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Ask The Expert

Marketing to Bookstores – Still a Waste of Time?

Published on October 20, 2010

I have been repeatedly frustrated that I cannot get books on big box or independent bookstore shelves. My book is "up" on many of the store websites for online sales (including many of the top independent booksellers), BUT I still can't get the actual book in front of potential readers. I have a big radio interview coming up and I have no place to direct people (other than my publisher's and other websites) to go buy a copy. I can't even wiggle into the University bookstores and I can't help feeling a bit embarrassed about it. …

Can I Use Artwork on My Cover Without a Contract?

Published on October 6, 2010

I purchased artwork for my book cover. Nothing was agreed between myself and the cover designer. Do I own the rights to the artwork so I can use it to publish my book? Do I need to ask for permission from the artist? …

Don’t Get Cutesy With Book Titles

Published on September 15, 2010

I'd like to play with the words in my title, using Whole instead of Hole. Even though it will be grammatically incorrect, it implies a double meaning to readers. I am afraid if people try to order it they will not know what to type in, or may misspell the real title. What should I do? …

Can You (or Should You?!) Sell Your Self-Published Book to a Traditional Publisher?

Published on September 8, 2010

A writer friend told me a story and I'd like your take on it. She said she was told by a prominent publisher that her book had merit, but they didn't have room for it and suggested that she self-publish the book to see how it does. If it sells well, then they would reconsider it as long as she was taking all the risks first. She lives in the UK and maybe that's how they do business, but this seems wrong. Is this what publishers are doing now, expecting the writer to take the risk before contracting a book? Just curious.. …

Can Your Put My Ebook in the Apple iBookstore? Yes!

Published on September 1, 2010

Hi Angela, I want my ebook listed in Apple's iBookstore but the ePub file conversion and submission process looks really confusing. Is anyone offering a service to help people with the process? Janet …

Get Quality Writing Jobs…the Old Fashioned Way!

Published on August 25, 2010

After reading your articles about content mills, I am now left wondering what place is suggested to get started in freelance writing. Writing sites give a lot of info., pro and con, but........what is the answer? What places are the best? …

Should I Hire These Guys? No!!!

Published on August 18, 2010

I got a call from an online company selling website optimization. The caller promised first page advertising for my books on 100 plus search engines...for a fee, of course. I didn't bite. What's the story on these companies? …

How to Research Trademarks

Published on August 11, 2010

We decided on a title for our book but there is another book from 1994 (with the same main title). One of the co-authors thought we would have a problem with copyright infringement. I thought we would only have a problem if we used the exact same title of another published book. Do you think our title would be okay? …

Plagiarism…or Work-for-Hire?

Published on August 4, 2010

Does using a writer's work in a work-for-hire project mean the person or company who hires the writer can claim it as "original"? What rights can writers/researchers of articles claim? What can the buyer of those articles rightfully claim about the writer's work? Are the pitfalls the same for a ghostwriter who writes a celebrity book? …

Should Writers Rewrite Punctuation Rules? NO!!!

Published on July 28, 2010

THE PROBLEM: I recently exchanged a few emails with a young author. It was difficult to read her emails because every single word started with a capital letter. I finally got a bit frustrated because reading her emails made my eyes water. I wrote: "May I ask why your email program capitalizes every word of your email?" HER EXPLANATION: "The Capitalization Of Every Word Is My Doing. It's Something I Have Been Doing Since I Started Typing (September I'll Be 26).I Must Confess... My Mother Told Me Not To Write A 'Business' Letter In My Fashion But I Believe Each Word Is Just As Important As The Next..." …

Free Article Sites are Not Content Mills

Published on June 23, 2010

I am confused about the whole content mill thing. As part of my book promotion and research, I came across an article advising authors to send articles to content ezines as a way to promote a book. I took the bait. Seemed reasonable. I submit short pieces, include my bio and book info., and get more exposure. …

Copyright or Trademark?

Published on June 9, 2010

I want to copywright the name of a blog I've started. How do I know if that name is already taken? …

Should I Try to Land a Traditional Publishing Contract?

Published on June 2, 2010

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I know you are busy and most likely get asked for a good deal of advice. I currently finished my first novel and I have been contemplating going through a traditional literary agent or using Print on Demand (POD) publisher. I was greatly impressed with your company for taking on the big guys for us little authors. I've read through most of your FAQs and reasons to and not to use POD publishing, and am coming down on the side of POD publishing. Additionally, I've found fantastic reviews of BookLocker. Before heading forward, is there anything else you think I should know about the system or any relevant informational sources I should be steered toward? I realize this is a very general question but any knowledge I can gain now should help me to avoid pitfalls in the future. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you. …

Facebook, Twitter…or a Blog?

Published on May 26, 2010

I want to have a site where people can find out about the book and post comments. I've been trying to make a Facebook fan page and can't figure it out, I looked at Twitter and don't think that is what I want either. I really don't want to build a website. Do you have any suggestions of where I can have readers go to post comments that can be seen by anyone? …

Avoid Publishers With Greedy Rights Clauses

Published on May 19, 2010

Avoid Publishers With Greedy Rights Clauses

I have about a contract I'm contemplating signing. The publication is in print and online, and I'll be doing blog posts initially, with the potential to do features in the future. I really want to write for this pub, but when they sent me the contract, the paragraph below scared me: "(The Publisher) will retain the copyrights to all stories, works or photographs published. (The Publisher) may at its discretion resell or republish any stories, works or photographs. (Contributor) will agree that all stories, and works of authorship, including photos, will be considered works made for hire and shall be owned exclusively by (The Publisher)." My question is this: Is it standard to deprive the writer of all copyright rights from the get-go? I'm inclined to ask for a one-year reversion clause. …

Should I Pay to Make My POD Book Returnable? NO!

Published on May 12, 2010

My first book was published by (a large POD publisher). I paid a few hundred dollars to have the book "returnable" for 2 years. I was told by (their marketing department) that bookstores would readily shelve my book if I did this. However, B&N and Borders will still not carry my book. …

I Have a Trademark! How Can That Church Use My Property?!

Published on April 28, 2010

I have a (specific term from my book title) trademarked and the word will be part of my forthcoming book's title. I recently noticed a church using my trademarked term on a project they're promoting. How do I delicately handle this? Do I gently ask them to stop? It's a church doing really good things but not in the way that I've used my book. The name has been officially trademarked and I really want them to stop using it. …

I Found My Copyrighted Material on Gather.com, Too!

Published on April 21, 2010

I found a story of mine on Gather.com - copyright infringement. I am so glad you published your article. I saw the response you received, which of, course, sounded like a run-around. I would like to be paid for my story on their site. I love your idea of invoicing. What shall I charge for a 600-word humor column? That's what was filched. …

Confusion About Damages in Copyright Statute

Published on April 14, 2010

Hi Angela Regarding this statute: (1) Except as provided by clause (2) of this subsection, the copyright owner may elect, at any time before final judgment is rendered, to recover, instead of actual damages and profits, an award of statutory damages for all infringements involved in the action, with respect to any one work, for which any one infringer is liable individually, or for which any two or more infringers are liable jointly and severally, in a sum of not less than $750 or more than $30,000 as the court considers just. For the purposes of this subsection, all the parts of a compilation or derivative work constitute one work. The WritersWeekly invoice to Anne Wayman stated: "We are invoicing you $750 for each week you published WritersWeekly.com's copyrighted material." You will note that the highlighted sentence reads "in a sum...", that mean total, which cannot exceed 30,000.00. Your invoice is for more than 30K. MR …

Online Resources for Catching Copyright Infringement

Published on March 31, 2010

A competing newsletter, (name removed), has been republishing your stuff. Thought you'd want to know. Aside from waiting for someone else to notice your material has been stolen, what's the easiest way to catch copyright infringers? …

Another Content Mill Victim Whining…When He’s Part of the Problem!

Published on March 17, 2010

Here is my dilemma. I have worked for (a content mill) since July of last year. Sure, they pay steady, every week, but since seeing (a complaint posted about them online), I am not so sure about job security. This company pays just $5 for a 550-word article, and so I have to do 10-15 articles a day, just to make enough money to support my family. Sure I get a lot of repeat clients, and have a pretty stable article base, but there are so many days that I am working so long, I don't have time to spend with my family. …

Will Delaying Availability of Ebooks Work?

Published on February 17, 2010

Hi, Angela: An article in SlashGear hits some of the high points of the situation concerning e-books vs. paper books and why the big publishers are doing what they are doing. You might not know that I was a freelancer and managing editor of "Video Store" magazine for several years. This situation with the big publishers is very similar to the history of the sale and rental of movies on videotape. At first, the studios tried to prohibit rental of their movies on tape. The Supreme Court knocked that down with what came to be called the "First Sale Doctrine," in which it was held that when someone bought something they could do anything they wanted with it (short of outright piracy). But...and it's a big but...this First Sale Doctrine applied only to movies. Not to music or to books. Then the movie studios held back the release of movies on tape (and on cable and network television) according to a standard formula. I don't remember exactly what it was, but tapes were not released until six months or more after the movie hit the big screen. This window shrank as time went on, however, as the studios found they were making more money from sales of videotapes to video rental stores than from the box office. Will the same happen in the e-book area? Charles I address the ebook-sales-delay tactic being used by traditional publishers, as well as well as other points, in today's article, EBOOK PRICE FIXING: Who Gets Hurt in the End? …

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