Weekend Chatterbox: How will the DOJ Amazon.com Settlement Affect You?

Usually during the summer I pick a super large book to read. This year, however, I read the legal documents and various blog posts about the DOJ lawsuit against  Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster ( Wall Street Journal.)

Because Apple and others have already submitted appeal documents we may never see the change in prices. However, I’m curious both as a book buyer and an author. How will this settlement affect me?

• As a book buyer will this protect my ability to buy cheaper digital books?
• As an author will these cheap digital books price me out of the book writing business?

I don’t know. Maybe if I here your thoughts I wouldn’t feel so confused. So that is why this question is our Weekend Chatterbox question: How will the DOJ Settlement affect you?

Weekend Chatterbox: What is Your Favorite Albertina Walker Song?

Today we have learned that Gospel great Albertina Walker has passed.

Albertina discovery of new talent, the legendary Caravans launched the careers of Pastor Shirley Caesar, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, Cassietta George, Evangelist Dorothy Norwood and the "King of Gospel" the Reverend James Cleveland. This rightfully earned Albertina the title "The Star Maker". The Caravans achieved great success acclaimed household name with hits like: Sweeping Through The City, Mary Don't You Weep, Walk Around Heaven, and Lord Keep Me Day By Day.

Learn more about this Gospel Queen of Music  here.

Question for you: What is your favorite Albertina Walker Song?

Mine is Mary Don’t You Weep.  Leave your favorites in comments or hit me up on my Facebook Page or on Twitter with the hashtag #albertinawalker

Related articles

• Honoring Dr. Malinda Sapp & Women with CRC Tonight Live (deegospelpr.com)

Weekend Chat: Will Hachette & Macmillan Agency Model help or hurt Amazon?

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David Young, Hachette Book Group USA's CEO, sent an e-mail to agents Thursday announcing the company's decision to "transition to selling our e-books through an agency model," giving Macmillan an ally in its confrontation with Amazon. GalleyCat posted a copy of the letter. View it here.

The agency relationship will allow us to make more titles available to more consumers on more platforms. This expands the author's reach and readership, which is at the heart of what we do as a publisher. Ultimately, these new terms open doors to all online e-book service providers and create more avenues for delivering e-books to readers.

What do you think? And how will this affect readers and authors?

Weekend Chatterbox: Does Amazon own Your Publisher?

If you've been hanging around Amazon much, then you noticed some weird things happen after Steve Jobs announced the iPad, particularly the iBook feature in it. Some St. Martins Press books and their sisters and brothers living in the Macmillan house have disappeared from Amazon. According to The New York Times they didn't just disappear they were yanked. Apparently Amazon is standing firm on its point to keep e-books under $10. The i-books are around $12-15. As a reader I admit I like the reduced price, but I am concerned that the selections on the Kindle would be reduced. Moreover, I'm a huge fan of Farrar and St. Martin's Press, so now Amazon is pushing me toward the iPad. Not coll.
As an author I'm also concerned. Ooh the conundrum. Most publisher's pay a small royalty percentage to authors for e-books. Don't know if there will be addendums made to contracts for i-book sales. If not, then it doesn't matter what price is set, the author gets the slim pickings. But what it does set forth is a problem for authors on the part of distribution. Since online book sales continue to increase, and we know Amazon is one of the top reasons why, then if our books become ghost over there, how large of a chunk will that suspension take out of our sales? An even larger question--one I open up to the community--what does that mean for the publishing industry? Are they owned by Amazon? If so, then the ramifications about the future of publishing,especially whether authors would benefit from being independent over being published by a major publishing house matter anymore? Can we make money writing stories anymore? If you discuss over Twitter or Facebook, please use the #iYank hashtag


Related posts:

• 4 Questions for the ibook from an Author's POV
• iThink Thursday: iBookstore vs Amazon

Related Blogs Chatting About this:

• http://digitalbookworld.com/2010/more-reactions-to-the-amazonmacmillan-battle/
• http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/bookselling/macmillan_and_amazon_report_round_up_150534.asp
• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/technology/30amazon.html
• http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/login.php/lunch/archives/006196.php
• http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/2010/01/31/why-my-books-are-no-longer-for-sale-via-amazon/

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Weekend Chat: Can Book Bloggers be Trusted?

The great myth of the digital age was that once we got rid of those expensive printing presses there would be no barriers to entry and costs would come down. But guess what? It costs a lot of money to build a system like Amazon's. An even bigger barrier to entry is brainpower. You need armies of smart engineers to build and run these online stores. There simply aren't enough of these brainiacs to go around.

-Don't iTune Us by Daniel Lyons for Newsweek

This weekend chatterbox question comes from a lot of chatter in the blogosphere regarding the future of monetized blogging. Amazon. com and the state of North Carolina are at a crossroads now that NC wants to tack on a sales tax for any items sold in Amazon affiliate blogs that have NC mailing address. Amazon is threatening to drop NC from participating in the affiliate program.

North Carolina is the latest state to go after the low-hanging of e-tail taxation. Facing a budgetary gap in the billions, North Carolina is hoping to pass a bill that would force out-of-state Internet retailers such as Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) to charge and collect sales tax on orders originating in the state...

North Carolina is arguing that the Amazon Associates program -- through which the leading online retailer pays commissions to website and blog operators for sales arising from their direct referrals -- gives the company a physical presence in the states where those operators live.

Amazon is fighting back. It's threatening to eliminate relationships with all of its affiliates residing in North Carolina before it has to begin adding 4.5% in sales tax to orders placed in that state. The tax is not just a hassle for Amazon; it would put the company at a pricing disadvantage to rival online merchants who don't run affiliate programs.

-"Why Does North Carolina Hate Amazon?" by Rick Aristotle Munarriz of Motley Fool

Who's winning this debate? And for product review bloggers- which includes book review bloggers who are also Amazon associates, how will it affect them?

The Internet is becoming so rife with paid blogging that the Federal Trade Commission, which guards against false advertisements, is examining whether it should police bloggers. As it updates nearly 30-year-old advertising guidelines, the FTC is proposing that bloggers, and online marketers and companies that compensate them, be held liable for misleading claims. A decision from the commission is expected this summer. If it approves the guidelines, violations could spur investigations that in turn force bloggers to discontinue deceptive practices. If the deceptions don't stop, the FTC may require companies to repay customers.

-Paid to Pitch: Product Reviews By Bloggers Draw Scrutiny by MIGUEL BUSTILLO and ANN ZIMMERMAN for the Wall Street Journal

so according to this post full disclosure is imperative to blog advertorials, endorsements or paid reviews. However for the novice blogger or member of a book blog alliance will they know what is required of them?

This year I limited my book reviews on Christian Fiction blog for seven reasons:

1. conflict of interest. I reviewed the book for a magazine and must honor that contract.
   
2. conflict of interest. The book is being considered for a book awards.
   
3. conflict of interest. The author, publishing house or lit agency & I have a business relationship.
4. the book doesn't fit the blog.
5. the author, publishing house or publicist did not ask to be reviewed
6. the author, publishing house or publicist never sent the book to be reviewed
7. The publishing house, author or publicist demanded too much for a review here.
   

None of those reasons were because I didn't receive payment for the review.

Christian Fiction Blog is monetized, because I am a BlogHer reviewer. Those cute ads in my sidebar pay for a spot on the blog. Perhaps I'm old school I think ads are reserved for the sidebar or at the end of a blog post and very separate for you to see the difference.

Although I have been offered opportunities to review a book for payment, I have yet to take that offer. Which is sort of good, afterall I'm a cheap blog date. Offer me a good book to review, understand that I may not review it, and wait to hear from me.

What is a surefire way not get a book reviewed here is to give me conditions on how and what to post. I don't charge to give book reviews, because personally I think it's unethical and also because I want to make a clear distinction between this blog and DGP. But most importantly, I want readers of Christian Fiction Blog to trust my reviews. There are no ulterior motives tied to the review. I spotlight what I like. I review what befits the blog. I don't always give a great rating. I have no problem giving a book a poor rating, but I always find a good quality in the story. I do review books based on story and packaging. I read the entire book, starting at the last chapter and then going back to Chapter one. I don't read prologues or epilogues. I don't. And that's what you can trust about a review from me.

Now back to the Weekend Chatterbox question:

With all these pending new rules, regulations and changes concerning blogging do you think any of them will make life better for you or worse?

Dee

Weekend Chat: Does your Publicity Campaign involve Passionate Prayer

Weekend Chatter: Does Your Publicity Campaign Involve Passionate Prayer?

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Last night I hosted a telechat with Jordan Rogers and his reader's advisory panel(Twitter chatter.) The objective of the chat was to (1) gain feedback, (2) introduce Jordan to his potential readership, and (3) to fellowship with his peers. #3 of course took over in a good way. The guys began to share their experience with the book and how it affected their ministry. They spoke about the Church Universal and our challenges. A great conversation had by all, we agreed to continue communication, then closed in prayer.

I thought the chat last night and this morning, and it left me with a question that I thought would be a great weekend chatter box question:

Does your Publicity Campaign Involve Passionate Prayer?

I talk often about having a book marketing plan and what thay should entail, but rarely do I recall me sharing the importance of prayer in this plan. Perhaps because I pray so often that I don't share with others. I don't want to come off like a prude, but prayer is important to who am I and what I do and even--most importantly when I choose to represent someone and/or part ways with a client/friend. The decisions I make--when I make them-- are pretty much final, because I have prayed and waited and obey the answer. So my question to you guys as we begin to talk about summer reading and festivals and conventions and what not. Are you praying?

Weekend Chat: Why don't you(Author) have anything Going On?

Vida in black-lite by A Blythe A Day...

Every Friday I will be sharing a brutally honest book marketing tip. You will hear in the tone of my voice that I am very passionate about this topic. Leave your comments here or talk about them on Twitter I'll respond.

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Weekend Chat: Is your Publisher a Scam?

Writer's Block Photo Credit Kylie2Good

Last week I received an email from a publishing company that they would be hosting a manuscript contest at one of my favorite Atlanta bookstores. But when I read the email and did a little fact checking I became pissed off(sorry, but that is the most appropriate word for how I felt.) Let me show you why?

or Listen here..

An excerpt from the email...

Want to get your book published?

2009 Author Manuscript Contest
will be at Borders Bookstore in _____, GA

Saturday, March 7th

1-3pm

Bring your manuscript to submit and receive 30% off the submission fee

for contest submission rules!

Okay. So what's the problem, Dee?

Let me count the ways:

1. This contest has a hidden agenda that doesn't involve publishing.
This sort of contest reminds me of the Zoo Press debacle back in 2004., excecpt at least Zoo Press was once reputable press with industry following. But in this case what we have is a vanity press disguised as a small press using a contest to fund the company, not the contest.

See. If this company was using the entry fees to fund the contest, meaning: contest advertisements, the publishing contract, publishing and distribution, etc, then there would be more mention of who runs this company, who are the contest judges, more acknowledgment about this contest through the bookstore that booked it, local papers within the area, and at least, at least a few reputable Atlanta news blogs. But zilch. I've found nada except a poorly constructed email campaign(that was sent to me without my agreement to opt-into their email service.) This lack of marketing, improper social media etiquette tells me that the company isn't fully solvent and this contest goal is to make them a little money.

2. The publishing company will deliver a winner...Them

This "boutique" publishing company is a vanity press. They prey on the vanity of authors, who want to see their name on a book more than taking the time to build some compelling and fit for the marketplace. Therefore, they will publish any writing for a fee. So the gauge to determine what is publishable washes out, because this company has no gauge. It publishes whoever pays their set fee. Period.

Now this contest doesn't tell us how many books will be published in the initial print run or how many pages this book is maxxed to be or how the book will be bound. I have seen these books (and I have met the brains behind this company. lol. and I can't believe they were crazy enough to add me to their mailing list. lol) and the print run could possibly 500, the books are lean under 240 pages, its Japanese bound, trade paperback, poorly constructed cover board. So I'm pretty sure i know where this book has been printed from. So my general guestimation about $2500 to print. add editing and the publisher's fee. about $5000 to the author.

So this contest fee is about $25 books (fifteen more bucks if you add another submission.) In Atlanta, during this economy I guestimate maybe 100 entries as a very weak guestimate. I can't tell you the number of people I meet weekly who want to publish their own book. Most writing contest get about 500 entries. Are you smelling my coffee yet?

It's very sour.

What you have here, basically, this company is taking enough entry fees to publish a book through a local press. The cost for that is pretty basic, too. Here's a pub calculator from Author's Lawyer

3. The company is predatory.
You cannot my fathom my disgust for predatory companies that prey off authors, musicians, actors, artists, and parents. It is a thing I need to pray about because my anger becomes a rage, a hulkish rage.

Artists create,and some wish to share their creations with their community. However, in this world and this time, there are people who don't respect the beauty in creation. Instead they see an artist wish to present their art to the world and their wonder about if their work matters to this world and stomp on it with the artist blood, sweat and dollars.

But it's only $25, Dee?

It's so much more than pocket change. You have to consider many of these victims(and I can't necessarily call them victims either) have been:

1. either rejected by a national publishing company
2. a newbie writer
3. a writer, whose works isn't fit for this current marketplace and refuses to accept that truth
4. someone who trust this company as a reputable because they haven't engaged themselves in the writing community

#4 is one of the reasons for the creation of Christian Fiction Blog. Here this is a place where writers can come and learn about the industry, comment, join a network of published writers and industry professionals for free, and get the answers they need. We post legitimate contests here. We share scam alerts here. We offer advice here. The entire community does this not just me.

So this is this weekend's chatterbox question: Is your Publisher a scam? Do you know? Do you know how to know? want to ask me a question?

Let me remind you every Wednesday at noon est. you can join me for a 30 minute chat about book publishing and promotion at Media Candy. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mediacandy

Weekend Chat: Is the Economy Stressing Your Diet?

Last week I received a reporter's request about how this down economy has triggered weight gain in women. I've been on Weight Watchers for a year and so glad that I have been, because I might have fallen into that trap. I don't eat when I'm stressed, which can also add to weight gain. So this weekend's chatter box question is a little off topic, but does lend itself to a question of how strong is our faith?

Are you a stress eater? Have you found ways to fend off this bad habit?

Weekend Chat: Superbowl. Steelers or Cards?

I am reviewing a book, inputting Girl Scout Cookie orders, & writing a novel on the weekend before my birthday, so the weekend's chatterbox question is simple:

Steelers or Cards?

Two Parts Sugar have these cute cupcakes online. Check them out. Here

Weekend Chat: Should Christian Novels Become Better Movies

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Today's Weekend Chatterbox is about novels becoming books.

Bishop TD Jakes second novel turned movie, What's Easily Broken is about to hit a theater near you January 9, 2009. Although I didn't give the novel a favorable review, I wonder is the story better suited for cinema.

Question: What is your favorite movie adaptation of a novel and why do you think it worked?

Weekend Chat: What Feels Like Home? Thanksgiving

My grandmother, Minnie owned a cleaning service in Miami, Florida, but her passion was quilt-making. She made me a quilt for a college, made Selah a quilt before she was born, and then another one for when she would get bigger. And before she died she was working on my wedding quilt. I am not married.

The last few days have been very cold, and so I pulled out our quilts and put them in our beds. Selah hers and mine. And the unfinished wedding quilt I decided to complete for grandma. Last night after I tucked Selah in her quilt and snuggled in mine, I remembered her smell and began to miss her. I have been having family issues.

This morning my mom woke me up to tell me that my great-aunt Kate(my grandmother's twin) had passed through the night. I exhaled and cried. I did. I knew that my grandmother had touched me last night and her spirit was bring Aunt Kate home. I miss her more.

This weekend's chatterbox question isn't so much a question, but an opportunity for us to give thanks. Thanksgiving in the United States is next week. So the question is:

What feels like home to you? What are you most thankful for?

Weekend Chat: Letterman, McCain, Lies & New Media

Don't know if you've seen this or not, but it's the David Letterman Show. Apparently Senator McCain canceled his appearance on his show, because he said that he needed to be in Washington, DC for the Senate National Economy Bailout Talks. However, Lettermen learned that McCain had ditched him for Katie Couric. And how did Letterman learn he was ditched for a better date?

Weekend Chat: When Enough is Enough? Book Marketing Dollars

Listen by clicking on the arrow below. This Weekend Chatter box question is When is enough Enough when it comes to Book Marketing Dollars? You can answer her in comments, via audio on Utterz or on Twitter. Your answers will be compiled for a teleseminar I will be giving in September sponsored by ACFW-VIP and NiaPromotions. Subscribe to the blog for more details. I will only accept a small number of participants to register.
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Chatterbox: Are You Using Twitter Yet?

I've been on Twitter for a while. A few writers and book publishing people are on there:

• NY Times Books
• Christa Ballan
• Colleen Coble
• Thomas Nelson's Michael Hyatt
• Camy Tang
• Mary Demuth
• Mike Delosso
• Claudia Burney
• Kathleen Popa
• Penguin Books
• Jill Elizabeth Nelson
• Ty Moody
• Wendy Lawton

If you are a writer and on Twitter, follow me at Twitter.com/deegospel.

If you aren't on Twitter
Twitter Book Experimen. Gayle Roper's Fatal Deduction
Why I Love Twitter
7 Tips to Help You Have an Effective Interview on Blog Talk Radio
Twitter Catches an Art Thief

To stay informed of social media that can impact authors and readers, subscribe to Christian Fiction. Or check the sidebar to have Christian Fiction come to your email.

Dee

Weekend Chatterbox: God's Secret Providence

Based on the Novel, Fatal Deduction, is this Weekend's Chatterbox question.

Have you had the experience of having God care for you and provided for you even though you didn't realize it at the time? Have you been changed by God's Secret Providence (Hebrews 13:5)

It happened to me last year when I felt my sanity slipping away after losing my second child, losing seven years of writing, leaving my home and leaving my ex-husband again. As I lost and had to start over this year I was broken. How could I parent Selah through all of this? Could I find peace in my soul again? Would I stop mourning the child I lost and the love of my life? Was I still worthy?

Almost a year later I can look back and see God moving me to a better me whether I knew it or not. The thought of that snuggles me as I still continue to answer my tough questions.

As a writer I still don't know, but I am writing to see what the end will be. And I'm waiting to hear from you.

Blessings and don't forget to chat with me, Kathleen Popa and Brandon Satrom on Monday at 2pm EST, as we discuss Roper's Book and your Chatterbox comments.

Dee

Weekend Chatterbox: 20 Must Reads Before You Fly MEME

Since the New York Times has this fantabulous article, "Volumes To Go Before I Die" inspired by the book, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die I thought it would be fun to open this weekend's chatterbox to the blog literati.Do you agree with the list? And, What are the 20 Must Reads everyone should read before you fly away. :) I think our recommendations will also reflect our nationality, faith, ethnicity and personal reflections. A few books that come to mind for me are books that helped me to define who I am. I welcome your list. You can post them here in comments or post them on your blog and link them here. In fact, I want to go a step further and make this a Meme. I'm tagging Rhonda McKnight
and anyone who reads this blog and is avid reader.

My Recommendations(in no rank or aesthetic value:)

1. Alice Walker's A Color Purple
2. Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye
3. Plato's Republic
4. John Milton Paradise Lost
5. Thomas Hardy Tess of the d'Ubbervilles
6. Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice
7. Alexandre Dumas's Count of Monte Christo
8. Ron Hansen's Mariette in Ecstasy
9. Francis Ellen Harper's Iola Leroy
10. The Autobiography of Malcom X
11. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Purple Hibiscus
12. The Holy Bible
13. Philip Roth's The Human Stain
14. Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees
15. Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club
16. Walter Mosley's A Devil in a Blue Dress
17. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
18. Terry McMillan's Disappearing Acts
19. Marilynne Robinson's Gilead
20. Leif Enger's Peace Like a River
    

What next? Subscribe or Join the Network and Register for next week's Online Writer's Conference

Weekend Chatterbox Contest: Mother's Day

Sorry, for not posting that much this week. I am committed to completing my book for myself for Mother's Day. So here's this weekend's chatterbox question. It comes with a contest. One mother will win a free registration to the ACDW-VIP Online Writer's Conference on May 31. A $10 value, plus two free CFB May book picks. (If you don't know the picks check the site and watch the carousel in the sidebar.)

Here's the question:

What are you doing for yourself for Mother's Day?

Related posts: The ACFW-VIP Online Conference

What do you need to do next? Subscribe and Join.

Weekend Chatterbox: NY PD Groom Killers Unacquitted

This week's Weekend Chatterbox is unrelated to Christian Fiction, but worth the chatter. Just a few minutes ago the detectives, who NY unarmed groom leaving his bachelor party were acquitted or reckless endangerment.

Sean Bell, a 23-year-old black man, was killed in a hail of gunfire outside a seedy strip club in Queens on Nov. 25, 2006 — his wedding day — as he was leaving his bachelor party with two friends. The officers, complaining that pretrial publicity had unfairly painted them as cold-blooded killers, opted to have the judge decide the case rather than a jury.
-Associated Press

Sean was shot with 50 bullets.

Question: Granted they weren't charged for manslaughter a felony charge, is their justice here for the bride and groom?

Photo courtesy of Sean, his fiance, Nicole and their daughter Sydney Morning Herald. They have two children.

Weekend Chatter Box: Does your Book Need Walmart?

This week my phone, email and twitter feed has been burning up with this topic. Now I'm passing it onto you for chitter chatter. Tweet me.

With many mom/pop bookstore closings, Borders books ebbing and flowing and online bookstore sales surging, how important is Walmart to your book? Do you buy your books from Walmart? Are you torn between Walmarts ties to China and China's tie to Darfur? Does ethics affect the books you buy? As an author how does Walmart affect your booksales? Why does you need Wally World?


More Chatterbox:

• Obama on Christianity
• ACFW Genesis Contest
• My Weekend Chatter Box Response: Christian Curse
• How Twitter can Create Momentum for your Book Tour

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