| Author |
Message |
    
Bill Nelson
Hunger Member
Post Number:
59
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 08:05 am: |   |
I, for one, and probably most of you have lamented the fact that I can't get
a book-review in my local newspaper because they don't do POD's or Self-Pubs.
I scream prejudice!
However, I now read that it is a potential libel consideration. Conventional publishers have attorneys (at least a legal standard) proof each publication.
POD's and Self-pubs don't.
The newspapers don't want to open themselves up to the possibilities.
Some make exceptions for a local or regional author but focus more on the author than the story.
What has your experience been?
BN |
Trina Green
Awareness Member
Post Number:
19
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 12:47 pm: | |
Totally ignored! I have come to accept my out of the loop status. It's good for future revenge if I'm should ever become a notable author. Sort of like, "One day you're see. You're be sorry." Pipe dream I know, but... grin |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1398
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 05:58 am: | |
I'm curious as to the 'libel consideration' an article would lead to...
Does that mean the author, if they don't like what they read, would sue the paper?
As far as newspaper reviews......
I was able to get a review in the Wichita Eagle, just before a set of three signings I had late last year...as you mentioned, focused on the "local or regional author"...I don't know how many people read the article (I did notice a few people stop by my desk at work and read the copy I displayed), but the number of sales at those signings, where people mentioned they'd seen the article was around a handful...
Although I enjoyed the review, and it gave me a warm fuzzy inside to see it printed in a sizeable newspaper, one really has to wonder whether or not it proves to be a benefit to sales...
www.geocities.com/toddmhunter |
Nancy Mehl
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1624
Registered: 08-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 11:31 am: | |
Well, Todd, as the reviewer who wrote the review....(G)
Your review was at the beginning of the feature. I'm certain more people have found us and are reading the reviews than they did when I reviewed your book early on. In fact, I've been told over and over that my reviews are the first thing some people turn to when they open the Sunday paper!
One author sold around 100 books from a more recent review. Watermark Books actually told me that they were getting great feedback from the reviews and offered to stock any book I review.
So...it does help, but like anything else, it must be promoted. I've been speaking to groups lately, handing out lists of books I've reviewed. I know that people are actually taking the lists to the bookstores and asking for the books.
I just went through another round, however, with the paper about self-pubbed and POD books. My editor is very uncomfortable with them. I had to explain to him that I can't find 52 traditionally published books in a year! I also pointed out that we are reviewing Kansas authors...not New York Times Best Selling Authors! He talked it over with his editor and they decided, finally, I believe, to lift the restrictions for self-pubbed and POD books. I'm very relieved. I believe in the "little guys" because I are one! LOL!
So - some newspapers DO care about authors who aren't from big publishing houses. And, some reviewers do too. I'm proud of my paper and intend to do everything I can to make them comfortable with my choices. I also have a responsibility to my editor - do to my best to make "his" page a good one - and I take that seriously.
Todd - you need to write another book, dude! I guarantee you you'll get more reaction this time - but for gosh sakes, please pick a publisher this time around who will offer your book at a reasonable price!
Nancy |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1399
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 01:08 pm: | |
Trust me, Nancy...I'm working at it (another book)... :-)
It may not seem like it sometimes, but I do have plenty of irons in the fire, and plenty of books in the works on top of that... :-P
I have a short story I just finished that will (hopefully) be part of an anthology soon...to tide folks over for their dose of Aston until the sequel comes out...
100 books from a review, that's terrific! Just think, if I'd had that sort of response, I wouldn't have over half a box of books left in my office... :-P
One of the good things about getting the review, though, in all seriousness, is that it helps out when creating promotional items such as flyers and bookmarks...I had to come up with some new ones for an upcoming signing (May 15th, Waldenbooks in Topeka, for anyone in the area), and it was wonderful being able to pull quotes from the review...
And rest assured, I still take my copies of the review to my events...over six months later...hopefully I'll sell 100 copies...hee hee... :-)
I won't bother commenting about your last statement...har har...
:-D
www.geocities.com/toddmhunter |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2857
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 01:53 pm: | |
Not even my Kansas home town paper or the paper where I live now are interested in reviewing my books. Nor is the Lincoln Journal Star or the Omaha World Herald or the Beatrice Daily Sun. In fact, none of them did me the courtesy of even replying to letters.
The Alley of Wishes was reviewed in the Wichita Eagle because: 1) I was born and raised in Kansas AND 2) the main character is a Kansan, AND 3) Nancy Mehl respects me as a writer. It is a POD published book but two book stores in Wichita are stocking consignment copies. One of those book store has already requested more copies.
I know one of my publishers readsevery book with an eye towards potential liability as she does release some controversial books. She also puts a disclaimer in the front of each book. I'm not sure if PA puts a disclaimer in their books or not.
In my experience, it is not liability that prevents papers from printing reviews. Those other papers I mention print reviews of other POD companies. they just are not interested in ME.  My outlook is like Trina's. If I ever DO become a notable author, those papers who ignored me will be at the very bottom of my list for granting interviews or information. See how they like THOSE apples as Grandpa used to say. |
Todd Hunter
Unity Member
Post Number:
1401
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 04:28 pm: | |
I had an article in my Kansas hometown paper, but unfortunately, I jumped the gun, and the article came out before the book was available...big mistake.
When I sent a letter to them later asking if they wanted to do an interview or a review, I never heard back...oops.
On the plus side, a few people I knew saw the original article, and contacted me, people I hadn't heard from in many years...nearly a decade or more...so that's always a plus.
My Grandpa used to have a saying too, but unfortunately, I can't figure out any way to relate it to this situation... :-P
hee hee...
While on the topic of hometowns...
I found out this past weekend, from my brother, that our childhood home (where I spent all of my school years until college) had been demolished, and the near 9 acres had been developed into a bunch of new homes...was rather sad to hear that...and alas, I won't be venturing up to see, as I'd prefer to remember it the way it was...
I forget who wrote the statement, but it really is true...you can't go home again...
(Message edited by tmhunter on April 17, 2004) |
Joyce Scarbrough
Awareness Member
Post Number:
11
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 01:36 pm: | |
I haven't been able to get a review in the Mobile Register. The book page editor has a noticeable bias for regional non-fiction books, maybe because he wrote one on the historical cemeteries in Alabama. Linda Alexander even wrote him for me and asked if he would run the review of TBF she wrote for The Romance Studio site and he has yet to even respond to her or me.
There's a definite literary cliqueishness around here, but every time I meet someone in the "inner circle," I can see on their faces how surprised they are that someone with a POD book actually speaks in complete sentences, and they can't seem to make themselves dislike me. And, of course, it's always fun after they've read TBF to hear them say, "I couldn't believe it was so good!" Gee, wonder how they expected it to be! 
Toyce
True Blue Forever
Read the first chapter at http://www.authorsden.com/joycelscarbrough1
See the hunk at http://www.southernbelleauthor.com/joycepersonalpage
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Teena Haywood
Awareness Member
Post Number:
21
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 04:27 am: | |
Ditto. My book did receive honorable mention in one of our papers. It read: Local author Teena Haywood's book "Doris The Polka Dot Tortoise" has been pubished and release by Publish America-September 2002."
Teena |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
2895
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 05:05 am: | |
There is a sort of literary cliquishness in most areas that must be overcome.
The old "publish or perish" mantra prevails in small traditional and university presses. Those who teach at the college or university level, those who attended certain university sponsored writing programs, do get priority I think.
Some small traditional presses - that is, not POD - were formed strictly so a small group of writers and poets would have a way of publishing each others work. They keep the number of releases small on purpose, and if you track them over time, only their friends and colleagues will be published by them. |
Molly Brent
Awareness Member
Post Number:
15
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 07:25 am: | |
Yep, it's true. You can't go home again.
I went back and went to a store that had been there forever. The owner and some of the people were standing in the same place and I knew them immediately.
One, the mother of a guy I went to high school with, came over to talk. I asked if she remembered me....She didn't but called over the owner.....nobody knew. Finally, I told them.
She patted my back and shook her head and said "Oh Molly, do you remember how beautiful you used to be?"
I went in the drug store owned by a boy I went to school with......asked if he knew who I was. He said that he did and how good it was to see me again.....We talked for a long time and on the way out, he said "Be sure and come back to see me again, Ellen."
Then a guy ran up to me and gave me a hug. He was so glad to see me, I was ashamed to tell him that I didn't know him. He told me how great I looked. When he left, he said "it was go good to see you again, Norma."
I dedicated my book to my hometown and based the town in the book on my memeory of how it was there in the 50s.......
I have been totally ignored by the newspaper and the library.
Molly Brent |
Trina Green
Awareness Member
Post Number:
32
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 10:59 am: | |
Yeah, but let your book hit the Bestseller list. They'll all know you then, even folks you've never laid eyes on. Please excuse the cynisym, but you only exist in this country if you fit some label or have membership in some club. It amazes me when I see a news coverage of a guy with the largest paint ball in the world who has been listed in the World Ginnis Record book. Yet only a small percentage of authors get any attention. Is there a greenish tint to my complexion? |
Joyce Scarbrough
Awareness Member
Post Number:
23
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 11:39 am: | |
See why I can't wait to see Molly again? Like I told the folks at the Yazoo City, MS, library last week when I reviewed both our books, Molly is wet-your-pants funny, sharp as a razor, and one of my favorite people in the world.
Toyce
True Blue Forever
Read the first chapter at http://www.authorsden.com/joycelscarbrough1
See the hunk at http://www.southernbelleauthor.com/joycepersonalpage |
Molly Brent
Awareness Member
Post Number:
16
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 12:04 pm: | |
In the future, I will let you do all the talking.....even if you can't talk good like me, you sure say nice things. Your next book signing is going to make up for the real bombers.....Thanks. If I'm not in the hospital, I'm going to try and make it this time.
Molly |
priceless1
Wandering Member
Post Number:
103
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 05:04 pm: | |
"Molly is wet-your-pants funny, sharp as a razor, and one of my favorite people in the world."
As one who has had to change her Depends more than once after an email or three with Molly, I wholeheartedly second that assessment.
Lynn
Lynn
lynnprice.net
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Molly Brent
Awareness Member
Post Number:
17
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 05:10 pm: | |
I have been feeling kind of low with the tests coming up....Lynn you sure made me feel a lot better. Ya'll are just too kind Thanks. Molly |
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