A potentially bad thing from Amazon via D2D

[Carole]

It's getting harder and harder. The 'Zon wants to control the world.

[Carole]

You're not alone. It's getting harder and more limited to promote. All of the less expensive or free ways to market are all but gone. My mailing list is good for wiping my nose (I'm being polite).
Amazon's model is to choke out all the free enterprise (the indies). I put one book back on KU and it is being read- but the money is horrible. It wasn't worth the time it took to write and then promote it. I'm sad to say it. Every time they did something to smother the indies, I pushed back. You know, this week my company is working the Sundance Film Festival. I remember when those indies were considered the refuse of the film industry and now they are not only making money- but respected as well. We need an indie book festival.

[Anna]

Alex, I am oh so sorry to hear your trouble. I hate it when something looms up to smother a dream. Hang on to your dream, even if it means doing it for love, keep going and maybe things will turn full circle and Indies will be seen to be useful and a source of talent again.

[Erica]

I hate that you are having to deal with this mess 6 years later, Alex. You have probably already considered this route, but is there any form of legal action you can take to clear your name of that incident? I hope that things work out for you and encourage you to keep writing.

[Angel]

I'm sorry to hear you're having such a hard time Alex. I hope thing get better for you.

[D.J.]

That doesn’t look good Alex. I hope nothing comes if it. But it does look like you’re at risk of losing Amazon.

As for KU. I put Missing Remnants in KU. I set up some Amazon ads. I’ve had no page reads. I will be ending KU in February. Maybe I need a new cover but I can’t afford anything fancy. The only people who have bought it in recent months are me and Carole. So I am not being read, at all, ever.

[Dale]

Curious. I just set up The Fibonacci Murders on Ingram Spark, and it appeared on Amazon within a day (although with a strange problem with the print edition's cover image). They said nothing about needing any documentation, only the usual online certification that you own the rights.

So it could be that D2D is saying "it's not us, it's Amazon" when they are actually misunderstanding guidance from Amazon, or it could be that Ingram, as one of the primary jobbers/distributors, has a special status with Amazon. I suspect when a book comes from Ingram and is properly set up (namely, returns are allowed), it may be impossible to tell that it didn't come from a trad publisher.

Every time I hear things like this, though, I think I really have to get my idea launched, but I have no time to build out the website and no money to hire someone to do it. Anybody know a rich, risk-taking, indie-author-loving investor who'd like to throw money at me? ;-)

[D.J.]

If I had the money, Dale, I'd chuck it at someone to fix all these problems. Alas, I'm far from wealthy.

I like my cover for Missing Remnants too, Alex, but I'm beginning to wonder if I need to put a person on it somehow rather than a shiny space station.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Alex, I'm sorry for all the frustration and issues you are enduring. Huge Hugs

DJ, I like your cover very much exactly the way it is. Huge Hugs

[D.J.]

Thanks Sam.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

Awesome news, Alex! Always here for you to do whatever possible to comfort you. Hugs

[Carole]

Glad that worked out!!

[Eldon]

Alex wrote: "Good news everyone, no GREAT NEWS, just got this email from Draft2Digital

You are now able to publish to Amazon
Thank you for supplying the necessary documentation to publish to Amazon through ou..."

Just wondering Alex, why are you publishing to Amazon through D2D? Are you aware D2D will be taking a percentage of your sales from Amazon? In addition to Amazon's cut?

Seems like it makes more sense to publish to Amazon direct.

[Eldon]

Alex wrote: "I'm not permitted to publish with KDP because of an issue I had with a co-author 6 years ago, Eldon.

KDP and Amazon are not very forgiving. Despite the length of time it's been, they still won't ..."

Well that sucks ☹

[Dale]

Alex wrote: "If I had the money I'd throw some money at you, unfortunately, the amount I could afford to throw at you right now wouldn't be worth the time it would take you to catch it, lol."

Ha! You should use that line in a book somewhere . . .

[Dale]

D.J. wrote: "If I had the money, Dale, I'd chuck it at someone to fix all these problems. Alas, I'm far from wealthy."

Yeah, we're all in about the same boat, I guess.

[Angel]

Alex wrote: "Good news everyone, no GREAT NEWS, just got this email from Draft2Digital

You are now able to publish to Amazon
Thank you for supplying the necessary documentation to publish to Amazon through ou..."

That's wonderful to hear, Alex.

[Dale]

Alex wrote: "Writer brain now says I must find a good story to put the line in."

My work here is done.

Now, about that licensing thing. What are your fees? ;-)

[Dale]

Alex wrote: "Very reasonable, £0.01 per usage. I'm banking on the line becoming as popular as 'Eat My Shorts' was in the 80s or similar so I'll make my riches on volume of usage."

It's a good price. You might attract a lot of customers. ;-)