This just in! DO NOT go to BAM Saturday!!!!

Yep. Just got a call. My signing is getting bumped because a corporate signing was *ahem* already scheduled. So if any of "yous" was going to see me, DON'T GO!!!!!! BAM has tentatively scheduled me for Sunday at 12:00 now.

Well ain't that just grand.

I asked if they'd put out any advertising yet and they said no but they'd try to get some done before the signing. Why does this wording sound suspiciously like BP executives. Wonder what the probability is that they advertise anything. 60%? 70%?

Honestly I just feel like forgetting about it. I just advertised for their stupid corporate book signing. ARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!

They thanked me for being understanding!!!!!

I AM BITING MY TONGUE!!!!!

I know you tried Jonathon but this SUCKS!

Sorry that slipped. I've got to go throw some things around now. Don't hold your breath for Sunday. I may reschedule for later or never. What difference does it make anyway?

I feel like Bill Murray in Meatballs. "It just doesn't matter if we win or if we lose because all the really big authors are the only ones who can do booksignings because they got all the money. It just doesn't matter. I tell you it just doesn't matter. *all chanting* It just doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter . . ."

Couldn't resist. Here's the clip:



And for the record, BAM picked the date. I wanted to do it at a later time so I could get some REAL advertising out there. What if I'd paid for some advertising which I almost did except I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE MONEY!!!! Do you think BAM would've reimbursed me. NO WAY!!!!!

And to be bumped by BAM corporate? What's that about? I thought my book signing was official too? If I'd known it wasn't I would've never considered paying for advertising or even advertising at all!!! Thanks BAM. Thanks a lot.

A word about Book Signings.

Just so you know, book signings are simply another publicity tool for the larger publishers. Yeah. Like they need more publicity. No non-large published author EVER gains anything from doing a signing. I've done a few but it was simply to get rid of books a larger bookstore ordered (for no reason whatsoever) so my publisher didn't have to pay for RETURNED books when said bookstore sent them back thus ensuring that my publisher, after giving a full refund to the bookstore, would also eat return shipping costs and handling fees by middle man distributor who oversells books in the first place to earn a commission for themselves. So I guess you could say that any book signing I do is more like a liquidation. HA!

Not only do non-large published authors not make money, half the time we lose money. My local Barnes & Noble still hasn't paid myself or another out-of-town author for a book signing we did there ONE YEAR ago! Oh yeah, they rock!

Anyway I will be at the BAM but due to some fluke of a reason that my local BAM has no reason for, my book can no longer be ordered into the store. They don't even show up in their system as available and yet they just received a new shipment. *gasp*

So yes, I'll be there trying to sell books to hopefully make ANY money so maybe ya'll could stop by and help. I would like to think that being short-listed for a Bram Stoker Award in 2007 for Superior Achievement in a First Novel and being presently long-listed for a 2010 British Fantasy Award (done by recommendation of a BFS member) would help support the fact that I can actually write something readers might enjoy but apparently that has nothing to do with whether a book sells or not. It's quite simple if the big pubs don't see you then you won't be seen.

How nice.

Welcome to every non-large published author's world.

Russell Brand a werewolf?

Indeed if I had anything to do with it. I've already cast him (mentally) in the role as my *ahem* newest werewolf in Cyn No More provided my books are ever made into a movie (which they won't be but that doesn't keep me from playing) and I have a choice on who gets to play who. For those who've read my books (the one or two of you who realize that books don't have to be with a big powerhouse publisher to be good or available) the werewolf's name begins with "J" and that's all I'm saying. ;D

Books-A-Million Book Signing 6-5-10

Where: Books-A-Million off of I-55 Jackson, Mississippi

When: June 5th

Time: 12:00 Noon until

Don't expect to see a lot of advertising. I personally contacted all local papers but as usual drew no response. Books-A-Million supposedly does some advertising but since I no longer show up in their computers as having books available who knows what they'll actually provide. This wasn't inspired by the publisher so there's no real help there. Just trying to get rid of the sixteen copies of Forever Richard that BAM keeps ordering despite not being able to order my books. I know. Right?

A laugh a minute, this publishing business. *please note I'm not smiling.* If these books don't sell they'll eventually go back to my publisher who will have to give a full refund AND pay shipping etc . . . thus ensuring that I never make anything off these books . . . and neither do they. But the middle man distributor makes a bundle.

So to encourage you guys, I'm giving away a little something to the first four customers who buy both Never Ceese the paperback (being sold in the parking lot because BAM won't stock POD's even if they were traditionally published first) and Forever Richard.

Wanna know what I'll be giving away?

Sure you do!

Well here it is:

I'm not sure how I'll keep Richard away. In fact, I may have to fly him up here from Ft. Myers, Florida just so he can feed. LOLROFL

Oh yes! I'll do it if I get enough request. ;D

Books-A-Million

BAM - Yeah. I'm confused. LOL

So I'm forced to go to Books-A-Million with my daughter (because she wants to buy a book which they didn't have,) the very BAM that says my book no longer shows up in their system as order-able (when it used to because I have a clean line of distribution through my publisher) and I walk to the general fiction shelf to see how many of the nine books they've sold so I could report here.

Well. They don't have nine books anymore. Now they have twelve. Apparently Richard is getting "busy" in the bookstore! LOL So I asked one of the managers how that happens when he told me they can't order anymore of Forever Richard because it doesn't show up as orderable. He simply shrugs. "I don't run headquarters." But he did say these books were a new shipment and that they now had SIXTEEN!!!!!

What in the world is going on BAM?

No one is ordering these books. My publisher certainly isn't the culprit. If these books don't sell they will be sent back and my publisher will pay for return shipment and other associated cost plus they'll have to give a full refund to the bookstore.

First I have larger bookstores that won't order my books to put on the shelf because my book isn't through a big dog publisher. Now I have bookstores who claim they can't order my book ordering them hand over fist. AT LEAST my local BAM has them in a prominent section and is letting me come in to do a booksigning on June 5th to hopefully encourage everyone to come in and buy these books up.

I'll provide more information very soon. Sadly, because Never Ceese, the official paperback is through Ingram's POD, they won't carry that book anyway. Doesn't even have to do with the quality of the book. Ain't that grand but I'll be selling it in the parking lot out of my car.

Just wanted to let you know the booksigning was on again.

And I'll provide more information very soon. ;)

BFS PRISM September 2009

Thank-you soooooooo much BFS for sending this along to me!!! Believe or not, I was more excited to hold this in my hand than I was my first book. Waaaaaaay more! And thank-you Maryann for enjoying both Forever Richard (her review inside this issue) and Never Ceese.

Forever Richard and Radiohead's Creep

A little trivia. I actually drew inspiration for ONE small part in Forever Richard from this video (original and uncut so deal with it and Fake Plastic Trees is just a bonus. It came attached to this version of Creep.) Can you tell me what part of the video. You know, like at what point in the video according to the time denoted at the bottom. No, there's no prize really. Just wondered if anyone who has read Forever Richard can tell. I would offer a free copy of Forever Richard to the first person who guesses right but most likely if they guess right, they already have the book. ;)

LSI Responds. I know b-o-r-i-n-g.

Yet there are many authors who go through POD's like LSI and wonder why they don't do better than they do with sales. Part of this has to do with understanding how these companies do business or in some cases don't do business.

The main distributors like Ingram and Baker & Taylor allow bookstores to return books ordered from them for a full refund. Big publishers and some smaller ones who qualify to sell through these large distributors receive returned books all the time. They simply have to give a full refund for the books returned. Not a bad deal. These days most books come back in quite sellable shape especially considering there is no one policing the bookstores or distributors on this matter. Publishers seem to be happy with this or else I suppose they'd be screaming louder.

POD publisher's such as Ingram's Lightning Source have to pay shipping if they want the returned books back because they don't qualify nor do they pay for this unique relationship. Since I have now experienced first-hand one larger middle-man distributor blatantly sending out returned books (signed and dated by author and some with a sticker on the front from the bookstore itself) as new, I became even more concerned about LSI's not honoring their return policy as stated in the mode of operation PDF file.

The Yes-Deliver option implies, and rightly so, that the returned book will be returned to the publisher. You can read the exact wording in my previous post. LSI has gone around the world to tell me why this won't happen. "But we give you a newly printed book," they say. "We have good security. The books are actually destroyed." My response: "Talk to the hand . . ." When I signed on it was because of the yes-return option and now I'm being told by one rep. that in their opinion this should be reworded. My opinion is that it should be honored as that is why I signed up with LSI.

Already the book I have available through LSI is selling through on-line dealers for far less than what they should be able to sell it for if they had bought the book through LSI implying that perhaps the returned books aren't being destroyed at all. LSI also added in their last response an entire paragraph telling how books arrive back to them in horrible shape. Again, talk to the hand . . . I know better.

So if you sign on with LSI keep in mind that if getting your returned book back is a matter you do not wish to discuss, they do NOT honor the yes-deliver option in their mode of operation manual. They will keep your returned book and you will never know what has happened with it. And has I stated in my email to them, my paranoia is not the issue. The issue is that they are not honoring the yes-deliver option as stated. And furthermore, they are going all-around-the-world to say why they don't have to.

The result that they can make money in an instance where they shouldn't be able to leaves me at a loss for words. They wouldn't have to defend this if they'd simply send the author their returned book back as their Mode of Operation Manuel States, right?

This just in:

LSI decides not intend to honor what is stated in their Mode-of-Operations-Manual. Go figure. Upon my asking them to explain how option 2 could be interpretted any other way than the publisher being PROMISED their returned book back I instead get the three return options repeated to me but worded very differently than what is in the OM.

You have 3 returns options to select from they now SAY:

The Return-destroy option will charge your account back for the wholesale price of the book and the book will be destroyed)

Return- return to publisher (we will charge your account back for the wholesale price of the book plus $2 to return the book back to you)

Non-Returnable

The Return-deliver to publisher option called yes-deliver option in the OM is completely different than what is in the OM. I'm now being told that perhaps LSI isn't a good fit for me. *gasp*

No company that isn't clear about how they operate is a good fit. Duh!

I am so disappointed. Why in the world would LSI work so hard not to give me my returned book back when it is quite clear in the OM that this is what a publisher will get? Oh well. That's life I guess.

Yes! Richard really does exist. ;)

Yikes! I'm not so sure my words were encouraging.

Tell me if I'm wrong, because I'm really not sure, but when an author puts another authors name in the acknowledgement section of their book don't they have to ask for permission?

I kept wondering why a particular CBA affiliated book (I write for the broader general market Christians included,) kept showing up bundled with my books on sites like Amazon. I couldn't figure it out as my work is nothing like what CBA affiliated publishers produce (much better) and I try to make that distinction at every turn since they do nothing to help authors who don't pay to belong to their exclusive market even if the author's work is approved for distribution to the official Christian market. No big deal of course they're a closed market but still. Don't their authors have to ask permission before putting ANY authors name anywhere in their book?

Great. Now I have to work even harder to let people know who my audience is because this particular author that mentioned me with other authors as an encourager to them didn't bother to mention I wasn't affiliated and don't exclude based on denomination!!!!!

Furthermore I never encouraged this author in their endeavor. I prayed he could find a way out of the mess he claimed to have been in. Doesn't help that they're a New York Times Best Selling author either. Good grief!

Thanks for nothing. :(

More on LSI.

As you know, Never Ceese is through Lightning Source--for right now. Yet I'm having major issues with getting them to honor their return policy.

I've been told over and over again that returned books (that I have to pay a full refund on) are destroyed and I can't even get them to resale if I wanted to thus defraying some of the print cost. In fact, here's is a selection from a return email from them on the matter:


" . . . We spoke about this at length a few weeks ago. The cost to have the "yes-deliver" option for returns is $2 per copy on top of the cost to refund the amount the distribution partner paid for your title . . . if you choose yes-Deliver, the books are destroyed, reprinted and shipped to you. . . The only difference between these two options [yes-delever or no-destroy] is that you no not incur an additional $2 per copy for shipping the books back to you."

If I wasn't confused before I am now. I was sent a PDF (that I already have) that clearly (supposedly) states the "yes-return" option that LSI follows. Here it is:

"Yes-Deliver: Select this designation if you want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis and you would like to receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. If you select this option you will be charged the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $2.00 per book shipping and handling charge. LSI does not guarantee the condition of the book being returned."

So which is it LSI? According to the PDF the Yes-Deliver option has the returned book being returned to you with a $2 shipping fee and LSI not guaranteeing the shape of the returned book while the rep says choosing the yes-deliver option will have the book being destroyed and the publisher being sent a new book. The rep does state the $2 is for shipping but how can it be for shipping when the rep also states the book is destroyed (see email reference above.)

I think the Yes-deliver option in the PDF is fine, though not great. But if LSI isn't going to honor it then what else aren't they doing?

I'm waiting to hear back from them now. ;)

Addendum: well that didn't take long. LOL

To my question concerning this option:

Yes-Deliver: Select this designation if you want to allow your titles to be sold on a returnable basis and you would like to receive a physical copy of the book upon its return. If you select this option you will be charged the current wholesale cost of each book returned, plus a $2.00 per book shipping and handling charge. LSI does not guarantee the condition of the book being returned.

I was told that the document states that I'll receive a physical copy of the book, not the exact physical copy that is returned. The yes-deliver option incurs a $2 per copy fee for shipping back to you The yes-destroy option does not incur the $2 per copy fee. I replied by asking what the last line meant if in fact I was NOT getting my returned book back as I assumed. You know, the line that says LSI doesn't guarantee the condition of the book being returned. I was then referred to another rep who always sends me back to the first rep. Not sounding good.

I don't suppose it sounds all that unreasonable for LSI to charge $2 shipping for sending a book back BUT in the yes-return option the implication is they're sending you the returned book back. In fact they don't even guarantee the condition of the book returned.

The reps tell you that LSI prints you a NEW book for free and with no print charges and destroy the returned books. The $2 is for shipping. What a waste as I already know that most of the books returned are in excellent shape and quite resellable. I've received some as new from other distributors and I couldn't tell the difference except I'd already signed some of them them and some still had the autograph sticker on them.

I suppose my biggest concern is that LSI and every other company that operates the way they do, isn't destroying the books at all but charging me print cost and sending returned books out to bookstores. Yes. That sounds more believable than the "we're printing you a new book for nothing line" because as you know if it's too good to be true . . . it probably is. And what's the point of all the double speak if nothing out of the ordinary is going on or rather something that's going to bring someone other than the CUSTOMER money.

Books-A-Million

Okay local peeps there are still nine copies of Forever Richard at the Jackson Mississippi store available for you to go pick up and buy. I've no idea why they were ordered but there they are. If you don't go buy them they will send them back to the publisher and my publisher will have to pay the return shipping plus administrative fees plus have books that they now can't sell as new which means my publisher will go even deeper into the hole which will eventually sink Forever Richard if you don't go buy the books. And you don't even have to read it. Just go buy it. Heck you could resale it on ebay and maybe make a few cents. I'm just trying to protect my publisher and subsequently myself.

Do know for future reference, Books-A-Million no longer shows Forever Richard in their system. The only book written by Sue Dent they can order is the hardbacks that my first publisher kept after liquidating over 4000. I make no money off these books and never will. Books-A-Million can't even get Never Ceese the paperback into the store because it's through a POD.

Just please go buy the nine books so I don't have to eat them.

At least you can order both of my books through Barnes & Nobles and every other bookstore on the planet and Books-A-Million on-line shows it as available. But not showing up as ordeable in the store when it once did . . . that's just plain weird. I will say that Books-A-Million says they never send books back, thus ensuring that small presses don't lose money, but the fact is that they can if they want to and I've no doubt that they will when given the hard chose of eating the books themselves. Either that or they'll put them on clearance and then send them back.

Who knows. I just know I can't afford to risk it.

One awesome review!

Despite not having many reviews in comparison to a book put out by a larger publisher, I can honestly say, 95% of mine are all original and not asked for. This is one of my all time favorites. Do note she makes a comment about the cover but this is the hardback version of Never Ceese that no one should buy anyway as the publisher is now defunct (as a traditional publisher anyway) and the book is out of print. The bookstores can oddly still order the hardback and will before they order the paperback because they can get a full refund if they have to send it back. Never Ceese the paperback is non-returnable. HA Gotcha stupid larger bookstores. If I go down it won't be because of you!

Also Journey Stone never had a cover artist and used the cover from my paperback but skewed it out of shape as the hardback was larger than the paperback. Lovely.

So without further ado, one of the bestest reviews out there on Never Ceese.

Never Ceese review.

Love reviews like this.

I'm sorry. Did I not post this here. :D

Don't forget to go to visit www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheetto see more of what Black Bed Sheet Books has.

Why is there an official Christian distributor?

Actually that question is designed to make new Christian (non-affiliated) publishers think. I spoke with an up and coming publisher yesterday who, when I asked, said they were considering going with STL(Send the Light or something like I thinkt.) I asked the publisher if they understood that this distributor primarily sent your book out to CBA affiliated bookstores. The publisher said they were actually considering paying to become a member of CBA.

To that I said, "so you desire to write targeted evangelical, preach-to-the-choir fiction for CBA's core market audience and not for the general market of Christians which is the larger audience?"

That brings me back around to why are there so many Christian distributors. Well actually there is only one. Spring Arbor. Spring Arbor started out as CBA's exclusive distributor then CBA sold Spring Arbor to Ingram. Frustrated (according to several blogs I found which you can google for yourself and find or scroll back through my blogs here and find) MANY CBA affiliated bookstores were LIVID!

You have to remember, part of that fee a publisher pays to CBA ensures that member books are automatically flooded onto member bookstore shelves. Actually in the beginning and even now ONLY CBA member publishers could get into an affiliated Christian bookstores. Duh! That's why CBA was formed so CBA could provide targeted fiction to Baptist Bookstore visitors because the usual fiction often written by authors of faith was too "secular."

When Christian bookstores learned that Spring Arbor would not adhere to their exclusivity rules and would in fact approve non-affiliated Christian work . . . guess what happened? All of a sudden or maybe slowly over time, quite a few OTHER Christian distributors started popping up. Guess who they shop your work out to? Why affiliated Christian bookstores of course and if you're not affiliated with CBA the stores they shop you out to will never take your work. They don't tell publishers this when they sign on or at least that's been my experience. They just take your money and then come back with all kinds of reasons why the "Christian" bookstores they shopped you out to won't take your book. And some of the reasons border on insane. My first publisher was told once by their "Christian" distributor that Family Christian didn't want their book because they didn't like the color blue on the cover?

The solution to the publisher I talked to, before I explained my experiences with "Christian" distributors was to join CBA. It seemed by the time I finished talking to them that they might actually reconsider or at least talk to a few other publishers who've already been this route.

I sure hope so.

Spring Arbor is the official Christian Distributor. They accept ALL work by authors of faith for many different Christian readers. They can get you into ANY Christian bookstore for absolutely free. They can't get you into affiliated bookstores who provide targeted fiction for a very exclusive targeted audience.

Bottom line is that to succeed in publishing as a publisher you better dang well know your market.

Addendum: Interesting comment left on this blog (see comment by clicking) to correct the "insinuation" that CBA owned Spring Arbor. Perhaps I might've been clearer on that but it truly wasn't the point of this blog. That's right. CBA doesn't OWN and never OWNED Spring Arbor though I have in the past written it out like that. Sorry and thanks for clearing that up? Spring Arbor at one time was CBA's exclusive distributor OWNED by someone else I guess. The fact is they were exclusive and didn't provide anything but CBA member books to CBA member bookstores. Several other distributors have tried to pick up where they left off but are failing miserably (oops. That's another opinion I guess.) Spring Arbor is the distributor to the official Christian market but no they can't automatically get you in to affiliated Christian bookstores. But neither can CBA member distributors . . . unless you pay to be affiliated with CBA. ;)

Spring Arbor; The official Christian Marketplace.

Spring Arbor became the official distributor for Christian books (with Christian meaning all faiths and denominations) at some point in 1970 when they bought Spring Arbor from the Christian (evangelical) Booksellers Association.

They are the only distributor that represents every aspect of Christian literature. Being approved by Spring Arbor gives a publisher access to bookstores who generally only sell Christian fiction or in this instance fiction that doesn't usually offend readers of many different faiths. There really aren't that many Christian bookstores that serve the general market of Christians though so it really doesn't do a publisher or author much good to be approved. However, it does make your books orderable through affiliated bookstores which gives you another possible route for sales should you find your work appealing to CBA's closed market of readers. ;)

MLA shocked to learn books are destroyed!

After seeing another local author posting on facebook about being up for an Mississippi Library Association Book Award I decided, what the heck, I'll join MLA too. You know, support local libraries. ;)

In the course of the conversation I reported that my first book was through Lightning Source and ventured to tell her how they actually destroy returned-from-bookstore books as opposed to letting the publisher see them. I thought the lady I was speaking with was going to choke on her surprise. "They can't destroy books," she gasped almost as though she had proof this activity was illegal and she could very well stop this madness at once.

LOL Go for it! But you better start at the top with the bigger bookstores who've been destroying books since waaaaaaay back when, round about the time they complained about how much it cost to ship back the massive amount of books they ordered that didn't sell so they could get their full refund. "Just rip the covers off and send those back," distributors told them. "Then destroy the coverless books which amounted to throwing them in the trash out back where others were waiting to get the books before the trash came thus bringing up the law that states you shouldn't buy a book with the cover ripped off or at least report the store who is selling them.

Oh yes. That's really going to stop the problem. HA!

Finding Never Ceese in bookstores!!

I had another guestbook entry from a young reader who saw my book on TVtropes.com and thought they'd like to read it but was afraid, after reading my many blogs, that they might not be able to find in a brick and mortar bookstore and their parents were not too keen about buying on-line.

So let me clarify ONCE more! You can walk into ANY large bookstore ANYWHERE in the world and ask for Never Ceese the official paperback (make sure and give them the ISBN though 9780976994701 or they'll try to sell you the out-of-print hardback because they can return that should you return it) or Forever Richard and they can order it for you.

NOOOOO! You most likely won't find it on the shelf and certainly not Never Ceese the paperback as NO larger bookstore will order a POD published book and especially not one that is non-returnable because that means they actually have to SELL it to make any money.

Forever Richard is returnable but my publisher has to pay for return shipping of books that are returned from large bookstores and administrative fees on top of that setting them up for a HUGE loss. Of course there wouldn't be so many returns from the bookstores if they'd put smaller pubbed authors front and center along side some of the books from larger pubbed authors but this will NEVER happen.

So yes! Go to the store and order it. At Barnes & Noble Never Ceese tops out at $13 but you do have to give them the ISBN or the hardback will come up (you know, just in case they have to send it back because you returned it.) Forever Richard will come up all day long as it isn't POD published.

Just stop expecting any small pubbed author to be in Brick and Mortar stores. Brick and Mortar stores are merely for large publishers (called that only because there are now small publishers duh!)

But you don't have to simply buy small pubbed authors on-line. Not if they have distribution of some kind. Both Never Ceese and Forever Richard have that. ;)

Just ask.

Lightning Source question.

I republished Never Ceese through Lightning Source, Ingram's POD publisher. I've been working with them for about a year now. As most new authors consider POD publishing everyday, I like to at least help out by posting my experiences.

Recently I made my books non-returnable through Lightning Source as bookstores return policy with their distributors has them returning books left and right. Normally this wouldn't be a problem and most books do come back in good shape (I just found this out recently when Bookmasters sent used books to me as new) and quite resellable but Lightning Source's policy is to destroy all returned books regardless of shape. For the inconvenience, they offer to reprint a new book for $2.00 with no printing charge. For me this means I'm only out $2.33 instead of $4.33 and I have a new book to resell.

I called Lightning Source and asked about the possibility of having the returned books sent to me instead. Seeing now what good shape they come back in, I'd rather take my chances there even if it means paying a shipping charge to have my returned books sent to me. I was told that I could see the returned books though no real direction was given on just how to do this. I just sent them an e-mail to ask for more details. I'll let you know what they say when I get a response.

I'd like to add that I wasn't told in the beginning that returned books were automatically destroyed and most definitely would have reconsidered going with Lightning Source if I'd known this. When I shared this with my rep I was told that this was just how the publishing industry worked. If that's true, and every POD publisher works the same way, destroying or making the publisher pay for books that are returned and then destroyed . . . why does anyone use POD publishers? *gasp* :O

Addendum: They use them because bookstores can still order the book even if it's non-returnable. The bookstores just won't put them on the shelf. Of course even if they did shelf a few, they'd rarely be seen as two books tucked away in a genre section can hardly compete for attention against 50 of a larger publishers books thrown in your face when you walk in the door. ;)

A guestbook entry. ;)

Yes. I actually have a guestbook on both of my sites. Every now and then, as my books pick up steam (relative steam that is. Remember I've no powerhouse publisher to pimp my books and making the short-list of major awards doesn't seem to cut it as far publicity goes) I get an entry that isn't porn related. Meaning that apparently my sites get enough attention for bottom-feeder porn sites to perk up an ear. Anyway here's one particular entry I found interesting. I actually think I've posted it here before but I'll post it again to hopefully help someone new to the publishing industry/racket. ;)

Guestbook entry:

I thought I was the only one who liked to write stories about Christian Vampires and Werewolves. I recently purchased Never Ceese and Forever Richard and I'm wondering how much they'll turn out like what I write.

I became vegetarian at age ten. I also like to include animals in my stories. Sue, if you don't mind telling me who your agent is, if you have one, I would love to get my work published as well. I have not been able to find any publisher or agent who wants my kind of writing. I also write fantasy and science fiction. All unpublished. Maybe you'll help pave the way for more bizzare story lines.

Thanks.Indeed I think I can help. First off I don't write about Christian vampires and werewolves because in the publishing world the label Christian is being abused by an affiliation set up to only serve a very closed market of readers that denominationally exclude. Perhaps you think abuse is a strong word to use but Christian is a broad label and to the best of my knowledge it was never meant to represent one exclusive group.

So it would be advantageous for you not to use the broader label Christian to describe your work as this will throw you into this niche market whose work does not appeal to general market readers, Christians included.

No. I don't have an agent. Never could get one to look. Not even after my debut novel was short-listed for a Bram Stoker Award and not even now with Forever Richard being up for a 2010 British Fantasy Society Award. I know. Right? And oh my gosh, you should see some of the responses I get when I query for one even today. LOL Sorry. I've decided to stop setting myself up for that kind of abuse. Hey, there's that word again.

Also don't fall into the trap of dumping your money into writers' conferences or joining groups that simply label themselves Christian as that would be the group I talked about before and they don't accept Sci-Fi or Fantasy and specifically no horror MS's because they claim their core market readers don't want to read it. It's easy to get confused though because they do put out books that suggest they do. They don't and you will be wasting your time.

My stories bizarre? Why thank-you muchly. ;D

You can read through my blog to get more help on just how to get published but the thing to keep in mind is that you WILL NOT be able to making a living writing and for the first few years you will LOSE money and a LOT of it. Sorry if that's depressing but I'll not mislead anyone.

Want to rave about Amazon Kindle? Go somewhere else.

I'm sure a lot of you have had great success with Amazon kindle and I went into it with high hopes. Had a friend get Never Ceese upload ready and submitted it. I was happy to see I was given control over the categories it would show up in but have to admit I doubted it would matter as to date, Amazon seems to posts books wherever they feel like it.

Well I'm happy to report Amazon acted true to form. After about two days on Kindle my book got it's first one-star rating (not that I never expected one, just that this one came because of genre ignorance on Amazon's part.) Why give author's the choice of categories if you aren't going to stick to them? ARRRRGGHHH!

Also I thought with Kindle I'd at least be safe from that horrid return policy that brick and mortar stores share with the distributors that provide them with best-selling authors books.

NOPE!

Of the seven kindle books I sold straight away, one was returned. *gasp*

You're kidding right? I am probably the ONLY author who has had a kindle book returned. I've no idea what it cost me. I was too sick to look. Thanks a lot Amazon.

Yes. I pulled my Kindle version. I don't need that kind of help. By the way, while Amazon finally pulled my Kindle book, they didn't pull the one-star review that came because of their ignorance. That reader would've never seen my book had it not been for them. Genre's are there for a reason Amazon. Use them!

Jackson MS Books-A-Million signing.

Never mind. LOL

I don't have the funds to promote a booksigning and sure don't see the point when the bookstore no longer has me in their system so they can order more if they do sell out. Just do me a favor and go buy the nine that are at the Jackson Books-A-Million before they can be sent back to my publisher who will then lose money hand over fist because they have to pay for books that are returned.

Do know that as far as Books-A-Million goes, for whatever reason, Forever Richard no longer shows up in their system at all on-line or otherwise. Sad. Very sad.

Also if you do buy one of the nine copies and don't have Never Ceese or haven't read it, please contact me at sdent1@bellsouth.net and I'll be glad to get you a copy. The Bookshelf in Ridgeland has copies and can call me to bring them up there if they run out.

Good folks there! ;)

Sales report for the month for Never Ceese ;)

Yes!!! No returns. You see, when you're with Lightning Source and a bought book is returned from the bookstore via Ingram or one of the other larger distributors (which can happen at anytime BTW if you make your book returnable which is the only way bookstores will order a book) Lighting Source destroys the return, even if it's in good shape. I'd like to say I made that up but this is what Lightning Source told me. When a book is returned, they automatically destroy it.

So the publisher, in this case me, eats the print cost of the book that was destroyed, which in this case is $4.33 and I have to give a full refund to the bookstore that sent the book back. Since bookstores are able to return books at will, I opted to make my book non-returnable to avoid eating the print cost. I did tell Lightning Source that I didn't know this about them when I signed on or I might have reconsidered. Their only consolation was to tell me that this is how the publishing industry works.

Really?

So yes, good news is no returns this month. But I only sold one book. HA! For a grand total of 9 this year with 2 returns bringing my profit to *Sue pecks on calculator* $1.50!!! Ooooohhh somebody buy me a steak!!!!

Just a reminder. When you see Never Ceese the paperback for sale in an an on-line store and they say they have so many copies for sale etc . . . They don't have squat. The store is lying which seems to be the trend for folks here in the publishing industry. Just didn't want you to think I was rolling in it. I'm not. But everyone else is and it ain't money they're rolling in. Did I just say that? I think I did. ;)

This is what Small pubs and their authors have to deal with EVERY day.

My publisher set me up an account with their distributor so I could call in and order books at a discount since it made little sense for them to send them to me and we pay postage twice. Normally it wouldn't be important to say that the books I ordered through the distributor were to be new books as nothing was said to infer otherwise.

So as the drama unfolds, (there really should be no drama IMO but whatever) I received the ten books I ordered. Upon opening the box I found three of the books were books I had signed and dated whilst visiting a local B&N who'd ordered them. Two of the books even had the green B&N "autographed copy" sticker on the front cover!!! One of the books had a cover that wouldn't close all the way and might not have bothered me at all except I'd already found three books that were clearly NOT new as I "assumed" they would be. Why would I assume otherwise?

Upon calling the distributor to discuss the matter I was told they only ever sent out new books and NEVER sent out returned ones. I do understand that one person in a company could easily misunderstand policy and give wrong information but I had called earlier that week to see about signing on with the distributor myself. I asked what was done with books returned from bookstores since bookstores were more apt to send books back then keep them and I was told they went into a section for damaged inventory never to be returned to new inventory even if they were in sellable shape. I even have a PDF file from the distributor that states this. Keep that in mind as you read through the email I just received from the distributor regarding my claim:

Hi Sue,

My name is [B] and I am the account manager for [Sue's publisher].

I know you were given a choice of whether to send back the books or receive credit for them. However, I would like to receive the books back so that we may look at them and use them to show the receiving department where to look for the stickers in the future so that something like this does not happen again. We would like to use these as a learning tool.

It is correct that we do use returns in re-sellable condition to be put back on the shelf for resale, but we try to only take the books that are excellent condition, obviously we need to pay more attention to what is on the inside and added stickers on the outside as well.

Please let me know if this is OK with you and I will send the replacements and the call tags to return the other books right away.

Thank You,

BS, Customer Service Representative

My response:

The information I have from the rep who sets up new accounts (confirmed in the PDF they sent me) and the person I spoke with originally about my claim, negates the comment concerning the use of returned-from-bookstore books. At no point would books-returned-from-bookstores to Ingram, Baker & Taylor or any other distributor and then to Bookmasters, be put back into resellable stock. Both individuals I spoke with and the PDF file clearly stated this.

Based on that, I see no point in sending books back that my publisher (and subsequently myself) have already eaten because my publisher was already charged return shipping on returned books and administrative fees on top of having to refund monies for the books sent back. If the Bookmaster's policy is adhered to no employee of Bookmasters should have to be trained at all as used books would never be sold as new.

And since I now have no guarantee that the next four books I'll receive will be new either, I'd simply like the four used books taken off my charge. As far as returning books to you at no cost to use as "learning tools" . . . I'll pass. What's there to learn? Bookmsasters isn't supposed to be sending out used books as new. I'm also very concerned about the books I send back going out again to some other unsuspecting customer.

So yes. Take the four books off my charge and I'll keep the "damaged" ones. BTW, I'm curious, since I'm interested in setting up an account myself (or at least was) do publishers see any of the money that's made off of returned books that are sold as new? And when are customers told that the books they're buying as new are actually not that at all?

Addendum:

Just received response from BM.

Hi Sue,

I will make sure they credit you the 4 books.

I apologize for the mistake.

Thank You,

Customer Service Representative

LOL Well. Thank-you for addressing the question I had. I wonder when I order my next books if they'll be new or used?

The Christian Manifesto Interview

I was so proud of this interview when I was asked to do it. It isn't often that a non-affiliated (CBA) author gets to talk about appealing to that audience from outside CBA's market. Excitement quickly dwindled though as blog was shortly moved to another site and link merely reported as broken. New site doesn't show pictures and I doubt anyone ever finds it. Oh well. I tried. Here's the link to part two of the interview . . . at least until it's moved again or completely deleted.

Actually, I learned shortly after the interview was moved about the broken link, reported about it here on my blog and was told where the new link was. BUT you have to absolutely LOOK for the new link and it doesn't show up on google searches as the other one did. The only link that shows up is the broken one and it doesn't redirect you. This is such a powerful interview and was getting a LOT of attention until it was moved (with pics not showing.) It's almost as if someone gave me a gift and then took it away to give to someone else. Oh well. Here are the links for what it's worth.

http://www.thechristianmanifesto.com/index.php/2008/12/16/an-interview-with-sue-dent-author-of-forever-richard-part-1-of-2/

http://www.thechristianmanifesto.com/index.php/2008/12/19/an-interview-with-sue-dent-author-of-forever-richard-part-2-of-2/

Before this blog was moved, pulled from the original site because the interviewer went to help with another blog, or so I was told, it was getting a LOT of attention. I was so very encouraged. I've yet to figure out why the interview was "dumped" like this. Sorry. But that's just my impression. You have to pan for gold to find it now. The back links on the moved interviews don't even work.

Guess that's what I get for pegging Thomas Nelson as a fee paying CBA affiliated publisher. Though it seems like they'd be proud of this since they pay to belong and are CBA's top publisher. Or maybe it didn't bother them at all. :)

Links to heavily slanted Christian blog tour reviews and recent reviews.

I'll be adding more as I find them:

http://book-reviewsdashboard.blogspot.com/2009/04/never-ceese.html#comment-form

http://dameigs.blogspot.com/2006/12/never-ceese-by-sue-dent.html

http://thebookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/2006/12/never-ceese-by-sue-dent_7096.html

* one of my favorites. ;) http://projectinga.blogspot.com/2007/05/never-ceese-by-sue-dent.html

Keep in mind that these are HEAVILY slanted Christian blog tours, even the non-exclusive ones such as CFRB. ;)

http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/never-ceese-by-sue-dent.html

Blog Tour reviews

Over the past few years several blog tours have started up with the express purpose of bringing more attention to books that have a strong "Christian" slant to them. Sadly most of these cater to books produced by publishers who belong to CBA or ECPA, two affiliations that exclude based on denomination so the tour ends up being an extension of a "members only" club. No big deal but Never Ceese did tour several of these blog tours and I will now, over the course of the day and the next few days, begin pointing to some of those reviews.

Forever Richard also toured one of these blog tours but was excluded from the main one that Never Ceese toured due to a rules change. If the book isn't published by a CBA or ECPA affiliated publisher, the book has to be looked at and a ruling has to be made to ensure that it doesn't offend evangelical readers? Even at that I attempted to submit Forever Richard as I garnished some wonderful reviews from Never Ceese but was told that no Indie books traditionally published or not would make it through.

But yes. Do watch for those reviews for both Never Ceese and Forever Richard to be going up soon.

"Damaged" books update.

At least for any of you who are interested. My current publisher uses Bookmasters for distribution. I've since considered going this route myself with Never Ceese since Bookmasters has that clean line of distribution through all the major distributors therefore making it easy and a piece of cake to get into brick and mortar bookstores should that be what you're after.

*Please note I didn't say that every author should be looking to get into brick-and-mortar bookstores so please hold all comments that ask why any author would want to do this. Of course every author wants to do this. They simply want the playing field to be level and it isn't.*

Monday 5-3, I received 10 books I ordered from my publishers' distributor and found that 4 of those books were not new books at all and 3 were actually books signed and dated from B&N. I called and was told right away that I could keep the four "damaged" books (they're not damaged, they're just not new) and four more replacements would be sent out straight away with no cost to me.

No cost to me?

Really?

Too late. Those books already costs me. When those books came back from B&N my publisher/I paid. As per Bookmaster's policy my publisher paid to have the books shipped back to Bookmaster, they paid for administrative fees to handle the transaction and they had to give a full refund to B&N. I'm absolutely certain there are more fees associated but those are enough to make my point. Bookmasters is offering to let me keep the four books that are in good shape but NOT new (they refer to them as damaged.) They're sending me four NEW books at "no charge" to me.

My question? (There are several.)

Why are blatantly used (damaged) books (remember two had B&N autograph stickers on them) being put back into inventory and distributed as new or for that matter why are any books being returned from bookstores being sold as new? Perhaps the publisher can authorize this to happen, I don't know. However I have a very difficult time believing that a publisher would authorize signed and dated books to go out as new. Even if the publisher hopes to regain some of the money they've lost on those returned books, I don't see them authorizing them to go out as "new." I wouldn't if it were me.

So I'll keep the quite sellable (damaged) books which my publisher and I have already lost a lot of money on and wonder how these books ended up going out to a customer as "new" and I'll be happy that I'm getting four replacement books that just costs my publisher (and subsequently myself) even more money? If four NEW books are actually sent, my publisher will have to pay for that (which means I pay as well.) Unless of course Bookmasters just finds four returns "damaged" books that don't appear returned or (damaged) and send those to me?

Who knows?

New order button for Never Ceese and Forever Richard

Addendum: BTW Forever Richard is still on the long-list for a 2010 British Fantasy Award. Will it move onto the short-list? Who cares? It made the long-list. How many books have you written that have done even that? Huh? Huh? Oh HA! Just go order both. I hear they're pretty good reads. ;)

You may now click on one of these two this buttons:

or one of the two on the right sidebar to order Never Ceese, the official paperback version from S D Enterprises or Forever Richard from The Writers' Cafe Press.

Media Mail rates apply for here in the US only at this time. Paypal wouldn't let me add shipping amounts beyond six books so you can e-mail me at sdent1@bellsouth.net for larger quantities.

Any bookstores that want to order (yeah, right) be forewarned, I do not honor the ludicrous return policy your wonderful distributors (such as Ingram and Baker & Taylor here in the US) honor. You can NOT return these books for a full refund at anytime at your convenience no matter where you got the book and no matter what shape it is in when you return it.
And you can NOT ignore the contract you will sign with me that states such. And no, I don't expect ANY bookstore to order so I don't care if what I just typed sounds silly. ;)

I presently have six of Forever Richard, four more to come soon and about ten of Never Ceese the official paperback. Thanks in advance for buying. The books are $10 plus shipping. Quantity determines shipping price. Here's a breakdown:

1-2 $2.38

3 $2.77

4 $3.16

5 $3.55

If you want more than six just e-mail me for the rate and an invoice.

Never Ceese - award winning fiction NOT found in ANY bookstore!

That's correct do not look for Never Ceese in ANY bookstore. The hardbacks you'll now find in used bookstores as my first publisher (no longer a traditional press) liquidated all copies. Since then I re-published my original paperback version through Lightning Source after learning that making books returnable to larger bookstores meant consistently losing money, I opted out of this scenario. As a result, bookstores won't order my book. But then they won't order books from small published authors anyway as they know that small publishers can't compete with the publicity wagons of the larger publishers and that makes them no money. ;)

It doesn't keep bookstores from ordering a few here and there though if the book is returnable which they promptly send back for a full refund to the publisher when the book of course doesn't sell and publisher eats the returns and then some.

So, if you find Never Ceese the paperback in a larger bookstore just know that you're dreaming. Lots of places to buy Never Ceese on-line though and I'll be adding new options to my sites soon. Forever Richard can be found in larger bookstores but is suffering incredibly under the "return policy blues" talked about in previous blogs.

Okay. That was weird.

This book selling/buying business just keeps getting weirder and weirder. ;o Last week I ordered ten copies of Forever Richard to restock my stash here at home as every now and then someone wants to purchase one from me. Well, I just received my discounted books from Bookmasters last night only to find . . . wait for it . . . three books with an "autographed by author" Barnes & Noble sticker on the front of two with signature inside of three and cover on one clearly bent in open position!!!

What? You're kidding right?

I pay for new books and I get books signed and dated that B&N has sent back as returns (because of course they can and do this every day along with every other larger bookstore in the world.)

Needless to say I was livid and couldn't wait to "give Bookmasters a piece of my mind!" Well, customer service took the wind out of my sails right away. They said I could a.) just get my money back on those four and keep the books or b.) they could send a slip so I could return said books with no cost to me and simply get four new books.

Do keep in mind that this hasn't played out yet but I don't feel it won't happen as I was told but here's the double-edge of this scenario. My publisher is charged for books returned from bookstores to Bookmasters. If I'm not mistaken they have to pay the shipping cost for these books to be returned and pay distributor/bookstore a full refund. They also have to pay Bookmasters fees for dealing with the administrative costs of handling returned books.

So while I'm happy to be offered new books, I'm sad to know that technically my publisher, which means me as well, just lost four books if I don't send them back. But then we'll also get burned if I do send them back by having to pay for returned books again (at least I think they will. Not really sure on that matter.)

More importantly, I paid for new books and Bookmasters blatantly put two in my box that came back as returns. The B&N sticker was still on the front.

Unbelievable.

What's even worse is that means they're sending books out to customers like this too. Customers aren't even getting new books and in some instances it's obvious.

Top 10 Christian Horror Novels

Actually Never Ceese is number one on this odd list. How cool is that? Even odder than the list is the fact that ChristianBook.com listed at the top, won't even carry half the books on this list because they don't come through an exclusive affiliated CBA publisher. And that's even if the book has distribution through Spring Arbor like Never Ceese. Nope. You won't find Never Ceese there. I've called and asked . . . over and over. So don't go there unless you're looking for CBA affiliated books. You'll be sorely disappointed.

Gee, why wouldn't I put the link. Duh!