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I really hate doing this but I really don't have any recourse. Because someone decided to inform Amazon that I offer my works for free on this site I have been given an ultimatum. Either pull the stories or Amazon will price all my books for free.
I have already talked to Erin and given her the list of books to remove, which she will get to within the next 48 hours (probably tomorrow). I hate that I can't continue to offer my books for free because Erin has been such a vital part of me growing as an author, but I also want to be commercially viable. Whoever left the review on OEM stating that the books were available for free online, thanks for ruining it for everyone.
I wanted to give people some warning to download the books (cut and paste) if you wanted them. In the foreseeable future, I will make a decision on which titles to remove from Amazon and replace them here (most likely the lesser stories). I am also looking for a work around. Amazon had no problem with me having the stories here, but things changed today.
Have fun my friends.
Comments
Huh. I thought it was if you
Huh. I thought it was if you had the _same_ edit/story on two sites, that's when they got pissy.
A lot of people I know of leave their original stories on sites, but put a much more fully edited copy of the story on Amazon.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Katie, How sad this blog is
Katie,
How sad this blog is to read. I for one, will miss your wonderful stories here on BC/TS. As a fan, I want to wish you all the best in your story telling and dealings with Amazon.
Jan
SOP
Several other writers have commented on this in the past, it's to be expected.
I went outside once. The graphics weren' that great.
Sadly the clueless person in trying to be 'helpful'
Nuff said
Thanks for the Heads Up Katie
The Long Ride Home has already been pulled though.
CBEE
were you wanting to read it?
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Yes
I have it all but the last chapter(Ch10).
Free posts
I thought it was only stuff registered in their 'select' programme that had to be in one place only.
they are so anal that....
... they check to see if you have any other books with other publishing sites... like KOBO, LULU and Smashwords. If you are 2 cents less on the other sites, they threaten you. For me this is really awkward, as I price my books in £, so Amazon and another site may have marginally different exchange rates.. so a £2.99 book in the UK could be $4.99 on Amazon and $4.96 on KOBO. Amazon would find out and demand that I correct the difference or they will pull the plug on all my books. Talk about 1984 and big brother. Because the rates fluctuate daily, this is becoming a real headache. People ask me why I don't put all my books on different sites so that KOBO customers can get them. Now you know why....This is one reason why I don't use other sites much. Too much hassle. I can see why Amazon are pushing their way to the top.
Tanya
There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!
Pulling novels
I have a similar situation - or will have.
I am currently in the process of rewriting The Sight and Second Sight, pulling the two into one complete novel, (at the editing stage as we speak) which I had intended to post here prior to uploading to Amazon's Kindle.
At present, I am awaiting a reply from Erin as to what she thinks would be the best course of action, but right now, it looks as if the new version will only be available on Kindle. I suppose it's good news that what I have posted can stay, but sadly, it will have to remain an unfinished story.
I imagine that this situation with Amazon is only going to worsen, not improve and authors are going to have to make a choice as to whether they wish to remain in the public domain or publish, rather than offer both options.
It's sad, but true.
N
It's a vindetta
I wouldn't change your plans. Someone out there is out to get me and its personal. I can't go into much details, yet, but this is all about me. Perhaps it has something to do with what I write or something in the past or my general personality, but I've made quite a few enemies on this site and they don't want me to succeed.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Advice
I hope your assumption is incorrect.
One way or the other, you're best off not to concern yourself with what negative people say or do.
You've been very generous with your work.
From a business standpoint you should have pulled your work from here to maximize your sales. Sometimes business conflicts with your heart. Usually the heart is right.
It's sad this happened, but it doesn't change you or your good intentions. I'm sure Erin understands fully.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Darn!
I wish I had seen this when it was posted. I had maybe 2 posts to go on "Unreachable" when the message told me I was not authorized. I will either have to buy the book or make up the rest in my imagination.
Everyone gets eaten by a grue.
Aren't you glad I cleared that up for you? :D
But seriously, buying the book ain't such a bad way to get the ending, is it?
Melanie E.
I had similar...
... but they do not quibble as long as the books are not available in any computer format if you have selected KPD SELECT... which is their lending library system. To join select, a reader pays a lump sum as a one-off payment, and can 'borrow' books enrolled in the scheme for free. Amazon do not like any competition, so if your book is held on this (or similar) site and available for free, then they will refuse to host your book on Amazon.
A writer is free to try to sell their copyrighted book on whatever site, book shop or stall they wish, but to give them away while they are in the SELECT program they will object.
I receive more income from 'select' borrowed books than I do from KOBO and Smashwords sales (combined), so it is hardly economically painful to pull books from other sites. It does, however, make me feel that Amazon are behaving rather like the playground bully.
I also ensure that all works I post free are early versions and often the published works are later and more refined editions.
It is a jungle out there.
Tanya
There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!
Not a problem
The rules for KDP Select are pretty clear. Any book in that program must be exclusive to Amazon. I'm new to publishing at Amazon, and I have stories on a website (not BC) where I won't be able to have them taken down should I wish to sell them as ebooks, but I don't have a problem with the rule.
Daniel, author of maid, whore, bimbo, and sissy free TG fiction since 2000
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.- Oscar Levant
Less and less interested in buying through Amazon
I have been cutting back on my purchases from Amazon because I don't like the way they run their business, and this convinces me even more that it's the right thing to do. Authors, please make your works available in other stores. Don't help Amazon to become the only place you can buy ebooks.
BTW, Katie, I noticed that Wishing Blanket II was removed from this site even though it looks like it's not available on Amazon or anywhere else.
geek girl
I;ll let Erin know, it probably got lost in the mix. You must follow me closely to notice that.
I do have several titles available on Smashwords and the rest. Sales are so slow that I haven't moved all of my other titles. Last month I sold 500 books on Amazon. 5 on Barnes and Noble 0 on Smashwords and 0 on Kobo.
Amazon didn't say they would pull my stories. They just said that they would price match at free. That's why you see books that are always free there. I dislike authors that do that on purpose because Amazon isn't a story hosting site.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
A few free books
Having a few free books at Amazon can be a marketing tool.
I pulled Wishing Blanket II because you told me to pull Wishing Blanket, I can put it back if you tell me to. One of your other titles also had a II in it and I knew that was really just the second half of what became the eBook. So I figured the same thing with Wishing Blanket.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I am not a monster
Anyone who was in the middle of reading one of my stories, let me know and I will find a way to get it to you. My goal was never to ruin things for people. I feel bad that I have to pull my stories, it really tears me up. This site in particular has been wonderful for me. You can ask Erin how much I improved as an author (and as a pain in the ass too for that matter). I know there are some people who can't afford to pay for e-books on top of their other expenses and am trying to figure out a work around. I might do a read a review program like they have on Goodreads, but I have to figure out how.
Basically, I offer you a free copy in exchange for a review on amazon or goodreads. For some reason, Amazon has no problem with this, but they do have a problem with a book just hanging on the web for everyone to read at will. Go figure.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Big Wide World
I understand that part of the ethos of BC is support, encouragement and advice for those who might be new to writing so it is natural and to be celebrated that there will be some parting of the ways for those who choose a commercial future as authors.
Amazon is a business so will naturally apply what pressures it can to maximize their profits but by its very existence there is a feedback loop with casual browsers finding something of interest on Amazon then following a "google-trail" to BC where other authors are found some of whom sell on Amazon.....
... at this point the scene dissolves into some Disney cartoon with characters singing about the circle of life and me realising it is time to get back out into the big wide world.
Rhona McCloud
Another Amazon take
I've had to pull a few stories from BCTS that were later edited/expanded into Kindle books, and one Kindle book (The Haight) that I recently posted here. I thought that the text (not an ebook copy with cover art, links, etc.) was mine but Amazon ton-o-bricked me and Erin was kind enough to pull it this week.
All of my books are now Kindle Select; I do like the program, basically, and I'm exclusively with Amazon now because, as Tanya has mentioned, Amazon sales have vastly outnumbered B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, Lulu, and iBookstore.
I can't comment on any personal vendetta, but allegedly, Amazon has "bots" that search the web for matching chunks of text as part of the conversion process--which is why they have that time lag before publishing. If they get a hit and search further, that's when the author is notified. I've never been told to "price match to free" or whatever; I just pulled the BCTS stories.
Yes, Amazon is restrictive and somewhat autocratic but they allow instant access worldwide and give credibility and sales, so however I may grumble, I still dance to their tune, although with two left feet.
Karin
I got that
I was contacted and sort-of-accused of plagiarism because their bots found my work here. I simply replied that I was 'both people' and nothing further happened.
Since I have never published I have a naive question
So does Lulu take too much out and/or not as popular or is it because they refuse DRM now?
lulu
Lulu and all the other non-amazon sites are not put together as well and don't generate the sales like Amazon does. Amazon really has a neat system in place for being discovered by more people with there people who bought system and people who looked at this also looked at system. I have several titles on multiple platforms, including new releases (Like OEM) Since oem came out I have 500 sales on amazon 1 on kobo 3 on smashwords and 3 on Barnes and Noble.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Staying away from Amazon
...and that is one of the two reasons I will never, if I ever get around to it, publish any of my work with Amazon. Their publication techniques are so aggressive that they effectively bind you to them for all your sales.
I would much rather sell my work to someone who values me as an author and not just a typewriter monkey producing text files for their benefit.
The other reason I won't use Amazon is their exclusive ebook format. That's another way of binding you to them and them only. If an ebook is available in Kindle format, then the prospective reader is naturally going to think, "I need to buy a Kindle to read that." Yes, I know that Kindle ebooks can be read on other devices or converted (usually) to more friendly formats but that's not how the marketing department thinks.
Amazon, to my mind, is no different than Google or Facebook. They want all of your custom and they want to know everything about you to bind you more tightly to them. That's why I have nothing to do with them if I can possibly avoid them.
Penny