Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hi Delores! Let me look into this for you :) I'll let you know as soon as I find something out!

Message deleted. Self promotion and advertising is not allowed here per the rules.

Delores wrote: "Dear Ann, I am trying to find the results of the Thunderclap we had in the early fall to refer to it. Is it possible to find out how many participated and what the reach was. I have been searching ..."

Thunderclap doesn't give out this kind of info without paying for their premium service. At last check, we had a reach of around 300k. The TC was specifically set up for a group event. We don't routinely run campaigns as a group.

Hi. I'm new to all the blogs on Goodreads. I posted a question, but don't see the question nor any answers anywhere. I'm hoping to get some good recommendations for my Christmas shopping list for Indie books. Fiction/suspense recommendations. No serial murder stories. If there's a murder involved in the book, it had better be really good. I prefer staying away from detective murder stories. Any recommendations? Thanks.

Lori wrote: "Hi. I'm new to all the blogs on Goodreads. I posted a question, but don't see the question nor any answers anywhere. I'm hoping to get some good recommendations for my Christmas shopping list for I..."

If you look at the top menu choices for Goodreads site, you'll see one that says BROWSE. Pull down the menu and the first on top is RECOMMENDATION. On the right of that page (At least on computer, not sure on android) you'll see three categories: Recommended by shelf, Recommended by Genre, and the last one (the one you want) More action.
In this last one you have a few choices. The third should be Ask for Recommendations. Chose that one and enter your specifics. I think that might be your best option.

Good luck!

This might be the place for you, Mark.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Be sure to follow the directions carefully when posting. Thanks!

Hello

I'm asking this question here as I am struggling after nearly two weeks to get any answers from Amazon.

In early December I ran a promo with a company called Book Butterfly. They are long established company and I checked them out prior to the promo. However it set off the Amazon fraud detectors and my book was rank stripped. I wasn't running any other promo as the Bookbutterfly one had taken all my available marketing cash. The book lost it's ranking on December 15th and I can't get any info from Amazon at all.

Book butterfly sent me details of all the promo's they ran and where they posted the book and how it was promoted. I have passed all this on - but still nothing.

All I really want to know is should I just write this book off? Are rankings ever restored? Or should I just pack up my pens and go back to the day job. The rank I lost was on book one of a series, and so obviously I've lost sales on that book and the subsequent ones as well.

Any comments would be appreciated. Xmas has been really miserable event this year.

Sam

Samantha wrote: "Hello

I'm asking this question here as I am struggling after nearly two weeks to get any answers from Amazon.

In early December I ran a promo with a company called Book Butterfly. They are long ..."

Hi Sam,this is a question that you'll want to post in the SIA Investigate folder so that the community can weigh in. The 'ask a mod' thread is for general questions about how we run the group.

Is there anywhere here where I can post an offer to feature authors (extract and interview) on my blog? Is free no strings.....

I'm okay with you posting in the Fun Folder. :) Based on our current Folder list, I think that's the best place. People will still find the offer :) Instead of linking, can you just put the title of your blog? That way people can still find you, but you're not linking directly to it. Thank you!

Ann wrote: "I'm okay with you posting in the Fun Folder. :) Based on our current Folder list, I think that's the best place. People will still find the offer :) Instead of linking, can you just put the title o..."

Thanks. Will do that.

How can a new author get a new book added by a moderator.

Albert wrote: "How can a new author get a new book added by a moderator."

We don't add books. At one point in time, we had recommendations, but this group is for author support, not promotion.

Albert wrote: "How can a new author get a new book added by a moderator."

Do you mean you want to add a new book to Goodreads in general, not just this group?

I read somewhere that a moderator can recommend a book to be added to list they control

Albert wrote: "I read somewhere that a moderator can recommend a book to be added to list they control"

We do have a list of books in this group, but we have not added to it in some time. As Christina said, we're more about support than promoting.

Hello moderators,
I am a brand spanking new author on here and am wondering why my book's cover doesn't appear? It's called Dog Myths: What you Believe about dogs can come back to Bite You! (by Garrett Stevens) I haven't had any trouble anywhere else (Smashwords, Apple iBooks, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, et cetera) So what gives?

And one more question, When I clicked the link to just check to see if folks could purchase my book it directed me to the proper place (whichever retailer I selected) but then came back that they couldn't find it.
Of course, upon searching from their site (Amazon, or Apple, or B&N) my book comes right up. Why doesn't Goodreads direct them right there?
Thanks for any help,
Garrett the dog disciple

Garrett wrote: "Hello moderators,"

Your first question was answered elsewhere. When you edit your book's info on Goodreads, simply upload the image of the cover.

As for links not working, that's something you'll need to ask Goodreads about directly.

Garrett wrote: "Hello moderators,
I am a brand spanking new author on here and am wondering why my book's cover doesn't appear? It's called Dog Myths: What you Believe about dogs can come back to Bite You! (by Gar..."

The link for the physical book works. Now I have two questions. It says it will be published in March 2018. Is it in pre-order? If not you have the reason why it's not showing yet. I only checked for Amazon but both are eBooks format and none is Kindle. One of them has to be an ASIN

Edited: one of the two that says eBook will have to have the ISBN changed to ASIN and the ASIN for your book is ASIN: B079CNRD7R (but check it on Amazon to make sure.)

Thanks so much for the comments. I was able to fix the cover today! But when I went into the editions I suppose it is normal to see 3 different editions of my book, right? A couple are for the e-versions and the other is paperback. I have no idea what an ASIN is but I will write down that number ;)
Should I delete the edition that doesn't lead to all the retailers? One of them worked and the other did not.

Yeah, I found the same thing. See if you can combine them. If not, it might be good to contact a librarian about it. I don't believe you can delete them on your own.

You should be able to combine them. As for the ASIN, you probably can edit one of the two books with ISBN and replace with the ASIN. When you edit the book, you will see ISBN with the number, and next CLICK FOR ASIN. Click that and enter the ASIN number instead. Only do it for one. The other should work for places like iTunes and Barnes and Nobles and other places.

Now for the combine...on your book page, below other editions, to the right you have the combine button. If it does not work, contact a librarian. No need for private message, there is a group where you can post your request and they answer you within the same day (usually)

Last, I don't know which version you think you might sell the most but since ebook wont work for kindle and vice versa it is important to make the one that works with the most potential selling place as your primary display. So when someone click on your profile and on your book it leads to the right cover/link.

Hello, I have a spelling error in my post. It says excision I meant excursion one day it may be excision right now I'm sure it's excursion.

T K Love wrote: "Hello, I have a spelling error in my post. It says excision I meant excursion one day it may be excision right now I'm sure it's excursion."

We cannot edit your post but you can do it yourself.
Under your post and to the left, you should have four options: Reply | Edit | Delete | flag
Just chose the edit version.
Hope this helps

The posts in question are in other groups, anyway. So, go to the posts and follow the instructions GG gave.

My topic in cover workshop got deleted twice. Thought the first time was because I provided a link to my book with the old cover, so I removed that.

I'm sure I am doing something wrong, but it's unfortunate as I'd like feedback.

Adam wrote: "My topic in cover workshop got deleted twice. Thought the first time was because I provided a link to my book with the old cover, so I removed that.

I'm sure I am doing something wrong, but it's u..."

If I am not mistaking it is because you are posting links. We have a no link policy. You can post a gif of your cover but not a link to it.

I'm not sure where to ask this question. Does it belong in a particular thread that's already out there? Anyway, this is about "swag" or printing and taking bookmarks, cards, etc., to book signings. I've done that in the past, but I can't tell that it makes any difference to sales. What's your perspective on the value of all this stuff. Is it worth the cost? Is it necessary?

Kathy wrote: "I'm not sure where to ask this question. Does it belong in a particular thread that's already out there? Anyway, this is about "swag" or printing and taking bookmarks, cards, etc., to book signings..."

You would want to post this question under the marketing tactics folder.

Thanks!

I'm doing my first book signing event this month. It's at a university bookstore, they like to promote local indie writers, yeah! Any pointers, advice, etc. One writer posted to bring lots of pens, make eye contact with everyone...all good. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks. Susan

Susan wrote: "I'm doing my first book signing event this month. It's at a university bookstore, they like to promote local indie writers, yeah! Any pointers, advice, etc. One writer posted to bring lots of pens,..."

Three posts above this in this very thread, someone asked the same question. Another moderator directed her to post about it in the marketing tactic folder. You could also do a search and see if you can find already existing threads about book signings. I know this has come up before. This thread is for asking questions about Support for Indie Authors.

Thanks 😎

I posted in the Blurb Help folder back in April and have just revised that original post. I did this wrong once before and ended up creating two and Dwayne had to archive one. I believe I did things correctly this time. But, is there a way to bump the post up so that folks might see it and give me some feedback? Thanks for your help!

Boosted it for you.

In the future, consider adding revised blurbs to the end of the thread, thereby boosting it. It's what all the cool kids do.

Robert wrote: "Hello,
I'd like to confirm my inclusion as an "Indie Author...Are we considered Indie authors? This is not thinly-veiled self-promotion, but a true query."

Since the bulk of your comment was describing your publishing company, etc. it does come across as self-promoting. But, in response to your query, yes.

I was afraid it would come across that way, but wanted you to have enough information to render an accurate decision. Thank you. Rob

Well, as long as I've been in Support For Indie Authors (almost as long as it has existed) I don't think I've ever seen anyone give a definition of what an Indie Author is. I believe as long as you maintain full control of your books and you're not publishing through a major publishing house, you can call yourself Indie. The company you described allows the author to retain full control of their work, thus it is Indie.

Dwayne wrote: "Well, as long as I've been in Support For Indie Authors (almost as long as it has existed) I don't think I've ever seen anyone give a definition of what an Indie Author is. I believe as long as you..."
Good deal, thank you. And yes, authors retain all rights.

Does anyone know which promotional sites, free or paid, are best for memoirs? My book is also historical with a backdrop of the years from 1914 to 1947. Thank you.

I wanted to start a topic of discussion on using Net Galley for reviews. However, I can't figure out how to start a topic. Suggestions?

Eileen wrote: "I wanted to start a topic of discussion on using Net Galley for reviews. However, I can't figure out how to start a topic. Suggestions?"

According to the rules, we don't allow discussions on reviews. However, there is one thread active in which we have been allowing discussion of reviews and the subject of Net Galley has already come up. If you have anything new to add, feel free. Please don't start a new discussion on this topic. Thanks.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Eileen wrote: "That discussion was pretty brief and ..."

Dwayne wrote: "If you have anything new to add, feel free."

I am new member (and Author) and I am trying to "own" my book as the author. However, alas, there is another author with the same name and when I click on the author name of my book, I arrive at the other author's page and a list of his books. How do I get around this?

Christopher wrote: "I am new member (and Author) and I am trying to "own" my book as the author. However, alas, there is another author with the same name and when I click on the author name of my book, I arrive at th..."

There are two ways to deal with this: either go to help section and send an error report or join the librarian group and report it there. In both cases, you'll need a link to your author page, the author on which it is incorrectly shown and links to all affected books.

Tomas wrote: "Christopher wrote: "I am new member (and Author) and I am trying to "own" my book as the author. However, alas, there is another author with the same name and when I click on the author name of my ..."

Thank you Tomas.

Getting your book into local libraries appears to be more difficult than at first sight. It appears that they have an in-built dislike of self-published books but, in addition, require a book to come with a Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) so they can place it on the shelf without too much effort. Generally speaking, obtaining a DDC is beyond the skills of most indie writers and the Library of Congress does not always provide it with registration. The UK uses a slightly different version of DDC.

I wonder if there is any commercial organization out there that will provide the classification for a reasonable fee?

[Where do I post this request for help?]

How about in the thread about getting your book into libraries?

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Ta

Zared wrote: "I am hoping to add a book called ..."

We're no longer adding books to the bookshelf, if this is what you're asking.