Now before I get into what I'm really writing about today I'd like to tell you a little story ... (trust me, I have a point.) ...Yesterday I had organised a free promotion for my poetry book Twisted Velvet Chains. Yes. The Kindle version was (supposed to be) free on Amazon yesterday. Why didn't I blog about it??? Because Amazon US never made it free on their site, but did on all of the others, which is ... can I say ... utterly disgusting.
Most of my audience is from the US, so I just wasted one of my allotted 5 free promotion days for nothing. And I'm still seething. In addition, I didn't even get the full 24 hours. It didn't start till 6 hours into the day, and then ended, when? You guessed it. Right on time.
What's my point you ask? My point is, despite thinking otherwise, we really have no control over what happens to our books ... even the self-published ones. The other day, Michelle's book True Colors was free on Amazon for a week and she didn't even ask for it. They just did it. Makes me kinda mad. But I guess, they're a bookshop. They can do whatever the blah they like with their books, right? We have no control ... BUT, I know a place where we do have control:
It's a bookstore that caters to the author. If you're an author, you SHOULD become a member. I sell signed copies of String Bridge and Twisted Velvet Chains there. And I must say I am so so so happy with their service so far. Wonderful, professional, passionate women who are authors themselves and treat you the way they want to be treated. With love. So hop on over and check it out. And why not become a member while you're at it?
Have a great weekend, folks!
FRIDAY UPDATE: I've sent Amazon THREE emails. Two polite ones and one fairly angry one. Still no reply.
Interesting post Jessica, sorry that Amazon US didn't pull through for you...and I will be taking a look at the site you have suggested.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder if Amazon isn't getting too massively gigantic for its own good. WiDo has had frequent issues with print book listings getting completely screwed up and having to contact Amazon repeatedly to get it corrected. And I've noticed something new lately--item detail pages for WiDo's books that were not submitted by us. Other vendors used to have their wares as links on your detail page, selling new or used copies, but now they can actually take your information and create their own item detail page for YOUR book. When contacted about this, Amazon says they allow other vendors to sell and it's all good.
ReplyDeleteLose the customer service and things won't go well for any business.
Just reading about the amazon malarky with your poetry is giving me a headache!
ReplyDeleteYay for celerytree! Not only is it green, it's very good for you!
Take care
x
They didn't make your book free in the US and cut you short on time? How rude!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard when a company gets so big their marketing department forgets there are people involved.
ReplyDeleteAmazon has a mind of its own. A friend of mine has a product listed with Amazon. They promoted it like crazy during Christmas...but failed to tell her. She got SLAMMED with orders she couldn't fill and angry emails.
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica, I too am on Amazon but I have just registered with the one you suggested.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your sales.
Yvonne.
wow. WTF - why do any self-pubbed authors have so little control over their books? I mean, isn't that the fricking point of being self pubbed?
ReplyDeleteI would totally go with celery tree if i had a book to sell
I'm sorry for the Amazon problems. I was naive I think and thought with self-publishing this sort of thing wouldn't happen, but obviously that is not the case. I can imagine it is very frustrating!
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree seems like such an amazing service and I'm so glad to learn about it!
Bummer! Amazon, like all big companies, has its good and bad qualities. And the bigger a business get, the more likely mistakes (large and small) will be made.
ReplyDeleteJessica, I recently bought one of your books through Celery Tree. There was extra postage involved but the CT folks informed me right away and gave me the opportunity to cancel my order.
ReplyDeleteI did not because of the very professional way it was handled. Customer service is EVERYTHING!
I've been hearing a lot about celery tree around the blog. I think it's a brilliant idea! I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteUgh that is so upsetting. :-/ Have you tried sorting out with Amazon? What did they say?
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree is a great idea. I hosted Leisel on their recent tour on my blog. I'm sorry that happened to you with Amazon. The only reason that I'm joining Celery Tree right now is that I'd have to handle my book distribution, and I'm going to be on the road in an RV for an extended period. I won't be in a position to promptly and reliably handle orders. On the other end of our road trip though, I'll definitely be signing up. Nice to meet you - I've signed up to follow.
ReplyDelete:-(((( UGH!
ReplyDeleteWell i bought it (and read it --YAY) for 99 cents last week! xoxo
That's ridiculous what they did to you.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you have aired your grievances with them, Jessica, and i hope you get results!
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree is a good idea.
I hate it when that happens! Amazon was supposed to put my novella for free for the month of January. They didn't. Grrrr. That's why I ended up using Smashwords for it. Thanks for the heads up on Celery Tree. I'll definitely check them out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up Jessica, I'm definitely going to check that one out.
ReplyDeleteYou know, Amazon does this a lot to people. I have another indie friend whose book was up for free for like... a week I think. However, it was one of the best things to happen to her work. Lots of downloads and then repeat buyers of her other books. So, while you may not be getting what you asked for, there is still a silver lining in it all. I will definitely check out this link though. :D
ReplyDeleteWant me to go beat them up??
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree - Been there...joined that. :)
That sucks about Amazon! I think they're probably just way too big to care about puny little authors (even the hugely successful big authors are probably puny to them). And I saw Celery Tree mentioned on another blog & thought it looked amaaaazing! So it's in my links now :)
ReplyDeleteWow. I had no idea they could do that.
ReplyDeleteSucks that they did that to you. I have spoken to a few authors whose books just magically popped up free on Amazon, and they had no idea until it happened. Makes a person wary. If you contact them, will they do it in the U.S. and count it as the same promotion?
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree sounds awesome!
Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the A-to-Z; we're gearing up for the upcoming 2012 A-to-Z Challenge!
>>...When the big people disappoint, give the little people a chance.
ReplyDeleteAnd what to do when the little people disappoint? Just go back to sawing wood, like I was doing before?
Amazon! Oh, don't even get me started.
I have a nickname for them that I came up with years ago. I think it's a classic, but then I came up with it, so I WOULD.
In my world (i.e., on my blogs) Amazon.com is known as BigBitch.com.
Alright... that's enough from me... back to sawing wood.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Hi Jess .. can quite see why you were angry - it would make me spit too .. so I totally agree with you - let's make CeleryTree rock with some sparkly diamonds in the sky stuff for all our author friends .. I shall definitely be over to purchase from them ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWTF?!
ReplyDeleteJust moments ago, before going back to the sawmill, I stopped by Missed Periods' place and found THIS:
>>..."Yep ... Tell Stephen that he's allowed to capitalize every single word because that's how I imagine he speaks in 'roil' life." ;o)
What The Hell Does THAT Mean?! I'm All Prepared To Be Offended But... I Don't Wanna Jump The Gun.
Should I Be Offended? What The F Did You Mean By That? Huh!
Like, That I'm LOUD Or Something? Boisterous? Noisy?
You Might Be Surprised, If That's What You're Thinking. In Real Life, I'm Actually Rather Mild-Mannered And Quiet. You'd Hardly Know I'm The Same Person Who Posts All This RAWWRRR 'N' ARGGHHH!
Don't Forget, I Was Once An Actor (Of Sorts), So I Know How To Play A Variety Of Parts. (But The Real Me Is Quiet Like A Church Mouse.)
WHAT THE HELL DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? Don't Make Me Have To Come Over There (It's A Long Ways Away 'N' Shit)!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Celery Tree is a great idea and I hope to be able to join one day when I get that elusive publishing contract!
ReplyDeleteDon't they have an option to chat with them live?
ReplyDeleteWhoah, that is rude! What gives?
ReplyDeleteCelery Tree looks amazing~