ethics | From the Writer's Desk

Has Amazon Declared War on Authors?

It sure seems like it

Like most authors, my books are available on Amazon. Print editions, as well as digital editions for the Amazon Kindle. I’ve been doing this for the past fifteen years. However, I would have to give my experience with Amazon’s KDP Direct a mixed review.

I’m well aware that many readers prefer Kindle editions over a printed book. After all, you can carry an entire library of eBooks on your phone or tablet. That said, as an author, my experience with Kindle Direct Select wasn’t what I had hoped for. When you select this option, you’re agreeing to sell your eBook exclusively with Amazon for ninety days. You also have to choose this option if you wish to promote your book on Amazon.

Ninety days is a long time. Then again, I thought it would make a difference in my sales. I tried it for several of my titles, but in the end, it was disappointing. I saw no increase in sales, even with the promotions. So, when I launched my most recent Marina Martindale romance novel, Rivalry, I skipped Kindle Direct Select. I instead launched the book on all platforms on the same day. It seemed to do the trick. I was much happier with my sales.

There is a new, rather disturbing trend Amazon

Amazon is now booting independent authors off its platform for so-called “violations” of their community standards. This is happening without warning. According to Trustpilot, these authors are saying they don’t understand why. One said he was deplatformed because he had just updated his credit card information on his KDP account. Another author said he was deplatformed after checking the status of a book he had published years ago. Again, no one understands why this is happening.

There are other allegations that Amazon is continuing to sell their books, even though they have been deplatfomed, but not paying them their royalties. This would mean that Amazon is, allegedly, infringing on their copyrights. According to my attorney, this is indeed copyright infringement, and it’s also against the law.

Thankfully, there are other places where you can buy books

As a result of all the controversy, I’m now encouraging my readers to purchase their books from other booksellers. My personal recommendation is Barnes & Noble. You can download the Nook app for free at your app store. If you want a print edition simply contact your local B & N bookseller and they will happy to order it for you. This is a win-win for everyone as it helps support your local community. Another option, at least for printed books, is to support your local, independent book stores.

For more information

Deplatforming authors is, unfortunately, becoming a widespread problem with Amazon. I have read several articles about this, including one titled KDP is Eating Its Own Authors. It’s a very informative article indeed.

As a side note, Amazon allegedly has no issues with selling plagiarized books or books that promote hate speech, beastilitly and pedophia. Again, I’m not telling readers where they can and cannot buy their books. I’m simply stating that there are other booksellers out who don’t have the above stated controversy and who would welcome your business.

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244

Watch Out for the Predatory Vanity Publishers

I’ve been following a woman on YouTube for some time who is about to publish her first book. I’ll call her, “Denise.” Denise talks about the everyday things we can all relate to; schools, kids, pets, healthy eating, gardening, elderly parents, the weather, and so forth. She’s a very intelligent, articulate woman. Her content is always interesting and thought provoking.

When Denise first started talking about writing a book I offered to help, free of charge, with the typesetting and cover design. She gives a lot to her community, and I wanted to do what I could to help make her book a success. I also told her I would walk her through the self publishing process. She asked me if I could publish her book for her. Unfortunately, my publishing company, Good Oak Press, LLC, isn’t set up to publish books for other authors. While I could do most of the work on my end, I wouldn’t be able to provide an ISBN number or upload her files.

Denise has just uploaded a new YouTube video about her upcoming book. However, instead of using KDP Direct Publishing and Draft2Digital, as I had recommended, she’s decided to pay a publisher seven-thousand dollars to publish her book. (Which is the first a big red flag.) She’s so excited. This unnamed publisher is also going to advertise her book. While I honestly hope it works out for her, I have some serious doubts. Denise has no idea that she’s taking an incredibly big risk.

There are a LOT of bad actors in the book publishing world. They charge huge sums of money, such as seven-thousand dollars, but don’t deliver on their promises. In the industry, they’re known as vanity publishers. They prey on unsuspecting authors, which is why I consider them predators.

Denise is asking her YouTube followers to help her cover the cost with five hundred dollar donations. The donor will get a dedication page at the front of her book where they can make a personal dedication to anyone they so choose. She’s also telling her prospective donors that her book is going to be on The New York Times Best Seller list. I’m not sure if the publisher has promised her this, or if Denise has assumed it on her own. Either way, it’s another red flag.

There isn’t a first-time author out there who doesn’t want their book on the New York Times Best Seller list. In fact, it’s part of The Author Myth. Unfortunately, The New York Times Best Seller List is only for the big, mainstream publishers, such as Random House. There are other best seller lists out there which she may qualify for, but she would have to sell a substantial number of books in order to get there. I believe the NYT list requires a minimum sale of five-thousand copies a week. While not impossible, it is extremely difficult for an unknown first-time author to have this much sales volume.

To her credit, Denise does have an one advantage most author’s don’t. She has a successful YouTube platform. Let’s say she has fifty thousand subscribers to her YouTube channel. That’s a good number. No doubt some of them will buy her book, but how many is anyone’s guess.

I’ve also advertised my books on social media as well as on Amazon. While advertising does indeed help boost my sales, it can also be expensive because those pay-per-click ads can run up in a hurry. I don’t know how much her publisher is charging her for advertising, but I’d be willing to bet she’d get a better rate if she did her own ads and promotions herself instead of going through a third party.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of authors and publishers upload new books on Amazon and other platforms each and every week. Most, if not all of them, want to have a bestselling book. There’s a lot of competition out there, and the book market is oversaturated. It takes time and effort to build a following, and people who enjoy watching YouTube videos aren’t necessarily interested in reading.

I’ll end by saying I found her video jaw dropping, to say the least. However, I’m biting my tongue and not saying anything on her YouTube channel. She’s made up her mind, and I highly doubt she would listen if I tried to warn her. Nor do I want to be perceived as an, “I told you so,” if things don’t turn out the way she’s hoping. I won’t be donating five hundred dollars either because it would be a conflict of interest. Remember, I offered to do her typesetting and cover art free of charge, and I didn’t get so much as a, “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll pass.” In fact, I was waiting for her to get back with me about when she wanted me to start the typesetting when I saw the video, and I honestly feel like I’ve been blindsided.

I hope, for her sake, that things go the way she is hoping. However, having been in the small press publishing business for over a decade, I know how things work. The red flags are there, so in all likelihood, she’s working with a vanity publisher who’ll produce low-quality books which may end up in her garage because they’re not marketable. It’s also entirely possible that she may not have the option to republish her book herself, because she may have signed the rights over to the vanity publisher. It’s yet another reason why I call them predators.

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI generated content or use AI software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.

Why Paid Book Reviews are Unethical

Paying for book reviews is a topic which comes up from time to time in online discussions. To some it may sound like a good idea. However, paying for reviews is considered unethical, nor is it without risk. We all know good reviews help authors sell more books. However, reviews aren’t intended to help authors. They’re meant to help readers.

I do a lot of online shopping. Whether I’m buying a book, a sweater, or a toaster, I like to read the reviews before I buy. I want to know what other people thought about the product. Were they satisfied with their purchase? Would they recommend the product to others? For me, it’s not about the seller’s description. It’s about what other customers thought of the product. Book buyers are the same way. Readers want to know if other readers liked the book, and they want unbiased opinions. Herein lies the problem with paying for a review.

Those who write paid reviews aren’t in it for the reader. Nor are they in it for the author. They’re in it for the money, and who wants to pay someone for a bad review? Someone recently sent me an unsolicited email offering to write a review for one of my Marina Martindale novels. This person included their website in their email, which I immediately looked up. To their credit, their website was well done. It included testimonials from some of the authors they’ve reviewed, but then something else caught my eye. It stated that if they were to write a bad review, they would refund the money to the author. Really? How interesting. They offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with your review. Therefore, there’s no incentive for them to write a bad review. So, are their reviews really honest? Who knows.

I also tried to find out more about their pricing. Unfortunately, all I found was a vague reference about the price being determined by the individual book, but no specific information about how they go about making this determination. Interesting. So those authors who take them up on their offer could be pay anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred dollars for a review. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I like to know how much a product or service costs before I buy.

Here’s the bottom line. Paying someone to review your book is unethical, and your readers deserve honest reviews. You’re also taking some big risks. Chances are, these folks will want you to pay them upfront, and once they have your money, they may or may not review your book. I’ve also read horror stories about people offering to review books prior to publication, otherwise known as Advance Review Copies or ARCs. The unsuspecting author then sends the reviewer a copy, only to discover later on that the “reviewer” has pirated their work and is taking credit for something they didn’t write.

Then there is another big risk. Amazon does not allow paid reviews. Amazon will remove them, and perhaps delete the author’s account as well. They’re not bluffing when they state this. I’m reading all kinds of stories on online forums where Amazon really did delete an author’s account for violating their community standards. When it comes to selling books, Amazon is the king. I would highly discourage anyone from doing anything which could put their Amazon accounts in jeopardy.

I did not respond to the individual soliciting a paid review of my book. That email has been deleted. I instead contacted my webmaster, and we did an update on my website, clearly stating on my contact form that Good Oak Press does not pay for book reviews, and that we consider paid reviews to be unethical. Our readers deserve honest reviews, not gaslighting. In the meantime, here is a link to Amazon’s Community Guidelines for Customer Reviews.

Amazon Customer Reviews

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk does not include AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated content or use AI software of any kind. It is written and edited by a real human being. No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244.

I No Longer Follow Dale L Roberts

There are good people out there giving good advice for writers and those who want to become writers. Some, like yours truly, have traditional blogs. Others, such as Dale L Roberts, use YouTube. I stumbled on his channel when he posted a video comparing the print quality of several well known POD (print on demand) book printers. While I was there I clicked on the subscribe button as he had some good information. However, I have unsubscribed from his channel, and I did so for a very good reason.

Those of you who follow this blog know that I am very much opposed to using AI software of any kind for writing books. In fact, I recently wrote a blog article called, AI Will NOT be Writing my Novels. Another reason why I am opposed to AI is because AI cheapens our profession.

Once was a time, if you wanted to be a writer, you had to have talent. You also had to learn your craft. In other words, you had to pay your dues. Now, thanks to AI, any would-be-if-they-could-be can buy AI software, and with a few clicks of a mouse, have an instant book that they actually didn’t write. A machine wrote it for them. They’re just putting their name on it and saying they wrote it. No, this isn’t the same as using a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is a real human being who also paid his or her dues.

So this morning I’m on YouTube, and here’s Dale L Roberts touting the latest new AI software for writers which allegedly mixes human creativity with AI technology. Gee, Dale, I’ve only been writing books without AI for about twenty years now. How did I possibly manage to do it on my own, using real human editors and proofreaders, and not use AI?

So, once again, I point out in the comments that real writers have talent, and if you want to be a writer you should take some writing classes. So, he attacks my comment. It’s his platform. He is free to attack me if he wishes. However, I don’t have to take his crap! So, I deleted my comment, and unsubscribed from his channel. I am also speaking my mind on my platform, not his, and if Dale L Roberts doesn’t like what I have to say then too freaking bad.

AI does not make you a better writer. AI just makes you a lazy writer. Or a fake writer. Let me say it again, just for you, Dale. AI cheapens our profession. If you’re serious writer, you do not need to use AI. You already have the talent, and the skills, to write your own original content in your own, unique writing voice. You’re also the kind of writer who doesn’t believe in using software which can plagiarize other writers’ work.

If you want to follow Dale L Roberts on YouTube you are certainly free do to so. However, because I am very much opposed AI writing software for the reasons I have mentioned above, I can no longer recommend him as a good information source. If you want to be a writer, take some writing classes. Join professional associations. Network with other authors and learn from your peers. As for me, I’m standing by my principles. I worked damn hard to learn my craft. Therefore, I will continue to write my own unique content without using AI software of any kind, and without Mr. Dale L Roberts’ approval.

Gayle Martin

From the Writer’s Desk is written, edited, and maintained by a real human being. It does not include content generated by AI (Artificial Intelligence) software of any kind.

No part of this blog may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form, or used in any matter by AI, without the express written consent Good Oak Press, LLC. Requests for permission must be addressed to Good Oak Press, LLC, P.O. Box 51244, Denton, TX 76206-1244

Making Promises You Can’t Deliver

Years ago, a fellow writer contacted me about including me in a book she was writing. I’d met her at a few events where I was promoting my Luke and Jenny book series. Her book was about honoring people who helped to preserve the history or promote the culture of the old west. It would feature many prominent Arizonans, as well as a few Hollywood actors.

Needless to say, I felt both honored and excited to be included in this very distinguished group. One member had been the host of a kid’s TV show in Phoenix which ran for over thirty-five years. He may not have been as famous as the Hollywood actors, but I grew up watching him on TV. I was especially excited to be in the same group as him, and I really looked forward to reading her book once it was published.

A few years went by. I checked her website from time to time. There was no new information, but I wasn’t concerned. Writing a book doesn’t happen overnight, so this was not uncommon.

It’s now been more than a decade since she first contacted me, and her website has since been taken down. It wasn’t a good sign, so I wondered if something might have happened to her. A number of people she included in her book have since passed away, including the kid’s TV show host. Then the other day I saw one of her posts on Facebook. It was the first I’d seen or heard of her in years.

I commented on her post and asked how she was doing. I also asked her about her book. Her response was totally unexpected. She had changed her mind and wasn’t going to do her book after all. It was too much work and she just didn’t have the time. Seriously?

We’ve all had ideas for books which we may have started, but, for whatever reason, were unable to finish. The issue is her having contacted and interviewed people before she changed her mind. At the very least, she should have reached out us, along with the families of those who had passed away, to thank us for our time and apologize for not being able to complete the book. It would have also been nice if she had returned whatever materials I may have sent to her. Where I come from this is called common courtesy.

Things happen, but it never ends well when you don’t deliver on the promises you make. I honestly feel like I’ve been duped, and whatever respect I may have had for her evaporated the minute I read her comment. I take my profession seriously. I’ve worked hard to build a good reputation. If something beyond my control comes up and prevents me from keeping a promise, I let the other party know, as soon as I possibly can. Not only is it common courtesy, it’s also good karma.

Gayle Martin