Help #StopFakeBooks

Posted on by Shari Lopatin

I’m Launching a Campaign to Support Authors and #StopFakeBooks, but I Need Your Help

I recently came across an article from Vox, and then the New York Times, that (quite frankly) pissed me off. 

Apparently, Amazon has a problem with counterfeit books. I’m talking about entities that plagiarize an author’s book, print a fake copy (usually at much lower quality), and sell it as the real thing. The result?

The author doesn’t make any money, the reader receives a crappy copy, and the thief walks away richer.

The articles I’m referring to are:

What Can YOU Do?

Luckily, as a reader and consumer of books, you can help fight this! It’s an easy fix.

If you decide to buy a book on Amazon:

  • Always buy directly from either the book’s publisher, or from Amazon.
  • Do NOT buy from any “third-party” sellers.
  • Help spread the word on social media and to your friends using the hashtag #StopFakeBooks.

Many people are unaware of this issue and may purchase a counterfeit book without knowing it. Education and awareness are key. 

It’s personal for me, too.

I am concerned this might have already affected my book, The Apollo Illusion. I see several paperback versions of my book being sold by third-party sellers on Amazon that list it in “new” condition. However, the only place a reader can purchase a new version of The Apollo Illusion is directly from Amazon, not from these so-called bookstores. 

Many authors, such as myself, have invested years and thousands of dollars into the writing, editing, production, and marketing of our books. It hurts, both emotionally and financially,  to have one’s work and revenue stolen.

So help me #StopFakeBooks! Take to Twitter, to Facebook, to text, to WhatsApp, and to book clubs. Share this blog post with your friends, family, and book club members. And support your favorite writers by ensuring they’re getting paid for their work!

Would You Help Me Decide Whether to Open an Online, Used Bookstore?

Posted on by Shari Lopatin

Sharis Pick image
Should I open an online, used bookstore via Amazon? Help me decide, fellow readers and writers!

Happy Wednesday fellow readers, bloggers, and writers! I have a question to ask you.

I’ve recently tossed around the idea of opening an online, used bookstore via Amazon to go along with my own writing and publishing. I would carry used books from classics to recent bestsellers, and the hope would be to make pricing competitive. However, I’m trying to determine if the quest is worth my time.

Would you help me by taking one minute to answer three quick questions via the survey I developed about opening an online bookstore?

Survey-Button

Your anonymous feedback will help me make the final decision! And I always figure: who better to ask than other lovers of the literary scene? 🙂 Thank you so much for your time and help. Oh, and feel free to pass this survey along to your other reader and writer friends!

Publish Your Blog to Kindle! (I Just Did)

Posted on by Shari Lopatin

So … did you know Amazon offers a way to publish your blog to the Kindle? If you didn’t, I’m telling you right now. I just published mine!

[Check out Shari Lopatin: Rogue Writer on Kindle!]

I mean, GUYS, this is seriously cool. This means that anyone with one of these nifty little e-readers can absorb the life-altering words of your blog directly from their Kindles. They can read it like an e-book!

If your interest is piqued, here is a list of pros and cons I discovered regarding taking the plunge:

The Pros

  • It expands your reach and offers another way for people to find and read you.
  • You get paid if people subscribe! The more people who subscribe through Kindle, the bigger your paycheck.
  • You can reach your target audience more accurately. Writers want to target readers, and Kindle owners LOVE to read.
  • It’s easy. Once you publish your blog to Kindle, Amazon does the rest. Just continue operating your blog, as if nothing changed.
  • It’s freakin’ cool to say your blog is available through Kindle. Maybe you’re not a published author (yet), but you can officially claim to be a “published blogger” … if it works like that.

The Cons

  • People have to pay a monthly subscription to access your blog through their Kindle, even though they can get it online FOR FREE.
  • Amazon sets the monthly subscription price; you have no control. The prices range from $0.99-2.99/month.
  • You make only 30 percent in royalties for your monthly subscriptions.
  • Not even the most popular blogs have many subscribers. I discovered this upon skimming through the Kindle blogs. So this may or may not be catching on yet.

Is It Worth It?

I’ll tell you in a few months, as my blog just published to the Kindle this Monday. However, my personal take is, “YES.”

I chose to take the plunge because it cost me nothing. Zip. Zero. And while this venture may not exactly pay my mortgage, I’m not doing it for the money. I’m doing it for the exposure.

Interested? Here’s How to Make It Happen

  1. Visit the Kindle Publishing for Blogs website.
  2. Create an account.
  3. Upload your blog. Make sure you have a screenshot of your blog, as well as its masthead.
  4. Save and preview your blog.
  5. Submit!

Be aware that Amazon will ask for your bank account information. This will be used to electronically pay you each month for your blog’s subscriptions.

And when you’re done, head over and see mine. It costs $0.99/month. I must admit, I’m very proud!

WILL YOU GIVE THIS A TRY? I want to hear your thoughts! Would you pay $0.99/month to read a blog on your Kindle? Will you consider publishing your blog to the Kindle? Do you think this additional platform is a good idea? Why or why not?