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Post by strangewind on Apr 3, 2008 16:15:02 GMT -5
Ah, now that's a prize, for sure, but one that I'm not yet ready to give away in a random drawing! Jeff The random drawing thing would explain Paris Hilton's "career," though. Good thing you publishing types have standards, like "read submission before accepting" and "occasionally include punctuation in manuscript."
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Apr 4, 2008 7:53:47 GMT -5
Paul,
Did you get from me the e-mail called "The Grand Prize"? It went out about three weeks ago.
Jeff
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paul
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Post by paul on Apr 4, 2008 11:55:58 GMT -5
Paul, Did you get from me the e-mail called "The Grand Prize"? It went out about three weeks ago. Jeff Nope. I wonder if gmail decided it was spam and I didn't catch it. That would be very very bad. My trash can has stuff from late February in it, and I didn't see anything from you.
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paul
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Post by paul on Apr 4, 2008 21:16:49 GMT -5
Jeff!
The Grand Prize email came to me this afternoon - was that just sent to me, or a mass mailing?
Anyways, it looks like gmail is putting it in my inbox - right where it should be!
Paul
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Post by Divides the Waters on Apr 5, 2008 9:47:59 GMT -5
Is the recent flap over Amazon and Booksurge going to have any effect on MLP, or is that something that will just have to get sorted out before we'll have any idea?
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Apr 7, 2008 7:33:33 GMT -5
Divides, tell us all what flap you're talking about.
Paul, I sent it just to you. Glad you got it.
Jeff
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Post by Divides the Waters on Apr 7, 2008 10:29:22 GMT -5
Amazon is insisting that POD ordered through them gets printed by their own POD company, BookSurge, to increase speed of orders. The official releases don't make it sound as bad as the original flap made it out to be, but I could see how it could cause some problems.
Google "lightning source," "booksurge," and "amazon" and a whole slew of articles will come up. (I don't vouch for anything except the official statements, naturally.)
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Post by strangewind on Apr 7, 2008 13:03:23 GMT -5
Ugh. I posted a similar query in new thread. So sorry. read all threads before opening yap read all threads before opening yap read all...
Here's the new thread I deleted:
Amazon vs. Small Publishers
I just saw this news about Amazon's attempt to monopolize income on its POD-produced listings.
thewriterscafepressauthors.blogspot.com/2008/04/amazons-publishing-ploy.html
My first question is how might this affect Marcher Lord Press. Is the business model Amazon-independent? If not, is the POD service in place compatible with Amazon's new policy?
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a large company would try to monopolize the long tail, but it can't be good.
Can any folks more knowledgeable about this issue illuminate me?
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Post by Divides the Waters on Apr 7, 2008 13:31:06 GMT -5
Since MLP is intending to use Lightning Source as its printer, I'm guessing this will have some effect. However, it could be as easily solved as having a few copies in reserve, or simply sending the digital files to BookSurge. I'm sure, as always, the real question is where the money goes, and who's really getting hurt by all this.
The idea is that utilizing their own facilities makes the turnaround time that much faster. That's fine, but I think that also means that they get the money, rather than the original people hired to do the job (in this case, BookSurge, rather than Lightning Source).
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Post by strangewind on Apr 7, 2008 13:42:12 GMT -5
Aha. That's a new angle I haven't heard - that it may cost the publisher a little more to deal with Amazon, but the lion's share of loss may come from the hired POD providers. Interesting.
Thanks!
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Post by Divides the Waters on Apr 7, 2008 16:10:16 GMT -5
Bear in mind that I have limited understanding of the situation. But that's what it seems like to me. *shrug*
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Apr 8, 2008 8:11:46 GMT -5
I'll ask my rep at LightningSource.
Jeff
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Post by rwley on Apr 9, 2008 13:17:10 GMT -5
I only know that the publisher of my novel, PublishAmerica who is also a POD, is telling their authors to tell people to order from Barnes and Noble instead of Amazon. I haven't read that much on the flap, but it looks like I may have to so I know where I stand with the work I have out. Jeff, be sure to let us know what you find out from LightningSource.
Robi
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Apr 10, 2008 15:04:24 GMT -5
I spoke to my rep at LightningSource. She assures me they're not worried about this. Indeed, they continue their daily multi-thousand-book transaction business with Amazon. In other words, nothing's changed and she doesn't believe anything will.
I'm not so optimistic. But we'll see. So far, at least, Amazon's plans are all just talk.
She did send me a short statement about the matter issued by the big cheese at LightningSource. Here it is:
Subject Line: Lightning Source announcement regarding Amazon/Booksurge
April 1, 2008
Dear Customer,
Lightning Source has been following the recent press coverage and discussions about Amazon.com and BookSurge. We are aware of the concern this is causing the publishing community. The issue centers around Amazon.com tying the availability of your books and terms of sale at Amazon.com to the production of books at the Amazon.com subsidiary BookSurge, specifically requiring you to use BookSurge in order to sell on Amazon.
Like you, we are very concerned about any conduct that would serve to limit a publisher’s choice in supply chain partners and to negatively impact the cost of your products to consumers. We believe that choice and selection of best of class services are critical to the long term success of publishers and a vibrant book market.
Lightning Source continues to provide the highest quality digital on demand print and distribution services for every one of our customers. All your titles continue to be available to all of our channel partners, including Amazon.com, with immediate availability for shipment within 24 hours.
We are committed to providing you with the best of class quality product and fastest distribution service in the market, and will continually work to develop new channels and new offerings.
Lightning Source will continue to monitor this situation and let you know when we have more information.
Please feel free to call your Lightning Source point of contact, if you have any additional questions.
J. Kirby Best President & CEO Lightning Source Inc.
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Post by Jeff Gerke on Apr 29, 2008 9:57:28 GMT -5
In reference to the Amazon/BookSurge topic above, see this article: www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100967Various groups are calling for a boycott of Amazon, just for May 1. I think I'm going to participate. I was intending to make a purchase on Amazon in the next few days. I think I'll wait until after May 1 to do so. Jeff
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