To my friends in Louisianna!

I've been getting a lot of hits from a press release I did like four years ago in Lafayette at their Festival of Lights. I hope that means y'all think I'm coming and want to buy books. If so, the press release is old. :( If you would like for me to come and sell books, well I'd love to!!!! Just get your local bookstores to hit me up.

BTW I lived in Mandeville for four years! Placed foosball in Metairie too many times to count and would LOVE to come visit and do a signing. Just have your local store contact me and I'll be down in a flash. sdent1@bellsouth.net of course!!!

Love y'all,
Sue

New entry on Publishing Industry page

I've made a new entry on my publishing industry page if you're interested in that sort of information. ;) Here's an easy way to see it. Here's the link!

Extreme awesomeness! Click HERE to check out the rest of what BLACK BED SHEET BOOKS has to offer:

Black BED SHEET BOOKS Friday!!

Don't forget to support all of us Small Press Authors this Black Friday and here's a way for you to easily do this. Black Bed Sheet Books will be showcasing their latest and greatest books at downwarden.com/blackbedsheet this Black Friday and have deemed it "Black BED SHEET BOOKS Friday!"

I'm particularly excited because it is the official date that BBS will release Never Ceese under their name with special cover art by Mr. Halloween himself, Nicholas Grabowsky! I'd make you wait to see that but I can't. So here ya go. ;)

Click on Book Cover to purchase from Black Bed Sheet Books!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D



Of course not only will this version be available WORLD WIDE it will be available in many different e-book formats including but not limited to Kindle! I know, right?

Of course my work is for the general market reader so you won't be able to find it for purchase at bookstores that don't carry such books and no plans are being made to seek approval by Spring Arbor for distribution to the Christian market as there is no real advantage.

That being said, YEP!! IT'S AVAILABLE WORLD WIDE!!!! So make my Christmas and snatch you up a copy right away. Do mark Black BED SHEET BOOK Friday on your calendar. You won't be sorry. ;D

Zondervan goes POD! Say it ain't so.

What's this? Zondervan does have a choice? Read on to understand.


Yes, that's right, Zondervan who founded Family Christian Bookstores but then sold out to Harper Collins and was then disowned by Family Christian due to the fact that they now belonged to the company who printed the Satanic Bible (which they claimed was a hostile take-over as if they had no choice, yeah right) is now going to use LSI, Ingram's POD for their US distribution. Don't believe me. Well here's the link!

I suppose the most important point to make here is that when Zondervan who founded Family Christian Bookstores for the exclusive distribution of their CBA targeted niche market titles and also for distribution of other targeted Christian fiction titles--when they went with Harper Collins and started taking flack from customers and store owners about going with a company that printed the Satanic Bible, their response was they COULDN'T back out. That they had NO choice. Well, well, well. Look who all of a sudden has a choice. What happened I wonder? What happened indeed!

So now we have Zondervan/Zonderkidz, Harper Collins' producer of CBA/ECPA targeted Christian fiction using a POD for distribution because being with Harper/Collins can't seem to do it for them. Like that's the problem. Well I hate to abuse the term but it is so fitting. Welcome to the jungle! Don't I love it!

Christianbook.com for targeted fiction only.

I must say I was never more pleased than when my stories began to appeal to readers whom I never thought would enjoy my work. Right away I began to get my books into venues where these readers shop on-line and otherwise.

www.Christianbook.com is one such venue. When I contacted Christianbook.com as the publisher concerning being listed I was told this:

. . . we do not automatically carry all books published by Christian publishers, it would be up to Spring Arbor to contact us on your behalf and submit your book for consideration. We do not work directly with authors so you should contact your publisher to be sure they have contacted us. They should be able to make direct contact with our Buying Department.

First of all Spring Arbor is not a publisher and does not speak for any one publishing house. That's the publisher's job. Secondly, I stated I was the publisher. Thirdly when they say they don't automatically carry all books by all Christian publishers what do they mean?

Actually I really don't care. What concerns me is that an on-line bookstore seems to be discriminating in spite of making claims to the contrary. Here's a link that suggest strongly that Christianbook.com does indeed discriminate against Christian publisher/authors based on denomination and association. It's sad to think this sort of discrimination is honored.

I did finally get a hold of someone who stated, "oh, well we're not taking on any new publishers at the time," *go figure* but you can go to our FAQ and figure out just what we're looking for when we are accepting new publishers. Here it is:

2.3 I have a product. Can I get it listed with Christianbook.com?

Thank you for your interest in having Christian Book Distributors and Christianbook.com carry your product. Please be advised, though, that we do not accept any unsolicited product queries, proposals, or manuscripts. We simply cannot accommodate the numerous requests we receive and we do not review any materials sent to us; but we'd be happy to suggest other resources for assistance.

First, let us recommend the Christian Writers' Market Guide by Sally E. Stuart. This helpful book details submission guidelines and procedures for all Christian publishing houses that will accept unsolicited manuscripts. In it you will find a wealth of information to help you with your goals.

Also, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (www.ECPA.org) offers a manuscript consideration service at www.ChristianManuscriptSubmissions.com. All book proposals posted to this site are available for viewing by every member of ECPA, providing worthwhile exposure to many publishers.

Finally, you may want to browse the "Editorial Services" chapter in Literary Market Place, published annually by R.R. Bowker. The section lists more than 500
professional organizations, many of which provide critique services relating to content, presentation, and marketing.

Please click on the following link to visit our Author Resources page for additional outlets for aspiring authors/artists. We wish you well in your pursuit!

So there you have it. The ECPA are a group of CBA affiliated publisher who write targeted fiction for evangelicals specifically. You have to be a member to even get access to their manuscript service. The Christian Publishing Houses listed in Sally's Stuarts guide, the last time I checked, were all publishers who target evangelicals and more sepcifically CBA affiliated.

And finally, these are all resources and not ways to for a publisher to get listed on Christianbook.com. While there are books on this site that aren't targeted fiction they are few and faaaaaaaaaaaarrrrr between.

So, it's save to say Christianbook.com is only interested in listing books targeting a very discriminating market of Christians. And before anyone says, "well, they have the right to operate anyway they want to" just remember that I never said they didn't. It is my opinion that they should be more open about what they will and won't allow on their site otherwise it's misleading. I spent A LOT of time having my work approved for distribution to the Christian market so I could sell my work in places such as this because I have readers here. Now I learn that this was a grandious waste of time!!!!

Amazon Kindle. Wow! Really!

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This just in: On my computer when I go to the book "The Pedophiles Guide to filth and flharn etc . . . " The image doesn't show up, it says pricing information unavailable and the link doesn't work Hmmmmmmm . . . . If Amazon has removed it due to popular vote or whatever, will they still be prosecuted for breaking a law of any kind. There are tons of other books on their site that others don't list because the content breaks some law (so I've heard) Will they be prosecuted for ignorantly listing those books. Remember, this isn't a censorship issue. This is a "hey, I think that books content is child porn or some other already determined to be illegal material." Is Amazon above the law? Are they? Huh, huh! Sure seems like it.

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Okay so go ahead and buy your kindle today so you can start enjoying books like this:

The Pedophile's Guide to Love and Pleasure

Yes, that's right. According to Amazon they are aware of this book and have "approved" its content suggesting that they understand the law about what is legal and illegal etc . . . Well, okay then. Let's wait and see what might happen if the book and its content is deemed "approved" by those whose job it is to actually investigate such matters. Should be interesting. And Amazon, you've really outdone yourself this time. And just in time for Christmas.

God bless us everyone.

WRITTEN IN BLOOD: Interviews With The Vampire Writers

******DISCLAIMER******

Indeed who WOULD have thunk it!!! Awww, apparently Mr. Boyer aka David Byron aka a host of other aliases is now being accused of plagiarism among other things and so I'm fairly certain this book will NEVER come to be so nevermind . . .
******FRAUD***********

Well, I signed my contract today for my interview that will be published in WRITTEN IN BLOOD: Interviews With The Vampire Writers. It looks like McFarland & Company will be publishing it. But of course Michael McCarty and David Byron are the ones putting it together. Well, if this actually happens, I can actually say I've been published by a big-dog publisher.  ;) Who'd a thunk it. 

The books is due out sometime in 2012. I know, right? I'll have to give a very different interview so y'all will be chomping at the bit to read it. Hmmmmm . . .

******DISCLAIMER******

Indeed who WOULD have thunk it!!! Awww, apparently Mr. Boyer aka David Byron aka a host of other aliases is now being accused of plagiarism among other things and so I'm fairly certain this book will NEVER come to be so nevermind . . . ;D

You may google David Boyer and find out about all the troubles he's brought down on himself and I'd highly recommend you do this.

No, thank YOU!!! ;D

Bits and pieces of an email I received last night:

HI Sue,

Thank you very much for participating in Vampire Fest. I thoroughly enjoyed the panel discussion and was honored to be witness to a panel of such amazing writers. It was great to finally meet you!

Our mission with Vampire Fest is to grow the festival (film/literature and art) and travel to other cities/countries . . . As you now are a welcome member of our coven we invite you to partake in future events or just attend as our guest.

Please keep in touch . . .

Warm regards,
Asif Ahmed
Festival Director

Thank you sooooo much for considering me for your panel! I'm so glad I could make it this year. Just wish I'd been able to stay longer. :( From the pics I've seen, I missed out on some GRAND stuff!!!

Question from a reader!

"Hey Sue, I never found 'Forever Richard' and definitely want to read it before this one. Any ideas where I can find it?"

Well of course you can find Forever Richard anywhere BUT not on any bookstore shelf as bookstores only automatically shelf books from the "big dog" publishers and NEVER from small press publishers. Books-A-Million doesn't even shelf new books. Their distributors only sell returned-from-the-bookstore books which won't be mine because I've made them non-returnable to safeguard myself against theft. Unfortunately Books-A-Million got some copies of Forever Richard while it was returnable or rather available through Book Masters but once they're gone, they're gone. YAY!

Forever Richard isn't difficult to get at all though. You'll just have to order it. Not even local bookstores put it on the shelf. That's not to say they're picking on me. They won't shelf any small press (and heaven forbid self-published author) unless the publisher is well . . . you know. ;)

When my books start selling in numbers that matter, which may happen before I die, if I don't win the lottery and am able to compete monetarily with the "big dog" publishers, then you'll see me on the shelves of larger bookstores provided they don't ALL go under before then.

Oh and I'd prefer you buy Forever Richard from me at the moment as my second publisher has returned the rights and the only copies of Forever Richard for sell at the moment are copies BookMasters stole from that publisher--more or less. I make nothing off of them and never will because neither does my publisher. Thanks BookMasters you so RAWK!

For the record, humoring small press or self-pubbed authors by placing SOME of their books in an INDISCREET section and doing nothing to help potential book buyers understand that these authors are not privy to the big money that big publishers use to PIMP their authors is the same as not putting said book on the shelf in the first place.

Forever Richard

Just wanted to let everyone know that while I have the rights back to Forever Richard, I've neither had the time or money (mostly time) to republish it the way I did Never Ceese when that publisher sold out. Sooooo, if you have to buy it before Black Bed Sheet books or some other publisher who thinks they want it more (don't all call at once) takes it on, please don't buy it from anyone but me. Absolutely no one that should make money off selling Forever Richard does thanks to the way the publishing industry is set up.

Buy it from me if you want me to see anything from it. I have copies. ;D

Vampire Film Festival 2010-Black Bed Sheet Books Representin'!

Far right to left: Asif Ahmed, Gabrielle Faust,Black Bed Sheet Authors Kristy Tallman and Sue Dent and Solomon Schneider on the right. RAWKIN NOLA!!!!

Ponderings

Ponderment for the day: Sue wonders what a literary agent is and would like to know why only "successful" authors or rather those published by larger houses and thus automatically showing up in brick and mortar bookstores speak of them?

I've looked for said creature but found that time is money. It seems that if literary agents do exist they tend to follow the, "they'll help those who help themselves" mentality.

And since large bookstores are falling under the weight of all us authors they continue to betray, I don't see a real advantage to showing up in one. :D

Things work fine they way they are now. You want my book, you can order any of them from any bookstore in the WORLD! You may even see a few on some shelves. If sales are large enough then the bookstores who betray small published and self-published books will even put them in mass on their shelves. It will be a while before that happens with my books though as I've made them non-returnable so large bookstores can't send them back to their distributor.

And that concludes Sue's Ponderment for the day.