Tracy L. Darity's Blog

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound? This is an age-old question, which has infinite answers, depending on who you ask. Using similar analogy, riddle me this, “If a book is downloaded to 50,000 Kindle devices and Apps and no one reads it, has the authors work been exposed to 50,000 readers?” If you are following the debate over Amazon’s KDP Select program, you’d come to the same conclusion…the possible answers is infinite.

 

A quick lesson – KDP Select is a program implemented by on-line seller Amazon.com that allows independent authors and publishers to enroll their eBooks into Amazon’s lending program for Kindle owners; and share in a monthly cash pot of $600,000 (the average). In exchange for 90 days of exclusivity (the eBook can only be listed/sold on Amazon during this time) Participants can utilize special promotional tools for 5 days. What these promotional tools are is still somewhat of a mystery to me, but what it all equates to, is author’s giving their books away for free on these 5 days.

 

After enrolling my first novel, He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! into the program back in December, I asked several Kindle owners if they received any form of promotion about the book. The answer was yes, something came up on their Kindle, listing free books. Is that it, I’m not sure, but you’ll see that’s really all it takes. At the end of my first 2-day promotion (the 5 days can be done in any increment, or never used) my novel had been downloaded over 1800 times, and reached #262 in the “Top 100 Free Kindle Books.” list, #2 under “Family Saga, and #17 under Contemporary Fiction. By the end of my 90-days, there were a little over 3000 downloads, about 30 borrows (yes people actually used their 1 free borrow for the month on my book) and sales peaked on both the eBook and physical book.

 

Unfortunately the peaks were very shot-lived—approximately 2 -3 weeks after each promotion. More daunting is that by the time I placed my other two novels, Love…Like Snow in Florida on a Hot Summer Day and my newest release The Red Bear Society into the program, something in the atmosphere had shifted. Now whether the shift is seen as a positive or a negative, lies with whom you are speaking to about their experience in the program. For me it is a negative because I am not sure if what’s happening was Amazon’s intention; and if it was, then shame on them.

 

So what is it…the term, FREE*FREE*FREE* If you haven’t seen it on your Facebook wall, your Twitter feed, Goodreads updates, or wherever you may venture for your social media enlightenment, then either you or your friends (or both) are not reading folks. In a nutshell, the free aspect of KDP Select has taken on a life of its own. The initial concept sold by Amazon was if they offered $500,000, to be divided evenly per book borrowed, and 100,000 books were loaned out; authors could earn $5.00 per borrow for their titles. Of course this was hypothetical, but no was prepared for the 295,000 books that were actually borrowed in December, giving a real royalty of just $1.70, per download. This was seen as a win for the author whose book was only .99 cents to start with, but an epic failure for others whose titles were selling for a little more. Amazon answered by raising the payout total the following month to $700,000, but dropped it to its current $600,000, in February.

 

Amazon released a glowing press release touting the success of KDP Select, back in January; but subsequent releases have been pretty limited in terms of royalty information. Authors have seen some growth in the royalty for their borrowed books; it has risen from a dismal $1.60 in January (yes, even with an extra $200,000 authors earned less) to $2.48 in April. The increase really isn’t much to celebrate because it could only mean one of two things; either less authors are participating, or less books are being borrowed. I think it is a little of both, but since Amazon isn’t revealing its numbers as they did in the initial release, I can’t say for sure.

 

What all of this really means is that the free promotions have taken center-stage. Websites are popping up that use apps to pull the titles of books being offered for free and promoting the information on Facebook, Twitter, eBlasts, etc. Followers of these sites then post the information to their networks. There is actually a “free eBooks” page on Facebook that has almost 37,000 followers. To some authors this is seen as a great thing because it means their books will be downloaded by more people...but will they be read, reviewed, and recommended.

 

Remember that question I asked at the beginning? Well this is where the conversation gets tricky. When I enrolled in the program I did so because I bought into the theory that if x amount of people downloaded my books, and enjoyed them; they would tell x amount of people, and they would tell x amount, and by the time word spread the free promotion days would be over and the second, third, and so-on group of people would either buy the eBook or borrow it. This seemed to be the case in the beginning but I think the readers devised a plan of their own, and here is what I consider the “shift” I mentioned earlier.

 

• Since KDP Select is geared towards Indie authors and publishers, the average reader already believes he/she is taking a chance on the work so getting it at no-cost is a win-win situation, especially if the book is a great read. No loss if it’s a dud. Shift. So many books are being offered for free the reader never has to buy another book unless he/she wants to—and the decision is usually reserved for the authors they have followed a long time or who appear on “real” best seller lists.

 

• When a title is offered through KDP Select there is a notation that the book is $0.00 for Prime Members (customers who can borrow from the Kindle Lending Library). Shift. Readers have learned that if the book is available through the lending library that the author has 5 free promotional days, so why buy the eBook that you’ve heard so much about, just wait for it to be offered for free again…no problem since they already have an overabundance of unread books. Right?

 

• There use to be a time when the artist determined the value of their art, and their audience was the people willing to pay for the artist time and talent. Shift. With the inception of eBooks everyone who has ever dreamed of writing a book can. Many placed the value on their work at $2.99 and even as low as .99 cents, and oddly enough, many established authors felt threatened and followed the trend. With KDP Select the bar has now been lowered down to free. As long as this trend continues, the market will find it hard to correct itself and some truly gifted writers will be lost, and whether the reader in search of the free book believes it or not, that is a huge loss.

 

• Many factors determine which books are downloaded more, and which ones sell more. Many authors’ get caught-up in rankings but as you saw above, He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! had 3 significantly different rankings based on different categories. Unfortunately, fiction, which I write, is oversaturated with titles and these authors will see lesser success than those writing in more unique genres, with how-to books leading the way.

 

I am not sure where all of this is headed, but I no longer have any of my books enrolled in the KDP Select program. I won’t say that it was a mistake to enroll, because I do know for a fact that some of the books were read, as I have had people provide feedback, and I did see an increase in sales, even if it was limited. To all the author’s who will counter and say that it has been a great success because they saw their sales increase by 100, 200, 1000, or even 3000% after joining KDP Select, and their rankings skyrocketed; I say good for you.

 

At the end of the day, I can only hope that Amazon will take a fresh look at this program and try to stop the bleeding. It has to be hurting their sales as much as it’s hurting the average author out here. I have heard a lot of interesting comments, scenarios, and testimonies on the pro’s and con’s of the program, so whether or not it is a success may go down in history as one of those questions with infinite answers, just remember, regardless of the experience, the numbers don’t lie, or do they.

 

Peace & Blessings,

Tracy

 

Tracy L. Darity

 

www.TracyLDarity.com

For the past few days I hadn't been feeling well. I was extremely tired, feeling discombobulated, my stressors were screaming, and I just wanted to sleep. When I awakened yesterday morning I was so thankful there was no headache, my vision was clear, and I had a burst of energy. The day was definitely going to be a good day.

 

Now for those who know me, if you know nothing else about me you know I love the Lord, and that I have no sense of time. But on this morning I was actually going to reach my destination in a timely manner.

 

So I am in route to my destination, and at this particular time in the morning I must travel through a school zone. I was driving on a major road that leads out of my neighborhood. Normally I take this road all the way to the interstate, but decided to turn at the intersection where this school zone is positioned, and travel through Lakewood Estates, a nearby subdivision.

 

As annoying as school zones are, I still respect the jobs of the crossing guards who work for little pay, but obviously love what they do—ensuring the kids get to school safely. As residents, we get to know the crossing guards and know their habits. Some are very friendly, waving as you drive-by; some mouthed thank you for stopping as the kids cross the street; while others will write-down your tag number if you speed through driving faster than the mandated 15 MPH.

 

My decision to turn into Lakewood Estates was a last minute one, but I has already committed to the turn when I saw the two girls waiting on the opposite corner for the crossing guard to allow them to come across. Ughh, was my first thought, because on any other day the crossing guard would have blown her whistle and held up her sign instructing me to STOP. She would have walked into the road with her arms stretched wide blocking all cars, and allowed the girls to cross safely to the other side. But on this morning that didn't happen; did she not realize I was going to turn, was she being courteous by allowing me to go first; I'm not sure.

 

After slowly turning the corner the unthinkable happened! First let me set the scene. Lakewood Estates is a maze of curving roads, speed bumps, and 20 MPH speed zones. At this particular location, cars exiting the subdivision come around a curve, meet a speed bump and end-up at the major road I had just turned off of. I have never ever exited Lakewood Estates without being stopped by the traffic light at this particular intersection…NEVER. Now back to the unthinkable. I turn the corner and to my horror a black Pontiac Spitfire traveling at a speed fit only for an open highway, flies over the speed bump and nearly rear-ends a car driving 15 MPH (remember we're in a school zone), and to keep from hitting her he switches into my lane, which means we are facing each other. He realizes the mistake he's made and turns the car back into the other lane cutting off the other driver. I slam on my brakes bracing for the worst, the other driver slams on her brakes. I hear tires screeching an fearfully look into my rear-view mirror terrified that I am going to see the crossing guard or those girls flying into the air, but all I see is this lunatic veering into the intersection cutting off on-coming traffic, missing cars by inches. Never reducing his speed he attempts to turn on to the main road but ends up on the median. All cars have stopped as he drives off the median and proceeds down the road

 

I am not sure how long I sat there paralyzed, how long the other driver sat paralyzed, how long the crossing guard stood frozen, or those two girls, or the landscapers working at a nearby apartment complex, or the drivers of the other cars; but it was a quick reminder of how God's grace and mercy keeps us each and every second of the day.

 

The scene I just described probably took only 10 seconds from beginning to end; but it disrupted my peaceful spirit for the better part of the day because the reality of it all was too real; because...

…in an instant I could have been dead

…in an instant the other driver could have been dead

…in an instant the crossing guard could have been dead

…in an instant those two girls on their way to school could have been dead

…in an instant any of those other motorists or the landscapers could have been dead

…in an instant the driver of that speeding car could have been dead

…in an instant the lives of our loved ones could have forever been changed

…BUT GOD

…BUT GOD

…BUT GOD

Much Love,

Tracy

www.TracyLDarity.com

In order to have a successful business you must be willing to provide SUPERB customer service. Before you place the "Open for Business" sign out, you must understand rule number one, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT! Even if you think he or she is wrong, or even if you know it, your business reputation should always be at the forefront of your actions.

 

Now I am going to take you through this lesson using a book as the product, since that's the business I am in; but this lesson can be applied to any service/product based operation. If someone pays you for a service/product, they expect to receive it in a timely manner and in perfect condition, according to the agreed upon contract with the business.

 

Rule #2: Go back and read the first two paragraphs.

 

Rule #3: Anytime someone takes an interest in your service/product it should be seen as a blessing. Be GRATEFUL that of all the businesses/products they had to choose from, they chose yours. If they decide to spend their money with you then you have been doubly blessed. Never take your blessings for granted.

 

Rule #4: So you closed the deal, now its time to deliver on your promise. Service should be fulfilled in a TIMELY and PROFESSIONAL manner. Remember your job isn't done until the customer has been made whole in the transaction.

 

Rule #5: At all times remain PROFESSIONAL. It doesn't matter if it is the first, third, tenth time you are interacting with the customer. It doesn't matter if YOU are having a bad day, or if the customer is having a bad day…you MUST be professional at all times. ALL messages, emails, calls, should be handled immediately. Just as you were anxious to get the business, be anxious to resolve any problems.

 

Rule #6: If the customer contacts you to say they have not received their product, it's probably because they HAVEN'T. As soon as you get this message the FIRST time, stop what you're doing and track the package. If your business requires the use of a delivery service, be it USPS, UPS, FEDEx, or whatever, you should ensure you have a method to TRACK the order. Never respond to a customer with simple statements like, "You should have it by now, or I already sent it," without offering a solution. This insinuates that you believe the customer is lying and you have no intentions of ensuring they get the item(s) they paid for.

 

Rule #7: Once you have confirmed delivery of the package contact the customer and let them know (in a POLITE manner) that the package was delivered by x-company, on x-date, at x-address. This does two things 1) it gives the customer the opportunity to verify the address is correct, and 2) if using email or voicemail the customer can ask others in the house or possibly neighbors, if they saw or received the package.

 

Rule #8: The package is officially M.I.A. If this is the case then your contract with the customer has NOT been fulfilled. Let the customer know you are resending their order. This time send the package requesting a signature for delivery. Once you have confirmed the package has been delivered and signed for, contact the customer and ask if they received it. Apologize that they didn't receive the first order and thank them again for their business.

 

It is easy to get upset and have an attitude when a customer contacts you about not receiving their order. But it is easier to replace the order than it is to irritate the client. Just as someone can give a glowing review of you and your business, they can also give a bad review. Not responding to a client who has reached out to you about service is NEVER a good idea. The longer you delay dealing with the issue the more time the customer has to mull over the situation, draw their own conclusions, and seek advice from others on how to deal with YOU. The point of building strong relationships with a customer is not just to close a sale. A happy customer is a repeat customer; and a repeat customer paves the pathway for NEW CUSTOMERS.

 

So if ever faced with the dilemma of the missing package, just replace the order, it's really that SIMPLE.

 

In the words of Forrest Gump, "...and that's all I have to say about that."

 

Tracy L. Darity

 

www.TracyLDarity.com

 

What if there was no God…no scriptures to quote…no well intended words of encouragement…and no catchy sayings. What if there was no God because He decided we could be the comforter, the healer, the provider, the answer to each other's needs. What if it was just us, standing face-to-face with people just like us, who have real problems, and need real help…and that help could only come from us?

 

Whether you or I want to admit it, people with real problems come and go in our lives all day everyday and all we offer is words that can never measure up to the actions that we can produce. We constantly talk about a God who can do all things but never consider our role in getting it done.

 

Someone could need a hug just to know what it feels like to be touched, because they haven't felt alive in months, but we'd rather say "God is a comforter."

 

School is now out for winter break and the family that relied on free breakfast and lunches as a source for food, must now figure out how to make it through the next two weeks. We hear these stories on the news and say "God please make a way." Yet, we haven't donated one can good to a church or other organization.

 

The car belonging to someone you know has been sitting on the side of the road for days. You learn the car is out of gas. Instead of giving them a few dollars so they can, at the very least get the car home, we chose to shake our head and say a half-hearted prayer like, "God I hope they get some gas before they get towed."

 

You haven't seen the lights on in your neighbors' house in a week, and come to think of it, that was the same day the guy from the power company was turning off your street as you were returning home. So you start checking to see if a light comes on after the sun goes down, and mumble, "Lord I hope their lights aren't off," instead of going over to see if there is anything you can do to help.

 

Someone you know has been out of work for over a year, their background is in Information Technology; you know your company has an opening in the mailroom stuffing envelopes. Rather than make the suggestion you just say, "Something will come-up soon, just trust God."

 

Someone you know hasn't been feeling well lately. Truth is, money is tight and they can't afford all of their medications each month. The canned response, "God is a deliverer," as you wonder why they haven't looked into getting help from some of the programs out there.

 

I've long believed that when people are going through whatever they are going through, the last thing they want to hear is words. No matter how well-intended, encouraging, of heart-felt they may be. Even if we've gone through something similar and survived, our experience is not their experience, and our pain is not their pain. When someone opens up to us and share their problems they want to hear that we care and that we may have a suggestion or answer that can help. Otherwise, they never would have opened up to us. Oftentimes, if we just stopped long enough and set our own priorities to the side, and really listened, we'd know that we could do a little more.

 

So the next time you want to say, "God answers prayers…will make a way…can do all things," or the next time you want to tell someone, "It's not that bad, you still have this or that," why not go beyond the convenience of words, and ask yourself if you hold the answer to the problem. Yes, God is all the things we say He is, but the world can't experience His goodness if we aren't willing to be the vessels He uses to work His miracles in the lives of others.

 

Merry Christmas and Much Love,

 

 

Tracy

www.TracyLDarity.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some call it paying it forward. Someone does a good deed for you and in return you do a good deed for someone else. Paying it forward or reciprocity (you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours) is a simple concept but one we don't see in action as often as we should. In the world of writing, it is a simplistic approach to marketing that is free and if used wisely could make a huge difference to many independent authors, yet it's an opportunity that is overlooked all the time.

John Locke, a marketing guru was the first self-published author to sell one million ebooks on Amazon.com, and at the time of his accomplishment was only one of eight to lay claim to such a feat. Locke did not sell one million books because he is a great author, or because he writes phenomenal books. He sold one million books because he devised a plan in which he enlisted people (family, friends, Facebook buddies, Twitter followers, bloggers, etc) to help promote his work. In addition to writing multiple books, and selling them for .99 cents, his most important and beneficial task was to get people to share, like, and forward whatever he posted on his various social media accounts. It's really simple math, get 100 people to each share with 100 people, and then get all of those people to share with everyone they know. Once people started downloading the books he encouraged them to rate his books, and write reviews. It didn't matter if they liked the books or not, just write the review, and he would do the rest.

So what does that have to do with reciprocity? Just imagine if there were other indie authors--and there were--joining in his efforts, and once Locke was successful he in turn rewarded those authors by assisting them in their own marketing campaigns. Now you have numerous authors reaching levels of success that they otherwise would not have reached had they not made a conscious decision to assist Locke in proving a relative unknown author could be equally successful as a best-selling author with a powerhouse publishing company backing him or her with unlimited marketing dollars.

Why do I believe most African American authors lack the understanding of the power of reciprocity when it comes to marketing their work? I see it everyday on various social media sites. Authors rarely give each other praise, recommend each others work, or share information they come across that may help someone else. But what really prompted me to write this blog is one scenario in particular. I have a friend on Facebook by the name of Faydra Deon. She wears many hats but among other things, Faydra is an author and also the African American History columnist for the Examiner.com. Recently she decided to host a feature in her column entitled .  Her goal is to feature 100 new and up-and-coming black authors. I thought it was a great idea and decided to sign on.

Now in my mind, if 100 authors are featured, each story should have 100 likes, 100 shares, 100 tweets, 100 comments, etc, at the bare minimum;even if all the authors have not been featured yet. But with the first 9 or so authors/books posted, and almost 70 authors signed-up to participate, I find it disheartening that Faydra's time and effort to put this together is seemingly going by the wayside. It's as if the authors do not understand that they must make the most of every opportunity presented to them. What is the point of being featured in a blog, or on a website, if you aren't going to let people know the information is out there? And if the author being featured isn't trying to garner interest for their story then what motivates the others to support that person? More important, why should Faydra continue to pour her time, talent, and efforts into assisting authors gain notoriety if they are not going to make use of this free service and awesome platform?

We authors must learn the importance of paying it forward and the give and take of reciprocity. We need to shed the attitude of "I'm not helping him or her because she isn't helping me," and "If I tell someone about her book they may not buy mine." Readers are looking for books and many want to give indie authors a chance, but they need to know we are out here. I know some of you are saying, "Well if I haven't read a book I'm not going to recommend it." Sharing a blog, interview, or article about a fellow author doesn't mean you're recommending their work; it's a selfless act that shows you're willing to share the stage with someone else. It's like being at a party and introducing the person you just met to your friends...who knows where or how far that introduction could go.

DISCLAIMER: I did not write this blog for, or on behalf of Faydra Deon. I only used her project as an example, but I do encourage you to check-out the interviews and support the authors if you are so inclined.

Much Love,

Tracy

www.TracyLDarity.com

When I first read that Tyler Perry was casting Kim Kardashian in his upcoming movie, The Marriage Counselor, I mumbled "wow" as I clicked on the link for the next story. Okay, I'll be honest; I didn't read the story just the headline, because in all actuality it didn't interest me. I have only filled a seat in a theatre showing a Tyler Perry film, two, possibly three times. I find that I am less critical of his work when I catch it on television, even if it is a year or two later. I don't even know if Kim K. will be playing a major role or just a cameo appearance.

What caught my attention is various responses to a letter I am assuming Perry sent to his fan base or published on a website, perhaps. Each letter to Mr. Perry pretty much is a vent fest, to which I give the thought...the biggest statement you can make, is by not showing up at the theatres.

Today, while checking my emails I came across the following open letter to Perry. I believe it is very well written and articulates what a lot of Perry fans and critics may be thinking when it comes to his decision to cast Kardashian.

 

From Huffington Post Black Voices. 11/17/11

 

Dear Tyler Perry,

 

I have never been concerned with gaining favor with celebrities or undeservedly denigrating one's work. I have always prided myself on putting my community first, even when doing so has been unpopular and frankly unappreciated by members of that same community.

 

So understand that my letter to you is on principle... not personal animus. This comes not from someone who is a fan of "this" or "that" person, but a fan of the community of African Americans. It comes first in all I do.

 

The problem I personally have with your letter , Mr. Perry, which offered insight into your decision-making process in casting Kim Kardashian, is that it seeks to weave a disingenuous narrative. You seem to suggest that the sum total story of redemption to be told in Tyler Perry's The Marriage Counselor holds more weight than the nature of its components.

 

Untrue.

 

The issue isn't whether K.K. is appropriate or whether you, Mr. Perry, have the right to create as you see fit. Nobody is deluded here. Nothing is going to change from my letter, neither your mind nor your movie. Nevertheless, some things need to be said and placed on the record because the truth doesn't change either and isn't subject to interpretation. Meaning, the issue I have is that your letter to your fans was an attempt to spin the casting of Kim Kardashian into some higher calling.

 

That can not pass without a truth check. Again, this isn't personal, just a matter of principle.

 

Some people are angry with you because Kim Kardashian receives too much attention as a Black man's pin up. Some are angry with you because she is not an actress by any stretch of the imagination. Others are displeased that given your high profile movies, an African-American actress in the role means more to your core fan base who made "Tyler Perry" a household name, than fans you may gain by crossing over and dipping into the reality TV punch bowl. And let's be honest, many are disturbed that given your kinda-sorta-Christian-themed-message-movies, you are further rewarding an individual whose original claim to fame was a sex tape.

 

For all who criticize you on this issue, it has to do with some of that. For some, it is all of that. Inevitably, the distaste for Kim Kardashian amongst many African-American women (your core fan base) is real, not imagined. Take considerable care in the underestimation of their angst and the strength of their collective memory.

 

A common theme in all of your movies is the story of redemption. Even the worst of the worst are worthy of second chances.

 

Agreed.

 

But Mr. Perry, you can't really argue telling the STORY of redemption through use of a promotion vehicle (Kardashian) who presently lives and thrives on irredeemable Real Life behavior. I'd rather see a sermon in real life, than one acted out on the silver screen. People who live their creed affect more lives than ones who act it out for a paycheck. If you want to truly reach the followers of K.K., seek to change K.K., don't give her a movie role and then claim you are doing your fans (and her fans) a quasi-Christian favor by doing so. I think we all understand the economics and business strategy here. There is no need to further convolute the issue.

 

Truth check: Spiritual discernment still trumps spin and specious argumentation.

 

K.K. wasn't an actress who "made a mistake" and who now is being granted a second chance. It's a "mistake" to even characterize her as an actress. Her claim to fame is the mistake.

 

And here you are further rewarding it. Truth check.

 

If your fans are angry with you (and they are); let's be truthful and honest about the realities of their anger. Let's not minimize, trivialize or bastardize the nature of their grievances. It's not that they didn't "hear you out" or "jumped to conclusions." You've insulted their intelligence by suggesting their anger was misdirected or misinformed in the first place.

 

Your company is yours to run as you see fit, your brand to build as you choose. Your success thus far is inarguable. None of the aforementioned ensure though that your judgment is infallible. Don't glue chicken feathers on a chinchilla Saturday night and then try to sell it at KFC as part of a two-piece and biscuit Sunday morning. Don't insult the collective intelligence of the African-American film community.

 

You've now tied your brand to Kim Kardashian and must now carry all of the baggage that comes with her. The question is not and was not ever whether your loyal fans understood "why" you chose Kim Kardashian. The question is and continues to be whether you understood what it means to align yourself with Kim Kardashian.

 

Respectfully,

 

Morris W. O'Kelly

 

Morris W. O'Kelly (Mo'Kelly) is a political correspondent for the BBC Radio and Television networks and author of the syndicated column The Mo'Kelly Report. For more Mo'Kelly, go to his site. Mo'Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com and welcomes all commentary.

 

Follow Morris W. O'Kelly on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrmokelly

Perry's Letter: http://www.tylerperry.com/messages/ki...

Dear Mr. President,

 

The other day someone was talking on one of the many shows where people do nothing but, well, talk—and the discussion centered around what you needed to do to regain the support and confidence of your black voters, because without them you would not be re-elected in 2012.  Okay, they may be on to something because last poll I saw your popularity is hovering around 39%.

 

I watch the news and read the paper, keeping up with all the wars, famine, economic troubles, unemployment, possibility of a double recession, and it's just maddening. Seriously, what can ONE man do to fix all of this mess? Then I visit various blogs, websites, Facebook, and Twitter, and people just don't seem to care. So I got to thinking, what motivates people, really gets them upset, outraged, and ready to answer the call to action. I mean there has to be something that gets their blood boiling and their fists pumping…RIGHT?

 

Just today there is talk about civil unrest in Israel, Syria, and Libya, and my community is lackadaisical and awfully silent, so maybe this is just too far removed for them to feel a need to care. So I turned my focus to Africa where millions are starving due to widespread famine. The worst hit is war-torn Somalia where mothers are facing the unthinkable decision of which child will live. And Haiti, still trying to rebuild from a devastating earthquake 18 months ago…still I hear Crickets.

 

Slowly I move from international news to national news to see if I can hear a buzz of some sort. No not about Jay-Z popping champagne bottles to the tune of $250,000, or the rumors that Kim K's wedding this weekend costs an estimated $10 million. I'm talking, the Dow opening today, and quickly dropping over 500 points. New weekly unemployment claims rising above 400,000, just a week after falling to below 395,000. The postal service considering 120,000 job cuts, while employees for Verizon are striking in a fight against the telecommunications giant attempts to pass unreasonable benefit costs on to them as they struggle to make ends meet in this economic downturn….CRICKETS, still.

 

With some 14 million Americans out of work, corporations reeling in multi-billion dollar profits—but not hiring, a move to end unions spreading across the nation, the drastic cuts to social services for the poor and in-need starting to surface; surely those who would be affected the most are ready to revolt…yet, CRICKETS.

 

Oh my, did I leave out education, I apologize, my kids are done but I still must care for future generations to come…schools are reopening around the country and the graduation rate for black students remains appalling. Cuts to education, penalties against teachers for ill-prepared children who perform poorly, and no repercussions for parents who are not doing their part to ensure their kids succeed…and CRICKETS!

 

So what is it that I think it will take to re-energize the black voter and get them fighting mad? Truly, it isn't rocket science, just a quaint little observation I've made following trending topics. So here it is, ARE YOU READY?

 

President Obama, I think if you want to see the black community get upset, outraged, and ready to do battle; you're going to need a Republican, but preferably a member of the Tea-Party to make some sort of negative comment about Tyler Perry, maybe him portraying Alex Cross in the upcoming James Patterson flick I, ALEX—or better yet, Lion's Gate decision to give Perry his own network; and then follow it up with criticism about the movie "The Help." Then and only then will we see some movement on the political front. But you're going to have to act fast and seize the moment because if those chicks from VH-1 realize that you're getting more attention than them, there may be a SITUATION of epic proportions that may include referring to the first lady as a b@it%h, huge anti-Obama flag earrings, water splashing, glass tossing, and the biggest WMD of all time…T-SHIRT'S declaring you, our beloved president, a non-MF'ing FACTOR!   IJS

 

Much Love, 

 

Tracy

 

Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. Her third novel, The Red Bear Society, is scheduled for a fall 2011 release. For additional information on the author and her work, visit www.TracyLDarity.com

 

Dear Mr. President,

 

The other day someone was talking on one of the many shows where people do nothing but, well, talk—and the discussion centered around what you needed to do to regain the support and confidence of your black voters, because without them you would not be re-elected in 2012.  Okay, they may be on to something because last poll I saw your popularity is hovering around 39%.

 

I watch the news and read the paper, keeping up with all the wars, famine, economic troubles, unemployment, possibility of a double recession, and it's just maddening. Seriously, what can ONE man do to fix all of this mess? Then I visit various blogs, websites, Facebook, and Twitter, and people just don't seem to care. So I got to thinking, what motivates people, really gets them upset, outraged, and ready to answer the call to action. I mean there has to be something that gets their blood boiling and their fists pumping…RIGHT?

 

Just today there is talk about civil unrest in Israel, Syria, and Libya, and my community is lackadaisical and awfully silent, so maybe this is just too far removed for them to feel a need to care. So I turned my focus to Africa where millions are starving due to widespread famine. The worst hit is war-torn Somalia where mothers are facing the unthinkable decision of which child will live. And Haiti, still trying to rebuild from a devastating earthquake 18 months ago…still I hear Crickets.

 

Slowly I move from international news to national news to see if I can hear a buzz of some sort. No not about Jay-Z popping champagne bottles to the tune of $250,000, or the rumors that Kim K's wedding this weekend costs an estimated $10 million. I'm talking, the Dow opening today, and quickly dropping over 500 points. New weekly unemployment claims rising above 400,000, just a week after falling to below 395,000. The postal service considering 120,000 job cuts, while employees for Verizon are striking in a fight against the telecommunications giant attempts to pass unreasonable benefit costs on to them as they struggle to make ends meet in this economic downturn….CRICKETS, still.

 

With some 14 million Americans out of work, corporations reeling in multi-billion dollar profits—but not hiring, a move to end unions spreading across the nation, the drastic cuts to social services for the poor and in-need starting to surface; surely those who would be affected the most are ready to revolt…yet, CRICKETS.

 

Oh my, did I leave out education, I apologize, my kids are done but I still must care for future generations to come…schools are reopening around the country and the graduation rate for black students remains appalling. Cuts to education, penalties against teachers for ill-prepared children who perform poorly, and no repercussions for parents who are not doing their part to ensure their kids succeed…and CRICKETS!

 

So what is it that I think it will take to re-energize the black voter and get them fighting mad? Truly, it isn't rocket science, just a quaint little observation I've made following trending topics. So here it is, ARE YOU READY?

 

President Obama, I think if you want to see the black community get upset, outraged, and ready to do battle; you're going to need a Republican, but preferably a member of the Tea-Party to make some sort of negative comment about Tyler Perry, maybe him portraying Alex Cross in the upcoming James Patterson flick I, ALEX—or better yet, Lion's Gate decision to give Perry his own network; and then follow it up with criticism about the movie "The Help." Then and only then will we see some movement on the political front. But you're going to have to act fast and seize the moment because if those chicks from VH-1 realize that you're getting more attention than them, there may be a SITUATION of epic proportions that may include referring to the first lady as a b@it%h, huge anti-Obama flag earrings, water splashing, glass tossing, and the biggest WMD of all time…T-SHIRT'S declaring you, our beloved president, a non-MF'ing FACTOR!   IJS

 

Much Love, 

 

Tracy

 

Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. Her third novel, The Red Bear Society, is scheduled for a fall 2011 release. For additional information on the author and her work, visit www.TracyLDarity.com

 

 Print on Demand (POD) companies have done what traditional Vanity Presses could not; they have capitalized on the hopes and dreams of aspiring writer's and cut deep into the profits of the big publishing houses. One would think what they have devised is a great business model, but what if I tell you that model is flawed and the demand for POD companies has exceeded their ability to keep up?

 

 First, I'd like to ask users of POD providers if they have a clue as to where their manuscript file is at this very moment. Do you know if your POD is out-sourcing your print orders to other printers? Who is handing distribution of your books? And to my eBook authors, do you know if someone else is selling your eBooks and making all the profit?

 

I recently had a conversation with a representative at the company I use to print my books. The conversation came about after I became engaged in a discussion in one for their community forums. My journey to the forum started simple enough. I offer my debut novel in hardcover format. One day I was on Amazon.com and noticed that someone was selling my hardcover book for $29.95. This was interesting to me for several reasons. One, due to the high cost of generating hardcover books the POD company does not offer distribution services for it, nor does Amazon sell them. As a matter of fact, the POD no longer offer hardcover books as an option for new titles. Two, it was my understanding that only I could order copies of my hardcover version, which is priced at $29.95 for set-up purposes only. So the question arose, how was someone able to sell my hardcover as new, when they should not have access to it.

 

In light of this discovery, I decided to create a sellers account on Amazon and sell the books myself, at the price of $19.95, which is the cost if you order it from my website. Within minutes of being notified that my account was approved and my hardcover was available for sale, I logged into Amazon only to find that the other seller had reduced their price to $15.95. This interested me even more because one, how did they know to out-price me so quickly, and at this price, the seller would not make much profit, if any, on the book based on the POD assumed cost to print it. Prior to this incident with my hardcover I had already become concerned, even suspicious about my book sales; so much so that I had contacted the POD prior, about missing royalties. The packaged response was to provide the date, price, and location of the sales and they would research.

 

On the day I visited the community forum, I wanted to see if there were any topics about royalties, but what I discovered was someone asking about resellers on Amazon.com. I joined the discussion and added my two cents about my hardcover. The following day I logged into my email account and was shocked by the number of replies coming from the discussion. In a nutshell, this is what people were discussing:

 

• Resellers were selling copies of books, and because they are listing them as used, the author would never see a royalty.

• If the reseller actually had new copies, where were they getting them from and was the author being compensated.

• There was huge concern as to who these resellers are and how they are getting so many "used" copies of books written by little to unknown authors.

• Alleged buyers communicating to authors they had purchased their books but the author never seeing royalties for the sales.

• Concern that buyers were complaining about the quality and format of books, to the point that the author felt obligated to replace the book.

 

I decided to re-enter the discussion and share some specific instances I had experienced, i.e. meeting a book club president at an out-of-town signing and having her say that her club had featured my book a few months earlier; noting that the local library had stocked my books at several locations; and other random discussions from people who had contacted me via Facebook, email, and my website to say they had purchased my book(s) and shared their thoughts. Even a sale that showed up the first week on Amazon's new BookScan reports was never materialized (my royalty through Amazon is different than sales from a distributor). I expressed that these instances bothered me because 95% of my book sales to-date are hand-to-hand sales, or from my website where I encourage people to buy from.

 

Once I did this, a slew of responses came from a couple of moderators of the forums bashing me for being gullible, ignorant to the royalty payment guidelines, and expressing that people lie to make authors feel better about their books. It was at this point that a company representative stepped in. The following day I received the call from a company representative. And this is where my own bubble burst.

 

Print on Demand companies is in way over their heads. Although the on-line agreement has a clause indicating they can allow any third party to assist with fulfillment, the truth is only books I order are fulfilled by them. It appears all other orders i.e. a physical bookstore or on-line seller; the book is most likely printed by a third party source. It is then up to that TPS to notify the POD that they have generated a book. There are two huge problems with this arrangement: 1) if the company printing the book never notifies the original POD, the author will never get paid because there are no checks and balances currently in place to track the activity. 2) The printer, at their discretion, can alter the format of the book. By alter, they can change the physical size, reduce the font size, use a poorer quality paper, or choose not to coat the cover.

 

As our discussion went on, nearly every issue raised in the forum made more sense. When asked what could be done to stop this, I was advised that I could turn-off the option to have my book offered through their Expanded Distribution Service. This would mean my book could not be ordered anywhere but Amazon and my personal website. Essentially, with the EDS the book can be made available to anyone claiming to be a book seller, but if the distributor has a deal with another printer to print the book for less, then there is a chance I will never get compensated for the sale. Remember the resellers from Amazon, who claim to have multiple copies of "used" books, well the truth is they don't. If a buyer orders one of their books they figure out a way to get it printed, which may or may not be through the POD I am contracted with. Even more frightening is that Amazon could very well be that reseller since it is a fact that they contact buyers to get books back for this purpose. As it turns out, two weeks earlier someone had ordered a book through Barnes & Noble on-line, and I had not seen the royalty show-up in reports. The rep was able to track the book down, and I was compensated for it. But only because I knew the date, location, etc of the sale.

 

On several occasions I have been contacted via email by overseas printers offering to manufacture my books for less than my POD. In the past I simply sent the emails to Spam. Now I am wondering if these people really have my file and can generate my books, which is a whole other ballgame. This could also explain why some authors are willing to take this route.

 

Back to my hardcover, I explained to the exec that the seller indicated the book was new. I explained to her that I carry a small inventory of my hardcover copies solely for people who prefer that option. In addition, every hardcover I have sold or given away has been autographed. Plus, complimentary books are stamped as such. She offered to order the book from the seller, inspect it, and then mail it to me. She received the book about a week later, brand new, with no autograph. She contacted the seller who informed her that he/she received the book in a box of miscellaneous books that were donated to him/her. Since that was the only copy, they will no longer be offering my books for sale. The fallacy in this, months earlier, the POD announced they were changing how hardcover books would be generated, truth is they are now printed by an outside source. How convenient.

 

It would be easy to say that I should simply find another POD, but based on the conversation they are all working under the same model because no one expected the number of self-publishers, or for the numbers to grow so quickly. Furthermore, the short list of names provided as possible printers, believe it or not, is their top competitors. Really, if I wanted these people printing my books I would have contracted with them. This seemed like the biggest violation of all considering I chose this company after shopping around and deciding they produce the best quality books with better per book pricing. Knowing that someone else is presenting my work in a lesser quality is even more disheartening than knowing my books may be selling at various outlets and I'm not being compensated. If you have a copy of one of my books, turn to the last page and see if there is a barcode. If not, your book was not printed by the company I contracted with, and has not been registered on Bookscan, the service that tracks a large amount of book sales.

 

Now to my eBook authors, don't think for one second that your book is safe and secure on Kindle, Nook, or other devices. Just do your research and you will find that eBook files are easily being converted to .txt files and then reformatted and resold for profit. In some cases, people are reloading the files to Kindle and selling them under their name. (Click here) It is also floating around cyberspace that some authors who only published eBooks are having their work mysteriously popping up on sites for sale as physical print books. If piracy happened in the music industry, and then the movie industry, it is surely taking place in the publishing industry. Bottom line, once that file leaves your hands, it basically becomes a free-for-all for anyone looking to make a quick buck.

 

Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. For more information visit: www.TracyLDarity.com.

Something is seriously wrong in the city where I live and it has nothing to do with the beautiful sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico; the near perfect weather where the sun is said to shine at least 360 days a year; or the fact that for every person you meet you are probably connected to them by at least 3 other people. No, when I speak about something being wrong, I am talking about the lack of black culture being celebrated in a city that celebrates everything.

 

There use to be a time when St. Petersburg, Florida, was considered the retirement capitol, but things have changed and we are experiencing a lot of growth and a lot of energy, particularly in the cultural arts. Yet, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, at a tree-lined park, just blocks from downtown—and a block from Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays, our major league baseball team was scheduled to play later in the day--the 19th annual Juneteenth Festival took place. Juneteenth, Inc., the organization that took over the festival five years ago did a great job in providing entertainment, recreation, and a wide variety of vendors offering something for everyone. The only thing missing were citizens of St. Petersburg, and many of the tourists in the area for summer vacation.

 

Does that last sentence sound familiar, if so, it's probably because you read it in my blog about the 1st annual James Weldon Johnson Festival? What is really going on in our city? If it were a matter of certain people not supporting the event because it celebrates a part of our history that makes them uncomfortable, or because it was held in "South St. Pete," which is code word for the "black" part of town; I could easily scream racism. But what perplexes me is what I see not only at Juneteenth but many events organized by, and used to celebrate, our culture—we, the people being celebrated don't even bother to show up. I go to festivals and various events within the city and most are well attended, some to the tune of ten's of thousand's of people over the course of a 3-day weekend. But the only event in our city that matches those numbers for an event that celebrates who we are; are those held over the Martin Luther King, Jr Day, weekend.

 

Two women stopped at my booth during the Juneteenth event and asked me where the "black" part of town was. They were visiting from out of state and staying at a hotel downtown. After breakfast they started walking, which was how they stumbled upon the festival. (No, there was no literature or marketing material at the hotel, and the concierge service didn't suggest it as something they should do while in town.) I really didn't know how to take the question. I am all about diversity, so the fact that tourist couldn't identify a part of town as being designated for a group of people, is good—right. But on the other hand, it begs the question; do ethnic groups lose their identity when their city becomes a melting pot? Or, is it that we need designated areas as a reminder that we in fact, have a culture that should be celebrated. After I gave them the coordinates of the plot of land known as Midtown, they looked saddened to learn that the park we were in and the festival taking place was actually in the black community. I can only wonder if they were thinking the same as me, what is wrong with this picture.

 

This thing that I speak of seems to be engrained deeper into our community than we may like to believe. Earlier this year Goliath Davis, a top city official, and black man, was fired from his position. He called a midday press conference and two hundred people showed up to hear what he had to say. Yet, a few weeks later the James Weldon Johnson Festival was held at the same location, to celebrate the legacy of the man who composed "Lift Every Voice." Aside from the vendors and staff only a small fraction of that number attended. We encourage our children to develop their talents and strive to be successful, but when it comes time to present them to the world the community support is not there and we ask why. Events like Juneteenth is the place to showcase their talent. It is a collaborative effort and we must all show up and support what is important as much and as often as possible. 

 

Perhaps the focus of our community is simply misplaced and as a result our culture is being ignored and slowly fading from existence. Maybe other people see our lack or interest and participation in things that should be important to us, and think; why should they care if we don't care. Or maybe there is something buried deep in our City's history that is manifesting itself and making us think we have nothing to celebrate. Whatever the reason, we need to figure it out and move beyond it. We have a rich history and a bright future. St. Petersburg is birthing so much talent in various spectrums but our contribution is failing to thrive because it's not being supported by our community. If we aren't willing to collectively shout from the rooftop that we're here and have something to contribute to this city, then we can't complain as we are systematically washed from the landscape.

Much Love,

 

Tracy

 

Tracy L. Darity is the author of He Loves Me He Loves Me Not! and Love…Like Snow In Florida on a Hot Summer Day. For more information, visit www.TracyLDarity.com.