Alessia Cara - Here— Deserves a listen

Feeling Nostalgic

Here is a poem I wrote waaaaaay back in high for a creative writing class. DO NOT ask me what year that was unless you like hot pokers.  I believe the assignment was to pick a character or scene from As I Lay Dying  and write an interpretive poem about the character or scene.

Addie’s Feathers

We sat in the grass and watched

People file in

One by one

And one more.

Not many people could be bothered

Not even us.

Maybe

We Bundrens sat there already over it.

Dewey Dell resting against

The tall, swooping, weeping, willow,

Jewel and Cash inside safegaurding the coffin,

Myself resting in the grass at Darl’s feet.

“if it is was, it can’t be is, Can it?”

no it can’t

maybe

the women all wore large  colorful hats

with feathers and netted lace,

clearly over it.

If ever under it.

Pa wasn’t under it.

Maybe

He was completely carefree

Poised to float away

Like the purple feather

That was released from

Mrs. Bundren;s hat.

If she was than she is not

Anymore.

Everyone seemed to know it

And have a bright comprehension

And sureness.

Maybe

My mother is a feather.

Bruno Mars - If I Knew / Runaway Baby Live

 Tonight’s show in louisville, Ky. for the congo14 muhammad ali event. The crowd was very diverse and very into him.

What Were They Thinking Under the Dome Edition

Welcome to the first Episode of What Were They Thinking. Today we will be dissecting the people of Chester’s Mill aka Crazytown Canada (sorry Canada).  I have to assume it can’t actually be an American town because these people are the worst survivalist in the world. And the US is nothing if not full of crazy dooms day preppers.  Of course I know it’s not CA but shhhh.

First a few naggings from last week’s masterpiece that was EP10.

Let’s morn DJ >Sherriff>Goony>Jailbird Phil.

Lets talk about Barbie’s father desperately trying to find where he came out of the dome. IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLAYGROUND. Which not only had a security camera but also had plenty of people around it and not one of them seemed to notice three separate men appearing out of nowhere battered and bloody?  No parents found if strange enough to call the police?

Back to this week’s EP

Under the Dome

SEASON 2 EPISODE11

In the seconds after the Quake Rebecca knows the clinic is gone and already has a Red Cross center started up.  In a hallway.

Cut to outside the school and Joe and Norrie are walking in a winter wonderland.

AAAAAAAND STUCK!

But don’t worry Rebecca Science knows what’s up. 

Joe says something silly, that the Dome may have been moving for a while and they didn’t notice it.  Though it was making a noise as it slid in the ground and moved things along the wall. 

Barbie and Julia are driving round in an ambulance that was moved to the school at some point? They hit a patch of ice and skid. But when you skid in the dome u skid hard.  Naturally his attempt to correct and stop on a straight road leaves the bus on its side, naturally.

While everyone else is wrapped up triple time and getting frostbite Pauline is sitting beside egg girl, chest exposed, not phased.

Yes I did it and I hate myself for it. (Frozen wasn't that great)

Remember in season 1 when there were a couple of nurses and docs left? -Now there’s just Sam, who is a cold-blooded killer.

When they run out of fuel in the generators Rebecca Science moves everyone and yells body heat.  But why weren’t they set up in the other room to begin with? Then they would have whatever heat remnant from the generators in that room as the huddle like penguins. Instead of heating a long hallway right in front of a door.

Joe goes through hunter backpack.  Find the texts and notebook with messages about the egg.  Because when you are up to something you don’t get rid of the evidence.

Then Barbie decides the best way to help their situation is let Julia get hypothermia so he can pull the rod out without her bleeding to death. Yep.

Lyle pops up in the lake that is freezing over.  Announces to Sherriff/Councilman/Car Salesman Jim that the end is coming, he saw it so it must be true.

Then just like that the dome decided 'what the heck let’s warm ya’ll back up.'

Just in time for things to get interesting. The dome starts contracting on their crazy butts!

Amazon Asks Authors to Spam Hachette CEO

THIS JUST CAME IN

Email from amazon KDP asking authors to take their side and email Hachette. Email gave out Hachette CEO, Michael Pietsch email, and even included points that we should address in the email. How thoughtful of them….

Now there is nothing in the email footer or header that says it’s confidential but I probably won’t repost the entire email because I’m sure there’s some catch and I do not want to be sued.  BUT here are a few selections from it anyway

Fast forward to today, and it’s the e-book’s turn to be opposed by the literary establishment. Amazon and Hachette – a big US publisher and part of a $10 billion media conglomerate – are in the middle of a business dispute about e-books. We want lower e-book prices. Hachette does not. Many e-books are being released at $14.99 and even $19.99. That is unjustifiably high for an e-book. With an e-book, there’s no printing, no over-printing, no need to forecast, no returns, no lost sales due to out of stock, no warehousing costs, no transportation costs, and there is no secondary market – e-books cannot be resold as used books. E-books can and should be less expensive….

another snippet

Moreover, e-books are highly price elastic. This means that when the price goes down, customers buy much more. We’ve quantified the price elasticity of e-books from repeated measurements across many titles… The important thing to note here is that the lower price is good for all parties involved: the customer is paying 33% less and the author is getting a royalty check 16% larger and being read by an audience that’s 74% larger. The pie is simply bigger. 

More longwinded TLDR

We recognize that writers reasonably want to be left out of a dispute between large companies. Some have suggested that we “just talk.” We tried that. Hachette spent three months stonewalling…

We’d like your help. Please email Hachette and copy us.
Hachette CEO, Michael Pietsch: M*********@hbgusa.com
Copy us at: readers-united@amazon.com
Please consider including these points:
- We have noted your illegal collusion. Please stop working so hard to overcharge for ebooks. They can and should be less expensive.- Lowering e-book prices will help – not hurt – the reading culture, just like paperbacks did.- Stop using your authors as leverage and accept one of Amazon’s offers to take them out of the middle.- Especially if you’re an author yourself: Remind them that authors are not united on this issue.
Thanks for your support.

I have to say, I did not expect to get this sort of email from Amazon.  While I like spending less out of my pocket, I’d hate to see the effects this will all have in a few years.  Amazon may become be all end all for books.

Amazon Turning Authors Against Hachette

The very public Amazon vs. Hachette dispute is like hopping in a time machine and being dropped off in high school during class elections.  The companies are the two popular kids trying to convince everyone to vote for them because their opponent is mean greedy bully who just wants to take your lunch money. 

Everyone grabbed their popcorn and watched as the fight has left the school hallways and spilled into the streets.  But after several months of back and forth and input from authors and the Authors Guild the situation has become like two third graders arguing “no you! No, you!” repeatedly waiting for the other to give up.

Amazon.com

But the big question that is probably on everyone’s mind? Should I care? Well, yes! Duh.  What are they arguing over? What everyone argues over, money, specifically eBook money.  Negotiations started in January of 2014 as their contract was nearing an end.  Emma Cueto sums things up nicely over at Bustle, “The assumption in the industry is that Amazon wants the power to discount Hachette eBooks whenever they want — essentially setting the price for these books at whatever number it wants — which Hachette doesn’t want for obvious reasons. Amazon probably also wants Hachette to pay more for “co-op,” which is like advertising money that publishers pay to retailers so that the retailers will spotlight a book on their website or in their store. Hachette, naturally, doesn’t want to pay more.”

In a strange move according to Publishers Weekly, VP of Kindle content David Naggar reportedly sent a letter to literary agents, president of the Authors Guild, and Hachette authors proposing that Amazon and Hachette “forgo all revenue on e-books sold through Amazon and, instead, give them directly to the authors.”  It sounds good on the surface but it’s a passive-aggressive move to turn authors against the publisher and ultimately destroy Hachette leaving Amazon to pick up the remains like a hyena.  Of course Hachette responded in snarky schoolgirl fashion.  Amazon returned with “nanny nanny boo boo,” and claims that Hachette can afford the proposal, as it is a part of a huge conglomerate.

Is Hachette a huge publisher? Yes.  Is it part of a larger corporation? Yes. But one business in a corporation cannot simply take money from another to supplement a bad deal.  Hachette is a publishing company and Amazon is a retailer.  Hachette makes money from print and eBook Amazon makes its money from books, MP3s, DVDs, clothing, jewelry etc. Amazon controls 50% of U.S. book sales and still has existing deals with other publishing houses. They can certainly afford Naggar’s proposed offer, though he knew it would not be acceptable and would never have to follow through, Hachette cannot long term. 

Print books are becoming far too rare and eBooks continue to grow.  If Hachette were to give up profits from Amazon sales they would be extremely limited in the ways they can makeup for that income.  It would just be a matter of time before Amazon’s deal left them broke.  But that’s what they really want isn’t it?

It’s no wonder HarperCollins decided to add print books and audio books to its website for direct sales. If it works out perhaps they won’t renew contracts with Amazon.

Think You Are Ready to Distribute? Try These On For Size

Since the topic of my class this month is on printing and distribution, I've decided to expand on a topic brought up in class discussion that is very useful and important to aspiring writers.  What is this headline topic?  Print on Demand services (P.O.D/POD because nostalgia)!  For those who do not know a print on demand service provider will print books once an order is received allowing for single copies or small or large batches to be printed at one time.

Blurb is one print on demand service that authors could consider.  Blurb offers print, ebook, and photography formats.  It offers a storefront for artist to sell through directly and an Amazon distribution program.  The direct selling method promotes that you keep 100% of the profit.  Blurb offers design and layout options listing a few age dimensions on the subpages.  It wants you to download their booking making software BookWright.  Using their software appears to convert to iBook format.  Blurb also does not have a minimum that must be ordered for print editions.  They will print one or thousands and offer bulk discounts.  You can also get an ISBN from Blurb or provide your own.  I feel their website lacks accessible information.  I had to search to find information about ISBNs, ownership, and copyright.

In the terms and conditions Blurb has a section that I would not want to agree to, though will likely find in the other websites' T&Cs, "10.  Other Content.  Notwithstanding Section 8.4.2 above, You hereby grant to Blurb an irrevocable, perpetual, nonexclusive, fully-paid and royalty-free license (with right to sublicense) to use, create derivative works, reproduce, distribute and publicly display any Content, but not your Book Content, that you upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available on the Website or App (“Other Content”).

Lulu is another on POD provider popular with writers and photographers offering print, ebook, design, and professional aid.  It offers different print quality levels to fit different budgets.  The site details and shows the different binding, paper size, color, and document type options.  Lulu makes ebooks available in several formats for popular readers including Nook, Kobo, Kindle, and iPad.  Lulu offers a print and ebook package called Amplifier that makes the process simpler for newcomers.  Lulu provides a free ISBN or you can provide your own.  There is a book cover wizard for those who wish to make use.  Book will be available to purchase on Lulu.com.  As the site states, "priority distribution to the iBook store and the Barnes & Noble Nook Store," and creators keep 90% of the revenue from ebook sales.  Creators retain ownership of source files and the copyright.  Lulu also offers promotional, editing, book to screen, and review services for artists who may need help/support in this area.  The promotional services include posters, bookmarks, website hosting.  One of the best options that sets Lulu apart are the retail channels made available for print and ebooks works.  The website is very easy to navigate and informative.  There are free tools and services and payments are made monthly.

Create Space is probably one of the most well known POD services because of its affiliation with Amazon.  It is an Amazon company and a quick glance over the website would give the impression that it is specifically for Amazon and Kindle editions.  It can appear a bit cluttered and overwhelming to navigate for beginners.  There are professionals available for those who choose to reach out in the support and help section.  The standard distribution is through Amazon and Amazon Europe but there is also an option for "expanded distribution."  This would make your book available through Barnes and Noble and Ingram, libraries, institutions, and Create Space Direct.  It also offers a 60-day satisfaction guarantee though a refund is the last option, "we will work with you to reach a reasonable and satisfactory resolution. If we're unable to resolve the issue to your satisfaction, we will refund the full amount you paid to us for that service" (Create Space Guarantee).  The website does not come straight out and say it but the fixed fees and percentages are a bit higher than the others.  You may have to search around the site to find this page, Royalties Overview, like I did that lists fixed fees and sales channel percentages, the homepage links you to a video explaining royalties and has a calculator.  Like Lulu there are paid services as well as free resources.

Between the three mentioned I would choose and recommend Create Space or Lulu.  Blurb offers limited ebook formatting and distribution where Lulu is diverse.  Important information about source ownership and copyrights, payments, and fees are easy to find on Lulu.  There is even an application for estimating revenue on print and ebooks showing all fees allowing artists to determine the best price for their product(s).  The additional services offered may also be very useful for a self-publishing artist.  Create Space has great options for design, editing, and distribution.  There is a large community to turn to for support and questions.  Plus there is power behind the brand, but you pay for that.

Another worth mentioning is indie ebook distributor Smashwords.  So check them out if you aren't interested in print editions at this time.

This is just my quick overview of three notable PODs.  Please leave any comments suggestions, corrections, or additional information in the comments.  If you've had personal experience with any POD I would love to hear about it.