Andrew Toynbee's Blog, page 5

Do Amazon and Createspace rip off Indie publishers with failure to correctly report sales?

Andrew Toynbee:

Anyone else experiencing problems with Createspace? Pass it on!

Originally posted on jeanettevaughan:

Guest post by John. R. Clark, Managing Editor at AgeView Press

When AgeView Press Indie pubbed the book FLYING SOLO in May of 2012, the author, Jeanette Vaughan  immediately began tracking sales.   She heard from excited friends and family who immediately emailed when ordering their copies.  The first sales were off of Createspace’s e-store with the title ID number given to the author.   Then, through Amazon, a week later, when the book went live on the site.  Finally on Kindle, when the ebook format was completed.

“Where, oh where are my royalties?”

Initially, things appeared kosher.    People exclaiming that they had ordered the book, were showing up within a day or two on the electronic royalty reports with a reasaonable accuracy.    But by June and July, sales descrepencies were noted by the author from customers claiming that they had purchased the book directly through Amazon, not an Amazon affiliate.    Many of these sales…

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Cover reveal: ‘A Vengeance of Angels’

This sequel has been a long time coming, but the release date is steadily drawing closer and optimism is growing for a mid-November release.  So different from the release of my first novel, this timetable is holding and everything appears to be on schedule.

‘A Construct of Angels’ – my debut novel – crawled forward in random fits and starts, suffering from a mixture of inexperience and poor planning.

But thanks to my editor, Tara (she of Shaner Media Creations), the timetable she created is keeping me moving steadily forward.

So, in keeping with her timetable, I am now proud to present the cover my second novel, the sequel to ‘A Construct of Angels:’

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Seasoned readers will spot many similarities to the first cover. This is deliberate :D

I asked Ravven to retain some of the original elements in order to provide series continuity. The main character, you will notice, has been replaced with another to reflect the changes in the new storyline.

All being well, I ought to be able to reveal some teasers soon. :D Not yet, though, as my beta-readers are still combing through the MS.

In the meantime, watch this space and:

Thank you all!

WordPress has notified me that I now have 500 lovely followers!

I know you’re all lovely – I’m sure I would have heard if you weren’t. These things get out, you know!

Anyway, this is for all of you, especially those who have followed me since the early days:

Don’t blush. I know you’re out there! :D

So, keep following and reading… plus don’t forget to:

Work in Progress Blog Hop Challenge

I was recently nominated by my more-than-entertaining blogging mate Jon to share my opening sentences with everyone who reads my posts.

People DO read my posts… don’t they? *listens to the keening wind and the rustle of tumbleweed.* Oh well, just me then.

I am to post, as required, the opening sentence from each of the first three chapters of my current WIP, ‘A Vengeance of Angels.’

This is the sequel to my debut novel ‘A Construct of Angels’ and describes the apocalyptic adventures of the Angel-become-mortal, Michael.

Oh, if you’ve already read the first book (which uses Sara Finn’s POV), this story is told from Michael’s POV.

Chapter One:

I was alone, and I was glad of it.

Chapter Two:

The bright beacon that had been the Black Star flared briefly as it swept toward the western horizon.

Chapter Three:

Two weary men – paramedics by the look of their leaf green jumpsuits – trudged wearily through the reception area.

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That’s it! That’s the only peek you’re getting for now. *waves everyone gently back.*

Thanks for nominating me Jon.  Everyone, please go and pay Jumpingfromcliffs a visit. It’s so entertaining, it should be on your bucket list!

Now, in keeping with the blog hop, I now nominate four other bloggers to continue the fun:

Sonya Loveday

Ryan Casey

Michelle Proulx

Jacqui Murray

Have fun, and above all:

 

 

Famous Introverts… really?

I recently happened across another article about famous introverts.

There are more of us out there, than you’d think – some very famous ones too! Julia Roberts and Harrison Ford amongst them.

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US Book Blast! (Limited numbers)

Although we now live in a world of electronic books, there remains a healthy number of people who prefer the smell and feel of real paperbacks (and hardbacks, lets not forget) and would always choose the physical over the virtual.

To that end, I was persuaded to produce a paperback version of  ‘A Construct of Angels’ so that these traditional readers could also enjoy (I hope) my written word.

With the help of my US writing bestie, Sonya Loveday, two boxes of freshly-printed copies have now arrived in the US.

The first fifteen peeps to order one of these books will receive a signed copy, plus bookmark, plus a choice of miniature ‘Construct of Angels’ paperback bling created by Tarnya Rutheford:

This is a one-off offer (for the US) as I’ll be returning to England within the next few days.

I’ll be leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again. :D (That was a free earworm for you to enjoy!)

So, grab ‘em while you can!

Numbers, as I said, are limited.

Click on the Paypal ‘Buy it’ button on the right side of this page (under the book cover) for ordering details.

Happy Reading!

 

 

Fame or fear, that is the question.

Many of us who are writing have probably dreamed about suddenly being catapulted to fame – the sort of fame now enjoyed (endured?) by Joanne Rowling.

But would such a thing be a triumph, or a terror?

For me, I would hate the idea; love the income, fear the price that comes with it.

As an introvert, I would far rather hide in the background and pay an accomplished actor to be ‘me,’ to press the flesh and face the flashes as a blizzard of questions are launched.

I’m happy to think, imagine, dream and type out my thoughts on my current keyboard, from wherever I happen to be in the world.

I have been to exactly two book signings in my life. One was for my fellow writer and Darlington-dweller, Jenna Burtenshaw, the other was for Robin Hobb, one of my favourite fantasy authors.

Although the attendance at Jenna’s signing was a little smaller than Robin’s, I still wondered what it would feel like to be on the opposite side of the table.  It didn’t appeal. Although it would have been nice (I imagined) to speak to people who’d enjoyed my work, the idea of being placed in front of the public sent a cold shiver down my back. I would much rather communicate with an audience on-line than in real life.

Am I alone in this?

Do other writers fear the repercussions of their work achieving a measure of fame?

It’s a question raised by Ben Myers in The Guardian. In the twenty-first century, do writers now have a duty to the public?

If you ask me, I’d rather simply…

The quiet writer

Continuing the theme of shy and introverted authors, I happened upon this article ThisDayLive.

It seems, and this is unlikely to surprise anyone, that introverted thinkers can often go on to become accomplished, or even great writers. The article’s author describes herself as ‘…an introvert. That is what I am wired to be, and to write..’

Can you relate to the issues described here? I certainly can!

The Huffington Post goes on to list sixteen famous faces who were (and still are) considered to be introverts. Some of them might surprise you.

In the meantime, shyness notwithstanding, I intend to:

 

Arguing in favour of the Introvert.

A book by Susan Cain sheds some light on that quiet section of the population known as the ‘Quiet ones.’

Cain seeks to celebrate the quiet, retiring types and asks why society feels the need to push them into the spotlight – a painfully uncomfortable place for the introvert.

In wondering why we celebrate all that is loud and brash, she proposes that we try to embrace the creativity that lies within the quiet thinkers of our civilisation, rather than despoil their qualities by forcibly herding them into ‘learning pods’ in schools and asking what is ‘wrong’ when introverts don’t ambitiously seek wealth and fame like their co-workers.

Even if you don’t feel drawn to read ‘Quiet,’ read Judith Warner’s synopsis and see if you agree with the way this book is leaning.

Go on, don’t be shy! :D

Introverts unite! …quietly and behind closed doors.

 

Createspace – it’s finally happened!

 

Anyone who’s been following my attempts to create a paperback from my eBook will know that I’ve been so very close for such a long, long time. 

But last night, I got confirmation that my first paperback had been despatched by Amazon.

All right, I was the one who’d purchased it, but it was for a friend and voluntary beta-reader in Canada. Thanks Michelle!

Perhaps I ought to call her an omega-reader, because this (he says) is going to be the very last set of changes I will apply to the MS. Discussions with my editor (hello Tara!) place the industry-acceptable rate of errors at 0.015%. Mine is currently averaging 0.005% but typos still get under my skin and I hate them and zey vill.not.be.tolerated!!

Not that I’m obsessive or CDO or anything… >.<

(For those that haven’t seen CDO before, it’s like OCD, but the letters are.in.the.correct.order. As they ought to be. :D )

Aaaaanyway, my first paperback has taken flight and ought to arrive within the week. I wait with baited breath for Michelle’s appraisal before I fix the dratted MS for one final time and close the chapter on the first book. Any remaining errors will have to be flagged up by particularly CDO-inclined readers of the future. I will simply smile quietly and say ‘I left that one in there especially for you, you clever thing.’

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Oh, PS… I clicked ‘order’ on Tuesday evening (GMT), received a shipping notification the following evening and by Thursday afternoon, the book had arrived in Ontario! This was well inside Createspace’s ‘within 7 days’ estimate. Impressive!