Amazon, Indies, and My headaches

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

I publish a lot of anthologies as well as a quarterly journal.  I don't require a lot.  I ask for a non-exclusive perpetual license to publish a story in a specific volume.  Because ebooks don't have print runs, they can remain available for sale indefinately, so the perpetual clause merely advises the author that the volume may remain available for a long time.  Now if you want to also post your story online for free, I'm cool with that.  If you want to sell your story as a stand-alone product on Amazon, I'm cool with that.  If you want to sell reprint rights to other publishers, I'm cool with that.  Heck, there have been times I've bought the same story twice:  first for use in an issue of the journal, and again to include in a volume of Bardic Tales and Sage Advice when the author won best story for the issue.  Because the only rights I ask for is the non-exclusive right to have the story in a particular product. 

And to further clarify, these aren't "pay you in exposure" products.  These are "pay you with money" products.  It isn't a lot of money, but I pay semi-pro rates for the journal and more than that for some of the anthologies depending on the scope of the product.

So I got an email just now from an author whose work I have published in a previous publication.  And in this email, she informed me that I needed to remove the publication not only from Amazon, but ALL SITES because she wanted to make the story available through Prime.  Apparently somehow someone at KDP told her that her story was ineligible for the program because it was available elsewhere (i.e. my publication).  Whether this is a case of a KDP customer service person not having their facts straight, or poor reading comprehension on the part of the author, I'm not sure. 

She said she was only going to do it for 90 days so she can do the free offer through KDP, and after that I could sell the product again.  How...thoughtful. 

She didn't take it well when I told her no.  But this was the best line from her reply (edited to prevent someone from identifying the author):

"A lot of my readers found me in (name of my publication deleted) and follow my blog.  I'm going to make sure they know how selfish you are!!!!!  No wonder nobody buys your books anyway because you are a (expletive deleted)!!!!!"

I'm just going to let you all absorb that for a moment.  Let it sink in.

And now I am sitting here wondering "How many more emails like this am I going to get?"

I'm going to go take some Excedrin now.

[Krista D. Ball]

[Lisa Scott]

Jaw. Dropping.  I can't believe that.  Hopefully, she's the only one who'll be so unreasonable and rude with you.

[Deanna Chase]

Jaw. Dropping.  I can't believe that.  Hopefully, she's the only one who'll be so unreasonable and rude with you.

Oh, I believe it. It's amazing how unprofessional people can be. Sorry you have to deal with this, Julie. Asking you to withdraw a publication you have rights to for Prime is ridiculous.

[Edward M. Grant]

Jaw. Dropping.  I can't believe that.

Unfortunately I'm not surprised at all.

Hopefully, she's the only one who'll be so unreasonable and rude with you.

Western culture has spent the last couple of decades telling kids that they're all wonderful and giving them prizes because no-one should be left out. Now we have a generation which has rarely had to deal with the consequences of their actions and think that the world revolves around them. So they signed a contract: why should they have to stick to it? That's just selfish, they should be allowed to do whatever they want, etc.

[MikeAngel]

"A lot of my readers found me in (name of my publication deleted) and follow my blog.  I'm going to make sure they know how selfish you are!!!!!  No wonder nobody buys your books anyway because you are a (expletive deleted)!!!!!"

Every time I see someone abusing punctuation like this I want to bitchslap them, or put them in stocks on the public square with five exclamation points in red on their forhead.

Writers can be the nastiest people in the world--so many are self-absorbed and clueless.

[JamieDeBree]

Crap. I hadn't even thought of that. Thankfully, I doubt any of my anthology authors will do this (mine are flash), but I appreciate the heads up. Sorry you're having to deal with this...I hope others are more polite/professional.

[genevieveaclark]

My favorite response ever. Here's mine:

*

(Guess!)

[_Sheila_]

This reminds me of a conversation my son had with a friend (I was standing there - trying really hard not to laugh).

Friend:  I decided to go ahead and move out of my house.

Son:  Really?  I assumed you would stay in the house until it sold.

Friend:  I don't want the house any more.  

Son:  I get that.

Friend:  So why would I pay?

Son:  You signed a contract saying you would pay for it until you sold it.  The bank doesn't care that you don't want to live there.  You still have to make your payments.

Friend:  (Very obviously gobsmacked)  Really?  But I don't want to live there!

The concept of a long term contract is lost on many.  They honestly believe that if their plans change, the contract doesn't count.  'I call do-overs'   = /


I'm sorry the author was abusive to you.

Sheila

[RobertMarda]

I hope you don't get any more e-mails like that.

[genevieveaclark]

Apparently somehow someone at KDP told her that her story was ineligible for the program because it was available elsewhere (i.e. my publication).  Whether this is a case of a KDP customer service person not having their facts straight, or poor reading comprehension on the part of the author, I'm not sure. 

But wait. I thought these were really the terms?

(The author is still being... * )

[John Twipnook]

If a lot of her readers found you in your publication... Shouldn't she be nicer to you?

[Edward M. Grant]

If a lot of her readers found you in your publication... Shouldn't she be nicer to you?

I think you're expecting far too much forethought from someone who apparently gave none to the contract they were signing.

[LisaGraceBooks]

I think you should publish the letter-name and all (post it on your website or blog). It would certainly stop most who would even think of being unprofessional. Besides, it would go viral and get you lots of publicity.

She should just write a new story.

 

[Terrence OBrien]

Perhaps the other lesson is to pay attention to the rights you grant. They really do mean something.

[Monique]

Apparently somehow someone at KDP told her that her story was ineligible for the program because it was available elsewhere (i.e. my publication).  Whether this is a case of a KDP customer service person not having their facts straight, or poor reading comprehension on the part of the author, I'm not sure. 

What a charmer! LOL. People amaze me. That said, it's my understanding that she is indeed correct about the Select thingy though.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

I think you should publish the letter name and all (post it on your website or blog). It would certainly stop most who would even think of being unprofessional. Besides, it would go viral and get you lots of publicity.

She should just write a new story.

Despite my darkside moniker, I really don't go out of my way to embarass people in public.  Nobody wins when names get thrown around, even if it would give me some short term satisfaction.  You use names, the point gets lost as people pick sides.   Besides, I don't need the long term headaches of her and her friends spamming one star reviews of all of my books (which these sort of people are prone to do.)  

[meggjensen]

I was a freelance journalist for years before epublishing my fiction. My mentor taught me from day one: Always be aware of the rights you give up.

I signed a few all rights contracts, but most were 1st rights. Why? So I could sell reprints. Duh.

She agreed to sell you those rights. You did nothing wrong. If she ever thought about republishing the item, why did she agree to the contract in the first place? Her problem - not yours.

If she flames you publicly, let us know so we can all explain to her how contracts work.

[R M Rowan]

Unfortunately I'm not surprised at all.

Western culture has spent the last couple of decades telling kids that they're all wonderful and giving them prizes because no-one should be left out. Now we have a generation which has rarely had to deal with the consequences of their actions and think that the world revolves around them. So they signed a contract: why should they have to stick to it? That's just selfish, they should be allowed to do whatever they want, etc.

ABSOLUTELY!  This concept makes life hard for all of us who actually take responsibility.  I feel like some are taking on the responsibility of the masses.  I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, Julie, and I certainly hope this writer gets her "comeuppance".  What I would like to know is this: is this the only story she ever wrote that she HAS to have this one back?  How about writing a new one and make it go free.  

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

She agreed to sell you those rights. You did nothing wrong. If she ever thought about republishing the item, why did she agree to the contract in the first place? Her problem - not yours.

Therein is the funny part, she HAS reprint rights.  If she wants to sell the individual story on Amazon I don't care.  She has the right to do that or sell the reprint to another publisher.  The only thing she can't offer is exclusivity to the story, because she granted me non-exclusive rights.  

[Harper Alibeck]

This is hardly a recent-generation, Western culture problem.

It's an ( * ) problem.

[Edward M. Grant]

This is hardly a recent-generation, Western culture problem.

There have always been people who believed they had a right to do what they want without worrying about the consequences. But the number of such people has dramatically increased in the last couple of decades.

[Krista D. Ball]

My favorite response ever. Here's mine:

*

(Guess!)

IT IS NOT MY FAULT!!!!! 

I was attempting to make a Picard facepalm but the link won't work.

DO NOT JUDGE.

[Rex Jameson]

IT IS NOT MY FAULT!!!!!  

I was attempting to make a Picard facepalm but the link won't work.

DO NOT JUDGE.

This is my judging-you face. It's super serious.

>:|

[R M Rowan]

Well, the (*)s must be breeding because I'm seeing a huge leap in numbers just within the last ten years.  I own a business and I'm about to lock my doors due to the onslaught of "I want what I want and I want it right now and I want it free because you didn't read my mind and deliver it yesterday," mentality.  Spoiled brats - period.