T.R. Robinson's Blog, page 12
December 6, 2019
Lynne Fisher – Interview
Welcome Lynne Fisher
Author of On Turtle Beach
(Links to where the book may be found are provided at the end of this interview.)
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a writer and artist living in Scotland where I relish the rural life. The natural world has inspired my paintings for many years and an abiding interest in human nature and psychology feeds into my writing. I’m middle-aged so I’ve accumulated quite a few passions and interests which include gardening, walking, reading, crafts and I volunteer in social care, primarily in mental health.
What first inspired you to write?
The impetus came after I finished an Open University degree in the humanities, in which I’d found the combination of painting and teaching art, alternating with studying art and literature, so wonderfully fulfilling. I wanted to carry on with this balance in my life so I enrolled on a diploma course in creative writing and when it was over, I felt I simply had to carry on writing. It was if writing tapped into a latent need in me to express what it is to be human, and I also found the process and craft of writing truly fascinating and challenging.
In what genre(s) do you prefer to write?
My particular genre seems to have been dictated by what it was that I so loved about studying literature, namely the language aspects and the exploration of the inner world of the characters in realist nineteenth century novels where there is a particular psychological intensity. So I’d say I fit the literary fiction genre primarily and address themes for women readers in mind.
Do you write under any other name(s)?
I write under the name of Lynne Fisher and keep my legal name for my painting – as Lynne Henderson. When I married I elected to keep my own surname of Henderson, but picked my husband’s surname for the writer me. I love that I’ve done this and it feels so apt.
Are you working on another book?
Yes, a women’s literary fiction novel, entitled After Black. It’s in the publishing production stage just now and I had an intense time in the writing of it. A good deal of research was needed concerning the 1950s in particular. Here is a little taster:
‘Recently widowed Janet returns to her beloved job at the store, only to find her future happiness threatened by a feisty young woman co-worker she loathes. The mutual antagonism of the two women leads to challenges Janet could never have imagined.’
I’m also carrying on with a novel I prepared earlier on the theme of midlife passage, that preparation being getting the first three chapters written and introducing the characters. It really is a joy to get back into the creative side of writing as opposed to the ‘processing’ side.’
If your books have required research: What do you consider the best resources?
It depends upon the nature of the research, but in After Black, for example, I had to seek personal accounts of aspects of life in the 1950s as well as find accurate sources of social history concerning this period. These were available online, and there is such a wealth of material online now, there really isn’t any excuse for making glaring errors which can really spoil the story for the reader. Doing my degree has helped me understand how research has to be from viable and dependable sources, where you have to evaluate the likely authenticity of the content. On the other hand, the setting of Dalyan in Turkey for On Turtle Beach was developed using direct experience through two holidays there with me scribbling in my notebook. My interest in psychology and associated reading has been invaluable too. But in a more accessible way, resources can simply be found in living one’s own life and from listening to, observing, and reflecting upon, other people and their lives.
Do you consider your books convey messages to readers?
I’d like to think so, though I’m very aware that the story must come first. Personal development is a huge interest of mine so I naturally gravitate towards creating characters and storylines which reflect this and the life messages that go with it.
What advice would you give to authors who are just starting out?
Learn the craft of writing first, the basic rules and conventions, read a lot, and then simply go for it. Trust your instincts for telling your stories your way. Beware of becoming conflicted through the mountains of advice for writers out there. It can be a minefield! As Stephen King says, write with the door closed.
Do you self-edit or do you think a book should only be professionally edited?
I do it myself as I can’t afford to pay a professional. Having said that you must leave a long gap after finishing a manuscript before editing, and if possible edit and proofread a physical draft copy of your actual book before publishing. There’s something about having it in your hands, just like any other reader, that can bring the vital objectivity needed.
How do you go about marketing your books?
Hmm, well its quite tough for all writers these days. I make sure that my product information is up to spec and I use social media and my blog to get the books out there. The Goodreads site is important to me and I would happily invest in an author’s ‘giveaway’ as I think this attracts readers to your books, even if they just add them to their ‘to read’ list. Composing quote boxes, using suitable images and quotes from the book, is useful and enjoyable to do. I also use free promotion book sites and whatever else comes along or occurs to me, for example, thinking of what age groups and types of people would be interested in the themes concerned, a kind of targeted approach.
How important do you think reviews are?
Very important and such a difficult area for authors. Numbers count it would seem, and yet, obviously, an author wants reviews to be favourable when they’ve put so much work into their writing. There is no doubt that good reviews attract more readers than poor reviews, so it would seem important to try to write to suit the varied tastes of a wide range of potential readers, but what about the advice to writers to write for themselves? It’s a bit of a dilemma but overall quality counts and one hopes reviews will reflect that for the most part.
If you consider reviews important, how do you go about obtaining them for your books?
Well one method which I didn’t act upon with my first novel, but which I will be doing from now on, is to put a friendly request in one’s book, perhaps in the ‘about the author’ section, which is the most direct method. Other methods are quite random really, such as asking someone who says they have enjoyed it to do a quick review, and sometimes you get approached by book reviewers. But I draw the line at paying for reviews because that really blurs ethical boundaries for me.
Do you have a preferred genre for when you read?
Not really, as I love variety. But I tend to go for the authors I like such as Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, so I can easily enjoy supernatural thrillers, literary fiction, psychological fiction, dystopian themes and science fiction, but my cut off point is pure fantasy because I need real world settings.
This is an age old question but one I consider of interest. If you were stranded on a desert island, which three books would you like to have with you?
Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre for the psychological intensity.
Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, for the seafaring adventures.
Emile Zola’s Paris based L’Assommoir for its social realism.
I’m very aware that these are realist fiction books and classics too, but for me they are kind of timeless, and through this I think they would help me feel connected to civilisation and not so alone.
Please share with us links to where readers may obtain more information and insight into who you are.
Many thanks for inviting me here, T.R. It’s very much appreciated.
Here are my links:
Thank you Lynne for sharing with us.
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On Turtle Beach is available in paperback and ebook formats from Amazon. (Note: This link opens the Amazon site for your location.)
During the interview Lynne mentioned she is also an artist. If interested, click anywhere in this sentence to view her paintings and illustrations.
December 3, 2019
What is Fair Use?
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Note: In some legislations ‘Fair Use’ is known as ‘Fair Dealing’.
A recent article Creative Commons outlined how copyright holders may grant open permission for others to copy, edit, build upon, etc., their copyrighted works. Though there are fundamental differences, ’Fair Use’ is, in a sense, an extension of this facility. It acts as a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted to the author of a creative work under copyright law.
In United States of America copyright law, Fair Use enables brief excerpts of copyright material to be quoted verbatim, without permission or payment, for such purposes as:
Criticism.
Comment.
Critique.
Review.
Quotation.
News Reporting. (Does not include photographs and requires the source is acknowledged.)
Teaching.
Private Study.
Research.
Definitions
‘A legal doctrine that portions of copyrighted materials may be used without permission of the copyright owner provided the use is fair and reasonable, does not substantially impair the value of the materials, and does not curtail the profits reasonably expected by the owner.’ (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
‘Reasonable and limited use of copyrighted material so as not to infringe upon copyright.’ (Dictionary.com)
Fair Use is ‘intended to balance the interests of the copyright holder with the public interest.’ (Wikipedia)
Determining Fair Use
Naturally, to protect interests, especially commercial and financial, over the years there have been numerous litigations. Fair Use originates from an 1841 court ruling. When determining Fair Use courts usually look at four factors:
Purpose and character of the use.
The nature of the copyrighted work.
The amount and substance of the portion used.
The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.
Fair Use is not limited to text based works. It also applies to musical, dramatic, artistic, literary, and typographical works.
Obviously, if someone utilises another’s copyrighted material for their own commercial or financial benefit they cannot claim Fair Use.
Application
Bearing in mind this website and blog are principally designed to benefit authors and readers the application of Fair Use will be considered from their perspective.
Authors
In their sharing, publicity, and marketing authors will often refer to:
Publishing companies.
Writing organisations.
Websites.
Blogs.
Software providers.
Other authors.
Other’s Books.
Etc.
Naturally, many aspects are subject to copyright e.g. Company name and logo (Amazon; Apple; Google; etc.); Content (articles; images; etc.); and so on. However, under Fair Use it is permissible to reproduce some elements of these, especially if the intention is to help or teach. But it needs to be born in mind the legislation only permits the use of ‘part’. To reproduce the whole without permission may, probably will, be seen as copyright infringement.
Note: Direct quotes from other author’s book(s) is not covered here. These sometimes require, if the book is not in the public domain, specific permission. Authors wishing to include such quotes in their own works should seek legal advice.
Readers
As may be noted from the start of this article: criticism; comment; critique; review; and quotation are included within Fair Use.
It is assumed, at least hoped, readers will have the courtesy to write and publish reviews of books they have read, especially those they found engaging and enjoyable.
A review naturally requires the book be referred to, utilising, where the review is published in a website and/or blog and on social media, the cover image and sometimes a quote from the book or its blurb, all of which are subject to the authors’s copyright. However, under Fair Use terms reproducing these is permitted.
Conclusion
Beside comprehending the law, Fair Use primarily relies upon common sense.
If there is any uncertainty it will help to check for any specific statements prohibiting any sharing or reproduction.
Although not generally required, it may be worth considering the addition of an attribution for the original work.
Using any elements of another’s work for commercial or financial gain is prohibited.
November 29, 2019
Manipulation – Bitches Series #6
Despite the job being in a city she did not like, the suggested possible salary caused Tara to ignore her usual caution, if only just to have a look.
But she will come to regret it.
The people and circumstance were hardly what she had expected as neither were the consequences.
Full details available from the Short Stories books tab above or from here.
Details of the series so far, may also be viewed here.
Amazon/Kindle iBooks Smashwords Google Play
November 26, 2019
Creative Commons
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Though the term tends to be used loosely Creative Commons (CC) is in reality an organisation that grants licences.
What is a CC licence?
Founded in 2001 the organisation has defined an alternative to standard copyright by filling the gap between full copyright, where use is not permitted without permission, and public domain use, where permission is not required.
A CC licence enables people to share their copyrighted work in a manner that allows others to copy, edit, build upon, etc. their work while they retain copyright to the original work.
These CC licences DO NOT REPLACE COPYRIGHT. They simply amend the copyright from ‘All rights reserved’ to ‘Some rights reserved’. The creator still holds overall copyright to the original work but is granting permission for it to be used by others without rescinding their rights.
Sources of CC Material
A search of the internet (‘Where to find creative commons material.’) will return a number of responses.
Some sites, such as photo stock sources Pixabay.com and Pexels.com provide all their material under a CC licence whereas others require users to filter their selection by specifically requesting creative commons material only.
Anyone considering a mixed site should take great care because it is easy to get confused or accidentally miss the fact some material requires specific permission for use. Recommendation is, if not accustomed to using such sites, the novice user avoids them. There are sufficient all CC licence sites to meet most requirements.
Note: Using non-CC licence material without permission may lead to legal action.
Using CC Material
In many instances CC material may be used freely without further consideration. However, if they wish, the overall copyright holder of the original work may apply some minor conditions, such as the requirement for attribution, non-commercial use, and nature of use.
Attribution
In other words giving appropriate credit to the originating creator of the work.
Some creators and sites, such as the two mentioned above, do not require users to provide any attribution for the work but may sometimes suggest it as a friendly and polite thing to do. In these circumstances there is no obligation upon users: the choice is entirely theirs.
In other circumstances, for example YouTube’s music source, some creators clearly state their work may be used but attribution MUST be ascribed. These normally provide the wording, etc., users need to utilise. Others will clearly state if the work may be used without attribution.
Non-Commercial
There are some issues round what is defined as being commercial and non-commercial. It is a complex argument that even the Creative Commons organisation has decided not to pursue. The common sense approach for the individual (this article is as usual primarily intended for independent authors), is not to use the material for ‘hard selling’ e.g. where they expect to gain considerable commercial and financial reward. It is suggested for those who are taking a less aggressive approach, the material may be utilised for such things as website and blog posts, and social media sharing.
If the copyright holder has not imposed any such condition or restraint, users may utilise the material as they wish.
Nature of Use
Most sources, including those where everything is covered by a CC licence, especially stock photo sites, require users ensure any material containing (or referring to) recognisable people or faces is NOT utilised in a negative or derogatory manner. In some instances they suggest users first gain the person’s permission before using such material. A common sense approach is simply to avoid using such material e.g. images or photos, in a negative manner or at least, if they really feel the need to utilise them, blur the image to an extent that the person is not definable.
Conclusion
Users of CC licence material should be grateful for the generosity of those creators who enable their works to be utilised freely.
Providing attribution should be considered as a means of thanking the originator of a work, though of course, it is not a necessity in many instances. Where attribution is required, it must be given otherwise the user opens themselves to legislative action.
CC licence material should always be utilised with respect.
Note: Creative Commons is sometimes referred to as ‘Royalty Free’.
Anyone wishing to provide their work for others to use under a creative commons licence may apply for such a licence at: https://creativecommons.org
Disclaimer: Neither T. R. Robinson Publications nor T. R. Robinson, other than being users of some, have any affiliation to any of the companies or organisations mentioned in this article. Nor do either receive any remuneration for referring to or mentioning them.
November 22, 2019
Beyond Frontiers: US Taxes for International Self-Published Authors by Marcela Martinez Millan
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The issue of United States of America (USA) tax withholding has been previously discussed, the latest under USA Taxes & Authors. In that and a previous article this book was mentioned as being a helpful resource.
The author is a qualified tax advisor and a US Enrolled Agent. This allows her to represent taxpayers. In this book Marcela Millan has provided a comprehensive guide for non-USA, independent, self-published, authors. She:
Delves into all aspects whether the author is publishing as an individual or as a corporation.
Provides guidance upon what an author needs to apply for.
Explains tax treaties.
Outlines how to complete various forms.
Highlights where errors may unconsciously occur.
It is difficult to do this book, or the advice and guidance it contains, justice in a short review. It is highly recommended.
This is a publication most non-USA authors would do well to avail themselves of and deserves room on their bookshelf or in their preferred digital reading device.
Five stars (5*)
The book is available in digital ebook format. Considering the information is based upon the author’s professional knowledge she has been very generous with the pricing: £0.99; $1.27; €0.99.
November 19, 2019
USA Taxes & Authors
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Though United States of America (USA) citizens may find the topic interesting this article is primarily for NON-USA based authors.
A large proportion of independent (indie) authors publish books through the utilisation of free software provided by USA based companies such as Amazon, Google Play, Smashwords, etc. Under USA tax legislation these companies are obliged to withhold thirty percent of business incomes unless appropriate documentation has been successfully submitted.
Some may ask why this is of any interest to them because they are not a USA based company and therefore are not subject to the withholding law. This is a miscomprehension. Authors need to understand authoring is in effect a business and though they may be based in another country their product (book), where they utilise the facilities of a USA based company, is created by and sold from a USA business. Consequently their business, for tax purposes, is considered to be USA based.
As a result of the above, if they wish to avoid having thirty percent withheld from their royalty payments, authors need to complete relevant documents. The regulations used to be quite complex but thankfully have been eased and now allow authors to claim exemption through various treaty agreements. Nevertheless, it can still be fairly complex unless the author takes time to understand the differences between their own national formatting styles and those of the USA.
Naturally, as with anything of this nature, there are a variety of forms, which to complete depends on the nature of the business. Authors should not assume theirs is a standard business because there are various ways of setting up author accounts. Most companies now provide easy to complete questionnaires that help identify the correct form. The advent of the internet and online activity also helps by enabling tax documents to be signed and submitted electronically. Nevertheless, there are elements that need to be clearly understood. For example there is date format. In the USA, dates are written as month; day; year whereas in the United Kingdom, dates are formatted as day; month; year. Other nations may have different formats. This may appear to be a simplistic matter however, it is understood, if a date is entered in a non-USA format it can result in the form being rejected.
Conclusion
Of course, it is not necessary for authors to submit a tax form but if they do not they must accept thirty percent will be withheld from their royalty payments. It is possible to reclaim the withheld amounts but it is a long and complicated process. Authors are advised to complete and submit appropriate documentation for EACH of the companies they publish through. The existence of all the treaty agreements make this even more sensible.
Though the questionnaires and forms may be fairly easy to complete there are differences in style and format which need to be taken into account. There is a useful book to help: Beyond Frontiers: US Taxes for International Self-Published Authors by Marcela Martinez Millan. A review of the book will be published here in a few days.
Note: This topic was first discussed three years ago 6 December 2016 however, an occasional reminder does not hurt, and it is possible new authors may not be aware of the circumstance.
November 15, 2019
Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition- Deadline Approaching
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This is a reminder that the deadline for entry to the Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition
is:
Saturday 30 November 2019
Details of the competition and how to enter may be found in the previous notification:
Book to Screen Opportunity – Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Competition
All those who choose to enter are wished success.
Caveat: Writing contest information is provided ‘As Is’. No endorsement or guarantee of validity is implied.
Disclaimer: Neither T. R. Robinson Publications nor T. R. Robinson have any affiliation to Screencraft.org. Nor do either receive any remuneration for publishing the information or for referring to Screencraft.org. This notification is simply designed to offer assistance to authors.
November 12, 2019
Author or Writer?
[image error]The question of whether someone is an author or writer frequently crops up even though, due to modern day usage, it tends to be a superfluous enquiry. It is often posed by people new to publishing though, occasionally, it may also be raised by those who have already published something but remain confused about the possible distinction.
In modern usage the two words have become interchangeable and synonymous. Consequently, any distinction is really no longer of import. Nevertheless, there are those who like to have everything defined as well as those who can get a bit het up about the issue. Regrettably, some can be quite disparaging and abrasive. That is not fair to those who are new to the issue and who are naturally sensitive to any criticism until they join the rest in growing a tough skin.
Definitions
Because of the confusion it may be worth looking at the various dictionary definitions before any further contemplation.
Author:
‘The writer of a book etc.; An originator.’ (Oxford English Dictionary)
‘A writer of a book, article, or document.’ (Unknown)
‘The writer of a book, article, play, etc. (Cambridge Dictionary)
‘A person who begins or creates something.’ (Cambridge Dictionary)
‘The writer of a book, article, or other text.’ (The Free Dictionary)
‘One who practices writing as a profession.’ (The Free Dictionary)
‘A person who writes a novel, poem, essay, etc.; the composer of a literary work, as distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.’ (Dictionary.com)
‘The literary production or productions of a writer.’ (Dictionary.com)
‘The maker of anything: creator; originator.’ (Dictionary.com)
‘The author of a piece of writing is the person who wrote it.’ (Collins Dictionary)
‘An author is a person whose job is writing books.’ (Collins Dictionary)
‘The writer of a literary work (such as a book).’ (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
‘One that originates or creates something.’ (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
Writer:
‘A person who has written something, or who writes as an occupation.’ (Oxford English Dictionary)
‘A person who has written something or who writes in a particular way.’ (Unknown)
‘A person who writes books, stories, or articles as a job or occupation.’ (Unknown)
‘A writer is a person who uses written words to communicate ideas.’ (Unknown)
‘One who writes, especially as an occupation.’ (The Free Dictionary)
‘A person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc. especially as an occupation or profession.’ (The Free Dictionary)
‘A person who writes books or articles to be published.’ (Cambridge Dictionary)
‘A person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist.’ (Dictionary.com)
‘A person who commits his or her thoughts, ideas, etc., to writing. (Dictionary.com)
‘One that writes: such as author.’ (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
As may be seen, there is considerable crossover, disclosing how the terms have truly become interchangeable. Remember, these are DICTIONARY definitions and therefore generally recognised as formal and accurate interpretations.
Personal Interpretations
Now to cater for the purists and those of pedantic inclination. Historically the term ‘author’ was recognised as applying to the ‘originator’ of an idea. This appears to be the crucial word for many. To them the difference between the two boils down to an author being the original creator of an idea and a writer simply reflecting other people’s ideas. But is it really that simple? Well, technically probably but life and terminology usage are not static. Both are in constant flux and even those responsible for compiling and updating dictionaries acknowledge the fact and frequently incorporate popular usage.
Some describe a writer as being someone who writes any sort of content related to a topic assigned to them, from any source, but not generally in book form but in articles, magazines, newspapers, websites, etc. A few go so far as to state the writer of an autobiography may be addressed as the author but the writer of a biography may only be referred to as a writer. This seems a bit of a stretch, especially as others reckon anyone who has published a book has the right to refer to themselves as an author. Of course, there are exceptions, for example ghost writers who help ‘authors’ put their words into meaningful form. In these instances the ghost writer may only consider themselves the writer whereas the originator, even if they have not actually written a single word, will always be referred to as the author.
Conclusion
Naturally, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but in general it has to be acknowledged a majority of people automatically refer to the writer of any information as the author of such material. Further, anyone who has published a book is always referred to as the author of the book.
Like it or not, it must be accepted, in modern day usage, the terms ‘author’ and ‘writer’ have become synonymous and are used interchangeably by the general public, readers included. To criticise this usage in a bombastic manner is unfair. Of course, it is acceptable to gently explain and highlight the roots of both words for the education of the reader but the changes modern usage has brought for many words and phrases must, if reluctantly, be recognised.
November 8, 2019
Loving Maria – A Review
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Author T. R. Robinson wishes to express her appreciation to Julie Watson for the following review of the novel ‘Loving Maria’.
‘This is the second book I have read by T.R. Robinson. The first being ‘Tears of Innocence’ telling the true story of the authors life following the death of her mother at the tender age of five and the traumatic life she suffered after her mother died. I was eager to read ‘Loving Maria’ based on the life of her mother as a young woman. The story is set at a time when social norms and culture meant choices were very limited for women. Where women had very little say in their life but it was governed by social class, who they married and life circumstances commonly out of their control. It seems unbelievable now in our modern era that this was normal life for women back in the early 1900s. Maria came from a wealthy, loving family wanting to live on and care for the estates she had grown up on. A plague sweeps through her homeland which claims the life of her two sisters leaving Maria and her mother the only survivors of her immediate family. Her mother wants the best for Maria and encourages her to go to Vienna to study medicine, which she does and on returning home opens a clinic treating people through both traditional and modern medicine. Being an intelligent, attractive young woman seems to set Maria up as a desirable catch and a lot of the book is about the many men who try to win her as a wife. A woman with such potential and her mother seem powerless to control the persistent pressure for Maria to marry one of these suitors. I will go no further as to spoil the story but I was left feeling troubled that even though Maria who had so much going for her she was still at the mercy of the powers that would have her submit.’
The original review may be accessed at Amazon and Goodreads.
Further details about the book may be viewed here.
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Julie Watson is a midwife based in New Zealand who has written two memoirs.
The first ‘Born for Life’ relates how Julie first entered her midwifery career and the challenges she faced, both personal and professional.
The second ‘Born for Life: Midwife in Africa’ outlines the experiences and challenges the author and her husband encountered while on secondment in a remote part of Zambia.
Both are full of insights and embrace the joys, sorrows and challenges of giving birth.
Click on the relevant cover below to read a review.
November 5, 2019
Preferred E-Book Publishing Site – Survey Results
[image error]Aspiring authors frequently, and occasionally even those who have already published, seek advice about which self-publishing site(s) they should consider using. Consequently, a survey Which E-Book Publishing Site? was recently conducted by this website, in which more established authors were asked to share their experience and preferences. The results follow:
Question 1: Authors! If you have self-published an e-book, which of the following sites have you used?
Responses:
(Note: This was a multiple choice question because many authors utilise more than one service. The aim was to determine the most used. The results are presented in declining use order.)
87.50% – KDP (Kindle)
37.50% – Draft2Digital
25.00% – Smashwords
25.00% – IngramSpark
18.75% – iBooks (Apple)
12.50% – Google Play
12.50% – Lulu
06.25% – Barnes and Noble Press
06.25% – Kobo Writing Life
00.00% – BookBaby
Question 2: If you have used more than one site, which do you like the most?
Responses:
(Note: Participants were only permitted to select their preferred site.)
56.25% – KDP (Kindle)
18.75% – IngramSpark
12.50% – Smashwords
06.25% – Draft2Digital
06.25% – Barnes and Noble Press
No one selected iBooks (Apple); Google Play; Kobo Writing Life; Lulu; or BookBaby.
Question 3: What is it you like about your preferred site?
Responses:
(Note: Participants were permitted multiple choices without referring to a specific site.)
68.75% – Ease of use
56.25% – Distribution extent.
43.75% – Popularity
31.25% – Quality
18.75% – Clear Guidance
12.50% – Other (Please Specify.) (See below for further details.)
00.00% – Ready made Templates
Only two respondents selected the ‘Other’ option. Their reasons:
1. ‘POD based in Australia as well as other countries.’
(This may be referring to IngramSpark.)
Note: POD is the abbreviation for ‘Print-on-Demand’. (Paperback copies are only printed when there is a specific request.)
Observation: The author is obviously based in Australia and therefore their selection is understandable and does bring out a valid point for those located in non UK, USA or EU countries.
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2. ‘With Smashwords, the publication is immediate. Distribution to other vendors is rapid, as well. The only real disadvantage for me is that they don’t distribute to KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). You have to do it there yourself, if you want your work on Amazon.’
Conclusion
The following is not intended to imply preference or that one site is better than an other. These are simply observations arising from the survey results.
Most will not be surprised to see KDP (Kindle) at the top of the list. In part this is probably due to it being one of the oldest self-publishing sites and its association with Amazon, the largest worldwide online purchasing site.
Though Draft2Digital is a comparatively new service, anyone who has used it will probably attest to it being a fairly easy-to-use system combined with a good distribution extent.
Smashwords is also a longstanding publication service with an extensive distribution extent. Some may bulk at its specific requirements for manuscript formatting but provided the style guide, available for free, is followed, it is not overly onerous.
The writer has no experience of IngramSpark however, those they know who have used the service, frequently state how much they like it. Apparently it is particularly good for paperback editions.
The fact some respondents have also used most of the other services mentioned implies they find these equally useful.
Note: The survey specifically asked about e-book publishing services. However, naturally, many authors wish to also publish a paperback (print-on-demand) edition. Of the sites mentioned Kindle (Kindle Create), IngramSpark, Lulu, Barnes and Noble Press and BookBaby provide for the option. Draft2Digital is currently beta testing such a facility but as yet no full implementation date has been announced.
Links
Obviously the survey results only provide the viewpoint of those who participated. Some may like to make their own judgments. To assist links to each of the sites are provided here:
KDP (Kindle)
Draft2Digital
Smashwords
IngramSpark
iBooks (Apple)
Google Play
Lulu
Barnes and Noble Press
Kobo Writing Life
BookBaby
Disclaimer: Neither T. R. Robinson Publications nor T. R. Robinson have any affiliation to any of the companies and organisations mentioned. Nor do either receive any remuneration for mentioning them. What has been shared is simply by way of assisting authors in their publishing career.
