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Is Amazon Being Sneaky?
|| By Bob Moats on Dec 29, 2011 - Opinion
I've been dealing with Amazon Kindle publishing for almost three years and
have had numerous times wondering if they are pulling a fast one.
My first complaint is how they post book sales. I've had good response from
both the U.S. and the U.K. for sales, but recently it has gotten weird with the
U.K. and how many books are posted. I've sold well for many months but one month
I had barely five sales over there. It didn't change for weeks so I e-mailed
asking what was going on. They sent back what I presume was a form letter,
saying they were having problems with the U.K. report software, but the engineers
were working on it. By the next month, I didn't see any change. So is Amazon
actually reporting all my sales or keeping a number back for themselves. I don't
know and there's no way for me to find out. It's also been a complain that others
have posted on twitter and forums, so it isn't just me.
The next thing I wonder about is this new Kindle Select for Authors. It is a
program for authors to put their books on Amazon exclusively, no other places
can have your books. I'm not crazy about that, I sell as many books at Barnes
and Noble as I do Amazon. So do I cut my pay and drop B&N? Or the other retailers
that sell my books. I don't think so.
Amazon says they will put your book up for free to stimulate sales, but for
only five days of the ninety days you have to sign up for. I have two books that
are free on Amazon and they are being downloaded fast and in great numbers, but
I'm not in the program. This has caused greater sales on the other 20 books I
sell. The first book "Classmate Murders" was downloaded 26,000 times in one month
and the second book "Dark Carnival Murders" just went free this week and is not
going as well as the first. I figured it was because of all the people using the
Select program and getting their books listed free, pushing me back. So I went
to the Amazon top 100 free books to see what was available. I was a bit surprised.
Back when Classmate went up for free, the top free 100 had all kinds of good,
new books, ones that I even downloaded to my Android Tablet. Today, when I went
there to see what was being offered because of the Select program, I was surprised
to see about 90 percent of all the free books listed were public domain, classic
books like The Iliad, Frankenstein, White Fang, Crime and Punishment...etc.
Why are these books flooding the top 100 where our books should be? Is Amazon
trying to block the new books by pushing them out of the top 100? I went through
the complete 100 and couldn't find one book that I would download by a new author.
There weren't many.
I'm not going to tear apart Amazon, they have done me well, but am I getting
the best for my books there? Do they have an agenda for making more money for
themselves, at our expense? Amazon wouldn't exist if it weren't for our books,
so I hope they aren't trying to scam us now.
10 Things People Don't Know About Me
|| By Bob Moats on Nov 20, 2011 - Humor
Ten things about me.
1. I am not really old, I just pretend to be so people will have sympathy for me
and buy my books. Okay, I am old but the sympathy thing still works.
2. I like cedar cheese melted on my apple pie. My brother thinks that's disgusting,
but he won't try it to see the great pleasure it brings.
3. When I write my books, I wear women's underwear, NO, I don't, that's not true,
but I do write in the nude. This keeps people away so I can write in peace, it
also gets me and my laptop kicked out of the library.
4. I plan on moving back to Las Vegas one day before I die, whether they want me
or not. I think I left there without offending anyone.
5. I have this mad crush on Heather Morris, who plays the dumb blonde Brittany
on Glee, I just wish I was half my age again, or she was closer to mine. Actually
I would rather be younger again. Of course it doesn't mean she would have a crush
on me. Oh well, forget it, I'll just dream.
6. "1 #4\/3 |\|07#1|\|9 83773® 70 Ð0 7#4|\| 70 7µ®|\| |\/|¥ 53|\|73|\|(35 1|\|70
91883®15#, 1 ®34LL¥ |\|33Ð ?®0ƒ35510|\|4L #3L?." *see below.
7. I've lost 30 pounds in two months on a water and vinegar diet, of course I cut
back on snacks and I quit drinking beer, that helped.
8. I want to play my main character Jim when they turn my books into a TV series,
with Christie Brinkley as my heroine, Penny.
9. I really have to start staying away from Twitter. Twitter is evil, it turns
your mind to mush and no one pays any attention to anyone else. (That's 138
characters. I can send it to Twitter now.)
10. I can't come up with a 10th one, I really need to get away from my computer,
leave my room and GET A LIFE.
* Translation for #6: "I have nothing better to do than to turn my sentences into
gibberish, I really need professional help." (Leet Speak, Google it.)
Fatal Rejection now available!
|| By Bob Moats on Nov 12, 2011
Sorry if it's been a while since I've last posted here. I've been busy working
on a totally new book about an author who wants to murder an editor. It's called
"Fatal Rejection" which is a play on the rejection process that authors go
through. This is not one of my Jim Richards series, it is all new. I have
finally finished the book and it was just recently put up Amazon and Smashwords.
I'll have more information coming for the book, so watch his blog. Thanks, Bob.
To see the official website, go to
http://fatalrejection.com
Spreading your book sales beyond Amazon.
|| By Bob Moats on Jul 5, 2011
This is a blog post I wrote for Gary Ponzo's blog http://www.strongscenecontest.com
I thought I would share it with my readers also.
When I first started writing my books, I had an illusion that I would be the next
Robert B. Parker, with a series of novels about my private eye, Jim Richards. I
finished that first book "Classmate Murders", and then started book two, before I
really had any idea of ever being published. Mainly because I didn't know how to
go about getting published. My brother is a professional photographer and he had a
coffee table book of his photos that he sold at art fairs and such. He finally got
on Amazon to sell his books also and he introduced me to selling my books there.
Read the rest of the story...
Full Story »
Obama practices Cannibalism!
|| By Bob Moats on Jul 4, 2011
It's not true, but now that I put his name in the title, all the search engines
will find it and Fox News will be reporting that Obama eats small children.
Stupid people of the world rise up against this monster!<
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
Spam books flooding Amazon Kindle
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 27, 2011
When I first entered the wonderful world of the internet, I started on a plain
old text based web browser called Lynx. No internet photos, just text, then along
came improvements and the web grew. I could now see pictures, videos and text.
Then along came email.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
"American Idol" and Indie Publishing
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 24, 2011
I went out to where my Mom was watching television this morning and she had a
show on; what I don't know, "Good Morning America"? The show had on some singer
and her band. Mom asked me if I knew who this singer was, I had no idea. I watched
and she was good, with a distinctive voice, but I didn't know who her or her band
were. My mom's only experiences with music involve "American Idol". She can name
every singer who has performed on this show since it began. This girl was not one
of those singers. But being on this show made me think.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
Why do I write?
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 20, 2011
I read numerous blogs and posts on Twitter and Facebook, and I see a lot of
people out there obsessing about their books and publishing them. Years ago when
I first started writing short stories for myself I never dreamed about being a
big best selling author, I just enjoyed seeing my words come to life on the page.
It gave me a thrill.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
"Cruelty to Innocents" by CK Webb and DJ Weaver - Review
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 11, 2011
I have known CK Webb and DJ Weaver online for over a year, and I have been
waiting for this book to come out as it is their debut novel. I purchased the
book and sat back to read.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
Is There a Book in You?
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 11, 2011
I've heard this statement so many times, it's almost getting silly. Everyone in
the world thinks they have a book in them and they wish they could share it with
the world.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
My .99 Cent to $1.99 Book Recommendations
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 2, 2011
Whenever I check my own books on Amazon I frequently see books priced at .99
cents. This doesn't imply that the books aren't good, just priced to sell so the
author will build a following. I do this with my first book hoping people will
like the characters enough to purchase the rest of the 17 books. In my blog I'm
going to suggest hopefully each week a few .99 cent books that I have seen on Amazon
and read an excerpt, feeling they are worthy of a mention. I'm also including a few
$1.99 books that I have read or feel they are worth more than a buck.
Authors should help other authors. So below is my list for this week, click on
the book name to visit Amazon page for the book.
1. Walking Homeless by Al Lamanda $1.99
2. Honorable Revenge by Mike Pettit $1.99
3. Shades of Murder by Charlie Hudson .99
4. Dark Running by M Cid D'Angelo .99
5. A Touch of Revenge by Gary Ponzo (See review this page) $1.99
If you don't want to use Amazon, go to http://smashwords.com and do a search
for the books to see if they are available there.
Scroll down to see past recommendations. More next week, thanks!
***
"Oceans" By Disney Nature Films
|| By Bob Moats on Jun 2, 2011
Just finished watching the movie "Oceans" by Disney Nature Films. If you want
to be humbled by the amazing number of species of creatures in this world, watch
this film. Humans are so stupid to think we are the greatest creations on the planet,
we are just passengers on this ride and we are doing our best to ruin it. The
amazing power of the seas and the beauty of it's unbelievable inhabitants will
startle you. Be warned, for children there is a fight to survive in this film that
may be a little unsettling for the young, just warn them. You must see this film.
***
Walking Homeless By Al Lamanda Review
|| By Bob Moats on May 31, 2011
I've only known Al Lamanda a short while through Val Brooks, who edits my book
chapters for me. Val recommended this book so I gave it a look-see and purchased
it from Smashword. I only buy ebooks from Smashwords as they allow the books to be
downloaded in various formats and without the stupid DRM that locks books into
readers like Kindle. I read my books on various devices, my Palm TX or my Pandigital
Novel reader.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
"A Touch of Revenge" now available
|| By Bob Moats on May 16, 2011
My friend Gary Ponzo's second Nick Bracco book "A Touch of Revenge" is now
available on Amazon at http://amzn.com/B0050O7ZQS check it out and it's only
$1.99 for now. Read my review below for more details about the book.
***
My Own Rebuttal to My Comment About Schlock Books
|| By Bob Moats on May 10, 2011
I posted a comment here about the schlock pile of books being put up on Amazon
and Smashwords, and I reread it and felt that I should clarify a few intentions.
I realize that there are some really poorly written and formatted books popping
up on the big ebook selling sites, but these books may have a deeper meaning to
someone. I will say that my books have a good following but they aren't in the
same category as classic literature. I'll be the first to admit, they aren't
fantastic, but people like reading them, or so I'm told by these readers.
I have heard the expression that there's a book in everyone, but that book
may not be a best seller or even a lousy seller. If the person has no talent or
experience for writing then it will not be a good book for people to buy and read.
So I coined the phrase "schlock pile" of these books.
I'm sensitive about my books, I have created a number of characters who are
now very real to me after I have written 18 books of their stories. So I can
understand why writers who work hard on making their story believable and wanting
to be called a 'writer' by putting their books on Amazon or Smashwords as quickly
as possible. Some take the quick route, by having a poorly edited or formatted
book put up and this can be seen || By the readers who are troubled by the errors.
But I feel for the people who want to have their book(s) available for people
to read. Everyone wants to be an author, but at what cost. I've wanted to be a
writer for years, but I waited too long to start. Then again, this may be a good
time to start what with the new ebook revolution. If I had depended on an agent
or publisher to discover me, I would have probably never had the chance for people
to read about my characters. Self-publishing may be a bad word for the purists,
but it is a way for those people with a book in them to get it out. I just hope
they take a little time to polish the book before putting it out for the masses.
Just so they keep away from the schlock pile.
***
A New Phrase for Book Readers
|| By Bob Moats on May 10, 2011
I was writing an email reply to my friend Val Brooks when I made a statement;
I said I was concerned that my books would get buried in the tons of amateurishly
written and formated books being slapped up on Amazon and Smashwords. I said that
my books will end up buried in the schlock pile of those books and be missed by
people who would read them.
There's a familiar term for an author's book not being accepted by agents and
publishers, it's "slush pile", where submissions go to die. I thought my term
"schlock pile" would work for readers who dig through the poorly written and
formated books to get to a few good ones.
So I have, as far as I know, created a new phrase for the ebook revolution.
Schlock pile. Use it wisely.
(Definition of schlock: Merchandise that is shoddy or inferior.)
***
Facebook scams
|| By Bob Moats on May 4, 2011
I think I'm a fairly intelligent person, but I can be taken in by a scam every
blue moon. Facebook has become a breeding ground for new scams that will show you
how you will look in the future, and a newer one that will show you every person
who views your profile on Facebook.
Read the Full Story for the rest.
Full Story »
And the Winner Is...
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 30, 2011
And the winner is... Okay, it was a good giveaway contest for the month of April,
my 2nd anniversary of writing. Out of all the people who requested a free PDF book
from me, I asked Val Brooks to send me a number between 1 and 28 and Val sent 19.
The number came up to the winner:
Sara, also know as @drummerg217 on Twitter where she requested the book, sorry
I don't know her last name. But I will contact her to arrange for the books to be
sent.
(UPDATE: Her name is Sara Sayers)
Thanks to the people who did ask for a book and I wish I could give a set to
everyone, but I don't have that many paperback books to give away or afford the
postage ;-) But as a consolation prize, I'm giving an extra PDF book to all
people who entered. I have the list, but you have to ask, if you entered just
send me your email and the name of the free book. Thanks to all, Bob.
***
Giveaway ends tonight (April 30) midnight
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 30, 2011
It's almost over, I'll have my good friend Val Brooks pick a number and I'll
get the name from the list for who receives the 18 book set. You still have time,
use the contact link from this blog to send me your email address and the name
of one book you'd like me to send you as a PDF. Good luck to all.
***
My .99 Cent Book Recommendations - April 28
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 28, 2011
Whenever I check my own books on Amazon I frequently see books priced at .99
cents. This doesn't imply that the books aren't good, just priced to sell so the
author will build a following. I do this with my first book hoping people will
like the characters enough to purchase the rest of the 17 books. In my blog I'm
going to suggest each week a few .99 cent books that I have seen on Amazon and
read an excerpt, feeling they are worthy of a mention. Authors should help other
authors. So below is my list for this week, click on the book name to visit Amazon
page for the book.
1. The Innocent by Vincent Zandri.
2. Least Wanted by Debbi Mack.
3. Impeding Justice by Alan Cook.
4. Classmate Murders by BobMoats (did you think I wasn't going to put in my own book?)
5. A Touch of Deceit by Gary Ponzo (See review this page)
Scroll down to see last week's recommendations. ;More next week, thanks!
***
You can learn from TV
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 27, 2011
I've occasionally seen writers on their blogs or in a tweet saying they have
no time for TV or to even watch it. I personally think this is a wrong attitude.
I watch TV, but I'm selective on what I watch. I watch good shows with well-written
stories, so I can learn what works and what doesn't for my writings. There's one
show that I especially like, it has great story lines and it's well written, it's
"Justified" on FX Wednesday nights. The show is based on the short story "Fire in
the Hole" by Elmore Leonard. Watching a show like this helps to make for better
writing, how to plot out a story with all the subplots connecting, and how to
elicit emotion. Plus some people have no imagination, to see a show played out
can help create little visuals in your mind as you write.
There are a number of other shows I watch, including comedies, they help with
ideas and plots for future use. We can read lots of books, but that quick shot of
watching a TV show, a good one, can be a learning experience as much as reading
all the classic books. Just my opinion.
***
Advance Review of "A Touch Of Revenge"
By Gary Ponzo
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 25, 2011
I don't often get excited about a new book as I do with Robert Parker, James
Patterson, David Baldacci or Janet Evanovich and it takes a very good read, humor
and plot to turn me on. I found a book that has done that, and even if I didn't
know the author and had read this book I would still put it up to high praise.
Read the Full Story for all.
Full Story »
My Opinion on .99 cent Kindle Books
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 23, 2011
When I first started putting my ebooks up on Amazon last year I had no idea what to
charge for them. I put my first book "Classmate Murders" there and was asking $7.99 for
it, I sold one. Then I saw what others were pricing their books at and adjusted
accordingly. After putting my 8th book on Amazon, I was seeing a trend towards .99
cent books. I personally felt that my books, along with all the thought and work I
put into them, was worth more than the price of a candy bar.
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
Blog Tour De Force Book Review of
"A Touch of
Deceit" By Gary Ponzo
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 22, 2011
There is a fine line between right and wrong. The FBI goes by the book, but
would it hurt to look away and bend the rules a bit when it comes to terrorist
who would destroy our freedom and our lives. I have said in another review that
I wouldn't be upset with vigilantism if done by people who knew how to do it right.
The plot of "A Touch of Deceit" features FBI special agent for counter-terrorism
Nick Bracco, and his sharpshooting partner Matt McColm and their quest to find
Kemel Kharrazi the world's most dangerous terrorist. Kharrazi is a leader in the
Turkish Kurd's fight for freedom or so he says, but does he have another agenda?
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
It Popped Into My Head 4
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 19, 2011
* I'd like to meet the idiot who invented zippers and wrap him in duct tape.
* To steal ideas from one writer is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
* There was a polar bear attack on a human in Canada and bystanders were helpless
to do anything. Click the Full Story below to see the horrible
images.
Full Story »
Pandigital Novel Color Multi-Media Ereader with Android
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 17, 2011
I wrote a post below about how I was going to buy a Nook. Well today, April 17,
I bought a Pandigital Color Multi-Media Ereader at Best Buy for a great price. I
have had a couple days to play with it now, so go to the Full Story
to read my opinion. Thanks, Bob
Read on for the rest of the story...
Full Story »
My .99 Cent Book Recommendations April 16
|| By Bob Moats on Apr 15, 2011
Whenever I check my own books on Amazon I frequently see books priced at .99 cents.
This doesn't imply that the books aren't good, just priced to sell so the author will
build a following. I do this with my first book hoping people will like the characters
enough to purchase the rest of the 17 books. In my blog I'm going to suggest each week
a few .99 cent books that I have seen on Amazon and read an excerpt, feeling they are
worthy of a mention. Authors should help other authors. So below is my list for this
week, click on the book name to visit Amazon page for the book.
1. Dead to Writes by Cathy Wiley.
2. FM for Murder (Pamela Barnes Acoustic Mystery) by Patricia Rockwell.
3. Impeding Justice (A Lorne Simpkins thriller) by Mel Comley.
4. Classmate Murders by BobMoats (did you think I wasn't going to put in my own book?)
5. The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery by Linda S. Prather
More next week, thanks!
***
My 18th book is finished, "Blue Suede Murders"
|| By Bob Moats
"Blue Suede Murders" has been wrapped up. My wonderful editor Val Brooks has
returned the final chapters and the first book is being printed to go to the beta
readers. I'll have it up on Amazon and Smashwords early next week. I'm going to
spend some time now promoting all my books, so no more new books for a while.
Sorry Boni. ;-)
To read a preview of the book:
Click Here!
***
My April Giveaway
|| By Bob Moats
Here's a picture of the complete 18 book set of my paperback books, with book
boxes, being given free to one person selected from a list of people who request
a free PDF copy of ANY of my books.
Just email me at murdernovels@mail.com with your email address and what PDF book
you want for free. This offer is only good for the month of April. At the end of April
the set will be given to one lucky person. To see all the books that you can pick
from for the free book, go to: http://murdernovels.com
***
Kindle Reader VS The Nook Color - Just My Opinion
|| By Bob Moats
First off, I don't own either of these devices and have not played with them,
but I have done some exploring on the internet and came up with these conclusions
for my decision to purchase a Nook Color over the Kindle. I hope the Kindle users
don't send hate mail, this is my personal preference due to the functions of the
devices.
I have been looking at the Kindle reader since all my books are available at
Amazon for the Kindle, but you must understand that I am a gadget nut and expect
my toys to do more than one function. I've read a number of people who are loyal
to their Kindle and I hope people keep buying them. I have decided to purchase a
Nook Color reader because it does more than just read books. Besides the color it
can check emails, surf the web, view photos and videos, play music and games and
many more features (with the SD card mentioned below). Plus it's in full color
and not just black and white like the Kindle, for now.
The other feature that intrigued me is that there's an SD card available that
will let you boot the Nook with alternate operating systems. The Nook comes with
the stock Android OS but with the card you can change to the Froyo OS and you can
access many new apps, play more games, and it now becomes a clone of the iPad. You
can use the touch screen to zoom photos, and even have access to the Kindle market.
There are tons of apps to download making it a great little device.
Okay, it's more expensive than the Kindle at $249 in most stores and the Kindle
is running around $139 for low end. I don't mind the extra cost for the extra
features. This is my opinion, you decide how you want to go, but I'm going for the
Nook.
For more info on the SD card to boot the Nook into an alternate OS go to
Unlockedreaders.com
UPDATE: I bought a Pandigital Android Novel Tablet/EReader instead of Nook,
mostly because of price and features, see above on this page and read my review
of this device.
***
Response to a blog post on Quiting
|| By Bob Moats
"Where sweat meets fate" - Sugarland (the country duo) talking about success.
I read Jon Merz blog about quitters, I have to say not everyone is a specop soldier
who can trudge through the mud relentlessly to the goal. I agree it takes
determination and desire to succeed at all cost. But what cost. Not everyone is
in a situation that allows them to attain greatness or even good book sales. What
with the hundreds of thousands of 'writers' out there all self-publishing, it's
easy to get lost in the shuffle. When a person tries their best and works for years,
but their attempts shows nothing but a few book sales to friends and family, is
quitting an option? Maybe some people aren't cut out to be writers. As said by
Sugarland, "sweat meets fate" for success; sweat and hard work is great but it
takes that bit of fate, an opportune moment when you are given a spotlight to shine.
It's not going to find everyone, but a good number of lucky ones who see that moment
and take advantage of it, take that moment and succeed. I'm not selling 3421 books
in a month, I'm happy when I sell 80-100 books in a month because that's 80-100
more people who are reading my books and I have 17 more in the series so far to
read. I'm not a quitter, I won't lay down and die unless I see, as Val Brooks said,
my horse is dead and I can't carry it. I'll walk the last of the race but is it
worth it if I don't finish the race. You shouldn't give up trying, but know your
limitations and adjust accordingly. Maybe you could try songwriting?
***
We Are Published Authors?
|| By Bob Moats
This is part of a post I wrote as a guest blogger recently:
I downloaded the application for ISBN numbers that our books have to have in
order be sold to retailers, from R.R. BOWKER, THE UNITED STATES ISBN AGENCY and
in their FAQ I found this entry:
Can a self-publisher obtain ISBNs?
Yes, a self-publisher can obtain ISBNs. A self-publisher is a publisher: one
who is undertaking the financial risk to bring a book to market and coordinating
everything involved: advertising, marketing, printing, order fulfillment, etc.”
We self-publishers are our own publisher. We are the ones who take the
responsibilities for our work and it's fate in the book world. The official
agency of ISBN recognizes us as legitimate so we can honestly say, we are
published authors.
***
It Popped Into My Head 3
|| By Bob Moats
Twitter: a room full of people where you talk to yourself.
They tell you about Streaming Video but they don't mention Loading and Buffering
that wastes half your time.
I saw an ad saying "Feel the Pride of Becoming a Published Author" I didn't like
this ad because does it say that self-published authors have no pride? I'm proud of
my books.
Heard on a crime show, I think CSI: "A good friend will help you move, a really
good friend will help you move a body."
***
I'm Always 10 Seconds Behind
|| By Bob Moats
I have a pet peeve, my life is 10 seconds behind. To explain as an example, I
go to stores and when I am ready to drive out on to the highway from the parking
lot, I see ahead to the road and there are no cars, thinking that I can just drive
out on the road. But when I get there traffic is now too close, so I have to wait
for a long line of cars to clear. I figure I'm always 10 seconds behind and if I
had gone faster, I would have been able to get out. But that's not my luck, I
still can't get to the road in time to avoid the oncoming traffic, I know they are
just sitting waiting for me to arrive at the road and attack. Another example, I'm
in a store and see ahead to the cashier, no customers, but just as I get there a
line suddenly forms and I have to wait. 10 seconds sooner I would have had it. How
do I speed up my life, get out of bed five minutes earlier? Maybe that will work,
I'll try it tomorrow morning.
***
It Popped into My Head 2
|| By Bob Moats
One of my favorite lines from the spaghetti western "The Good, The Bad and the
Ugly" was Eli Wallach shooting a man then saying to him, "If your going to shoot,
shoot, don't talk."
Spooning may lead to forking!
Millions of years of evolution and we get Snookie K.
***
Willy Nelson on Death
|| By Bob Moats
I like country crooner Willy Nelson's belief on the subject of death: "Death is
not the ending of anything. I believe all of us are only energy that becomes matter.
When the matter goes away, the energy still exists. You can't destroy it, it never
dies, it manifests itself somewhere else. We are never alone. Even by ourselves, we
are not alone. Death is just a door opening to somewhere else. Someday we'll know
what that door opens to."
Quote from Parade Magazine.
***
Self-publishing? The experts speak.
|| By Bob Moats
Recently I read a couple posts on Facebook and on another blog attacking
self-published writers. Their main complaint was the quality of these books
and how it hurts other authors who spend time and money into perfecting their
books. Not everyone has the funds to hire professional editors, it's a legitimate
reason. Most good editors charge for their services, this is to be expected, so
many writers depend on friends to edit their writings and try to make some sense
out the story. I know there are mediocre books out there; I have read a few that
I paid for or received for free. These books don't hurt anyone but the author.
If they aren't any good, people won't finish reading them and definitely won't
recommend them to others. So what's the problem? If you have books that people
enjoy, they will buy them and recommend to other readers. But there are people
who, for some reason, find self-published authors to be just above pond scum.
Do they have a complex? Maybe they shouldn't complain, the bad books may make
their mediocre books look a little better.
The bad and the mediocre books will be purchased by the author's friends and
family, and that's that. Bad self-published books won't hurt good authors, so get
a clue, period.
***
It Popped into My Head
|| By Bob Moats
Who originated the term "Land of Milk and Honey"? They're two products I don't like.
Costco is selling coffins, do they offer burial plots in the back parking lot?
I buy my socks at the dollar store, same brand, same style every time. So why is it
I have to try and find two that match when I go to my sock drawer. It's like I bought
them at ten different stores. And I have three singles that match nothing else. The
eternal conundrum of socks.
***
Spelling counts for 20 percent of your grade
|| By Bob Moats
I'm not the greatest at spelling, but I do well enough. There are those words
that throw me occasionally and I hate trying to look up a word in the dictionary
when I don't know how to spell it. For a good number of years, writing for the
internet or for my stories and now books, I have had to find a way to correct my
misspellings. I discovered two great programs that I have running all the time to
watch my typings for anything out of the ordinary. The first program is called
TinySpell and it resides in your system tray and watches your keystrokes for
mis-spelled words. You can set it to beep when you type the wrong word and is very
configurable. It's not foolproof, I know since I'm a fool, but any words that it
doesn't find, it will allow you to add to the dictionary. It may be called
TinySpell but it is a huge help.
The other program is called WordWeb and it functions as a dictionary and
thesaurus, that also sits in the background and allows you to click a key combo
on any word on your computer to bring up a window that gives you the spelling,
meaning and alternative words to use. I use it all throughout the day while I
write.
Both of these programs are free or you can upgrade for a small fee to more
features, but the basic program will do the job well. I did purchase TinySpell
and it works great. I hate when I find spelling mistakes in Blogs or emails I
receive, everyone should use these simple programs. TinySpell is available at
http://www.tinyspell.com and WordWeb is at http://www.wordweb.info try them.
***
The Book Graveyard
|| By Bob Moats
This week I received my book sales royalty checks from both Amazon and Smashwords,
so I decided to treat myself to buying a gadget. My most favorite store is Big Lots
and if you are not familiar with it, it's a store that sells mostly merchandise that
was sold in bulk by other stores or manufacturers to dispose of and discounted here.
In my local Big Lots they recently put up a big bin of hardcover books and as much as
I am an Ebook reader, I have been building up a nice collection of the hardcovers.
I was surprised to find amongst the many big name tomes, two of Janet Evanovich's great
Stephanie Plum books. I'm in love with Stephanie and had to scarf up the two. I found
out they were now down to fifty cents per book. I also went to a local Dollar Tree and
found Stephanie Plum books there also, along with other well known best selling author
books. This is good for me, getting a twenty dollar book for one dollar, my collection
is growing. I wonder if the publisher, merchandiser and Author get a cut of the dollar?
I now see this is where hardcover books go to die, the clearance store.
Now I wonder where Ebooks go to die, the delete key?
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