G. Michael Vasey's Blog: The Wacky World of Dr. Vasey, page 15

ACX Gets Tyrannical – Warning!

For many years, I have published some of my books as audio books using ACX. I have never had any trouble with them and barely ever log on the website except to check sales from time to time. Apparently, I have sold almost 3000 audiobooks.

In October, I got an email from ACX about ACX University – or something similar. They have a bunch of videos and blogs as resources for authors. That is interesting, I thought and went over to look. I found out they had reintroduced ‘promo codes’ whereby you can give away a copy of your book. They tell you how to do this and suggest you use them with reviewers or as rewards for readers. I decided I would experiment a bit and order promo codes for The Last Observer. As some may recall, I gave out codes for the book to those sending in stories etc. I gave out some 6 codes to various people and the last time I was able to look, 1 code had been redeemed. Not amazing….

I got a bit busy and forgot all about promo codes until Wednesday night when I received this ominous email;

Hello,

Your ACX account has been flagged due to unusual activity concerning the use of your ACX promotional codes. While we support the legitimate efforts of our users to promote their audiobooks, attempting to manipulate the ACX platform and/or ACX programs is not permitted.

As a result, we will no longer provide you with promotional codes to use to promote your ACX projects. Please note that our evaluation process takes multiple criteria into consideration when deciding to place restrictions, and we take action based on those criteria. Going forward, please also make sure that you observe ACX’s guidelines (http://audible-acx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8887).

Failure to meet ACX’s guidelines or agreements may result in restrictions against your account, up to and including termination.

If you would like to review our Legal Contracts and Guidelines, please visit: (https://www.acx.com/help/legal-contracts/200485430 )

Please be advised that this is our final decision and we won’t be offering further insight or action on this matter.

 

Fraud? Me? Never! It isn’t worth my while and why would I do so? I was shocked – trembling in fact. I reacted by exclaiming my innocence and asking for more information. I received this amazing reply from my business partner – ACX,

Hello,

We understand you’re seeking additional information regarding revoked access to your promotional ACX codes. Pursuant to our previous communication, your account was under review for unusual activity. After a full investigation, we can confirm fraudulent use of the promotional codes for your ACX audiobooks.

As a result, we are upholding our previous decision to revoke your promo code access.

Please know that all ACX users are responsible for abiding by ACX’s Legal Agreements. Failure to meet these guidelines can result in restrictions against your account, up to and including termination.

If you would like to review our Legal Contracts and Guidelines, please visit (https://www.acx.com/help/legal-contracts/200485430)

The ACX team has no further information to disclose. This will be our final communication on the matter.

 

Note that I am guilty, convicted and punished for some crime that they will not specify. How so? I only used 6 codes, I have a list of everyone I sent them to and so far as I know (I no longer have access to the promo code area), only 1 was redeemed. I was livid – still am! How dare a company accuse me of something and then say they won’t discuss it with me?

So I googled.

And discovered I wasn’t the only baffled and irate ACX user…… Check this out

There are other such streams of anguished ACX users on Reddit and other boards.

So, over the weekend, I have continued to email ACX saying it was unacceptable and demanding more information. Each time, I got this lovely response,

Hello Gary,

We understand you’re seeking additional information regarding access to Promotional Codes for your ACX account. Promotional Codes are a benefit to eligible ACX users per our Legal Agreements (https://www.acx.com/help/legal-contracts/200485430), as well as our User Conduct and Content Acceptance Guidelines (https://audible-acx.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8887). Factors that result in accounts not being eligible for this feature include misuse of Promo Codes, not observing ACX’s residency restrictions, publishing content that infringes upon our content guidelines, and more.

We are upholding our previous decision to revoke your access to the Promo Code tool.

If you would like to review our Legal Contracts and Guidelines, please visit www.acx.com/legal. ;

The ACX team has no further information to disclose. This will be our final communication on the matter.

Warm Regards!

 

Warm Regards?! Really?????

The last 3 emails I have sent asking what caused it, asking for clarification, and so on have not even merited a reply. Now I don’t know about you but ACX isn’t a company I or anyone would want to do business with if this is how they behave? I would suggest anyone thinking about audio books – look for an alternate provider as ACX plainly believe themselves to be a monopoly and not answerable to anyone.

I am yet to discover exactly what it is I am supposed to have done that they term fraud – as are all of the others who suddenly got this tyrannical email this last week.

As for the promo codes – I wouldn’t use them now even if they changed their minds. If I could, I’d unpublish my books so they never receive another dime in revenue from my work but am stuck in a 7 year agreement – beside, the voice talent needs to get paid too.

So, I’m doing this – writing about it – and asking you all to share this everywhere please….. it may help and if not, it might stop YOU from being on the receiving and of ACX abuse.

 

 

The post ACX Gets Tyrannical – Warning! appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

The Train Ride by G. Michael Vasey, Read by Alan Philip Ormond

The story appears in My Haunted Life – The Extreme Edition…..

Buy the book available in Kindle, Paperback and Audio book….

The post The Train Ride by G. Michael Vasey, Read by Alan Philip Ormond appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

Japan and Sylvian…. Amazing Music

It was a gloomy afternoon spent playing Dungeons and Dragons somewhere in Birmingham. Steve put on a record which initially I barely noticed but then began to focus on. It was probably the best thing I had heard in years and it was Gentlemen wear Polaroids by Japan. I promptly went out and bought it and spent hours playing it over and over again singing along with David Sylvian. It was unique. I bought Quiet Life and the earlier albums too in the coming weeks. A few years later, in Glasgow, I went to see them at the Glasgow Apollo. On my own. No one else seemed to like them but I had learned my lesson back in 1977 when I decided not to go see Bolan play because no one would go with me…… I never got another chance. So, I went and I marveled at just how bloody amazing Japan were. It wasn’t just Sylvian’s voice, but Karn’s amazing fretless bass, the drumming and the synths….. sheer brilliance. Years later, I bought Tin Drum – I didn’t like it as much as Polaroids but I did wear out the tape!

Japan split up just as they started to have success. Since then, I have followed David Sylvian who is an under rated song writer and musician in my opinion. He is reclusive, appears to care not about fame and fortune making avant garde music that gets more and more minimal as the years go by. Yet, he has made some indisputable classics like Orpheus, Forbidden Colours, Red Guitar, and so many more. I go through David Sylvian phases where I listen to nothing else but him. I am in one right now. If you have never heard any of his solo material some of it is out there and takes a listen or two but just take a listen to Orpheus….

 

This is music with depth and lyrics to make you think – each a masterpiece….

One of my favorites is the song Do you know me now?. So much so, I may even make a version of it if I can actually do it justice…..

 

 

The post Japan and Sylvian…. Amazing Music appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

The Cycle

These eyes look as vision fades

Into darkened, dampened forest glades

Russet hues and yellows burn

As Fall takes its three-month  turn

Towards the dark of winter’s cold

The cycle of life to death to life

The way of all things we are told

In myth and legend’s that foretell strife

We are but passing flotsam

Cast upon a naked shoreline

Silently mouthing the words ‘I am’

Consciously murmuring in time

To the mood-swelled tidal forces

In an early primeval dawning

As the heated blood now courses

Pumped through growing limbs entwining

Our everlasting souls soaring

To find the Sun and its nourishing light

In which to find our way through second sight

Back home

 

 

 

 

The post The Cycle appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

The Millennial

I remember going to school to get an education

Now they go for an indoctrination

Freedom is besieged by the enemy within

The key to acceptance now is judgement

To crucify another’s rights to a life style

What right have you to do this?

First off, judge yourself and understand

Ideology has poisoned the waters of your life

An unwillingness to think

No idea how to face the truth

A focus on the outer other

As opposed to your personal inner

And in the cleverness of your stupidity

You have condemned yourselves

With confidence in your idiocy

You have marked yourself out

As a follower, a zealot

Pushing an agenda

Earning brownie points

Your rottenness presented

As morality posturing

For all to see

 

The post The Millennial appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

Blame it on Climate Change…

I’m not selling as many books recently. I blame climate change. After all, it is the thing to blame these days. The unassailable truth that climate change is the biggest, ugliest threat to everyone cannot be argued against. So, yes, climate change is slowing sales of my books and it has to stop!

I read an article the other day that really brought home this blame on climate mentality of the modern world. It was about aging bridges across the US. The story was about how these are not being properly maintained but…. with climate change, these bridges were bound to fail and cost lives! Of course. It surely couldn’t be a maintenance issue could it? Nah – climate. Then there are the wildfires in CA. Climate change? No – an appalling failure of politicians to manage resources properly… but climate change is more convenient. It supports the narrative and there isn’t anything I can do to change it. Here is a story in Forbes that describes the CA issue better than me.

I do sometimes wonder if we did in fact slip into a parallel universe courtesy of the Hadron Collider, for the level of idiocy, stupidity and lack of any common sense appears to be exponentially rising. Especially among so called millennials who think Communism a better system according to recent polls (I read somewhere last night.) These people believe anything having lost any semblance of a brain in what must be an AOC-like evolutionary pathway to hell. The take what they are told as gospel truth never to be doubted and… if you have the gall to disagree you are racist, sexist, fascist or all three. Thank God, here in central Europe, the youth are a bit more realistic – possibly because they experienced communism first hand. But of course, the real reason for this rash of stupidity is down to … climate change. It has to be right?

The US and the UK now lead the world in silliness. Kids on campus hearing Obamas words about illegal immigration can’t believe that and instead think the words and policy belong to Trump. In the UK, I predict 5 more year of BREXIT as the election produces a no majority for any party followed by 6 months of infighting to create a Government. Why anyone really wants to deprive their kids of an opportunity to live and work in another culture is beyond me but its probably down to climate change I suspect.

Meanwhile, audio book sales look strong – see people can’t be bothered to think, imagine or work at all. They want it on a plate with no work. Climate change. Damned climate change.

BTW – as an example, I was recently informed by an extinction rebellion cultist and eco fascist that the evil oil industry should be shut down. But, said I, you are wearing plastic clothing, holding a plastic iPad and living with plastic carpets and furniture… I mean, where do you think plastic comes from? I asked. A plastics factory, he said. Otherwise known as an oil refinery, I replied. He looked shocked, his eyes glazed over before he said…. 97% of scientists say it is so and turned away…… Climate change again.

 

The post Blame it on Climate Change… appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

Islands

 

[image error]

The music floats on aural highways

Conjuring a mood and kindling memories

A certain sadness creeping in

Knowing only I experience this feeling

In exactly this way in this moment

Since slowly passed away

Your words linger and may charm or sting

Depending on the mood you bring

The body language can also be read

You are a book that emanates from a hole in your head

But I cannot truly understand you

No matter what words you say

I am an island, a castaway

I am God’s joke – I hear him chuckle

Knowing that I can never share

Never know how you truly feel

Never know if you really care

You are an island, faraway

A distant shore seen through the haze

Untouched save by the waves

That surround us all

Lapping at our lonely shores

 

[image error]

 

The post Islands appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

Free Halloween Gift!

You all know how into the paranormal I am with the website My Haunted Life Too and my 20 odd books on the topic! Well, I’m also into Halloween of course and to celebrate Halloween, I am doing two things.

An audio book give away of my exciting novella about the nature of reality and magic – The Last Observer. Narrated by Weird Darkness’ Darren Marlar, this is a $20 value gift. All you have to do is the following,

Submit your paranormal experience to me at My Haunted Life Too or,
Go to Facebook, like the My Haunted Life Too page and sent me a message on messenger letting me know.


 On October 27th for 5-days you can grab the Kindle version of my Halloween Vault of Terror book for just 99 cents or 99 pence – just go to Amazon and order it during that period.

[image error]

Watch out for some other giveaways and promotions coming up …..

Please do also sign up for the newsletter – I won’t spam you….

The post Free Halloween Gift! appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

Quantum Magic and The Elements

Looking for a fast-paced, thriller full of real magic, twists and turns, that will keep you reading beyond bedtime? Try The Last Observer and its’ prequel The Lord of the Elements….

Here is what ‘Vine Voice’ Bonnie Cehovet has to say about The Last Observer…

I found this to be an incredible book, with a strong plot, well defined characters, and a very in-depth understanding of the material discussed (quantum physics, reality, the power of observation and more). It so reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes era story, with its twists and turns. I am sure that I will find the need to read this story again and again!

[image error]

And here is what Paul Hilton has to say about The Lord of the Elements…

 

A great read for anyone who enjoys occult fiction. A splendid follow up to the Last Observer which I can highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one.

[image error]

I re-read both the other night – yes, I am planning the third part of the trilogy – and I have to say, I enjoyed my own books!!!

The post Quantum Magic and The Elements appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.

A Little Bit of Toast?

Many, many moons ago, in a far off Universe and another life, I was stage manager at Aston University Student’s Union. We occasionally held mid week concerts featuring local talent and it was during one of these that I met a band called Street band.  Street band were professional, banged out great music and fun to be around. We hired the band a few times and I got to know them pretty well including their manager and front man – a young man by the name of Paul Young. I liked them so much that when asked to organize an Aston Geology party, we hired…. Street band and had fun all evening. I recall, they brought toast.

Toast became their defining moment as a band. It was their big hit. But unlike the rock n roll they did so well, it was a novelty song and while I was pleased for them to have success, I was a bit disappointed by the song. Not long after, they split up. A bit later Paul Young emerged as a solo artist and I never saw him again. I do remember him quite well though as being a lot of fun and of course, the women all swooned around him but he wasn’t cocky about it. I loved his voice and I enjoyed his early singles.

[image error]

I just googled him – he is 66 years old and looks it. Time flies.

The post A Little Bit of Toast? appeared first on The Magical World of G. Michael Vasey.