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 Mardel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mardel. 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!
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.
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