Amazon Spring is now live on Kindle, Kobo, Barnes&Noble, Smashwords and DriveThruFiction… and even Apple! Took them one week to approve it…
I shall be a guest on Doug’s blog soon – yes, I’ve answered those twenty questions too, so check back again on the link. I’ll be posting the interview on my Facebook profile, but if you’re not on Facebook, just follow the above link. Or maybe I’ll update this post! š
UPDATE: Here’s the link to my interview!
As I trudge through the next Amazons story before heading back to the Southern Kingdoms (featured in Amazon Spring, since The Slave is set there, with an Amazon a little far from her country), I still have plenty of ideas bouncing in my head. I’ll tell you all about Torino Comics on Friday, since it’s not really a writerly news and the only writing discussion is still undefined and it’s too early to talk about it. Besides, how can I surprise you, if I start babbling now about it? š
So, to the writerly links! Kris Rusch reminds to stand up for yourself. Especially if you’re a traditionally published writer dealing with Editor-From-Hell. I never thought it could be that bad, and I’m glad I’ve chosen the indie way. Even if I can’t apply all of Kris and Dean’s teaching in this third world country, eventually I’ll manage to set up a business and maybe even rebrand myself. Maybe. In the meantime admire the mess I’ve done with my Scribd subscription: two pen-names under the same umbrella. Sigh. Not that it’s a secret, but still… I guess I won’t activate the third link after all! š
Viv on piracy, pricing and the pernicious effects of victim-less crimes. I had some kind of breakdown in January when a Google Alert showed what looked a pirate site with all my works for free (and all taken from Smashwords…), but then I shrugged it off. It’s a little like dealing with trolls – I think ignoring them is the best way.
Or receive e-mails from America Star Books who has discovered that I published a book and offers free translation for it. Pity the book (which one?) is probably already in English anyway. And it’s already published in America. So much for another Author Solutions venture… did they get my name from Lulu? Then I guess it’s time to change POD company…
David Gaughran on improving KDP. I don’t see the benefits of pre-order yet, and I certainly won’t go Select at any time, but some of the things that were requested sound fair. I’ve got the email about the Sales Report in the dashboard – much like Smashwords graphics. And I’ve had those threatening e-mails and my account blocked because they challenged the copyright of my free title – which means it’s not on Amazon anymore. It might get back there if I do the project I’m mentioning above – although CreateSpace don’t do hard backs, do they? Drat, I’ll have to stick to Lulu.
Anyhow, I guess that’s all for today. Have a great week! š
Barbara G.Tarn - writer 
Viv
/ 16/04/2014I’d noticed a lot of extra emails lately from Lulu, one of which had introduced the equivalent of a budget version of the paperback, which made me reconsider not using them again, as it would be a useful way of producing cheaper paperbacks for more efficient proof reading. Then I saw their hardback option (I’d forgotten them) and thought, perhaps for poetry.
I think Lulu has upped its game lately to try and compete with Createspace, who first removed the fee for extra distribution option, then offered matte finish(which really is much nicer for fiction). I imagine they’ll offer hard back before too long.
I have one book on Select and have been surprised that folks have used their Prime free book to borrow it. Really didn’t expect that. And the Countdown programme has been a massive boost. People love a bargain.
Have a great week too.
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Barb
/ 16/04/2014Yes, by the time I’m ready, CreateSpace might also have the Hardbacks… I’ll keep using Lulu for the Italian titles, since sometimes they have free shipping (and it’s certainly cheaper than CreateSpace), but I’m really considering to move the English titles all on CreateSpace. Not that I’ve sold any, but the Matchbook thingy looks great…
I’ll try to do bargains on my own again – maybe I’ll even manage to be featured on Pixel of Ink, but I think I need to lower the price more (giving a 4.99 book at 99cents doesn’t sound as a bargain, apparently…), or raise the official price, so that 99cents looks like a real bargain…
It’s so complicated… but I’ll keep doing it! š
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