD to print and distribute their books. By doing this your book shows up in Ingram's catalog (as a POD of course) AND I'm assuming West Bow also has your book approved for distribution to the Christian market through Spring Arbor thus supporting the idea that your book will show up in Christian bookstores.
So yes, West Bow is a middle man. You could go to LSI yourself and do everything they can do and probably for a lot less. And if anyone from West Bow or Ingram or LSI wants to chime in, well, you can forget about it. The author asked me. ;D
A question from an author.
I do have one question, right off the bat, pertaining to Lightning Source: I've noticed that when I receive shipments of my books, the box always says Lightning Source on the outer label, and yet I am currently through WestBow. What is the connection there? Can I go directly through Lightning Source? Is WestBow a "middle man?"
West Bow is Thomas Nelson's POD. This actually means nothing other than Thomas Nelson decided to attempt to make a little money off those authors they won't publish traditionally (which means anyone who doesn't write targeted Christian fiction.) As a side note, I find it humorous that they infer an authors work will show up in Christian Bookstores. I wonder if it's accidental that they don't mention West Bow books aren't anymore likely to show up in Brick & Mortar Christian bookstores than if the author would've chosen Iuniverse (B&N's POD) or Create Space (Amazon's POD) or have gone straight through LSI (Ingram's POD)
Oh, the question. If you are with West Bow and the box your books come to you in say LSI then there is only one conclusion to draw. West Bow, Thomas Nelson's POD is using LSI Ingram's POD to print and distribute their books. By doing this your book shows up in Ingram's catalog (as a POD of course) AND I'm assuming West Bow also has your book approved for distribution to the Christian market through Spring Arbor thus supporting the idea that your book will show up in Christian bookstores.
So yes, West Bow is a middle man. You could go to LSI yourself and do everything they can do and probably for a lot less. And if anyone from West Bow or Ingram or LSI wants to chime in, well, you can forget about it. The author asked me. ;D
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