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Author Zone - Readers Welcome! > And for my next dilemma...

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message 1: by Katie (new)

Katie Stewart (katiewstewart) | 817 comments To load a book onto Amazon I have always created a word document with Chapter headings and used Mobipocket creator to create a prc with a TOC.

The other day I received an email from Amazon telling me that a reader had complained about the quality of Mark of the Dragon Queen. The problem - 'junk characters in the TOC'. Mobipocket creator always lists chapter headings with bullet points and there were a few strays. So I got rid of the strays and resubmitted.

Today I got another email telling me that there were still junk characters in my TOC...so all I can think is that they want the bullet points taken out altogether. I'm at a loss to know what to do. Firstly, I don't have the faintest idea how to take them out without manually making a TOC and trying to submit a Word document. Secondly, why can't they spend time finding the grammatical errors, spelling errors and just plain rubbish in some other books, instead of picking on mine? I'm feeling really down about the whole thing. This month has been my lowest selling month EVER, I can't even give them away and I just feel like pulling the plug on the whole damn lot!

There, I've said it. Now I'm going to have a cry.


message 2: by Kath (new)

Kath Middleton | 23860 comments Aww, Katie! I guess they don't have software for finding grammatical errors. They do seem to be telling people they have typos (like Stu and his creative made-up words!) - it's a rubbish system. I don't understand the technicalities but I know there are friends here who will help.

*hug*


message 3: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments I never had junk characters in Mark of the Dragon Queen


message 4: by Katie (new)

Katie Stewart (katiewstewart) | 817 comments That's because I don't write junk characters...none of my characters yet has been on a Chinese boat!

Wiping my tears. I wrote an email straight back to Amazon with a picture of my TOC. They have just emailed back with this -

"Hello Katie,

Thanks for letting us know you’ve republished an updated version of your book "Mark of the Dragon Queen." I've confirmed the quality issues are fixed.

Thanks for using Amazon KDP."

Ha! I wonder how many times they would have said it was still wrong if I hadn't emailed them with that? I'm still miffed that someone saw fit to complain about it in the first place, though!


message 5: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments Obviously just someone who is jealous of how good your story is.


message 6: by Katie (new)

Katie Stewart (katiewstewart) | 817 comments Oh, thank you, Jud! :)


Patti (baconater) (goldengreene) | 56525 comments Just double checked my copy and its perfect.

I would have quietly told you if I'd seen any problems.

Sheesh. I'm glad it's sorted, anyway.


message 8: by Philip (new)

Philip Whiteland | 3396 comments If it's any consolation, Katie, I had a couple of 1 star reviews for Steady Past Your Granny'son the grounds of differing font sizes making it unreadable. This is despite 5500 copies of it being sold so far! I checked and they were right. Goodness knows where these odd font sizes came from, the original file was absolutely fine. With regard to TOCs, the Smashwords guide has some handy advice for creating TOCs that are somewhat different from Kindle's normal approach but seems to work ok. P.S. It's my worst month for sales as well, if it's any comfort ;-)


message 9: by Beverley (new)

Beverley Carter | 186 comments Katie, if the worst anyone can complain about is an issue with layout, well that must say something positive about your book! :)

Don't give up!

Every time I upload a book, there seem to be subtle changes in KDP. The previewer doesn't look the same as an actual downloaded book either. I've noticed that indents are different sizes, for one thing.

I've been doing my TOC in Word in the simplest option it gives you. I have found that the first two books I did with this, the TOC had weird alignment (not in Word but in the downloaded book) but the last one was fine. It's really easy to do in Word and I usually work in the normal setting, then after all the edits etc, I set up the TOC and go through and highlight each chapter and change it to Heading 1. You can then click on the TOC to update.

Good luck and DON'T GIVE UP! :)

PS - I've downloaded plenty of ebooks from well known publishers where the formatting was awful and they must have people who get paid to sit and just do that. If theirs don't translate reliably, then it's surely no surprise that we sometimes have problems!


message 10: by Sara (new)

Sara Boyd (saraboydauthor) | 1211 comments I'm glad it's sorted now. I still haven't tried to set up a TOC; don't see much point with a novel so can't give you any advice. And like Beverley said: DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!


message 11: by Katie (new)

Katie Stewart (katiewstewart) | 817 comments I won't give up trying to sell books just yet. I won't ever give up writing. :)


message 12: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments Katie wrote: "I won't give up trying to sell books just yet. I won't ever give up writing. :)"

Not even if someone stole all your pens?


message 13: by Kath (new)

Kath Middleton | 23860 comments What would you do then Jud - you'd write with a stick, in blood - cos you're the Evil Queen.


message 14: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments Yes, someone else's blood though and I'd probably force someone to make me a quill. The blood would go further that way


message 15: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21812 comments Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "Yes, someone else's blood though and I'd probably force someone to make me a quill. The blood would go further that way"

It looks more elegant than dipping a finger in the blood and writing with that


message 16: by Kath (new)

Kath Middleton | 23860 comments You get more words to the page too. Actually, it's a bit like upping the font on your kindle.


message 17: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments Those are both very clever statements, I shall point you both as my royal advisers


message 18: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21812 comments I suspect I'm more of a disroyal adviser to be honest.
People tend to phone me, ask my advice and then do the opposite


message 19: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments Well, give me bad advice and I'll eat your heart


message 20: by Kath (new)

Kath Middleton | 23860 comments He's got a HEART?

Echo in here eh?


message 21: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments I think the echo is coming from the other thread


Gingerlily - The Full Wild | 34228 comments Surely that should be royal disadvisor...


message 23: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments I read it as royal disadviser. What's a disroyal adviser? Am I going to have to eat your heart now, Jim?


message 24: by Kath (new)

Kath Middleton | 23860 comments He's just disloyal Jud. You're queen!


message 25: by Jud (new)

Jud (judibud) | 16799 comments IT's time to put the crown down for the day. Home time!


message 26: by Jim (new)

Jim | 21812 comments gasp, saved by the bell


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