LETTER TO ANGELA:

Wow, you’re a helluva writer. I just read Part I of your “The Romantic History of WritersWeekly and BookLocker” (good title!) and it brought tears to my Irish eyes.

Danke (Merci)

Peter

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LETTERS REGARDING:

“Should I pay Xlibris $6,000-$17,000 to promote my book?”

I published a book with Xlibris 16 years ago. I don’t remember the exact cost but it was in the lower thousands. They did nothing to help market the book. It has been only recently that they stopped calling me to re-issue the book. They’re trying to get me to pay them again to republish a book from 2001. Their sales team is in another country because I have a difficult time understanding their pitch. Their calls come from different area codes and I have friends and family from some of those areas. So I’ve decided not to answer any number that I can’t recognize just so I don’t need to listen to their sales pitch.

– R.

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I put the third edition of my book (title removed) out through IUniverse (owned by Author Solutions, which also owns Xlibris). I wanted a distributor that could handle the shipping on that kind of volume. I spent $5,000 for marketing events and only sold 50 books so far in 10 years! An expensive lesson, but one well learned and one I’m happy to share.

– L.B.

 

COMMENTS FOR:

This Week’s Hate Mail!

If you would please inform Mason that *my* first favorite video game was Duck Hunt! Complete with plastic laser pistol!
And I kinda hated PacMan. I’d rather have shot the little ghosties 😉

Paula Richey

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Actually the FIRST video game, Pong, was enjoyed by everyone. I put many quarters into that dang machine.

Dan Case

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Hate mail of that nature means you’re making a difference! So, congratulations! But it’s rather sad how vicious and virulent some people can be – they don’t realize how petty (from the French, petit, for small) actions like these make them look.

Victoria Grossack

~~~

 

Hate mail to someone who is trying to help? What a crazy world we live in. The bead story, the strange gets stranger. Cheers!

Pamela Allegretto
Bridge of Sighs and Dreams
Nazi-occupied Rome sets the stage for Bridge of Sighs and Dreams, where the lives of two women collide in an arena of deception, greed, and sacrifice.

~~~

COMMENTS FOR:

“Can I publish pictures of people’s (private parts) that they’ve texted to me?”

Considered porn up here in Canada. The police would be most interested.

WriterLinda

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I, too, am not an attorney, so this is simply my opinion, not a legal fact.

It seems to me, if you receive a text of an image and screenshot it, then you are using a facsimile of a photo, not the actual photo itself. And if you modify that in some way (cropping, for instance), then you should have the legal right to publish it. Where body parts come into play, your legal issue will likely involve the subject of the photo. If you are making money off of another person’s image, then you’ll need that person’s permission first.

Allen Taylor

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In reply to Allen Taylor.

Actually, that’s incorrect, Allen. If you use someone else’s image, you must request permission to use it, even to modify it. Remember the iconic Obama “Hope” poster (red, white and blue) that was splashed ALL over? The “artist” started with a photo owned by the Associated Press. Of course, the end product looked nothing like the original photo but that didn’t matter. He used someone else’s property without permission. Not only was that artist sued, but he was then also criminally charged for his actions after the face. The story is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_%22Hope%22_poster

Also, whether you plan to profit or not, you still can’t use other people’s creative works without permission.

Angela

~~~

Oh God! What pervert would want to have a book of only (bleep!) on their coffee table?!
I can just picture myself sitting in my executive adviser’s office — opening a picture book with nothing but (Bleep!) on every page – dropping my (bleep-ete-bleep) and loudly (Bleeping) across the room!

This article made me laugh so (bleeping) hard I cried!

P.S.
By the way — since human males are all about the same with regard to the aforementioned body part, I seriously believe that, unless there is an identifying mark on said body part, it is unlikely that anyone can lay claim to this or that photo these people wish to publish.
If someone does step up and make the assertion that their photo was used (without permission), they are going to have to submit to a serious ‘show and tell’ examination.

Wendy Jones
Highlander Imagine – Beyond Infinity
Duncan MacLeod must fight a South American Immortal at Teotihuacan.

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COMMENTS FOR:

AUTHORS, REPEAT AFTER ME: “I will NOT give publishers ownership of my production files!”

Hi Angela,
I published my book “Worlds Apart” with Lulu in 2005 and they said I could also publish elsewhere.
The book is now republished by a traditional UK publisher and also available on Lulu.

At the time I just asked them to format the document. They stressed that authors were their own self
publishers. I think now they offer alternative services.

My problem with Lulu was the fact they said they had no control over their distribution services after
I challenged them for allowing the book to be falsely advertised for sale through Amazon under the
name of another publisher called Kessinger..

I know an author who has just removed all her books from Amazon after her books were stolen.
Apart from the question you raise, what control do authors and publishers have over their files
when Amazon have their own printing and distribution services and do not reveal their accounts?

Mica Jay

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Thanks Angela, for many of us who are pestered by many of those you mention

Leonard Nourse
JP and His Animal Detectives – African Series
JP realized as a child that he could communicate with animals. Now he fights crime in the African bush with the help of his animal friends!

~~~

And this is why BookLocker is the best! Your integrity is admirable. I’m so grateful to be a part of the BookLocker “family.”

Pamela Allegretto
Bridge of Sighs and Dreams
Nazi-occupied Rome sets the stage for Bridge of Sighs and Dreams, where the lives of two women collide in an arena of deception, greed, and sacrifice.

 

Read More Letters and Comments

 

 

 

7.625 STRATEGIES IN EVERY BEST-SELLER - Revised and Expanded Edition

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