Things that make you go "Hmmm...?"
So, I admit; I'm kinda, sorta, in a way, very ticked-off!
Now before I go on, let me start off with a Disclaimer:
I am not now, nor have I ever been, one of those people that think Indie is better than Traditional, or vice versa. I am a fan of both , and hold them both in the utmost respect and regard.
Lets proceed, shall we?
We shall.
Hmmm... how do I start?
My mind feels clustered with thoughts, so I am going to have to find a way to express it all.
I guess the best way to do it is to start from the beginning.
Here it goes...
Yesterday I was casually surfing Facebook when I came across a strange post from a fellow author. Now, in essence, it was meant to be something nice I suppose, as she was advocating for another author--a friend of hers, I'm sure. However, it left me questioning some things.
Here is what it said (paraphrasing), "I want to congratulate my friend and fellow author for making it to the 'Indie World's 50 Must Read Book of 2013/14' list. Please check out his book at..." and she gave the link and information.
Well, this struck me as odd because of one thing; NEITHER HE, NOR SHE ARE INDIE AUTHORS ! They are Traditionally published individuals.
The thought occurred to me, "How can someone be on an Indie List, when they are indeed traditionally published? That's sort of weird, isn't it?"
Of course, in being true to who I am--the inquisitive and straight forward sort--I reached out to the author that wrote the post with what I thought was a valid question. I asked "Why is he being listed there if he is traditionally published?"I waited patiently for my replay and saw none, so I figured that I must have missed it, so I checked. Now things got really suspicious when I noticed that the post had been deleted, deleting my comment along with it.
Needless to say, that didn't sit right with me. Being Latina my grandmother used to say "El que no tiene hecha, no tiene sospecha." translated that means, "He who hasn't doesn't anything wrong, doesn't act suspiciously." That's right along the lines of "If you haven't done anything, than why are you hiding?"
Seeing that the post was deleted and that I was never answered my mind began to run.
"Where these people trying to pull on over on us? Worst yet, on Indie Author World?"
"What the *@%^ is going on here?"
"Umm, I wonder if Indie Author World even knows about this?"
"This doesn't really seem fair to me, because they aren't self-published."
"Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe a mix up of sorts."
"Again... what the *@%^ !?"
What did I do next, you ask?
I REACHED OUT TO INDIE AUTHOR WORLD!
All right my beloveds, I need you to stop here for a moment. Another Disclaimer is in order...
I DO NOT HATE AND/OR HAVE A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THE AUTHORS WHICH THIS SITUATION INVOLVES!I AM NOT OUT TO RUIN THEM, NOR AM I TRYING TO PIT ANYONE AGAINST ANYONE, NEITHER AM I TRYING TO BELITTLE ANYONE'S HARD WORK AND EFFORT!
I AM SIMPLY POINTING OUT FACTS!
You may go on...
Following is the copy of the email that I sent to Indie Author World:
~~~~~
Name: C. Desert Rose
Email: c.desert.rose@mail.com
Message: Hello,
I'm just curious, I was looking at your list of "50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading" and I have a question and comment.
First, 2 of the authors/books listed there, I know for a fact are not Indie/SP but Traditionally Published.
They are:
1) Brenda Perlin, Shattered Realities, and
2) John Emil Augustine, From The Abyss.
Here they are listed under their publishing house's website:
http://masterkodaselectpublishing.com/authors
So, the question is; why are they listed as Indie and are in all actuality traditionally published? The reason I ask this is because them being listed there makes your list both unfair and invalid.
I am not trying to be rude in anyway, I just felt that it was necessary to bring this to your attention.
Thank you.
C. Desert Rose
Time: May 27, 2014 at 11:59 am
IP Address: 71.229.106.154
Contact Form URL: http://www.indieauthorland.com/contact-us/
Sent by an unverified visitor to your site.
~~~~~
Now, I believe that my concerns and questions were all valid. I believe that it was only right to bring this to their attention and see what had happened.
Low and behold, I get a reply shortly thereafter and this is what it said:
~~~~~
Hi,
Thank you very much for getting in touch, and no, we don't think you're being rude in the slightest.
Our criterion was that the books must either be self-published or published by a small "indie-minded" (yes, we know that's a woolly term) publisher. We then did our best to weed out all nominees that failed our criteria.
We felt that these books did not fail our tests - although it is completely possible that we were mistaken in these cases.
Thanks again for raising your concern with us.
Best wishes,
David
PLEASE EXCUSE ME WHILE I CHOKE ON MY OWN SPIT--THE REACTION OF BEING GENUINELY FLABBERGASTED!
Because--and I could be wrong here--doesn't the title "INDIE AUTHOR WORLD" imply that you are advocating INDIE AUTHORS ??!!
I mean, I guess I AM wrong!
Here is what seems "woolly" to me:
1) If you're calling yourself something, then BE THAT ! This goes for both Indie Author World and Master Koda Select Publishing, and any others like them. Either your indie or your not--period!
2) It is reasons like these that truly self-published authors, that actually deserves this recognition, aren't getting it!
3) Is it just me, or does this seem rigged?
4) How much validity can places like this have when they have no common integrity .
I mean, seriously, let's think about this for a moment. How fair is it? Because, personally, I don't think it's fair at all.
Give recognition to whom recognition is due--without cheating the system (or finding loopholes)!
So, those are MY thoughts on the matter. What are yours?
Now before I go on, let me start off with a Disclaimer:
I am not now, nor have I ever been, one of those people that think Indie is better than Traditional, or vice versa. I am a fan of both , and hold them both in the utmost respect and regard.
Lets proceed, shall we?
We shall.
Hmmm... how do I start?
My mind feels clustered with thoughts, so I am going to have to find a way to express it all.
I guess the best way to do it is to start from the beginning.
Here it goes...
Yesterday I was casually surfing Facebook when I came across a strange post from a fellow author. Now, in essence, it was meant to be something nice I suppose, as she was advocating for another author--a friend of hers, I'm sure. However, it left me questioning some things.
Here is what it said (paraphrasing), "I want to congratulate my friend and fellow author for making it to the 'Indie World's 50 Must Read Book of 2013/14' list. Please check out his book at..." and she gave the link and information.
Well, this struck me as odd because of one thing; NEITHER HE, NOR SHE ARE INDIE AUTHORS ! They are Traditionally published individuals.
The thought occurred to me, "How can someone be on an Indie List, when they are indeed traditionally published? That's sort of weird, isn't it?"
Of course, in being true to who I am--the inquisitive and straight forward sort--I reached out to the author that wrote the post with what I thought was a valid question. I asked "Why is he being listed there if he is traditionally published?"I waited patiently for my replay and saw none, so I figured that I must have missed it, so I checked. Now things got really suspicious when I noticed that the post had been deleted, deleting my comment along with it.
Needless to say, that didn't sit right with me. Being Latina my grandmother used to say "El que no tiene hecha, no tiene sospecha." translated that means, "He who hasn't doesn't anything wrong, doesn't act suspiciously." That's right along the lines of "If you haven't done anything, than why are you hiding?"
Seeing that the post was deleted and that I was never answered my mind began to run.
"Where these people trying to pull on over on us? Worst yet, on Indie Author World?"
"What the *@%^ is going on here?"
"Umm, I wonder if Indie Author World even knows about this?"
"This doesn't really seem fair to me, because they aren't self-published."
"Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe a mix up of sorts."
"Again... what the *@%^ !?"
What did I do next, you ask?
I REACHED OUT TO INDIE AUTHOR WORLD!
All right my beloveds, I need you to stop here for a moment. Another Disclaimer is in order...
I DO NOT HATE AND/OR HAVE A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST THE AUTHORS WHICH THIS SITUATION INVOLVES!I AM NOT OUT TO RUIN THEM, NOR AM I TRYING TO PIT ANYONE AGAINST ANYONE, NEITHER AM I TRYING TO BELITTLE ANYONE'S HARD WORK AND EFFORT!
I AM SIMPLY POINTING OUT FACTS!
You may go on...
Following is the copy of the email that I sent to Indie Author World:
~~~~~
Name: C. Desert Rose
Email: c.desert.rose@mail.com
Message: Hello,
I'm just curious, I was looking at your list of "50 Self-Published Books Worth Reading" and I have a question and comment.
First, 2 of the authors/books listed there, I know for a fact are not Indie/SP but Traditionally Published.
They are:
1) Brenda Perlin, Shattered Realities, and
2) John Emil Augustine, From The Abyss.
Here they are listed under their publishing house's website:
http://masterkodaselectpublishing.com/authors
So, the question is; why are they listed as Indie and are in all actuality traditionally published? The reason I ask this is because them being listed there makes your list both unfair and invalid.
I am not trying to be rude in anyway, I just felt that it was necessary to bring this to your attention.
Thank you.
C. Desert Rose
Time: May 27, 2014 at 11:59 am
IP Address: 71.229.106.154
Contact Form URL: http://www.indieauthorland.com/contact-us/
Sent by an unverified visitor to your site.
~~~~~
Now, I believe that my concerns and questions were all valid. I believe that it was only right to bring this to their attention and see what had happened.
Low and behold, I get a reply shortly thereafter and this is what it said:
~~~~~
Hi,
Thank you very much for getting in touch, and no, we don't think you're being rude in the slightest.
Our criterion was that the books must either be self-published or published by a small "indie-minded" (yes, we know that's a woolly term) publisher. We then did our best to weed out all nominees that failed our criteria.
We felt that these books did not fail our tests - although it is completely possible that we were mistaken in these cases.
Thanks again for raising your concern with us.
Best wishes,
David
PLEASE EXCUSE ME WHILE I CHOKE ON MY OWN SPIT--THE REACTION OF BEING GENUINELY FLABBERGASTED!
Because--and I could be wrong here--doesn't the title "INDIE AUTHOR WORLD" imply that you are advocating INDIE AUTHORS ??!!
I mean, I guess I AM wrong!
Here is what seems "woolly" to me:
1) If you're calling yourself something, then BE THAT ! This goes for both Indie Author World and Master Koda Select Publishing, and any others like them. Either your indie or your not--period!
2) It is reasons like these that truly self-published authors, that actually deserves this recognition, aren't getting it!
3) Is it just me, or does this seem rigged?
4) How much validity can places like this have when they have no common integrity .
I mean, seriously, let's think about this for a moment. How fair is it? Because, personally, I don't think it's fair at all.
Give recognition to whom recognition is due--without cheating the system (or finding loopholes)!
So, those are MY thoughts on the matter. What are yours?
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Let me see if I can keep it relatively PG. It all boils down to this phrase: "Stay in your lane."
Folks reach for that traditional brass ring for a reason. If they were happy with the indie partnership they would have just stayed indie.
These traditional publishers have to realize the partnership with the author is just like a marriage: there will be good times and bad times. However, you don't have to go and have an affair with indie spots, trying to act like you're all indie friendly and stuff.
It's like going to a barbecue and taking some of the food at one spot, then discovering the other spot is more crowded and has better food. So what do you do? You pretend you are so and so's cousin so you can get some of the food, too.
It looks like that is what happened here.
I'm sure more than MK did it but some of these publishers are passing themselves off with "indie dust". The one hosting the blog/awards should have done deeper investigation. Hell, they should have not made the terms so loose in the first place! There's no such thing as the "sort of" virgin.
Either this spot is perpetrating a fraud or they in someone's "traditional" pocket and don't want to ruffle any feathers so they are playing the politics.
Hell, no matter where you go, you just can't get away from the bulls--- (sorry I tried).
It may seem like I'm promoting segregation of sorts. In some cases, it's necessary. I'm going to take a line from Waiting to Exhale: "Ya'll been doing the sh-- for years!"
Ya'll, in reference to traditionals.
Now that indies are coming up and going toe-to-toe, instead of improving your avenues of marketing, you want to slip and slide your tails into whatever the indies are doing.
Man, recreate not infiltrate! Indies deserve to have a place that is strictly theirs. That won't be found at Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble...nope, none of those spots. The only reason indies are even in those spots are so they will have a snowball's chance in hell of being seen by somebody, anybody!
Yes, I'm saying this and I'm traditionally published. That Indie spot has to do better. All of these traditional publishers that want to get high off indie smoke need to find a new drug.
DR