Throwing up on Jack's shoes...

From an email sent to me…

“I like this. You had me hooked about the time Nance vomited on Jack's shoes.

Someone somewhere has probably made up a list of all the rules of romance, and if they have, I'm sure, like Jack, you've broken most of them several times over here.”

I did consider going back to the traditional route of publishing through publishers but I’m tired of all the rules and indecisiveness. So fuck it. I continue on as I am. I like me. I have no rules. It works.

Typecast...

Interesting thing, I’ve been reading my way through the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. While I’m enjoying it, the thing the gets me is the amount of typos in these paperbacks. You know, people always pick at the typos in ebooks citing that the writing and editing is rushed and therefore substandard because anyone can bung together and sell an ebook. Yeah, that can be true. But I was surprised that so called reputable, print book publishers are putting haphazard printed books out with a hell of a lot of typos.

So, to the traditionalists who will only read hard copy, are you getting a higher quality product than an ebook? I think not. 

Nuh...

I had a chat to an author just recently who said to me was I scared that going down the indie publishing track meant no epublisher would ever again take me on because I would be considered too much of a wild card? Nuh. Weak people get scared.

Dear Indie Author....

Dear Indie Author,

We have made a decision to no longer maintain most indie author accounts at BookStrand.com. Therefore, we are deactivating all titles associated with your account and no new uploads will be accepted. Your final distribution payment will be disbursed to you within 30 days and your account will be closed. During this time you will still be able to access your sales report from your account.

BookStrand will focus on its core business by servicing accounts of publishers with clear submission and publishing guidelines that best serve our targeted audience. Our customer base was successfully built on this premise, and it's time to go back to our roots.

While we understand you may be disappointed in losing a distribution outlet for your work, there are still several outlets that currently accept self-published titles. We wish you the best in your endeavors.

Sincerely,

XXXXX
BookStrand.com

Well here’s the thing Bookstrand, I already deactivated my account so deactivating something that no longer is valid seems like an overkill to me. Added to that you have killed off a lot of good Indie authors who have written many great stories that have nothing to do with sex. Did I mention OVERKILL?

Freedom of speech and equality – you don’t got it. Equality in publishing is not about censorship. But hey, they’re your rules and you don’t have to believe in freedom and equality if you don’t want to.

And going 'back to their roots'? It fascinates me that Bookstrand is the home of one woman getting taken/shagged/fucked by five men – usually shapeshifters/cowboy - stories. This is okay apparently and it’s not obscene regardless of what sexual practice is used against the one woman. Double standards much?

Funny old world ebook publishing.

Conspiracy theory or a load of bollocks?

I say bollocks to the explanation that indie authors and publishers get their books banned or pulled because paypal or credit card companies do not want consumers buying contentious stories yet you can buy dildos, cock rings, vibrators, anal toys and god knows what else with your paypal and credit card. I think it’s always easier to blame someone else. It makes the one who is placing blame look like they have no choice. The vast majority of people in the Western word always have a choice. If you object to something on moral grounds then say it. Don’t hide behind piss weak excuses.

I do believe that the rise of indie authors and publishers is pissing off some people. Too bad, so sad I say. Modern technology gives people – writers – choices. Be confined within the limits of what someone else dictates? Or do what you know and believe is right and in doing so avoid all the bollocks? And banning books or stories? Censorship only enhances the allure of those stories. Thank you so much for that.

Wherever there’s a will, there’s a way.

Of late...

…I have been noticing a couple of things happening with ebooks. The first is the word ‘fuck’ is appearing in the titles of many stories. I find this interesting as it seems to have overtaken ‘wolf’ in the title. I also wonder why the word ‘fuck’ in a title is more acceptable than showing nipples on a cover. Both indicate sex yet only one seems to upset the ebook police. Why is that? Is it because ‘fuck’ is part of our common vernacular but for god sake keep your nipples to yourself?

The other thing that interests me is ebook pricing. $2.99 for a 3500 word story – and call it what you want in your own mind but under 20,000 words is a story. I find the prices authors/publishers are applying to their stories are ridiculous. Yes, yes, I realize you had to get someone to do a cover and edit and the author spent probably half a day writing the 3500 – 5000 word epic that was supposedly torn from their angst ridden soul but that’s your problem. Why does a reader have to pay $2.99 for what should be a 0.99 cent book and nine times out of ten they’re not even going to see the cover on their ebook reader? Hmmm?

Going indie…

So, I was thinking’s that’s been a bit over 6 months since I went indie and started pubbing my own stories. It’s been an interesting experience. Do I regret it? Oh hell no. There is nothing like the freedom of doing it on your own terms. Has it been a learning curve? Oh yeah. I have come to view established publishing as being made up of shysters, dopey divas and nongheads who make publishing way more difficult than it has to be. I cannot fathom why e-books have to be so expensive when overheards are low. But that’s greed for you. Has going indie been worth it? Yes. Nothing tastes as good as freedom does. From a slow start it’s been consistent in an upward movement.

Thinking of going indie? It’s hard work but then nothing worthwhile is easy. Indie publishers aren’t about following the mainstream. It’s not about yes-men and screwing authors over. It’s not about dodgy royalty cheques and suspect editor/authors who know nothing but have their lips on the butt of the publisher. It’s about relying on yourself and your instinct. If you have the skin of a rhino, the persistence to carry on even when you wonder what the hell you are doing, a defiant streak of anti-establishment within you and the ability to laugh when all goes wrong then go indie.

Royalties…

It’s pretty bloody simple. You pay the authors first. Then yourself. It’s not rocket science. I believe if failed publishers had considered this philosophy before they started dipping their hands into the till they would not be failed. But then it’s all about life experience – some people are screw ups no matter what they do – and honour – some people were born without that trait and think nothing wrong with screwing others over.

Royalties. You publish books. You pay the authors. You bank the balance. Can it get any simpler?

What I've learned about publishing...

- just because you’re a big publisher, it doesn’t mean you can produce quality work.
- check if the person responsible for final line editing and formatting isn’t on drugs or should be on drugs
- trust no one
- believe in yourself
- walk softly
- carry a big stick
- be prepared to use that stick
- be ready to fight authority
- realize that those in authority are not to be feared
- write what you believe
- who cares if you get more money for writing anal sex. You’re not a prostitute
- be prepared to go it alone
- to thine own self be true

So, this publishing company…

…sent me files today saying ‘do not send to author.’ Author = me. Uh huh. Dumb move. They were scrambled but I managed to unscramble them and it was quite interesting reading and yes, I can see why you wouldn’t want to send to an author. And yes, I’m considering how to use them. This is the same publishing company who decided to add a clause into their contract 6 months after I signed my contract. And yes, a normal company would have sent an amended contract and asked me to sign. No, not them. They have no honour whatsoever so I continue to battle with the useless nongheads over the proper royalties.

And hey, thanks once more for those files. Gifts should always be received with thanks.

Yes, why exactly?

I was reading Author Sandra Cox’s blog as I do every day and I thought her points on this post - http://sandracox.blogspot.com/2011/07/e-book-prices.html - were valid so I posted them on my facebook.

I got a very well thought out intelligent response from a fellow FB friend… Carol Ann who asks every question that I would…

"What about self publishing Amarinda? Can the prices for e-books be less if you publish yourself? One of the authors I like has just gone to self publishing (you are doing that too aren't you at least for some things?) I love e-books but cannot re sell them, so in reality, e-books are no bargain what-so-ever, just convenient as far as storage space. I did not realize that the authors were not reaping increased rewards from e-books. They sure should be.

Seriously though, the publishers have just a fraction of the cost in publishing ebooks! I've watched the prices rise on ebooks for over 4 years now. Why and why do most now almost always cost as much as the paper book or only a dollar less? It would be interesting to see a detailed study and financial breakdown of costs and profits and breakdown of what % of profit goes to whom for paper books (hard cover and paper back) and then the same breakdown for electronic books. It would be interesting too to include an environmental study of energy costs and natural resource costs of paper books compared to electronic books. Have authors ever had a cooperative style electronic book publishing company? Perhaps someone should consider starting one?"

…. yes, why exactly? Could it be greed by e-publishers? Hmm? Say it’s not so…

Changing horses midstream…

Signing a contract for a book to be published is like any other contract. As a writer you should read it. As a publisher you have to uphold it and not suddenly try and change the playing field because you want to or have to because you screwed something up and therefore think an author has to go along with it. No, we don’t. Contracts - publishing or not - have to be agreed on by both parties – that’s why people sign it to show we are affirming those words we have just read. Pretty damn straight forward huh? Not to some it seems. I realize some publishers get in trouble but it’s not my job to bail them out when it is not financially smart for me to do so. Publishing is not a benevolent business. It’s a backbiting, two-faced business that just looks pretty on the outside. Writer beware of when they bring in a change of horses….

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Have it the way you want...

I was doing some writing and banging out all these terrible, filthy, sexy words on screen. And the things the characters were doing to each other? Most interesting. As I wrote I thought back to when I started this writing gig. Then, I was subbing only to one publisher. Why? I was dumb and new. I’m still dumb but older. Anyway that publisher had strict rules about what words could be used to describe sex and other stuff. ‘Dick’ was never to be used to describe a penis. And ‘baby’? That wasn’t a term of endearment to them. They considered it somehow pedophilia to have the characters say something like -“Baby, I love you.”

That publisher was very limited in their views. I believe it was because they were the big fish in a small pond and they had power over the e-book erotica market. A lot of writers feared their wrath and were too scared to do anything but follow rules. Of course now the e-book pond has grown and multiple new publishers have arisen changing the market even more and for the better. How so? Competition. It’s a great thing. There are new genres, more open minds about the everyday reality of language and the use of words and bodies. It also means writers don’t have to agree to blindly follow the management of one mob. They can pick and choose who they send their work to and – more importantly – 99% of the time they can write the way they want without their ‘voice’ being changed to fit some publisher diva’s personal belief. Creativity should never be packaged in a box because someone says so.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Virginal sluts...

If the head of a publishing company says we’re more interested in publishing deep and meaningful, hold-off-before-penetration-sex-on-the-promise-of-forever and everyone else in the company says raunchy-who-gives-a-crap-about-forever-I-want-an-orgasm-now-whatever-your-name-is-sex must happen in the first page for fast buck sales then it’s interesting what discussions must go on behind closed doors regarding the two diverse philosophies.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

The Self Publishing Revolution: Viva la revolution baby…

I am here...crapping on as I do....

The Self Publishing Revolution: Viva la revolution baby…

Phase number 57…

I have written anything in ages and it’s been good. So good in fact that I’m not going to do any more writing. That phase of my life is over. What next? Well, I’m thinking once I get myself established and the dust settles at my new locale I’m going to take a crack at publishing – let’s face it every boy and his dog seems to be doing it. How hard can it be? Besides I have worked with some suspect publishers and have learned all the ‘what-not-to-do’ things. I just have to do the reverse of that.

Will I fail? Will I succeed? Who knows? It’ll be fun trying.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Multiple Auto Submission…

…or words of mass obstruction as I like to call them. What am I on about? Writing. You thought it was sex? Maybe it will be. I’ll see how the ramble goes…

I got an email from a publisher who was upset that authors multi-submit their newly finished books to lots of publishers. Well yes, a lot of authors do. It’s due to a few things. First up is the suckability factor. This is when you're fairly sure someone will hate your story because there’s too much sex, not enough sex, too many commas or they just have run out of coffee and are declining all submissions from authors who’s names start with A. Multi-subbing gives you the best overall chance of getting a contract. Second, a lot of writers want the best royalties so they horse trade until they get them. Third, authors like to spread their work around the different publishers. I personally learned that sticking with one publisher was a baaaaad idea. Why? You get complacent, you’re never sure if they are accepting your book because they have no others on offer and you forget to have a basic mistrust in them until it’s too late.

But, I also understand where the publisher is coming from. They have to read mighty fast and offer contracts to good writers to get them into their stable. Imagine reading through a story, offering a contract and the author saying “sorry – I’ve already got one.” How bloody frustrating.

So, unless you’re with one of those publishing houses that auto accept their friends then edit their friends books – credibility factor nil – it’s a tough business for both writer and publishers. As for sex? I like it. I like it a lot.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

North Americans won’t understand that phrase…

So, I have been doing lots of edits of late with lots of difference publishing companies. It’s been interesting, funny, frustrating and full of ‘what the’ moments. Why? Well, no editor edits the same.

Too many commas!

Not enough commas!

No exclamation marks!

You need exclamation marks!!!

Cut out all the ‘that’ words.

You need to add ‘that’ here and there and two lines down.

Sex? Is it necessary that she curls her hand around his dick?

Excellent use of dick.

North Americans won’t understand that phrase.

Europeans won’t understand that phrase.

Oh yeah, those in Upper Kumbucca West will love that phrase.

More italics.

Less italics.

More dashes —

Less dashes.

‘We follow the Lower Botswana method of editing.’
‘The fosby-flop school of editing is the best.’
‘Everyone knows the Swiss-Tibetan purple double dipped feather quill method is correct.’

No wonder writers, drink, swear, eat chocolate and are cranky bitches.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book