Josh’s Comments (group member since Jun 17, 2010)

Josh’s comments from the Q&A with Josh Lanyon group.

And then there's this piece of publishing news, which is interesting in an alarming sort of way...

https://variety.com/2021/digital/news...

Speaking of formatting and files, I received this message from Amazon last week...

Not sure if this will be a good or a bad thing.

Hello,

We listened to your feedback and are making it simpler to publish eBooks on Kindle. Starting June 28, 2021, we will no longer support files in MOBI, PRC or AZK formats when publishing new reflowable eBooks or updating the content for previously published eBooks. Instead, we ask publishers to use EPUB, KPF (Kindle Create files), or DOC/DOCX (Microsoft Word files) files for reflowable eBooks. Please note MOBI files are still accepted for fixed-layout eBooks.

You don't need to take any action for reflowable eBooks already published unless you are updating the eBook files. If you are uploading new or updated content, see our Kindle Publishing Guidelines: https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G79...

We recommend you to use Kindle Previewer 3 to test your eBooks before publishing. For more information, you can refer to the following links:

- Frequently Asked Questions: https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/GUL...
- Recommended formats: https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G20...
- Kindle Create is a tool that simplifies eBook formatting. To learn more, check: https://www.amazon.com/kindlecreate
- Kindle Previewer 3 is a tool you can use to test your eBooks before publishing. To learn more, check: https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...

If you have any questions, sign in to your KDP account (https://kdp.amazon.com/bookshelf) and click Contact Us at the bottom of the page.

Regards,
The Kindle Direct Publishing Team

Jordan wrote: "I can't imagine how expensive it would be for the library if Amazon were to allow library patrons to read KU titles. Also, how would that work even? Unless Amazon can upload all those titles to Ove..."

What I find incredibly annoying as a consumer as well as an author, is when I search for a book or author and get a dozen recommendations of advertised books that have ZERO to do with what I'm looking for.

I'm not even sure it's a very good business strategy because I'm not distracted by things I'm not looking for. I just sigh and scroll past, feeling irritated with both the advertised authors and amazon.

Ultimately, I think that kind of advertising becomes white noise. It's like me looking forward to ads on TV because that's when I jump up and go get a snack or use the restroom or move my clothes from the washer to the dryer or play with the dogs. If I do sit there, I always turn the sound down. It's habit now.

Jordan wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Amazon hit with antitrust lawsuit alleging e-book price fixing


Billion-Dollar Book Companies Are Ripping Off Public Schools
They’ve always overcharged for books. Now they’re dem..."

I love and want to support libraries. I do price my library editions higher because the book will be "loaned out" multiple times through the library versus a single sale on a site like Amazon.

I hope it's not an exorbitant amount--I think I usually opt for $19.99 (my calculation being that 4 - 10 readers will borrow the book through the library that year)?

A lot of authors--and even publishers, who you think would know better--don't want their books in libraries at all because they feel they're losing sales. I don't see it as losing sales. I see at as reaching readers who would never otherwise read my work. I can't forget how much libraries meant to me when I was growing up, so I'm happy to have my work in libraries.

I'm not sure if that's the same logic that publishers are using to justify charging schools so much for ebooks? Is the idea that the books will be read by multiple students?

There has to be a compromise. Publishers have to make money, but how much profit do you really need to make off libraries and schools?

It just seems like more and more the corporate attitude is no amount of profit is ever enough.

We've been watching the original UNSOLVED with Robert Stack. Much of it is side-splittingly bad (the writing, acting, etc.) but there are some astonishingly puzzling or touching stories.

They segments are super quick, so there's no real investment of time or thought. At least on the viewing end. ;-)

Alison wrote: "KALEO's cool new tune. Their videos tend to be of dramatic Icelandic scenery and this one is no exception. It's stunning and a little vertigo-inducing!

Break My Baby by KALEO
https://www.youtube.c..."

Oh that's wonderful.

Alison wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Jon Batiste is also a talented pianist, here his rendition of:
Blackbird
(I know it is from 2016, bit I discovered him just lately, because of the "I Need You'' video)"

I've als..."

That guy is so brilliant. And such a lovely personality (or at least a lovely public personality)

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm not sure if I mentioned this here before, but I've hired one of the kidlings to act as my PA. :-) Yesterday, we put together (or tweaked) new playlists for the Secrets and Scrabble..."

Oops. I set it up as private. :-D

Jordan wrote: "Instagram is the only thing I have for social media and I really like it. Though it took time for me to get my head around documenting my life in pictures versus only posting the really pretty shot..."

I agree. I love the simplicity of Instagram. That saying about a picture being a thousand words? EXACTLY. ;-D

Antonella wrote: "So sad!

Rasha al Ameer founded in 1992 Dar al Jadeed (The New House), an independent publishing house in Lebanon with her brother Lokman Slim.

In 2002 she wrote [book:Judgment Da..."

Oh no. That's terrible.

Ije the Devourer of Books wrote: "Here are the rules

https://help.goodreads.com/s/article/...

Librarian Manual: Non-book items

Dec 17, 2019•Knowledge
The following is a list of items that should not b..."

Ah. Thank you!

That mostly makes sense. Jordan makes a good point about works that were once available individually but go out of print and only exist in omnibus or collections.

SamSpayedPI wrote: ". . . Sid was the kind of man who made enemies as if he were trying to achieve the full collection.

Murder of a Straw Man"

:-D That's a good line.

1 - Finally, finally, FINALLY learning to eat properly. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth. Also, the benefits to the SO -- his blood sugar is the lowest its been in two years. You can't imagine what a relief that is.

2 - My canine companions. These two little lunatics really are wonderful company.

3 - Finishing a novel. MY GOD, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I WAS ABLE TO SAY THAT? And I had so much fun with this book.

4 - Being able to listen to music again, watch movies again, read again.

5 - Spring is coming. Yes, it's still a month away, I know, but I can feel it in the air. It's coming.

Johanna wrote: "1. Celebrating friends and friendship—every day!

2. A huge heart shape some unknown student had stomped on snow in the middle of school yard early one morning. What a warm welcome for those starti..."

Oh! That palette is so summery and holiday-esque!

That's a lovely list <3

Alison wrote: "Jordan wrote: "Socially distanced walks are great! When spring comes I should ask more folks out for walks."

Agreed! My mom and I have taken a few distanced, masked walks in the cold and it's grea..."

My sister and I have continued to take our twice weekly walks through all but the worst weeks of the pandemic. I think it's been a sanity-saver.

Antonella wrote: "Jordan wrote: "1. Optimism.
2. Feeling good - mood and body-wise.
3. Feeling creative, even more, so much more, than I did last year.
4. Feeling like my habits might actually stick this time and g..."

:-D :-D :-D

Jordan wrote: "1. Optimism.
2. Feeling good - mood and body-wise.
3. Feeling creative, even more, so much more, than I did last year.
4. Feeling like my habits might actually stick this time and give me greater ..."

That's another wonderful list. :-)

I've also been wondering at my new state of calm and energetic optimism. Is it the election? Is it that we're getting used to living in a pandemic? Is it because spring is coming? Maybe it's all of them?

Antonella wrote: "1. a neighbour bringing me at midday food, still warm from the oven, just like this, out of the blue

2. scavenging stuff from the kitchen other neighbours are throwing away because they bought a n..."

Those are all wonderful.

SamSpayedPI wrote: "Josh wrote: "Uh oh. And here I have a new book out! :-D"

Don't worry; we're all set to read Mystery at the Masquerade for our March book and push [book:The House in the Cerulean Se..."

<3 <3 <3

BitWrangler wrote: "Josh wrote: "Marge wrote: "Josh wrote: "
Ah. How very stupid to put an expiration date on so many of these giveaways though. The sure sign of an amateur. ;-)..."

Especially with so MANY books! "

..."

:-D :-D :-D