Jan Springer's Blog, page 13
October 2, 2014
Is Amazon a Threat to our First Amendment rights?
Is Amazon a Threat to our First Amendment rights? (@Suzdemello @MFRW_ORG #ellorascave #notchilled)
Amazon is known for its ruthless business practices—it doesn’t merely squeeze competition, it strangles it until it dies.
Amazon currently sells 40% of all new books sold in the USA. Their percentage of the market in ebooks is even larger—perhaps 66% according to the above-cited Salon.com article.
Amazon is not merely a book seller, but a publisher, and it favors its own imprints and minimizes the ability for readers to find its competitors. The most famous case on point is that of Hachette. Check this URL for Stephen Colbert’s clips on the issue: http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/search?keywords=Hachette
And the below is quoted from a letter sent by a group of authors to Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and its BOD:
About six months ago…Amazon began sanctioning Hachette authors’ books. These sanctions included refusing preorders, delaying shipping, reducing discounting, and using pop-up windows to cover authors’ pages and redirect buyers to non-Hachette books.
These sanctions have driven down Hachette authors’ sales at Amazon.com by at least 50 percent and in some cases as much as 90 percent. These sales drops are occurring across the board: in hardcovers, paperbacks, and e-books. (http://www.authorsunited.net/)
Well-known is Amazon’s dislike of sexy covers, adult-oriented books and erotica; it seems to especially target purveyors of steamy books. Though Amazon touts its independent publishing program as a boon for writers, many indie published authors, especially in erotic romance, complain that Amazon’s search engine has made it difficult if not impossible for readers to find their books. The Kindle Unlimited program has cut further into their book revenues. Ellora’s Cave, one of the most prominent publishers of steamy and erotic romance on the web, has downsized radically, citing a massive drop in Amazon sales of its books as the reason.
The loyalty of many customers to Amazon is misplaced. For example, Amazon often does not feature the best online price for a book or other item. A couple of cases in point:
On 30 Sept, the price of one of my shorties, Highland Vampire, on Amazon was $2.51. The price at Harlequin’s site was $2.39.
Being the daughter of Brits, I’m a tea drinker and lately have been into using loose teas (they really do make a better cuppa). Initially I had been purchasing from Amazon—isn’t that the place we’ve all become accustomed to checking first? Then I went to the Twinings Tea site and found that I’d been grotesquely overpaying. My fave Darjeeling at Amazon costs $8.24 and it’s an “add-on item,” which is some sort of irritating practice at Amazon—I couldn’t get the tea without buying other stuff, and I couldn’t find a work-around for that bit of Amazonian weirdness.
The same tea is almost half the price–$4.49—at Twinings.
Like many, I have come to rely on Amazon for so much! I listen to music on my Amazon music player on both laptop and cellphone, and download music from Amazon as well. I’m an Amazon affiliate. I also buy books for my Kindle Paperwhite, which I love, from Amazon.
But maybe it’s time to cut the cord. Why should I fund an entity that seeks to exploit me, maybe even put me out of business?
I’ll probably take down my Amazon affiliate ads—that won’t hurt, as they’ve never earned me a penny. I’ve changed my email signature line, which used to direct folks to my Amazon author pages, to instead include my website and blog. Other changes will be harder.
I’m an Ellora’s Cave author. I also have books placed with two other publishers that have disappointed me in myriad ways—see these links:
http://www.harlequinlawsuit.com/ and scroll down to #9 at
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194729–scroll.
So I want to go indie. But Createspace and KDP are fabulous platforms for self-publishing. How ethical is it, given my concerns, to use those platforms?
And beyond my personal worries, there’s the greater problem. Amazon sells a huge number of books, films, music and other creative and factual works.
Should one entity control so much of what goes into our minds and thoughts?
About the Author:
Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written seventeen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s held the positions of managing editor and senior editor, working for such firms Totally Bound, Liquid Silver Books and Ai Press. She also takes private clients.
Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists.
A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.
–Find her books at http://www.suzdemello.com
–For editing services, email her at suzdemello@gmail.com
–Befriend her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SuzDeMello, and visit her group page at https://www.facebook.com/redhotauthorscafe
–She tweets @Suzdemello
–Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/suzdemello/
–Goodreads: http://bit.ly/SuzATGoodreads
–Her current blog is http://www.TheVelvetLair.com
August 31, 2014
Labor Day Weekend Sale on Jan Springer ebooks!
Hi!
I’m throwing a Labor Day Weekend Sale over at All Romance ebooks.
JAN SPRINGER EBOOKS Up to 60% OFF!
http://smarturl.it/janspringersale
HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!
JAN
August 30, 2014
New Release! Bared to Him by Jan Springer, Paranormal Shifter
Now available
Amazon | ARe | Smashwords | Nook | Apple
A Tentacles Shape Shifter Erotic Romance
Human by day, and a tentacle shape shifter by night, sexy Gray Wagner, is the last male that Miranda Bolton dreams of falling in love with. He’s an irritating, arrogant male who teases her to no end. Due to her ancestry, Miranda knows she has a chance at becoming a shifter just like Gray. Alone with him, travelling the high seas on a yacht, Gray suddenly becomes the only male she wants to mate with, and she’s going to gets what she wants…
Alaskan custom boat maker, Gray Wagner, promised Miranda’s dad that he would keep his daughter safe during their weeklong ocean voyage to attend a mutual friend’s wedding in California, but Miranda’s succulent shifter scent is driving Gray to distraction. He knows he shouldn’t be thinking about doing all the dirty and delicious things he wants to do to her, but all his promises to Miranda’s father disintegrate when Miranda shifts and Gray goes primal…
Sequel to "Passionate Ink" (Ellora's Cave) - Find Catalina and Calder's story here
Passionate Ink
Jan Springer
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Line: Twilight - Shapeshifter/Tattoo/Tentacle fetish/Erotic Romance
Book length: Short novel
Formats: Ellora's Cave | Nook | Nook UK | Kobo | ibooks | ARe | Kindle
Tattoo artist Catalina Brown falls head-over-orgasms for the stranger who asks for a tentacle tattoo on his…most sensitive body part.
Normally mixing business with pleasure isn't her thing, but he’s a sexual magnet she’s instantly drawn to, particularly after Cat experiences a wicked-hot artistic high while tattooing his every succulent inch. It all seems too good to be true.
Octoposeidon shapeshifter Calder Croft catches the female’s succulent scent when she passes his California marina, and he can’t ignore the way she fires his blood. After meeting her, he’s stunned to discover Cat has no idea she’s a shifter about to come into her Change.
It takes all his self-control to keep from ravishing the sexy woman right on the spot.Calder has to tell Cat the truth about her heritage. She’ll either accept her birthright as a shifter—or succumb to madness, forever losing their chance at love.
August 29, 2014
Go get them Tentacles! Bared to Him a Bestseller!
Squeeeeing! Bared to Him is a Bestseller over at All Romance ebooks!
NEW RELEASE!
Bared to Him
A Tentacle Shifter Erotic Romance.
Alaskan Tentacle Shifter Gray Wagner is the last male that boat-builder Miranda Bolton
dreams about falling in love with. Until she begins to fantasize about all the naughty things he can do to her…
~*~
A Tentacles Shape Shifter Erotic Romance
Human by day, and a tentacle shape shifter by night, sexy Gray Wagner, is the last male that Miranda Bolton dreams of falling in love with. He’s an irritating, arrogant male who teases her to no end. Due to her ancestry, Miranda knows she has a chance at becoming a shifter just like Gray. Alone with him, travelling the high seas on a yacht, Gray suddenly becomes the only male she wants to mate with, and she’s going to get what she wants…
Alaskan custom boat maker, Gray Wagner, promised Miranda’s dad that he would keep his daughter safe during their weeklong ocean voyage to attend their friend’s Calder and Catalina’s wedding in California, but Miranda’s succulent shifter scent is driving Gray to distraction. He knows he shouldn’t be thinking about doing all the dirty and delicious things he wants to do to her, but all his promises to Miranda’s father disintegrate when Miranda shifts and Gray goes primal…
Amazon | ARe | Smashwords | Nook | Apple
Bared to Him Coming Soon to: Spunky Girl, Kobo and Google Play
Bared to Him is also in the Wicked Hot Box Set! Details coming soon…
Bared to Him is a sequel to Passionate Ink
For Catalina & Calder’s story – click here
Passionate Ink
Jan Springer
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Line: Twilight – Shapeshifter/Tattoo/Tentacle fetish/Erotic Romance
Book length: Short novel
Formats: Ellora’s Cave | Nook | Nook UK | Kobo | ibooks | ARe | Kindle
Tattoo artist Catalina Brown falls head-over-orgasms for the stranger who asks for a tentacle tattoo on his…most sensitive body part.
Normally mixing business with pleasure isn’t her thing, but he’s a sexual magnet she’s instantly drawn to, particularly after Cat experiences a wicked-hot artistic high while tattooing his every succulent inch. It all seems too good to be true.
Octoposeidon shape shifter Calder Croft catches the female’s succulent scent when she passes his California marina, and he can’t ignore the way she fires his blood. After meeting her, he’s stunned to discover Cat has no idea she’s a shifter about to come into her Change.
It takes all his self-control to keep from ravishing the sexy woman right on the spot.Calder has to tell Cat the truth about her heritage. She’ll either accept her birthright as a shifter—or succumb to madness, forever losing their chance at love.
HAPPY READING!
jan
July 30, 2014
Last Days of Spice Box
THE LAST DAYS OF SPICE BOX ARE HERE!
A NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling box set, 16 books in 1! BUY NOW before July 31st!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J3CEULQ…
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spice-box-ac-james/1119281208
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/spice-box/id866038727
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/spice-box
Spice Box: Sixteen Steamy Stories
Available ONLY until July 31st!
July 24, 2014
Attracted to Her (Ellora’s Cave) is now on Apple iTunes!
Now Available!
Ellora’s Cave | Nook | Kobo | ARe | Kindle | Apple iTunes
Millionaire sex-toy creator Aniston is on a mission. She’s going to crack the icy exterior of her best customer’s assistant Madilyn and melt her heart, if it’s the last thing she does. Her tempting strategy includes her glass chateau in the Colorado Rockies, a bit of bondage, toys she’s whipped up especially for Madilyn and lots of erotic pleasure.
Relationship-shy Madilyn has kept her intense attraction to Aniston hidden behind her cool exterior. After a disastrous breakup with her first—and only—girlfriend, she’s not interested in risking her heart again, no matter how sexy the other woman is.
When she discovers Aniston skinny-dipping in her luxurious swimming pool, Madilyn is faced with a decision—to jump into a relationship all the way, or leave without knowing if the sizzling chemistry between them could lead to much more.
Inside scoop: These passionate women experiment with many sensual treats, including a little light bondage.
Author Note: Madilyn also appears in “Attracted to Him”
A Romantica® GLBT female/female erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
A Bestseller! Jewel’s Menage at All Romance ebooks!
Exciting News! Jewel’s Ménage has just hit the Bestseller List at All Romance ebooks!
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-jewel039smenage-1575229-340.html
She thought she would never trust a man again…
Until one rainy night two hunky truckers come to Jewel’s rescue, igniting delicious desires for a scorching ménage a trios. When she can no longer deny her cravings, she decides it’s time to return to the heat and passion of The Key Club.
Bring Your Own Toys Ménage Night is coming to The Key Club and truckers Adam and Carson are going to romance Jewel with an erotic evening filled with sultry pleasure toys, silky bondage ribbons and plenty of red-hot love.
HAPPY READING!
Jan
July 22, 2014
The Key Club 2 is now available at Amazon!
Another Squeeeee!
“The Key Club 2″ is available at Amazon and will be available at other venues soon!
The Key Club Box Set 2
Step into The Key Club where two men are hotter than one and themed Ménage nights will bring your intimate fantasies to life.
Includes the first five stories in The Key Club series; Jewel’s Ménage, Sophie’s Ménage plus Best Sellers A Merry Ménage Christmas, Marley’s Ménage, and Ménage.
Please note: Contains a partial catalog of Jan’s backlist with Kindle links for your convenience. Enjoy!
Happy Reading!
jan
Jewel’s Menage – The Key Club 5 is available!
Squeeeeing! “Jewel’s Menage” Book 5 of the Key Club series is now available in limited release!
Jewel’s Ménage
The Key Club 5
Publisher: Spunky Girl
Now Available: Amazon | Smashwords | ARe | Google Play |
Coming Soon: Nook | | Apple | Kobo
*NEW*
Show more
Show less
She thought she would never trust a man again…
Until one rainy night two hunky truckers come to Jewel’s rescue, igniting delicious desires for a red-hot ménage. When she can no longer deny her cravings, she knows it’s time to return to the heat and passion she once knew at The Key Club.
Bring Your Own Toys Ménage Night is coming to The Key Club and truckers Adam and Carson are going to romance Jewel with an erotic evening filled with sultry pleasure toys, silky bondage ribbons and plenty of red-hot love.
Happy Reading!
jan
July 10, 2014
New York Times & USA Today Bestseller for SPICE BOX!
OMG! We did it!
THANK YOU to all the readers who got Spice Box onto the New York Times AND USA Today Best Seller List! We couldn’t have done it without you. You guys rock! Your support means so much to us and allows us to keep writing more books for you.
SPICE BOX IS:
# 13 USA TODAY BESTSELLER
#6 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
I have had a great experience working with a wonderful group of authors in Spice Box. Congratulations to all our Spice Box Authors! You guys are awesome!
Spice Box will be available until the end of July so for folks who haven’t already done so, grab your copy now. “Sex With the Ex” is my contribution to the box. Enjoy!
Get ready for my next release “Jewel’s Ménage” part of The Key Club series releasing from Spunky Girl Publishing sometime within the next week or two!
HAPPY READING!
jan springer
