How to Manage a Book Series on Amazon - Indies Unlimited

Today, Panzer was sweeping under the pilot's seat in the Panzermobile when he discovered a wadded up post. Flattening it out, our fastidious kitty found it was a post from the Indies Unlimited site about Amazon.

 

This is important.

The post by Melissa Bowersock includes instructions and illustration for how to manage your book series on Amazon..

 

Panzer says, "Even though this is a post from April, the information is still useful."

 

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a large glass of lemonade for your reading selection today.

 

To read the post tootle over to Amazon book series

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Trouble in Audible - Indies Unlimited

Today as Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere, the Panzermobile was suddenly buffeted by ranting and crying coming from outside. Following all the hullabaloo took our intrepid kitty boy to the Indies Unlimited site. There with no digging at all in the posts he found one about changes to Audible.

You scammer guys know it's stealing, right?

According to the post by Melissa Bowersock, scammers have taken up residence on Amazon's Audible. Amazon's audio book producer ACX has been letting authors and narrators of audio books give away free promo codes so listeners could get their audio books for free. Audible would then give the authors and narrators royalties on those free downloads as if they were bought downloads. Recently scammers have entered the market putting up "fake" audio books and using the free promo codes to game the system and get unearned royalties. ACX and Audible have now done away with the free promo code royalty system. Legitimate audio book authors and narrators are the ones being punished for what the scammers have been doing.

Panzer says, "Those scammer guys can't leave a good thing alone. They just have to ruin it for everybody else."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Audible

Plot Twist: Romance Writers of America - Indies Unlimited

Today Panzer made a stop at the Indies Unlimited site. With no digging at all in the posts our inquisitive kitty found one about the on-going battle at the Romance Writers of America group. Panzer told you about the suspension and banning of author Courtney Milan a few weeks ago.

According to Lynn Cantwell's post, the investigation that led up to the membership suspension and ban from ever holding an office in the Romance Writers of America (RWA) by Courtney Milan is still roiling the group. Chinese-American author Courtney Milan wrote twitter posts about a book by Kathryn Lynn Davis which Ms. Milan felt was an unfair representation of Chinese women. Ms. Davis filed a complaint with the RWA against Milan. (Davis's publisher filed a second complaint.) The RWA set up a secret ethics committee, did a secret investigation of the situation and then the Board suspended and banned Milan. The post contains links to other information about the suspension and ban which will help you get a full understanding of the situation.

So ... No free speech allowed in RWA?

Panzer says, "This was the first time this little kitty read it was a secret ethics committee."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a gallon of tea and two dozen muffins. If you plan to read Panzer's previous post (and follow his links), bring a quart of tea and six more muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Romance Writers of America
To read Panzer's previous post about the RWA tootle over to leadership resigns

Where Should I Buy My ISBNs? - Indies Unlimited

Today, Panzer decided to make a quick stop at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging in the posts, our inquisitive kitty found one about buying and owning ISBNs for your books, ebooks and audio books.

Now where is that ISBN hiding?

According to Melinda Clayton, where you buy your ISBNs (International Standard Book Number) is extremely important. Your book's ISBN identifies it in the Books in Print database. This is how libraries and bookstores can find your book. Bowker is the official seller of ISBNs in the United States. If you buy your book's ISBN directly from Bowker, you are listed in Books in Print as the publisher of your book.  If you get your book's ISBN from Amazon, then Amazon bought that ISBN from Bowker and Amazon is listed as the publisher of your book. There's also an illegal side to not buying your ISBN from Bowker (or Amazon) too. Turns out there are scammers online who advertise they sell ISBNs at discounted prices and the ISBNs are either not delivered or fake made-up numbers.The post includes a link to the Bowker site and one for authors outside the United States.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... You do need to worry about who owns that ISBN, because some bookstores won't carry books with ISBNs showing Amazon as your publisher."

Note: This is a medium length post. Bring a cup of cocoa and a muffin for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a second cup of tea and another muffin.

To read the post tootle over to ISBNs

Audible Captions, Copyright Lawsuits, and Other News from the World of Writing - Indies Unlimited

My work is never done.

Panzer was sweeping the floor in the Panzermobile when he discovered a post under the mat on the passenger side. Pulling it out, our fastidious kitty discovered it was a post from the Indies Unlimited site about news in the publishing world.

Melinda Clayton's post begins with an examination of Audible's soon to be introduced Captions feature. Panzer told you about Captions a few days ago in two posts. Audible still isn't giving out any concrete information about what the new feature will do. The second section is about new legislation which would make it easier and less expensive to go after copyright infringers. The last section of the post is about book marketing. There are several links included in the post to further information about each section.

Panzer says, "Hmm ... This little kitty thinks ... By not giving out any information, Audible seems to be deliberately causing a lot of speculation about the Captions feature just to build up the hype."

Note: This is a short-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links in the post, bring a thermos of tea and four muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Audible Captions and more

To read Panzer's first post about Audible's Captions feature tootle over to Audible text Captions feature

To read Panzer's second post about Audible's Captions tootle over toAudible's Captions program

Draft2Digital, Baker & Taylor, and OverDrive - Indies Unlimited

Panzer is still helping Mom with her recuperating extended-family relative, so today's trip into the Catosphere was short. On a quick trip to the Indies Unlimited site our speedy kitty found a post about Draft2Digital.

I really need more sleep.

According to Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital has announced their partnership with Baker and Taylor's 360 Axis 360 ebook distribution to libraries. Authors who use Draft2Digital will now have two platforms for library distribution: OverDrive and Baker and Taylor. The post also includes information about differences between the two platforms and a brief history of a court case between the two. The link to the court case decision includes interesting information about Baker and Taylor. The post quotes extensively from information on The Digital Reader site.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think he likes Baker and Taylor's business practices."

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of cocoa and three chocolate chip cookies (biscuits) for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

Create Space to be Phased Out - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when the Panzermobile was buffeted by crying and wailing. Following all the noise took our brave kitty boy to the Indies Unlimited site. There he found a post about Create Space.

I knew it was coming, but I don't like it.

According to the post by K.S. Brooks, Amazon announced today that Create Space is being merged into KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing). The email quoted in the post states that Create Space's publishing facilities and employees will still be used, so there should be no change in quality of service. However, a second email quoted in an update at the end of the post states there is an increase in printing costs for shorter UK and EU books. There are links included in the post for more information.

Panzer says, "This little kitty doesn't think Barnes and Noble will be getting his books from Amazon KDP like they have from Create Space to sell in their stores and online. ... So ... He (and you) better learn how to use Ingram to publish and distribute his (your) paperbacks."

Note: This is a long-medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and two muffins for today's reading selection. Oh, and you better bring a tissue to dry your tears at the demise of Create Space.

To read the post tootle over to Createspace

Draft2Digital Partners with bibliotheca - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he decided to stop in at the Indies Unlimited site. With a little digging around in the posts there, he found one about Draft2Digital and bibliotheca.

Exactly why are you changing the royalties?

According to the post by Melinda Clayton, Draft2Digital (D2D) and bibliotheca have partnered. D2D already works with Overdrive to distribute their authors' ebooks to libraries. The partnership will allow D2D to offer a better checkout experience for readers. There's also a change to the royalties for library purchases authors will want to read. The post has information about opting into or out of the new programs. There are two links included in the post. One is for information about bibliotheca and the second is for information about D2D's new library pricing page.

Panzer says, "Why do humans have to make things so complicated?"

Note: This is a long post. Bring a cup of tea and one and half muffins for today's reading selection. If you plan to follow the links, bring two extra muffins.

To read the post tootle over to Draft2Digital

New Amazon Rules on eBook Bonus Content - Indies Unlimited

Panzer was cleaning out the Panzermobile when he saw something stuffed under the passenger headrest. Pulling it out our fastidious kitty found a wadded up post. Smoothing it out, he discovered it was a post from the Indies Unlimited site about ebook bonus content.

According to Lynn Cantwell, Amazon (finally) began cracking down on Chance Carter one of the big-time book stuffers. Panzer told you about book stuffing last month. It's when authors put extra ebooks and stories into an ebook in Amazon Select to expand the length of the book. Then the author includes a link at the beginning of the book to get the reader to click to the end. Amazon then pays the author as if the whole book was read. This post explains the things an author needs to do to make sure she/he isn't breaking Amazon's new Terms of Service when adding legitimate bonus material. There are links included in the post to information on what constitutes book stuffing.

After all that work I need a nap.

Panzer says, "This little kitty knows this is a June post, but the information about the proper way to play by Amazon's rules makes it worth the read."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin for today's reading selection.

To read the post tootle over to Amazon 

 To read Panzer's earlier post about book stuffing tootle over to book stuffing

Books-a-Million Outsourced Its Self-Pub Unit to an Iffy Services Company - The Digital Reader

Today's trip into the Catosphere took Panzer to The Digital Reader site. There our kitty boy found a post about Books-a-Million's BAM Publishing.

Self-publishing really is complicated.

According to a post by site owner Nate Hoffelder, Books-a-Million's BAM Publishing now contracts it's author services through a vanity publisher. Apparently, this isn't obvious at the BAM Publishing site and takes some sleuthing to find out. Mr. Hoffelder quotes a post at the Indies Unlimited site as reporting that although BAM uses the FastPencil software platform, their other services now go through vanity publisher Infinity Publishing. There's a link included in the post to the original Indies Unlimited post.

Panzer says, "Hmmm ... Maybe they just don't want you to know who they use."

Note: This is a medium post. Bring a cup of tea and a muffin to read today's selection or, if you plan to follow the link to the second selection, bring another cup of tea and muffin.

To read the post, tootle over to Books A Million

Whither the Nook? - Indies Unlimited

Panzer made a trip over to the Indies Unlimited site today. Our intrepid kitty traveler hasn't been there for a while, but this trip was definitely worth it. Digging around he found a post by Lynn Cantwell about Nook.

 According to Ms. Cantwell's post, it doesn't appear Barnes and Noble is doing enough to ensure the viability of the Nook. She also addresses Barnes and Noble's lack of support for ebook authors by the closing of their U.K. sales distribution and the lack of ebook promotions. There is a link included to a PW (Publishers' Weekly) post about Barnes and Noble's third quarter sales figures. The PW sales figures post is the one that includes information about Barnes and Noble's new concept stores that Panzer told you about earlier this month and linked to it too.

Come on ... Admit it ... I'm cute.

Panzer says, "Actually for this little kitty, I get more sales from Barnes and Noble than I do from Amazon or Kobo. What can I say? ... I guess that means B and N readers just love this kitty."

Note: This is a l-o-n-g-ish post. A cup of tea and muffin should do it for today's reading. If you want to follow the link in Ms. Cantwell's post, then you'll want to add a half a muffin. If you also want to read Panzer's post about Barnes and Noble, add another cup of tea. And ... if you do all that reading and eating, you'll need to skip lunch.

To read the Indies Unlimited post, tootle over to Nook

To read Panzer's post about Barnes and Noble's plans for their new hybrid stores, tootle over to Barnes and Noble

Book Promo Sites: How long do they work?

Panzer was tootling around in the Catosphere when he heard some strange hemming and hawing noises. Following them took our kitty traveler to the Indies Unlimited blog.

With just a little digging Panzer found a post by Melinda Clayton which  was the source of all the noise. Ms. Clayton's post is about the state of ebook promotion sites. Her post contains information on two things important to indie authors. The first is that there seems to be a smaller return in sales from ebook promotion sites than there was just a year or two ago. The second is that promotion sites are merging. This is evidenced by the recent merging/partnering of BookSends and eReaderIQ followed by the merging/partnering of Pixel Ink and BookSends. This spate of merging suggests that there may no longer be enough members/readers to support as many promotion sites as in the past.

This doesn't look good.

Panzer says, "Maybe it's the ebook subscription services with the all you can read for one fee that's taking the members/readers away."

Note: This is a medium-size post. You'll need a cup of tea for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to book promo sites

Your Writing Business and Power of Attorney - Indies Unlimited

Just enjoying the sun today.

After a week of rain, today has been a sunny day in Panzerville. Panzer got up from his afternoon nap, took a leisurely stretch and casually strolled over to the Panzermobile. After our happy kitty boy tootled around in the Catosphere for a while, he decided to stop in at the Indies Unlimited blog. There he found an interesting post by Melinda Clayton.

Ms. Clayton's post concerns the issue of the handling of a writer's financial affairs if he or she becomes incapacitated. She decided to look into this after she had to have surgery. (Ms. Clayton gives the usual legal disclaimer material: "I am not an attorney, etc.") She explains the information she learned about a Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Management. If a writer becomes unable to handle their financial affairs, the DPA for Financial Management gives the appointed "agent" the right to collect the writer's royalties, make tax payments, make decisions about property, etc. All writers should at least consider investigating this option in case of an accident or surgery.

Panzer says, "You can always change your mind or change your appointed "agent" or cancel your document if you want."

Note: You'll want a cup of tea and muffin for your reading today.

To read the post, tootle over to your writing business

Amazon's Book Review Policy - Part 2

Panzer got woken up from his afternoon nap today by yowling and hissing. When our big brave explorer kitty got the Panzermobile fueled up and out into the Catosphere, he discovered the noise was coming from the Indies Unlimited site.

Panzer found a guest post by Brenda Perlin whose ebook review got rejected by Amazon. In an email to Ms. Perlin it was stated Amazon's rationale was that the reviewer "rules" say no reviews for authors/persons you know are accepted. Amazon determined she knew the author/person the review was for and so the review was rejected. Our kitty boy posted about a similar ebook review rejection earlier this week. According to this Indies Unlimited post, a petition has been started to get Amazon to change their review policy.

I'm busy. Leave me out of it.

Panzer says, "I'm not taking sides in this new war with Amazon. I've got other work to do right now ... like take a nap ... and eat ... and take a nap. You know important cat work."

Note: The post isn't that long. but the comments section is. So ... if you plan to read the comments, you will need a h-u-g-e cup of tea.

To read Brenda Perlin's post, tootle over to Amazon reviews
To read Panzer's post from earlier this week, tootle over to book review policy

How To Setup Your Amazon Pen Name

Pen name?

Today, Panzer was out looking for information on setting up an Amazon Author Central Page for a pen name. My bad boy found a post by L. A. Lewandowski at the Indies Unlimited blog.

Panzer almost didn't stop and read Ms. Lewandowski's post. Although the post is titled "A Suitable Pseudonym" it's actually about setting up your Author Central Page using a pen name. There is quite a bit of information about choosing a pen name before the post addresses the Author Central Page.

After the section on picking a pen name, the post makes the process of the Author Central Page setup easy. It has very detailed instructions and is loaded with screen shots. In fact, this is such a long post you'll need a very large cup of tea while you're reading it.

If you need help setting up your Author Central Page for your pen name, tootle over to your Amazon pen name

Selling In The Google Play Store

Droid and tablet sales?

Okay, Panzer admits it. He had never heard of the Google Play Store. That is until he found a post by R.J. Crayton at the Indies Unlimited site about uploading your ebook to the Google Play Store.

So, what is the Google Play Store? It's a store you can upload your ebook to in either the PDF or ePub format for sale to primarily droid and tablet users. According to Ms. Crayton's post one of the important things an author needs to be aware of is the fact Google discounts the price of your ebook. Of course, this can cause problems with the Amazon price match feature. Fortunately, the post contains a link to a list of prices and the discounts, so you can determine what to price your ebook at.

If you follow the link "a tutorial tomorrow" at the bottom of the post, you'll be taken to a second post which shows screenshots and more instructions for setting up an account at the Google Play Store. According to the second post, it's not easy!

Panzer says, "Hmmm. Access to droid and tablet users for ebook sales? That might be worth all the questions and trouble for authors using the site."

If you want to check out the information on the Google Play Store, tootle over to Google Play Store