Oh, Christmas Tree….Where Are You???

This is the longest we’ve ever gone in the season without putting up our tree. We usually have it up during the third week of November. Thanksgiving came late this year and, each year, it gets harder to organize everyone for a group outing…

Authors Beware! “Gifting” Your Kindle E-Books May BACKFIRE! By Angela Hoy

Authors Beware! “Gifting” Your Kindle E-Books May BACKFIRE! By Angela Hoy

I received an email from an author last week asking why he never received his “royalties” for a Kindle “gift” ebook he bought for someone. It was his own book and he had documentation proving he’d purchased the ebook version from Amazon. I checked Amazon’s reports and they didn’t show the sale for that month.
I wrote to Amazon and the author was not happy with their response…

I Had The Only Professional Looking (Self-Published) Book

Dear Angela,
Yesterday, I participated in an authors event at our local central library in Merrillville, Indiana. Perhaps 20 authors were there. All, it appears, were self-published.
I had the only professional looking books and the only hard backs, which impressed most of the visitors.
I need your business cards to pass out! Honestly, I am not kidding. The author across from my table had her book printed by PublishAmerica. What a horror story! (She told me) just the mailing fee for 100 paperback books (not so good color work on cover) cost her $400. Mailing is $4 per book! No bulk mailing charge.
She is locked into a 7-year contract and was stunned when I told her that I get a check from BookLocker.com each month. In a year, she has never received a royalty check.
Again, I am so pleased with your wonderful service.
Leaving for Miami in two days to get my gold medal for Destiny Denied. One of the important judging points was the look of the book and the printing of the cover, which is due to your fine work.
Gratefully,
Rosemary Gard
DESTINY’S DOWRY
Set against the background of the beautiful Croatian countryside and its simple villages, DESTINY’S DOWRY is the story of a baby taken immediately after birth to a place she did not belong.
DESTINY DENIED
Stefan Vladeslav’s father announces his illegitimate son Ivan as an heir and Stefan’s mother is obsessed with the family’s monetary inheritance.
WINNER! GOLD MEDAL – Readers’ Favorite Book Awards – Cultural Fiction
EDITOR’S NOTE: You can read more about Publish America’s ridiculous per-book shipping fees HERE.

Can I Use Actual Bank Names In My Novel? It Depends…

I would appreciate your opinion regarding libel content. I have situations in my book indicating cyber intrusions within (two national banks) implicating employees. I have the normal caveat indicating the characters and incidents are the imagination of the author. Do you think that is sufficient?

Whispers And Warnings For December 4th

Links to the stories below can be found here:
https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9337
Interesting allegations about Nicholas Sparks’ latest book
“In an Amazon review of the book, one reader noted that the ending first appeared as ‘Who’ll Take the Son,’ a Christian parable that can easily be found all over the Internet, although its origin and author appear uncertain.”
Archie Comics CEO accused of discriminating against male employees
“Male employees of the comic publisher say Nancy Silberkleit referred to them as ‘p*nis’ in place of their names. The lawsuit also alleges that Silberkleit brought members of the Hell’s Angels to the company’s New York office to intimidate employees, and frequently inquired about the location of a handgun she says her late husband kept at the office.”
Bob Dylan Could Be In Trouble for ‘Incitement to Hatred’ in France
“In an interview, Dylan indirectly compared Nazis to Croatians by referencing war crimes committed against minority Serbians.”
Judge dismisses Tom Cruise’s attempt to link mag publisher with Nazism
“A judge supervising Tom Cruise’s defamation lawsuit against magazine publisher, Bauer Media, has dismissed the star and his legal team’s claims that linked the publisher with Nazism and Hitler worship.”
Hotfile Ordered to Pay $80M for Copyright Infringement
“Hotfile must pay $80 million in damages for copyright infringement and cease operations, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled on Tuesday.”
HERE’S A COMPANY WE’LL NEVER BUY FROM! – Couple fined for negative online review, allegedly violated KlearGear.com’s so-called non-disparagement clause in its customer agreement terms
“A Utah couple is facing a $3,500 fine and a damaged credit score for doing what many people do after a bad purchasing experience: posting an online review.” The couple plans to sue (of course).
Links to the stories above can be found here:
https://forums.writersweekly.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9337