Last Saturday night, we drove up to Anna Maria Island to see Ali and Justin. This time of year, the weather is perfect there, with temperatures in the 70’s and a brisk sea breeze blowing. We slept with all the windows opened, and woke up the next morning to the sound of their neighbor’s waterfall. Heaven!
In December, I wrote about an author who thought it was okay to use a deceased person’s work simply because that person had claimed to want to write a book with him someday. In that article, I explained why he could not do that.
This week, I wanted to share the rest of the story with you…
Dear Angela,
I have now had a few hours to think about your response to my inquiry. I want to thank you so much for having the integrity to turn down my novel.
This is my first book and I have been to several self book publishers in search of some help. Every one of them just asked what level I wanted to sign up for. Some of them became quite annoying and I was sorry I gave them my phone number.
Your company (BookLocker.com) is the only one who actually had any guidelines on content. I have been working on my manuscript for about three years. Because of your letter, I am now going to start over and re-write my work as a tribute to my hero. I will also do what I can to get in touch with whomever I mention. I will make my novel something that my hero’s loved ones will cherish. I would never want to hurt anyone. So when I’m done can I re-contact you?
Thank you,
Sherry
Publisher’s Note: The book was rejected because it mentioned actual deceased persons and we felt the content of the book may offend the family members of those persons. Since the author agreed, and was happy to revamp the book, we, of course, told her we’d take another look when she’s finished.
Sometimes the check doesn’t arrive or the automatic deposit doesn’t hit the account. Then what? I’ve had a few editors not pay when they said they would. What a writer does next can affect not only when he gets paid, but also the editor/writer relationship…
A bookstore emailed me to see if I wanted them to carry my POD book.
First, I had to send a copy to see if it was “appropriate.” Now they say it is, but they want me to send books to them. They do not want to order them from my publisher. Also, I have to sign a 50/50 contract, meaning I’ll lose money on each sale. I’ll even have to pay postage to ship the books. Wouldn’t I be stupid to do this?
Freelancers who write for magazines know the importance of building and maintaining working relationships with editors. Besides archives of clips and reprints, our lists of editors’ names, needs and preferences may be our greatest business asset. In my experience, cultivating relationships with expert sources is equally fruitful…
We recently hired someone to help with book formatting and I’m now able to find a few spare moments in the afternoons to get more involved in social networking. I’ve been spending time on Twitter and, if you’re truly on there to read and not to just promote yourself, it’s pretty addicting…
Letters will return next week.
It seems to me that Apple wants to corner the market through force, and squeeze more out of everyone, just like Amazon’s been doing for years. How better to increase your income than to claim rights to others’ creations, and force the creators to use your store when selling those creations, all the while further increasing your take?
Would you say that an author buying his own ISBN has almost no advantage over taking the free one from an online publisher such as your company?
