Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

I don't understand why libraries and other institutions would have a problem with purchasing books from CS...except for the fact these organizations may prefer hardcover vs. paperback editions, given the wear and tear the latter are unable to sustain. (One library that purchased my books commented on how badly the students abused the books...not mine, in particular, but paperbacks in general). Going to hardcovers, of course, is possible, but the costs of the books increases significantly, and you're still left with the problem of having to foot the bill, one way or another, for returns if you want to get your books into brick and mortar stores. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Carole wrote: "The drama continues
I just want to share this. This is my note to Createspace. Today I will start moving over to Ingram. I will keep all the old ISBN's for Createspace for Amazon but all mass distr..."

Is the problem the Expanded Distribution...which allows the resellers to purchase the books at a discount and resell them on the "used" market? If so, the solution may be simply to undo the Expanded Distribution permission (though that doesn't help with schools and libraries, if that is your focus). BTW, it's my understanding that books sold under Expanded Distribution do NOT affect your book's rank. Is that your understanding? Put another way, you could sell a ton to libraries and it wouldn't do a lick for your book's rank (and not much for your pocketbook, either).

Again, perhaps the solution to these problems is simply to undo the Expanded Distribution, something I've been considering.

Thoughts?

Just came across this article:

Amazon.com's Third-Party Sellers Hit By Hackers

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/20...

Be careful from where you order your books.

I tend to think of YA as bridging the years 13-17, plus or minus. I've had readers as young as 11 tell me they loved my YA mystery/thriller, The Hypnotist (written under the pen name Alyssa Devine). Many adults enjoyed the story, as well. There are no fixed boundaries, given the many variables involved.

It never crossed my mind that it might be a YA novel. Good point. I'd also remove the quote marks around the name of the show, as I think about it. They're not necessary.

It will be interesting to see what the author says.

Without having read the book, I don't even know if this bears any resemblance to the story. That said, perhaps it will help tighten up the blurb in one way or another.

For as long as he could remember, Sebastian’s life centered on a travelling carnival and freak show, “The World of the Grotesque.” Here, together with his mother and the show’s motley cast, he had lived contently for eleven years . . . contently, that is, until a beautiful young woman lures him away. Through her, he meets a man with knowledge of his father’s past—the father he had never known. When a brutal killer begins targeting members of the carnival, Sebastian finds himself caught in a battle for his life between his old ‘family’ and his new friends.

The CS glossy covers are superb! I think you will be very happy.

Melissa, it is possible to post pictures on this thread, but you need to bring them in using HTML code. This first would entail uploading them to Photobucket, grabbing the "Direct" link, and then adding some code from there. Here's an example of a CS cover (my first book of short stories); I think the color rendition is quite good...and it has been in all the copies I've ordered (which have been significant in number).



I tried to show the HTML code (broken into parts), but the system interprets what I posted as an error, so I guess that's not possible. Sorry.

Ted

E-mail on the way. Great idea.

Thanks.

Ted

http://ereadernewstoday.com/category/...

On August 11, 2016, my mystery/thriller Eighth Circle: A Special Place in Hell was ENT's Book Of The Day. I had the book (Kindle edition) on sale for 99¢ that day and for the six days that followed. In all, 196 copies were sold.

URLs for submissions are at the bottom of the page cited above.

What a beautiful job, Brit!

Carole...I'll take the last children's book opening. Please confirm before I send you the material and pay the fee.

Thanks.

Ted

Another worthless "giveaway," literally, is Goodreads' giveaways! While it may have been well-intentioned on the part of the sponsor initially, it's nothing but a sham today (my opinion) as none of the six or seven such events I've run (with multiple books given away (in some cases, up to four paperback copies, all Priority Mailed to the winners)) resulted in even ONE review. The fact is, I view them either as a way for people to build their libraries or even more, as a way for people to earn money by selling the books--which they want autographed--on the used market. Look at this e-mail I received from one participant. They are even getting bolder, now...hinting at how they would like their books autographed, should they win. Here's the PM I received regarding the giveaway I ran on my novel, Night Shadows:

subject: JUST WONDERING
message: Hi Theodore

I've just entered your giveaway here on GoodReads.com. (sic) Since you've self-published your book, would you be signing the books for the winners.

Have a GREAT DAY !!! :-) :-) :-)

[name withheld]

NOTE: I've been told by someone who collects signed books that if the signing has been personalized with someone's name on it, should the author become "famous" it would be worth less than just having it signed/possibly dated.
------------------------------

You can bet if she had won, I would have written her a LONG letter of congratulations...a very LONG, personal letter.

I know for certain, in one case, a winner of one of my books in Texas put the book up for sale on her used book site within a week of receiving it.

I've also purchased used books on Amazon that I've signed. I sometimes pick up used copies when the prices are right, and in the case of this book, I simply used a scalpel to remove the cover page on which I had autographed the book. No harm, no foul.

I recall a story from years ago in which a well-known author, while browsing in a used bookstore, found a book he had autographed for a friend. He immediately purchased it and sent it to that person along with this note: "I hope you will enjoy this book as much the second time as you did the first."

Being an indie writer is not for the timid.

Keeps growing like Topsy LOL

Wow! What a nice interview. Congratulations, Carole.

Now, that is strange.

I didn't have that problem, but they did ship me someone else's book one time instead of my order. I gave it to Goodwill. (;>)

So late we get schmart! (;>)

Thanks, Eldon. My feeling: if YOU don't value your work, why should others?!

Have a great day.

That's terrific! I've attempted on several occasions, as I mentioned, to place my books on BookBub, without success. That said, I was just notified that on April 24, 2017, Ereader News Today (ENT) will feature my second book of short stories, The Road Less Taken: a Collection of Unusual Short Stories (Book 2) as its Book Of The Day. At that time, and during the week that follows, the Kindle edition will be on sale for 99¢.

To celebrate this event, I'm also putting the Kindle edition of Book 1 on sale for 99¢ during the same period.