Comments from the article: Let BookSurge Print Your Books, or Else...

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Amazon.com Telling POD Publishers - Let BookSurge Print Your Books, or Else...

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Just when the publishing world has, according to several experts, finally opened up to the little guy who wants to write and publish, it is almost unreal that Amazon would even think about doing this.

I know they want to make money, all businesses do, but this certainly can't be the best way to go about it. Besides it being a bad idea, it's also inexcusable that they haven't come out and let people know about this
directly. If they can't look authors in the eye and explain the program, what does that tell you?

I also agree, I'm sure there are other companies, B & N included, who'd be more than happy to accept business from buyers and sellers alike.

I hope you pass on all of your collected responses. Keep up the good work, Angela.

Cheryl Pickett
http://www.publishinganswers.com

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Amazon? WOW!

This is huge, Ang!

They could hurt the whole POD industry.

I see lawsuits over this move.

Mike

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Dear Angela,

As always, you are on target and on the leading edge. Thank you.

As a journeyman freelance journalist with a dozen books to my credit published by major houses such as Simon & Schuster--but also as a former editor for Prentice Hall--I decided my way past the current publishing situation was to put both my writing and editing skills to use, and simply publish my own--and others'--books via LightningSource. I have also owned an advertising agency, and was a marketing consultant to the State Theatre of Virginia. I had it all to operate such a business except buckets of money. So, LightningSource and admission to the monolith that is Amazon seemed the way to deal with the current climate; I refer, specifically, to the fact that to sell non-fiction books to mainstream publishers these days, one has to have either killed someone or to have masqueraded as something one is not, preferably wildly NOT. I have done neither. Nor do I intend to.

I am dismayed; it seems the homogenization of America is now consuming its intellectual product, in addition to the intellectual diversity and freedom it has been gobbling at least since the current imperial presidency aimed its sights at the Constitution. Nonetheless, I shall forge ahead; at some point, I thought I would be able to cease being a 1960s-style activist and act my age (which is 60: I actually WAS a 1960s activist!) Apparently not. So, I shall write to those individuals whose contact information you thoughtfully and helpfully provided. I shall ramp up my website for the books; I shall do more promotion of fewer titles. I shall attempt to forge an alternative downstream market access point. I shall continue my activism on all fronts. And maybe someday, like our forebears, I shall get to move to France and enjoy some fruits of freelancing, some way, somehow. I do think the current generation of writers working at it day in and day out are, instead of Hemingway and friends, the true Lost Generation.

Thanks again for your courageous stand and impeccable journalism.

Sincerely,

Laura Harrison McBride
http://www.lauraharrisonmcbride.net

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Hello, Ang.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me to find Amazon has suddenly gone greedy. I will write them, however.

Personally, I don't care. I already have a great deal--with you. Amazon for me is, in a manner of speaking, just a premiere show window, like having your book in the front window of the book store on Times Square in NYC. But if someone asks me where to buy online, I send them to you.

Amazon and the others can jump in the lake, as far as I'm concerned. Thank God for the Hoys and for Booklocker!

Patch Rose
Columnist and Freelance Writer
Read Patch's award-winning writing at http://www.patchrose.com

Author, One Year To Live? A Nobody's Guide To Surviving Cancer
http://www.booklocker.com/books/3131.html

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I am a POD author and I am very disappointed that Amazon would even consider such aggressive plans with BookSurge. If any aspect of what they are proposing comes to pass, it will hurt authors, POD publishers, and printers. Too many conglomerates have come along and “gulped” up the marginal profits of small businesses, forcing them to shut down, in this country already.

Janice A. Stork, Sacramento, California
http://www.janicestork.com

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Angie:

Thanks for bringing the Amazon/BookSurge "machine" to the attention of WritersWeekly readers. Shame on Amazon!

Once again, you're providing a valuable service to your audience.

You can be sure I will share the article with ASJA, NWU, the Maryland Writers' Association, and every other editor and author I can think of.

All best,

Beth Rubin
http://www.onthewritepage.com

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Hi Angela,

I, for one, don't like Amazon in the first place and feel that it would be time for everyone to boycott every company that deems to be linked with them. There are many drop shipping facilities around if you look for them. I will most likely get my own printer to print my books. Amazon has always made more money than everyone else on books and they do not lift a finger to do any of the work. The point of POD publishers is to get away from greedy people like the bookstores, and thus it would cost an author less to bring their books into a physical store than letting amazon hold all of your files. Time for amazon to sink with Atlantis.

George Arnold Hall
President / CEO IS5000 Publications and Technological Services Canada Inc.
http://www.is5000.com
Author of Ancient Black Objects
Creator of New Camelot, Knights of the Round, Immortals of Scar Current Projects: Sinister Circuits, Koryu Gannen (novels, first on back burner, latter in process)

Angela:

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Great article on Amazon/Booksurge. You are right to call all authors and POD publishers to action. If we don't make our thoughts known to Amazon, they will follow through on their plan to strong arm authors into "submission". Thanks for the call to action.

Patti
http://www.bookbargainsandpreviews.com

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Thank you for the article about the Amazon/Booksurge deal. If this goes into effect it would be a sad day for any author and publisher. While Amazon is a huge resource, if this goes through I would find other resources to purchase books that I am interested in buying. There is too much competition in the industry and people can buy from the authors, their publishers or other sites that lists books for sale. Like other comments mentioned I can see lawsuits and court injunctions to prevent this type of action. While I am not a lawyer I feel that it may also violate some anti-trust laws. Hopefully, like you stated in your article, Amazon/Booksurge will come to their senses and cancel this tactic.

Thanks again for a great article and I am glad to see that actions have been indicated in other responses to involve other organizations and publishers in an effort to convince Amazon/Booksurge that this is not the way to do business.

Hopefully they will listen.

Dennis

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Dear Angela:

Thanks for your article on the Amazon/BookSurge issue. Well done.

As the author of four POD novels, with number 5 and 6 in the works, there is no way that I am going to give up LSI printing or Ingram distribution because of Amazon's power play.

Amazon is not the only game in town, and I expect that if they continue with this crazy scheme, someone will come along and take their place.

I suspect this arrangement will run afoul of anti-trust laws, but we'll see. The lawyers must be rubbing their hands together already.

So, goodbye Amazon, hello B&N or whatever.

Ron Peters
Author of the Dun Wheeling PI series
http://www.ronpeters.net

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Hi Ang,

Thanks for informing us authors - and readers - about Amazon's shameful attempt to reap even greater profits for all OUR hard work! Isn't their cut already big enough? Sheesh! It amazes me the extent some companies will go for a buck, at the same time shutting down our opportunities. It seems that Amazon IS going for a monopoly and IS looking for a way to control what is sold...or not sold. I can tell you that if they remove the purchase buttons from "unsanctioned" POD books, their stock will be worth nothing in just a short time. It'll be "good-bye, Amazon.com." We will go elsewhere to sell AND purchase.

Tina Field Howe
Author of "Alysa of the Fields" and "Snailsworth, a slow little story." published through BookLocker.com
http://www.tinafieldhowe.com/Alysa/

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What are they smoking over at Amazon?

This has got to be a joke. Seriously, whoever the idiot is who made this decision should be canned. This is like being five years old and finding out there’s no Santa Claus. Really, this must be a joke because it’s sooo ridiculous to think they could be that stupid. Hello, knock, knock, anyone home??? Amazon will totally go under if they do this. It’s a joke, right?

Please keep us updated on the joke!

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Angela, Thank you for throwing some light on yet another example of a big company that has decided to roll over small companies.

Here¹s a copy of the letter I sent:

I simply have to register my dismay over the apparent effort by Amazon's BookSurge division to obtain a monopoly on printing and distributing Publish-on-Demand (POD) books. Those POD publishers who refuse to change over to your system have their Buy Button shut down. This is a serious threat to authors' livelihoods. I am an author, and I have both bought and sold many books over Amazon. I'll be looking at whether your policy changes in the future, but until that time, I'll be doing business with Barnes & Noble instead.

Shelley

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Angela,

An author friend of mine (we're writing two books together) gave me this information and it's simply dreadful. I don't understand why they need to do this outside of lining someone's pockets with extra jingle. My own book will end up suffering as well. But like someone else said in a comment to you, they're not the only game in town.

Thanks for the great article. I brought it to the attention of another small press and they truly appreciate it.

Thanks again,

PatM

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Dear Angela,

It's taken me years to consider self-publishing. I found a small POD publisher right in my little town that provides everything including listing with Ingram at a super affordable price. So, I was seriously considering moving forward. I was so excited. Now, I'm wondering if I have to go back to waiting for a traditional publisher to pick me up. If I still want to be listed in Ingram, which, of course, I do, the amount of work and expense that will be required makes self-publishing no longer an option for me.

I work with a lot of writers. I'm a freelance editor, consultant and writing coach as well as an author myself. I'm involved with the San Francisco Writers Conference, know a few literary agents and have a sense of what goes on in the publishing industry. This feels like a huge step backward for the industry as a whole. It shackles not only POD publishers and authors but everyone along the publishing chain.

I have a hard time believing that someone won't cry, 'Foul!" Don't you think lawsuits are sure to follow?

Sincerely,

Nina Amir

Nina Amir
Author, journalist, book and article editor, writing coach, consultant,
speaker
CopyWright Communications
http://www.copywrightcommunications.com
http://www.purespiritcreations.com

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Angela

As an Amazon:

1. Customer

2. Shareholder
3. Affiliate

4. Supplier (via Lightning Source)

I am completely disgusted by this latest news, my shares will be sold today as there is a lot of negative press around this already.

1, 3 and 4 will be following very quickly if this news is true.

Eric Locken
http://www.InterviewBooks.com

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Thanks for the updates on the Amazon situation. I've changed my links, dropping a link to Amazon and now emphasizing Booklocker and B&N. -Jerry

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Angela-

I have written over 25 books on paranormal topics that I have sold by myself through my web page or smaller publishers specializing in this sort of thing. In 2006 I won an award for a romance novel I wrote. Not wanting to put up with the usual BS from publishers, I self-published and put it on Amazon. BIG MISTAKE! I sold not ONE copy! Now I am trying to find someone who can promote it as well. Amazon is absolutely worthless! I don't know who they think they are and then when I tired to remove it, they refused and said they still had to make it available! Can you believe it?

No name

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I wonder whether Amazon's attempt to force print on demand publishers to use Book Surge is related to its continuing move away from books, and even retail in general.

Not only do they now sell a lot of other things, but they are spending a lot of money moving into "cloud computing" and logistics/fulfillment services (look at http://aws.amazon.com if you want to know more about it). The books business may now (in their eyes) be most important as a cash cow to fund all this.

Then there is Kindle: pressuring people to move to Book Surge may eventually prove to be a way to move them to Kindle.

There is also the arrogance that comes of being an industry leader, that makes some businesses think "everyone would be happier if they just used our wonderful product/services instead of going to our inferior competitors". Microsoft is another example of this.

Graeme Pietersz
http://pietersz.co.uk/
http://moneyterms.co.uk/

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I was appalled to read of Amazon's bullyboy tactics on your WritersWeekly web site. I have been a keen supporter and frequent buyer on their web site since they first appeared, and spend hundreds of dollars every year -- not just on books, music, and DVDs for myself, but on birthday presents for my sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and friends.

The actions you describe in your article bring to mind the bullying way that Microsoft came to dominate the world of personal computing, which I have always resented and resisted until it was no longer possible. The prospect that Amazon will control the whole world of publishing in the same way is intolerable to me as an avid reader since the age of 4.

I have decided that, from today, I will take my business elsewhere, and that I will tell everyone I know that I am doing so and why.

Perhaps publishers and/or booksellers could set up some sort of co-operative operation in opposition to Amazon. Someone has to do it.

Mary Monks

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Angela: Fantastic article on this important breaking news. Since Ingram and Amazon have been in bed together for so long, it’s puzzling that Amazon would jeopardize that relationship in this way. Which causes the conspiracy theorist in me to wonder: Could Ingram somehow benefit from this situation? Ingram’s Digital Group has a publisher solution called “CoreSource” which will function (for publishers who can afford it) as a repository of digital content and as a converter of that content into needed versions for POD and other digital and ebook applications. Voila: Ingram benefits from publishers being forced to convert to two formats, each of which has different specs.

Please sign me “anonymous”!

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Hi Angela

I read your blog on Booksurge with interest. We sell books on line - including Lightning Source as well as being LS publishers (Echo Library).

We process between 2.5 and 3 million orders a year and distribute these to 200 countries world wide daily.

We pack and despatch in Chicago; here in the UK in Madrid and Frankfurt.

We have been Amazon Marketplace sellers since 1999 and if not the largest marketplace seller for books we are certainly in the top 3. We have 2 marketplace shops on .com (and 5 on .co.uk, 2 on fr, 2 on .de, 2 on .co.jp and 1 on .ca)

I cannot believe that Amazon are condoning the antics of the Booksurge salespeople you report - but if Amazon are supporting this strategy then it is time for us to offer our resources to a) get it stopped and b) support an alternative marketing strategy.

Lightning Source produce books to order within 24 hrs from a catalogue of over 500,000 titles - we sell thousands a week - this is only possible thanks to the extraordinary investment in printing hardware and knowhow by LS under the direction of John Ingram - for Booksurge to suggest they can offer the same solution is at best a joke - at worst if they bullied a signifigant percentage of LS publishers into transfering to Booksurge they would simply not be able to produce the books.

At the end of the day Amazon own their own site and can do pretty well what they want - whilst if we all jump up and down they may back off in the short term - in the long term POD is the future for the book industry and LS publishers should realise that now is the time to have a greater say in how it will work.

LS publishers should have their own web-site to sell LS books world wide - distribution is the key and we already have that solution.

I would welcome the chance to discuss this further.

Regards
Dan Cherrington
paperbackshop.co.uk

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Dear Angela,

I just read your very good piece on Amazon's campaign to get pod publishers to use Booksurge. I work at a medium-sized university press, where most of our titles are conventionally printed via offset. However, Amazon called our director about two weeks ago, telling him that soon we would be required to use Booksurge, and promising to follow through with an email explaining their terms. As of this writing, we haven't received the email.

All best,
Laura Waldron
Marketing Director
University of Pennsylvania Press

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Thanks for calling attention to Amazon's power play, Angela. They will spend years cleaning up after this public relations debacle. I just blogged about it, and since my blog is automatically tied into the Amazon Daily system, in about twenty minutes my posting will be mirrored at the bottom of the half-dozen Amazon purchase pages on which my books appear.

Name not published on request

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Dear Angela,
A few weeks ago I had the experience of having the "Buy Button" turned off at Amazon UK and had not been able to get a sensible response from Lightning Source, and now I read your article and understand what's going on. I am absolutely furious.

As it happens I am about to open a POD publishing company similar to Blurb or Lulu, with very aggressive i.e. good for authors) prices, and for this to happen with Amazon is about the worst thing imaginable.
I will be making formal complaints to the UK Monopolies Commission, raising it with my M.P., and complaining to any relevant trade body I can think of.

Frankly the best thing we can all do is to boycott Amazon - just don't buy from them any more. Shop with their competition instead, at least until they change their stupid minds. And raise publicity against them, too. Complain to the press. I certainly will spend the rest of today doing nothing else. I'm going to remove the buy links to Amazon from my Web sites.

ACTION NOW, AUTHORS and POD PUBLISHERS!

Clive Warner
Citiria Publishing and Citiria Books.
http://www.citiria.com

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Well, I have yet to sell a book through Amazon, so their attempt at bullying isn't going to bother me any. In fact, it just guarantees that I'll never buy another product from them. I've only bought a few things and have had the last two purchases go wrong - at my cost and there is never any attempt to answer my concerns. Seals it for me.

Lynn Allen
Author of Life Out Here from Cheraw Publishing, LLC

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I quit buying books from Amazon when they began making small presses pay extra co-op fees. My online affiliate is through Powells, and if I can't obtain a book from my local indie store here in town, that's where I order it from.

I haven't suggested anyone use Amazon for more than basic research in years, and I'm not about to change that now.

Susan Helene Gottfried
http://westofmars.com
http://westofmars.blogspot.com

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Amazon's new action sure rings of antitrust. What's next? When Amazon decides to go into traditional publishing, will they lock out S&S and all the other biggies? Just my thoughts for whatever they're worth.

Susan Wingate, Writer
http://www.susanwingate.com

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Page 1 of Comments From:

Amazon.com Telling POD Publishers - Let BookSurge Print Your Books, or Else...

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