And here's the page where you can read all about it!
And if you're in the are do not miss this event being thrown in honor of Gothic.net's new design. ;)
Showing posts with label S D Enterprises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S D Enterprises. Show all posts
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sue's Virtual Book Signing makes Gothic.Net Front Page news!
And here's the page where you can read all about it!
And if you're in the are do not miss this event being thrown in honor of Gothic.net's new design. ;)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Baker & Taylor have been contacted part 2
*****NOTE******
Roughly five minutes after this post went up Baker & Taylor called to give me the fax number where I could send the letter that shows my rights being returned to me. How cool is that! I did ask them to send me information about packages they offer since they seem to be more lenient with their requirements than INGRAM!!! But sadly, they offer nothing for small publishers or rather no package where the books aren't returnable. Having the books returnable would be fine of course provided that you get the returned book back but POD publishers never get your returned book back. Hmmmm . . . maybe Baker & Taylor does. I'll have to check that out. Anyway, thanks Baker & Taylor. It was nice talking to you. ;)
******************
Baker & Taylor is the distributor/whoelsaler that Journey Stone Creations somehow managed to get on-board with to distribute their books after dropping CBA member distributor STL after learning that since they themselves weren't a member publisher STL couldn't seem to place their books. Hmmm . . .
Anyway, I did contact Baker & Taylor yesterday to find out who needed to see the letter that Journey Stone Creations provided that states the rights for Never Ceese the hardback have been returned to me and was directed to an answering machine where I left a very detailed but short message.
Haven't heard back yet but hopefully soon since I understand they have three copies of Never Ceese the hardback on back order, three books that will be stolen books if Baker & Taylor fill the order with copies from Journey Stone Creations.
Roughly five minutes after this post went up Baker & Taylor called to give me the fax number where I could send the letter that shows my rights being returned to me. How cool is that! I did ask them to send me information about packages they offer since they seem to be more lenient with their requirements than INGRAM!!! But sadly, they offer nothing for small publishers or rather no package where the books aren't returnable. Having the books returnable would be fine of course provided that you get the returned book back but POD publishers never get your returned book back. Hmmmm . . . maybe Baker & Taylor does. I'll have to check that out. Anyway, thanks Baker & Taylor. It was nice talking to you. ;)
******************
Baker & Taylor is the distributor/whoelsaler that Journey Stone Creations somehow managed to get on-board with to distribute their books after dropping CBA member distributor STL after learning that since they themselves weren't a member publisher STL couldn't seem to place their books. Hmmm . . .
Anyway, I did contact Baker & Taylor yesterday to find out who needed to see the letter that Journey Stone Creations provided that states the rights for Never Ceese the hardback have been returned to me and was directed to an answering machine where I left a very detailed but short message.
Haven't heard back yet but hopefully soon since I understand they have three copies of Never Ceese the hardback on back order, three books that will be stolen books if Baker & Taylor fill the order with copies from Journey Stone Creations.
Ingram's Spring Arbor
****** Please note that when I first drafted this blog I linked Tom Pigott to a Publisher's weekly article that placed him as the original owner of Spring Arbor before it was bought up by Ingram. As it happens that link is no more. Hmmmm . . . . Publishers Weekly articles rarely just disappear but I'm off to investigate and find it again. ;)
Okay found another link but the name is now Richard Pigott which I believe is Tom's father and this isn't the article I initially pointed to. Going to keep looking for that.
Yep. The article is no more. The original line from the article read as copied:
******
What's going on with Spring Arbor anyway? I'm fairly certain that when Ingram purchased Spring Arbor from Tom Pigott in 1997 they didn't plan on pursuing the exact same closed, denominationally discriminative targeted market CBA was set up to serve in 1950 (and then ECPA (a group of CBA publishers) organized in the seventies) but it seems CBA member bookstores plans to make them tow the line, if you will. Because even though Ingram/Spring Arbor approves books by authors whose publishers don't belong to the fee-based Christian Booksellers (trade) Association and who don't write within restrictive guidelines to appeal to visitors of the once aptly named Baptist Bookstores,
As an author, the goal is to have a presence in any bookstore where readers show an interest in your work. I submitted both of my books for approval by Ingram's Spring Arbor after having many readers from CBA's closed market enjoy my story. Both stories were approved but NO member Christian Bookstore would let me in to do signings or even allow me to place a few books in stores where I knew customers were. And the reason given was that I needed a member publisher to have published my book. But I'd already contacted member publishers and they all told me my work didn't fit their denominationally discriminative guidelines.
So how is it that CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers can freely place their books in general market bookstores (not ABA bookstores as CBAer's refer to them) but can discriminate and keep non-affiliated Spring Arbor approved Christian authors completely out of their stores? They never planned on letting any book into their stores unless it was from a fee-paying CBA member. They got you Ingram!
Keep in mind, Christian is a broad term not one that marks a particular denomination. If a bookstore doesn't represent what all Christians want to see then the bookstore should be aptly renamed. No one accidentally walks into a LDS Christian bookstore without knowing where they are or a Catholic bookstore. CBA member bookstores used to be called Baptist bookstores. It is my opinion they should go back to that.
I've since asked to have Never Ceese unapproved for distribution to the Christian market. As you can guess it made no difference because approval to Spring Arbor means nothing for anyone not even for CBA affiliated authors.
Do remember and keep in mind also that Ingram/Spring Arbor has a vested interest in CBA. Why they're a fee-paying member. No there's no bias there whatsoever. Good Lord!
Okay found another link but the name is now Richard Pigott which I believe is Tom's father and this isn't the article I initially pointed to. Going to keep looking for that.
Yep. The article is no more. The original line from the article read as copied:
So yes, it's difficult to provide information when the articles you point to keep getting pulled.. . .(his father, Tom [Pigott], sold Spring Arbor to Ingram in 1997).
******
What's going on with Spring Arbor anyway? I'm fairly certain that when Ingram purchased Spring Arbor from Tom Pigott in 1997 they didn't plan on pursuing the exact same closed, denominationally discriminative targeted market CBA was set up to serve in 1950 (and then ECPA (a group of CBA publishers) organized in the seventies) but it seems CBA member bookstores plans to make them tow the line, if you will. Because even though Ingram/Spring Arbor approves books by authors whose publishers don't belong to the fee-based Christian Booksellers (trade) Association and who don't write within restrictive guidelines to appeal to visitors of the once aptly named Baptist Bookstores,
member bookstores continue to reject books not from fee-paying member publishers.
It would seem then that CBA still runs the show. There are tons of marketing options for CBA member publishers and authors through Ingram's Spring Arbor yet NOTHING for all the "other" authors Spring Arbor approves for distribution to the Christian market.
You have to be a fee-paying member to take advantage.
So is Spring Arbor still owned by CBA or what?
Of course they are!
Doesn't matter if your book is approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor if you don't pay CBA their fee and write targeted fiction for a very denominational group of readers, then you still don't get into member Christian Bookstores. That in itself is no big deal when you understand that member Christian bookstores are ONLY for CBA and ECPA approved books.
Doesn't matter if your book is approved by Ingram's Spring Arbor if you don't pay CBA their fee and write targeted fiction for a very denominational group of readers, then you still don't get into member Christian Bookstores. That in itself is no big deal when you understand that member Christian bookstores are ONLY for CBA and ECPA approved books.
As an author, the goal is to have a presence in any bookstore where readers show an interest in your work. I submitted both of my books for approval by Ingram's Spring Arbor after having many readers from CBA's closed market enjoy my story. Both stories were approved but NO member Christian Bookstore would let me in to do signings or even allow me to place a few books in stores where I knew customers were. And the reason given was that I needed a member publisher to have published my book. But I'd already contacted member publishers and they all told me my work didn't fit their denominationally discriminative guidelines.
So how is it that CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers can freely place their books in general market bookstores (not ABA bookstores as CBAer's refer to them) but can discriminate and keep non-affiliated Spring Arbor approved Christian authors completely out of their stores? They never planned on letting any book into their stores unless it was from a fee-paying CBA member. They got you Ingram!
Keep in mind, Christian is a broad term not one that marks a particular denomination. If a bookstore doesn't represent what all Christians want to see then the bookstore should be aptly renamed. No one accidentally walks into a LDS Christian bookstore without knowing where they are or a Catholic bookstore. CBA member bookstores used to be called Baptist bookstores. It is my opinion they should go back to that.
I've since asked to have Never Ceese unapproved for distribution to the Christian market. As you can guess it made no difference because approval to Spring Arbor means nothing for anyone not even for CBA affiliated authors.
Do remember and keep in mind also that Ingram/Spring Arbor has a vested interest in CBA. Why they're a fee-paying member. No there's no bias there whatsoever. Good Lord!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Book Signing anyone?
THE BOOKSHELF
637 HWY 51
Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-853-9225
Saturday December 18th, 2010
12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
The Bookshelf bookstore in Ridgeland just had a facelift and looks better than ever. I called to ask them if they'd humor me and let me come try to sell some of my on-hand stock and of course they said, "gladly." And unlike the local Barnes & Noble just around the corner, I'll actually walk out with money from whatever you guys buy AND actually take home more than The Bookshelf will make!
How cool is that!
I'll have hardback copies of Never Ceese, paperback copies and also paperback copies of Forever Richard.
You will also be able to order the new and wonderful Black Bed Sheet Books version of Never Ceese should you want to! It's short notice but it's Christmas and I need Christmas money for Christmas gifts. Sadly, my kids aren't happy with copies of my books. LOL
Rumor has it that Susan Kirkland who also got taken by my local Barnes & Noble will be there as well with her grand novel Higher Honor. I told her that at least she can be assured that she won't LOSE money on this trip if she sells books.
And folks it only took one phone call and two minutes to set up this signing. See, that's what Indie stores do. Come support this Indie store and this local author. Gift wrapping will be available and I might even throw in a (drink like) bag of blood if you buy more than one copy or both Never Ceese and Forever Richard.
I'm also considering setting up outside if it's nice enough and serving egg nog or hot chocolate. Spread the word guys. I need to get rid of these books. ;D
I'll need your help because there's no time to get it in the local papers, not that it ever goes in there in time anytime I do choose to go this route, and I'll not PAY for any advertising as it's about making money not wasting it.
Also if any other local author wants to come set up with me call The Bookshelf and tell them you'd like to and Sue said it was okay. LOL But seriously, I told them I didn't care if every local author showed up with a table. The more the merrier. Let's blow Barnes & Noble out of the water. Or at least let them know we don't need them and never did. See, I always have an agenda. HA!
Love y'all!
Come see me!
637 HWY 51
Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-853-9225
Saturday December 18th, 2010
12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
The Bookshelf bookstore in Ridgeland just had a facelift and looks better than ever. I called to ask them if they'd humor me and let me come try to sell some of my on-hand stock and of course they said, "gladly." And unlike the local Barnes & Noble just around the corner, I'll actually walk out with money from whatever you guys buy AND actually take home more than The Bookshelf will make!
How cool is that!
I'll have hardback copies of Never Ceese, paperback copies and also paperback copies of Forever Richard.
You will also be able to order the new and wonderful Black Bed Sheet Books version of Never Ceese should you want to! It's short notice but it's Christmas and I need Christmas money for Christmas gifts. Sadly, my kids aren't happy with copies of my books. LOL
Rumor has it that Susan Kirkland who also got taken by my local Barnes & Noble will be there as well with her grand novel Higher Honor. I told her that at least she can be assured that she won't LOSE money on this trip if she sells books.
And folks it only took one phone call and two minutes to set up this signing. See, that's what Indie stores do. Come support this Indie store and this local author. Gift wrapping will be available and I might even throw in a (drink like) bag of blood if you buy more than one copy or both Never Ceese and Forever Richard.
I'm also considering setting up outside if it's nice enough and serving egg nog or hot chocolate. Spread the word guys. I need to get rid of these books. ;D
I'll need your help because there's no time to get it in the local papers, not that it ever goes in there in time anytime I do choose to go this route, and I'll not PAY for any advertising as it's about making money not wasting it.
Also if any other local author wants to come set up with me call The Bookshelf and tell them you'd like to and Sue said it was okay. LOL But seriously, I told them I didn't care if every local author showed up with a table. The more the merrier. Let's blow Barnes & Noble out of the water. Or at least let them know we don't need them and never did. See, I always have an agenda. HA!
Love y'all!
Come see me!
Friday, December 3, 2010
OMG! Amazon did something right--for now!!!
Yes, that's right and it's sooooo difficult for me to believe that after months of my attempting to tell Amazon that I DID NOT want to support authors who write for publishers who discriminate denominationally and outright claim their books are the only books that are "Christian" by having their books bundled with mine. . . Amazon finally fixed things. A Thomas Nelson book is no longer bundled with mine!!!! Hallalujah and thank you Jesus! Merry Christmas to me! One small step but a HUGE one for me. I don't write for the closed and IMO closed-minded CBA/ECPA market and I don't believe in claiming that one denomination is the "official" Christian market.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
Success for now!
You'll find my work in the general market with all the other true writers who are Christian of one variety or another. ;D
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!
Success for now!
You'll find my work in the general market with all the other true writers who are Christian of one variety or another. ;D
Monday, November 29, 2010
New entry on Publishing Industry page
I've made a new entry on my publishing industry page if you're interested in that sort of information. ;) Here's an easy way to see it. Here's the link!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Zondervan goes POD! Say it ain't so.
What's this? Zondervan does have a choice? Read on to understand.
Yes, that's right, Zondervan who founded Family Christian Bookstores but then sold out to Harper Collins and was then disowned by Family Christian due to the fact that they now belonged to the company who printed the Satanic Bible (which they claimed was a hostile take-over as if they had no choice, yeah right) is now going to use LSI, Ingram's POD for their US distribution. Don't believe me. Well here's the link!
I suppose the most important point to make here is that when Zondervan who founded Family Christian Bookstores for the exclusive distribution of their CBA targeted niche market titles and also for distribution of other targeted Christian fiction titles--when they went with Harper Collins and started taking flack from customers and store owners about going with a company that printed the Satanic Bible, their response was they COULDN'T back out. That they had NO choice. Well, well, well. Look who all of a sudden has a choice. What happened I wonder? What happened indeed!
So now we have Zondervan/Zonderkidz, Harper Collins' producer of CBA/ECPA targeted Christian fiction using a POD for distribution because being with Harper/Collins can't seem to do it for them. Like that's the problem. Well I hate to abuse the term but it is so fitting. Welcome to the jungle! Don't I love it!
Yes, that's right, Zondervan who founded Family Christian Bookstores but then sold out to Harper Collins and was then disowned by Family Christian due to the fact that they now belonged to the company who printed the Satanic Bible (which they claimed was a hostile take-over as if they had no choice, yeah right) is now going to use LSI, Ingram's POD for their US distribution. Don't believe me. Well here's the link!
I suppose the most important point to make here is that when Zondervan who founded Family Christian Bookstores for the exclusive distribution of their CBA targeted niche market titles and also for distribution of other targeted Christian fiction titles--when they went with Harper Collins and started taking flack from customers and store owners about going with a company that printed the Satanic Bible, their response was they COULDN'T back out. That they had NO choice. Well, well, well. Look who all of a sudden has a choice. What happened I wonder? What happened indeed!
So now we have Zondervan/Zonderkidz, Harper Collins' producer of CBA/ECPA targeted Christian fiction using a POD for distribution because being with Harper/Collins can't seem to do it for them. Like that's the problem. Well I hate to abuse the term but it is so fitting. Welcome to the jungle! Don't I love it!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
No, thank YOU!!! ;D
Bits and pieces of an email I received last night:
HI Sue,
Thank you very much for participating in Vampire Fest. I thoroughly enjoyed the panel discussion and was honored to be witness to a panel of such amazing writers. It was great to finally meet you!
Our mission with Vampire Fest is to grow the festival (film/literature and art) and travel to other cities/countries . . . As you now are a welcome member of our coven we invite you to partake in future events or just attend as our guest.
Please keep in touch . . .
Warm regards,
Asif Ahmed
Festival Director
Thank you sooooo much for considering me for your panel! I'm so glad I could make it this year. Just wish I'd been able to stay longer. :( From the pics I've seen, I missed out on some GRAND stuff!!!
HI Sue,
Thank you very much for participating in Vampire Fest. I thoroughly enjoyed the panel discussion and was honored to be witness to a panel of such amazing writers. It was great to finally meet you!
Our mission with Vampire Fest is to grow the festival (film/literature and art) and travel to other cities/countries . . . As you now are a welcome member of our coven we invite you to partake in future events or just attend as our guest.
Please keep in touch . . .
Warm regards,
Asif Ahmed
Festival Director
Thank you sooooo much for considering me for your panel! I'm so glad I could make it this year. Just wish I'd been able to stay longer. :( From the pics I've seen, I missed out on some GRAND stuff!!!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Forever Richard
Just wanted to let everyone know that while I have the rights back to Forever Richard, I've neither had the time or money (mostly time) to republish it the way I did Never Ceese when that publisher sold out. Sooooo, if you have to buy it before Black Bed Sheet books or some other publisher who thinks they want it more (don't all call at once) takes it on, please don't buy it from anyone but me. Absolutely no one that should make money off selling Forever Richard does thanks to the way the publishing industry is set up.
Buy it from me if you want me to see anything from it. I have copies. ;D
Buy it from me if you want me to see anything from it. I have copies. ;D
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Vampire Film Festival 2010-Black Bed Sheet Books Representin'!
Far right to left: Asif Ahmed, Gabrielle Faust,Black Bed Sheet Authors Kristy Tallman and Sue Dent and Solomon Schneider on the right. RAWKIN NOLA!!!!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Ponderings
Ponderment for the day: Sue wonders what a literary agent is and would like to know why only "successful" authors or rather those published by larger houses and thus automatically showing up in brick and mortar bookstores speak of them?
I've looked for said creature but found that time is money. It seems that if literary agents do exist they tend to follow the, "they'll help those who help themselves" mentality.
And since large bookstores are falling under the weight of all us authors they continue to betray, I don't see a real advantage to showing up in one. :D
Things work fine they way they are now. You want my book, you can order any of them from any bookstore in the WORLD! You may even see a few on some shelves. If sales are large enough then the bookstores who betray small published and self-published books will even put them in mass on their shelves. It will be a while before that happens with my books though as I've made them non-returnable so large bookstores can't send them back to their distributor.
And that concludes Sue's Ponderment for the day.
I've looked for said creature but found that time is money. It seems that if literary agents do exist they tend to follow the, "they'll help those who help themselves" mentality.
And since large bookstores are falling under the weight of all us authors they continue to betray, I don't see a real advantage to showing up in one. :D
Things work fine they way they are now. You want my book, you can order any of them from any bookstore in the WORLD! You may even see a few on some shelves. If sales are large enough then the bookstores who betray small published and self-published books will even put them in mass on their shelves. It will be a while before that happens with my books though as I've made them non-returnable so large bookstores can't send them back to their distributor.
And that concludes Sue's Ponderment for the day.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Amazon strikes again! WATCH OUT! Danger. Danger.
Since it's all about publicity and getting out there, I like to share with authors the things that have worked for me. I also like to make them aware of the things that DO NOT work and in fact WILL work against you. My recent discovery, Amazon's Customer discussions. Please read this before you decide to start one. This is straight from Amazon:
Wow! Really?
So here's what happens. You open a discussion in a community that "seems" like the right place for your discussion but some random poster feels otherwise. Personnel attacks are added along with information that has nothing to do with the original post. You report the post as abuse and it may or may not be deleted by Amazon, you know, depending on if the harassment can be justified. To top it all off, the creator of the discussion CAN'T even delete the discussion they started because Amazon has full rights to ANYTHING you put there.
Well, with yesterday being National against-bully day, I can't tell you how this sets with me. Thanks Amazon for making it possible for good folks to be bullied. Thank you so much. Damn straight I won't be starting any other Amazon discussions. DAMN STRAIGHT!!! But you can if you want to. ;)
I apologize for the situation and that you feel another customer may not be conducting them self in an appropriate manner.
Unfortunately we are not able to have the customers remove discussion forums they have started since there are other posters who are participating in the forum.
Our disclaimer that reviews and discussion posts become our property allows us to have free range on posting them or not posting them. We don't censor reviews or posts inappropriately or change the tone of comments, but we do reserve the right to delete comments that fall outside our review and discussion guidelines.
Thanks for sending us your comments about our Customer Discussion Boards. I'll be sure your feedback is passed on to the right people in our company. This kind of feedback is invaluable to us, as it helps us continue to improve our website and provide better service to all of our customers.
Wow! Really?
So here's what happens. You open a discussion in a community that "seems" like the right place for your discussion but some random poster feels otherwise. Personnel attacks are added along with information that has nothing to do with the original post. You report the post as abuse and it may or may not be deleted by Amazon, you know, depending on if the harassment can be justified. To top it all off, the creator of the discussion CAN'T even delete the discussion they started because Amazon has full rights to ANYTHING you put there.
Well, with yesterday being National against-bully day, I can't tell you how this sets with me. Thanks Amazon for making it possible for good folks to be bullied. Thank you so much. Damn straight I won't be starting any other Amazon discussions. DAMN STRAIGHT!!! But you can if you want to. ;)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Large bookstores WILL buy non-returnable books.
I, Sue Dent, have removed the original content of this blog. Large bookstores aren't even a sales venue for me. I'll no longer waste my breath discussing the pros and cons of attempting to get my books into one. You may purchase my books from Black Bed Sheet Books. Since my books are POD, they are the only folks who can offer you the absolute best price.
Soon my books will all be short-run at my request making Black Bed Sheet Books the ONLY place for you to get them. ;)
Here are the links to the books I have out there now:
http://bit.ly/NeverCeese
http://bit.ly/ForeverRichard
http://bit.ly/ElectricAngel
Soon my books will all be short-run at my request making Black Bed Sheet Books the ONLY place for you to get them. ;)
Here are the links to the books I have out there now:
http://bit.ly/NeverCeese
http://bit.ly/ForeverRichard
http://bit.ly/ElectricAngel
Sometimes I blog about comments left on other post of mine!
So be careful if you fear this happening (why would you, but I'm just saying.) First I will say this comment was left on my re-posting concerning how the ludicrous return policy that plagues the book industry got started. Obviously this poster is a frequent reader of my blogs and brought up other concerns as well. So without further ado, the comment and subsequent response:
My piece by piece response:
If we buy them at B&N or Borders or Amazon, we're feeding the "massive discount" system and screwing ourselves.
The "massive discount" system isn't the problem and I never said it was so I'm not sure what this means. The issue is that large booksellers can and do return books from small publishers/self-pubbed authors (should they be enticed to buy them which most don't.) And the issue with that is that the POD distributors small press and self pubbed authors use NEVER give the option to have the returned book back AND they charge small publishers big fees when the book is returned. So again, don't know where this comment is relevant to anything I've said or written or know to be true. I'll discount my book to the nth degree but not when I have to pay for returns that I never see again.
If we buy them at Books-a-Million, we're buying in effect stolen property and screwing ourselves.
Books-A-Million has two distributors that provide stock to BAM. These two distributors only deal in returned-from-the-bookstore books. Yes. If my books show up in BAM I call them stolen as I know how they got there. To say ALL these books are stolen would be inaccurate as large publishers know exactly that this is what will happen to their returned-from-the-bookstore books and actually MAKE money off the deal. Small pubbed authors and self-pubbed authors surely do not. The only safe-guard is to make your book non-returnable which I've done.
If we buy them at used bookstores, it goes without saying that we're screwing ourselves.
Really? How's that? Used bookstores are great IMO. Most I know of acquire books from readers who are done with them. *Sue shrugs at this.*
So where in the world are we SUPPOSED TO BUY BOOKS, then? Strictly from publishers' web sites? From the poor author who's expected to have inventory on hand and turn into a shipper? Please...clue me in.
If it's a small press or self-pubbed author who has a website then that does sound like a grand place to buy them!! The author and publisher both make all the money. As far as a "poor author" turning into a shipper and expecting to have inventory on hand, POD distributors take care of that. Problem solved. You're not going to find these books in larger bookstores to buy them anyway. So yes. That's where you should go to buy these fine books. Oh and of course Independent Bookstores who so rock!
But if small booksellers are dropping like flies--the nearest independent bookstore I can think of, off the top of my head, to me is a couple of hundred miles away now!--then where are we supposed to buy books at all?
Small booksellers who make their books returnable will drop like flies or like rocks to the bottom of very deep pond. Small presses who make their books non-returnable will do just fine. But you still won't find these books in larger bookstores so apparently you will have to buy from publishers to get the books worth reading! Larger bookstores barely cater to small presses or self-pubbed authors because they don't see them as their money makers. I know. Right?
We're not going to change publishers' policies by writing blog posts.
LOL Is someone trying to do this?
We're not going to do it by commiserating with each other.
I'm going to assume the poster meant change the industry as nothing else makes sense. And no feeling sorrow or commiserating about something doesn't usually bring about change which is why I typically don't commiserate to bring about change. I do inform though and provide facts. =)
And we're not even going to do it by not buying books...since that does no one ANY good.
That sort of stands to reason. Glad to know that people aren't going to stop buying books.
So what DO we do?
As readers you should be aware that large bookstores are there because of and for large publishers. You should be aware that return policies set up to work between these two entities does not work for small presses or self-pubbed authors. Large bookstores barely even humor small presses and self-pubbed authors if at all. So if those are the authors you want to purchase books from, you won't find them in larger bookstores. Sorry.
As writers you should remember the above as well AND you should make your books non-returnable as large bookstores will still purchase them for customers and you won't eat your printing fee.
So there ya go! =)
Buy books.
Read and enjoy them!
Support small press and self-pubbed authors by shopping at publishers' site or Independent Bookstores. If you don't have an Independent Bookstore in your area, go to your larger Bookstore and place an order. It's really that simple.
I'm not defending this policy, by any means...but this does present a dilemma for those of us who want to actually buy books. (There are a few of us out here still left!)
If we buy them at B&N or Borders or Amazon, we're feeding the "massive discount" system and screwing ourselves. If we buy them at Books-a-Million, we're buying in effect stolen property and screwing ourselves. If we buy them at used bookstores, it goes without saying that we're screwing ourselves. So where in the world are we SUPPOSED TO BUY BOOKS, then? Strictly from publishers' web sites? From the poor author who's expected to have inventory on hand and turn into a shipper? Please...clue me in.
I don't mean to be facetious. Really. But if small booksellers are dropping like flies--the nearest independent bookstore I can think of, off the top of my head, to me is a couple of hundred miles away now!--then where are we supposed to buy books at all? Not buying books isn't going to solve this problem. It's just going to put more booksellers under MORE pressure to find MORE ways to save MORE money...and in the end, once again, it screws us.
We're not going to change publishers' policies by writing blog posts. We're not going to do it by commiserating with each other. And we're not even going to do it by not buying books...since that does no one ANY good.
So what DO we do?
My piece by piece response:
If we buy them at B&N or Borders or Amazon, we're feeding the "massive discount" system and screwing ourselves.
The "massive discount" system isn't the problem and I never said it was so I'm not sure what this means. The issue is that large booksellers can and do return books from small publishers/self-pubbed authors (should they be enticed to buy them which most don't.) And the issue with that is that the POD distributors small press and self pubbed authors use NEVER give the option to have the returned book back AND they charge small publishers big fees when the book is returned. So again, don't know where this comment is relevant to anything I've said or written or know to be true. I'll discount my book to the nth degree but not when I have to pay for returns that I never see again.
If we buy them at Books-a-Million, we're buying in effect stolen property and screwing ourselves.
Books-A-Million has two distributors that provide stock to BAM. These two distributors only deal in returned-from-the-bookstore books. Yes. If my books show up in BAM I call them stolen as I know how they got there. To say ALL these books are stolen would be inaccurate as large publishers know exactly that this is what will happen to their returned-from-the-bookstore books and actually MAKE money off the deal. Small pubbed authors and self-pubbed authors surely do not. The only safe-guard is to make your book non-returnable which I've done.
If we buy them at used bookstores, it goes without saying that we're screwing ourselves.
Really? How's that? Used bookstores are great IMO. Most I know of acquire books from readers who are done with them. *Sue shrugs at this.*
So where in the world are we SUPPOSED TO BUY BOOKS, then? Strictly from publishers' web sites? From the poor author who's expected to have inventory on hand and turn into a shipper? Please...clue me in.
If it's a small press or self-pubbed author who has a website then that does sound like a grand place to buy them!! The author and publisher both make all the money. As far as a "poor author" turning into a shipper and expecting to have inventory on hand, POD distributors take care of that. Problem solved. You're not going to find these books in larger bookstores to buy them anyway. So yes. That's where you should go to buy these fine books. Oh and of course Independent Bookstores who so rock!
But if small booksellers are dropping like flies--the nearest independent bookstore I can think of, off the top of my head, to me is a couple of hundred miles away now!--then where are we supposed to buy books at all?
Small booksellers who make their books returnable will drop like flies or like rocks to the bottom of very deep pond. Small presses who make their books non-returnable will do just fine. But you still won't find these books in larger bookstores so apparently you will have to buy from publishers to get the books worth reading! Larger bookstores barely cater to small presses or self-pubbed authors because they don't see them as their money makers. I know. Right?
We're not going to change publishers' policies by writing blog posts.
LOL Is someone trying to do this?
We're not going to do it by commiserating with each other.
I'm going to assume the poster meant change the industry as nothing else makes sense. And no feeling sorrow or commiserating about something doesn't usually bring about change which is why I typically don't commiserate to bring about change. I do inform though and provide facts. =)
And we're not even going to do it by not buying books...since that does no one ANY good.
That sort of stands to reason. Glad to know that people aren't going to stop buying books.
So what DO we do?
As readers you should be aware that large bookstores are there because of and for large publishers. You should be aware that return policies set up to work between these two entities does not work for small presses or self-pubbed authors. Large bookstores barely even humor small presses and self-pubbed authors if at all. So if those are the authors you want to purchase books from, you won't find them in larger bookstores. Sorry.
As writers you should remember the above as well AND you should make your books non-returnable as large bookstores will still purchase them for customers and you won't eat your printing fee.
So there ya go! =)
Buy books.
Read and enjoy them!
Support small press and self-pubbed authors by shopping at publishers' site or Independent Bookstores. If you don't have an Independent Bookstore in your area, go to your larger Bookstore and place an order. It's really that simple.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
No protection for small press or self-pubbed authors whatsoever!
UPDATE!
Yes, it seems I'm an idiot. Most people know NOT to click on a link that promises FREE copyrighted stuff. LOL But my virus protection allowed me to go to this site. Anyway I suppose the danger is actually downloading the supposed legitimate PDF. So http://www.worid-of-books.com which actually comes up as www.world-books-com is a virus spreading site for well . . . IDIOTS like me. LOLROFL.
Nothing to see here. ;)
*************************************
Yep. It's true. I'm googling last night and find a site with a FREE PDF of Never Ceese. I investigated and the site claims that all books are uploaded by readers and they aren't responsible for quality or content. Really? Well. How nice. It was the cover for the hardback version yet had me S D Enterprises as the publisher.
I clicked the abuse button, asked the site what made them think they could legally offer a free pdf for a book I owned and sent it along. Now if you click to download it says they are checking on this book but be sure to check back later!!!! Buddy, I don't have a lawyer but you can bet I'll have one straight away if this PDF goes back up for free.
Yeah, right! Like I can do anything. Nothing is going to happen. I can't even contact them through e-mail. It comes back as a wrong address. Ah, welcome to the world of publishing.
Yes, it seems I'm an idiot. Most people know NOT to click on a link that promises FREE copyrighted stuff. LOL But my virus protection allowed me to go to this site. Anyway I suppose the danger is actually downloading the supposed legitimate PDF. So http://www.worid-of-books.com which actually comes up as www.world-books-com is a virus spreading site for well . . . IDIOTS like me. LOLROFL.
Nothing to see here. ;)
*************************************
Yep. It's true. I'm googling last night and find a site with a FREE PDF of Never Ceese. I investigated and the site claims that all books are uploaded by readers and they aren't responsible for quality or content. Really? Well. How nice. It was the cover for the hardback version yet had me S D Enterprises as the publisher.
I clicked the abuse button, asked the site what made them think they could legally offer a free pdf for a book I owned and sent it along. Now if you click to download it says they are checking on this book but be sure to check back later!!!! Buddy, I don't have a lawyer but you can bet I'll have one straight away if this PDF goes back up for free.
Yeah, right! Like I can do anything. Nothing is going to happen. I can't even contact them through e-mail. It comes back as a wrong address. Ah, welcome to the world of publishing.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sick of being "tricked" into reading targeted Christian propaganda.
Boy I'll bet that got your attention but as an author who is also a believer in Christ, I get sick, sick, sick of seeing work for any "targeted" audience pushed to readers who could care less!!!!!!! Soooooo, here's a few helpful tips to avoid accidentally buying something you'd rather not own and for sure not read.
First off, anything put out by a CBA or ECPA publishe (you can find a list of these at cba.org but it isn't easy to navigate. Sorry) is evangelically targeted fiction and written with a very specific Christian audience in mind. General market readers aren't expected to like these books but these publishers market to these readers anyway. Not sure what the logic is, I guess a sell is a sell is a sell even if the reader drags it through hell with their review. Who knows.
But what about the targeted Christian fiction coming out now that isn't through an affiliated publisher?
Just look to see if the publisher makes a distinction between the CBA market and ABA market. If they do, run the other way if targeted Christian fiction isn't what you want to read.
Keep in mind that CBA and ECPA(a group of CBA publishers) have never allowed general market Christian authors into their bookstores but flood general mearket bookstores with their work. Oh now that's Christian isn't it. Better still, they get away with it.
Okay, that's all from me for now. Carry on.
Oh and remember when you see my books showing up bundled on certain seller's sites alongside of targeted" Christian publishers books, it isn't my fault. AMAZON just doesn't know what they're doing. But in their defense no bookseller understands CBA or ECPA otherwise something might be done about the way these two affiliations do business and have been doing so since 1950 when they first decided to provide targeted fiction for a fee to publishers to the then Baptist Bookstores.
Now that's all.
First off, anything put out by a CBA or ECPA publishe (you can find a list of these at cba.org but it isn't easy to navigate. Sorry) is evangelically targeted fiction and written with a very specific Christian audience in mind. General market readers aren't expected to like these books but these publishers market to these readers anyway. Not sure what the logic is, I guess a sell is a sell is a sell even if the reader drags it through hell with their review. Who knows.
But what about the targeted Christian fiction coming out now that isn't through an affiliated publisher?
Just look to see if the publisher makes a distinction between the CBA market and ABA market. If they do, run the other way if targeted Christian fiction isn't what you want to read.
Keep in mind that CBA and ECPA(a group of CBA publishers) have never allowed general market Christian authors into their bookstores but flood general mearket bookstores with their work. Oh now that's Christian isn't it. Better still, they get away with it.
Okay, that's all from me for now. Carry on.
Oh and remember when you see my books showing up bundled on certain seller's sites alongside of targeted" Christian publishers books, it isn't my fault. AMAZON just doesn't know what they're doing. But in their defense no bookseller understands CBA or ECPA otherwise something might be done about the way these two affiliations do business and have been doing so since 1950 when they first decided to provide targeted fiction for a fee to publishers to the then Baptist Bookstores.
Now that's all.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Main Street Books-Hattiesburg
One of the BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES I've ever visited and proud to be that which they should be. I didn't even have to call to bring books to sell. Just brought them with me and collected my money at the end of the day. AND I sold books. Yes I did. So take that Barnes & Noble in Ridgeland MS who still hasn't paid me for a booksigning going on two years now. Wow!
We know who respects the small-pubbed author. Also I left two copies of Never Ceese there and signed too. Both hardbacks for retail which I actually get money from cause they're mine.
Thank-you so much to the Hattiesburg Branch of the MS Writer's Guild. You guys were great! More to write about that later.
Also, and I have to say this, this was the first event I attended where someone saw the ad ahead of time and came to see me and buy my books. What an excellent feeling thank-you so much MINDY!!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Great Googley Moogley!
I didn't blog about this yet!!! Well I don't know why. After all it is one of the biggest honors for me so far, to be asked to speak at a chapter of my home states Writer's Guild (even if it was a dear, close friend who asked and I probably never would have been asked otherwise.) Thank-you Ms. Jamie O'quinn! You sooo rock!
Now click HERE ON THIS LINK to learn more.
Now click HERE ON THIS LINK to learn more.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Here. Let me explain Amazon to you. ;)
So if you go to order Never Ceese the paperback which is now being distributed through S D Enterprise (me) via LSI (a POD printer) you will see this: Only 1 left in stock.
I know, right? Makes no sense. NOBODY STOCKS POD published books. You did hear me didn't you? And Never Ceese is non-returnable at that and they sure as heck-fire won't order those kind of POD printed books UNLESS there is already an order for them.
Does it help me, the author, when Amazon puts something so stupid on the ad for my book? No. Not really. Makes it look like they treat POD printed, Self-pubbed authors the same as all other traditionally published authors when they don't. Amazon doesn't have any of my books in stock to even have one left and neither do any of the other retailers who say they have 100 copies etc . . .
POD printed books are only EVER ordered when an order is placed ESPECIALLY ones that are made non-returnable by the author to avoid having their work stolen by distributors. ;)
Just wanted to let you know that in case you thought I was "selling out" at Amazon. They're just stupid, that's all and once again giving out false information for reasons I can't even fathom. Just don't want anyone thinking they treat self-pubbed authors any differently than they ever did. *Sue snickers to self.* One book in stock. Really? Gee you think I'd know about that since I know EXACTLY how many books have been sold. Idiots!
I know, right? Makes no sense. NOBODY STOCKS POD published books. You did hear me didn't you? And Never Ceese is non-returnable at that and they sure as heck-fire won't order those kind of POD printed books UNLESS there is already an order for them.
Does it help me, the author, when Amazon puts something so stupid on the ad for my book? No. Not really. Makes it look like they treat POD printed, Self-pubbed authors the same as all other traditionally published authors when they don't. Amazon doesn't have any of my books in stock to even have one left and neither do any of the other retailers who say they have 100 copies etc . . .
POD printed books are only EVER ordered when an order is placed ESPECIALLY ones that are made non-returnable by the author to avoid having their work stolen by distributors. ;)
Just wanted to let you know that in case you thought I was "selling out" at Amazon. They're just stupid, that's all and once again giving out false information for reasons I can't even fathom. Just don't want anyone thinking they treat self-pubbed authors any differently than they ever did. *Sue snickers to self.* One book in stock. Really? Gee you think I'd know about that since I know EXACTLY how many books have been sold. Idiots!
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