S. Cu'Anam Policar's Blog: Cu's Journey From Aspiring to Published, page 5

What Are Your Thoughts: Digital Rights Management

Discussion Topic: Digital Rights Management (DRM)

This is a topic I seem to find myself talking to someone or another about almost daily. So I figured I would give my opinion on it.

I’m not sure if Rise of Xosha has a DRM on it. I think it does, but it’s only the Amazon digital that does if it does.

The initial point of DRM was to prevent people from pirating books, but there is technology that makes them invalid. Not only can people simply scan a paperback or hard cover and make a pdf which can then be converted via Calibre or some other converting program into other ebook formats, there are DRM removal tools that can take a kindle book, an epub, a pdf, hell a library LIT file, and have the DRM stripped off it in less than a second.

Everyone who has had a book pirated from them has blamed Smashwords because to get on their distributing list (where your book goes to B&N, Kobo, Sony, etc), there can NOT be a DRM on the file. So it has always been naturally assumed that if a book got pirated it was because the file came from Smashwords. There’s a big flaw in that theory though. Indies and Self Pubs are the only ones who can publish through Smashwords.. So if ALL the pirated books come from Smashwords, then how did the Big 6 authors’ books get pirated? That in itself proves that Smashwords, while the probably the most frequently used to pirate, is NOT the only one being pirated from.

ALL Digital books can have a DRM put on them. Amazon does it them self, but there’s an Adobe program that will place a DRM on Epubs and PDFs. Apple has one for iTunes, and Marlin Trust Management Organization has one for Android products. Which once again proves my point on how easy it is to remove said DRM to pirate a book, if that’s the person’s goal.

So with that in mind, Let’s look at the Pros and Cons of the DRM

PRO

DRM protects the writer, the publishing company, and the e-books from unlawful sharing

CON

With the invention of DRM Removal Programs, the DRM’s ONE Pro is pretty much null and void now isn’t it? Bet your ass 99% of famous authors use DRMs on ALL outlets their ebooks are sold on, yet go randomly pick a famous author and go to any pirating site and you’ll find every book they’ve ever written.

CON

Buyers are limited to reading particular e-books using only certain devices

This DOES hold true. ALL ebooks I’ve gotten off Amazon whether free, gifted, or bought, I’ve been confined to reading on my Kindle for PC app since I don’t have wifi to have the books transferred to my kindle and no wifi means I can’t have it sent directly to the kindle. Amazon is the ONLY place I’ve had this problem (most books on B&N do NOT have a DRM on them unless the author places it there them self, and since most published on B&N went through smashwords, well you know how that works)

CON

DRMs are NOT free. They cut into an author’s royalties. Authors go look even on Amazon, that’s why they give you the option on whether or not to apply it.

CON

DRMs glitch A LOT. Most Customer service incidents involving an ebook not working or vanishing off an ereader is due to the DRM glitching

CON

Most people who have had an issue with a DRM, will think twice before purchasing another book with a DRM

I’m not trying to tell anyone not to put a DRM on their books. I’m not telling them to either. I just want people to know the facts before they pretty much waste money. DRMs no longer do the job they were invented to do. The proof of that can be found on pirating sites if you look.

What are your thoughts on this topic? This is a discussion so comments are more than welcome >^.^<

The Diamond Isles Teaser #3

Once Again , Rose found herself in some strange place. This time there was simply nothing. A black space, void of anything.

                “They will come soon. They will come and they will change everything. Death. Destruction. Disorder. Only you can save them.”

                She turned slowly in a circle looking for the source of the melodic whispers. “Save who?”

                “The horde Rose. You are their only chance.”

                “What must I do?” Rose’s voice was frantic.

                “You will know when it is time. You must tell the one you trust most.”

                “Tell him what?!” Rose growled in frustration.

                “Twenty four will leave, only two will see this story to its very end.”

                “That doesn’t make any sense!” Rose spat as she thumped her tail down.

                “Twenty four will leave to search for Xosha. Twenty three will touch its shores. Two will see the story to the end. Prepare yourself Chosen One. Guard your heart from the devastation that is to come.”

                “Stop speaking in riddles!” Rose roared.

                “Not all allies are friends, not all friends are true, and some enemies will in turn be your greatest allies…”

Message from the Soap Box: Censorship or Illegal Content?

Topic: Censorship or Illegal Content?

With all the facebook posts, blog posts and other comments made on this topic in the last week, you guys should have known it wouldn’t be too long before I would put my two cents in on the matter. Why? Because I don’t even write Erotica… But I got a message from Amazon about their upgrading their Terms of Service (ToS) two months ago. Just like ALL Authors get whenever Amazon gets it in their head to change something. Whether anyone aside from me READ the email is beyond me. I know I did.

Amazon is NOT pulling all Erotica off the shelves. Amazon did give a warning in their last ToS upgrade email, that books that violated the new ToS would be removed. You guys have had TWO MONTHS to fix the things Amazon LISTED in the email. You really have no business whining and complaining and calling the removal a witch hunt when it’s your own fault for not correcting the things that would get your book removed.

Since you apparently didn’t read the ToS update email I’ll list the things that potentially got your book removed.

1) Titles that can be miscateorized. (Daddy’s girl, Mommy’s Favorite Pet, etc) Titles like these can EASILY glitch and show up in a search for children’s books.

2) Being there is no way on certain websites (like amazon) to BLOCK specific content (Like you can adult filter Smashwords to prevent seeing any erotica books at all), covers that depict gentalia, compromising positions, etc were the FIRST thing to be removed. Amazon, Kobo, B&N, do NOT have a filter system like Smashwords does to prevent a book from showing to certain people.

3) Inappropriate titles. If your book title sounds like a low budget porno, chances are it’s getting pulled. Erotica is NOT an outlet or a good clause to right hard core porn without pictures. I’m not a fan of the genre, but I’ve read enough DECENT Erotica to know people don’t want erotica that holds no storyline. If you have more sex then story, you might want to make a screen play and find a porno director instead of tainting an entire genre with pictureless porn

What content can get your book removed?

1) Adults having sex with minors. This is against the law in the real world, it’s safe to assume it’s also against the law when writing a book

2) Bestiality. We aren’t red necks, our animals are not our lovers x.X When it comes to Paranormal Erotica, this is still an iffy subject. It might be safer to write the scene assumed then graphically go into someone screwing their werewolf, shifter, or whatever lover in their animal form

3) Incest.  This seems to be a favorite among the low budget wannabe porno writers. I mean personally, I don’t have a problem reading it, however a book who’s title displays it will be quickly over looked by most people. I know I’m not fixing to read (Gangbang with Daddy) and yes that is a title of an actual book that was removed from Amazon.

Really the only people who read the afore mentioned material, are people who do those things themselves. Do you REALLY want your fan base to consist of pedophiles, zoophiles, and parents who molest their kids?

Also a nice bold disclaimer in your blurb letting it be known who this book is aimed at helps as well.. So does categorizing your book properly. The culprits behind all these new rules and whatnot labeled their erotic books as children’s books, and thus caused a problem for everyone who writes the genre.

Instead of trying to get everyone to sign petitions crying censorship when you did not read the new ToS update isn’t going to do anything but bring more problems on yourself and other erotica authors. It would be much easier to contact amazon and find out WHY your book was removed and what can be done to get your book back on the site.

As to those assuming Kobo is just not dealing with Indie and Self Pubs anymore. Did you even read their disclaimer? IF they pull them all down, it will only be until they can sort through them and get them categorized correctly. WH Smith is completely offline (well was last time I checked) and they  are PRIVATELY owned. It’s THEIR choice whether or not they want to sell indie and self pubs.

And have any of you claiming all indie and self pub books are gone from kobo checked to see? I’m an Indie and my book is still listed http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-rise-of-xosha-prequel.

Stop claiming there’s a witch hunt when there isn’t. I can show you LISTS of Erotica books on B&N, Kobo, and Amazon that are still there. If yours isn’t, you might want to find out what ToS you violated.

The Diamond Isles Teaser #2

He had been floating for a few hours, the hot spring was his favorite place to be, especially when it was empty. He never saw the black tail snake around his foot, but he felt the tug that yanked him under the water’s surface.

He came up sputtering and gasping for air, and it took him a few minutes to hear the melodic laughter coming from the female beside him.

“Obsidian!” Pyre exclaimed in shock.

She let her sleek ebony frame float over to him as she continued to giggle. “I’m sorry Pyre. But that was just too easy!”

He huffed and turned his back to her as his tail swished angrily.

Obsidian swam up beside him and wrapped her tail with his before placing a soft lick to the corner of his maw. “Aww Pyre, don’t be such a sour puss.. Though I must say, you’re kinda cute when you pout.”

“Hmmpf!” Was all Pyre replied as he drifted away from her.

“You better not be breaking up with me, Pyre Drakul!” Obsidian called, a hint of actual panic laced in her voice.

It was his turn to chuckle. “I’m angry, not stupid Sidian.”

He glided back over to her and nipped her neck softly. “Have you seen Ocee today?”

Obsidian’s gaze narrowed. “Are you stalking that freak of nature again? You know everyone’s talking about your dad taking her in and raising her. When he finds out about Oceanus entwining tails with her by the Opal Mountains I bet he gives her the boot from the horde like he should have to begin with.”

Pyre’s emotions were conflicted. It was his fault Rose had lived and had been raised by his family. No one but his family knew, and he really wanted to keep it that way. “I didn’t ask about the freak Sid.. I just wanted to give Ocee his hatch day gift.”

The sound of laughter drifted over to them growing louder by the second. Obsidian’s voice dropped, but the venom of her words was still thick. “Let’s go.. The water’s about to be contaminated…”

As Pyre followed Obsidian out of the hot spring, he had to wonder if she was only letting him court her in some lame attempt to make Oceanus jealous. He also wondered if she noticed that Oceanus saw nothing when he was with Rose except for the alabaster scales of his adopted sibling.

The Diamond Isles TEASER

                He had always been told it was dangerous to fly too close to the gateway, and so he landed several yards away from where the ground and mountains started to fade into the nothingness beyond.

He found it odd that the hatchling made no noise. No whimpers or cries for its mother’s warmth. When he found her, he understood why.

“Oh no…” He ran the rest of the way to the small hatchling. Her scales were no longer white, they were tinged pink as her blood pooled under and over her. Her underbelly was bruised, and the small hatchling was still.

Pyre let his body curl around the small dragonette lending her his warmth as he waited for his brother and father.

The wait was longer than he would have wanted. It was a chilly night and sleep had beckoned to Pyre’s young body. He had dozed off curled around the hatchling, one wing draped over it, concealing it completely.

“Pyre…” Toqu’s rough whisper instantly roused the whelp from his nap.

“Father.. I’m sorry, we couldn’t sleep so we can out here and we heard her parents and…” Pyre mumbled sleepily.

Toqu nodded. “I know. Oceanus told me. Let me see her, son.”

Pyre reluctantly stood up and moved away from the small dragonette who immediately started to shiver as soon as Pyre’s warmth was removed.

Oceanus growled low in his throat. “We can’t let them get away with this father! This is wrong. She was new and innocent!”

“Relax Oceanus. They will be disciplined for this travesty. We’ll take her home with us and we’ll keep her safe.” Toqu stated.

“I bet they didn’t even give her a name. They just looked at her and threw her away…” Oceanus hissed.

“Then give her a name.” Toqu chuckled.

Before Oceanus could open his mouth, Pyre did. “Rose. It’s kinda morbid but the way her scales are stained makes them look like rose quartz. Can we name her Rose, father?”

Toqu nodded. “I think that’s a wonderful name for her Pyre…”

Special Rise of Xosha Drawing

Amazon

Satalyte Publishing has decided to offer this one time drawing. If you purchase a paperback of Rise of Xosha you will be entered into a Special Drawing for a full refund of the purchase price.

To enter, Simply follow the rafflecopter task.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Message From the Soap Box: Blog Tours

Topic: Blog Tours

Most of us do them, Author and fan a like. Most of us host for a million different groups in this field. It’s good for author sales as well as for the host’s blog traffic.

However, it happens way more often than not that the organizers do not pay attention to the posts they check and make assumptions that after awhile get annoying and aggravating. Emailing a blogger and accusing them of 1) not posting their post (you’d be surprised how often THAT happens) or 2) assuming all of the person’s post isn’t there.

As an organizer your job is to THOROUGHLY check a host’s blog post not skim through it. Especially when it comes to MY posts. My posts are NEVER late unless I never received  the kit. My posts are never missing anything, especially not a review, unless I contact a week prior and say I can’t do it.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s had to deal with laziness. And not all organizers are lazy either. I’m on many that do their jobs perfectly. (Even if some of them forgot to switch my blog’s url lol)

Coming at your hosts in a rude manor even if it’s sugar coated is NOT going to go well for you. You can’t expect your hosts to be all sunshine and flowers when you make false accusations against them. That in fact is the perfect way to LOSE your hosts.

So please Organizers… Do what you’re paid by the authors to do. CHECK the posts before throwing accusations at your hosts.

You organizers need to remember that while YOU get paid to organize these tours, we bloggers do NOT so making accusations because you don’t feel like checking over a blog post thoroughly isn’t going to fly with anyone that has been blogging for awhile.

Thank you!

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to As You Wish Blog Tours and to the 41 blogs that helped with both tours. You guys truly made this an amazing month for me and I forever be thankful to you all.

Fans if you could, take a minute and help me in giving thanks to all the blogs that posted, reviewed, and even mentioned Rise of Xosha for the tours.

01) Wolf Paw Blog Tours

02) Black Words, White Pages YA

03) Cu’s Story Corner

04) No Thought 2 Small

05) Jess’s Book Blog

06) Black Words-White Pages

07) Confessions of an obsessed Bookoholic Anomaly

08) Lady Amber’s Reviews

09) J E Haldeman’s Author Blog & Nuthouse

10) Rising Karma

11) Freaky Fiction Author

12) BookwormBridgette’s World

13) Satalyte Publishing

14) Litter Box… Scoop Daily!

15) Book Wilde

16) Just Another Rabid Reader

17) Butterflies, Books & Dreams

18) Griffin’s Honey Blog

19) Cu’s Ebook Giveaways

20) Girly Girl Book Reviews

21) Oops! I Read a Book Again

22) Free Ebook and Those Responsible for Them

23) Lee Ryder Author-Blogger-Fanfic Artist

24) Bawaka’s Book Fair

25) Ravenz Reviews

26) My Family’s Heart Book Reviews and Tours

27) Brandy L. Rivers

28) As You Wish Reviews

29) The One Saga

30) Cu’s Ebook Giveaways

31) After Dark Rendezvous

32) Darlene’s Book Reviews

33) Intoxicated by Books

34) The Writing World

35) Fated Paranormals

36) Tamar Hela

37) Confessions of the Paranormal

38) Reading For Fun

39) Sassy Cassie’s Reviews

40) A.R. Von Dreamz of Dragons

41) Freaky Fiction Author

42) Brooke Blogs

Final 3 Stops on the Rise of Xosha Blog Tour

These 3 stops complete the Blog Tour

Stop 1 has a nice Review. Check it out at A.R. Von Dreamz of Dragons

Stop 2 has another nice review. Check it out at Freaky Fiction Author

Stop 3 has a nice spotlight. Check it out at Brooke Blogs

Today’s the last day to do your daily tweet for the giveaway >^.^<

Today’s Stops on the Rise of Xosha Blog Tour

We have 3 stops today!

Stop 1 has a  great review. Check it out at Confessions of the Paranormal

Stop 2 has character bios. Check it out at Reading For Fun

Stop 3 has a spotlight. Check it out at Sassy Cassie’s Reviews

Don’t forget your daily tweet for the giveaway >^.^<