Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hi folks.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience using a self publishing group? I used one (I'll keep them anonymous for the time being). I paid to have my interior layout editing, cover art etc. I also paid to have my manuscript prepared for eBook and print. I own 100% copyright of layout, cover art, files etc. I received high quality files of all including ePub, mobi and PDFs. I also received 15 copies in print, the mandatory library copy and all isbn cip etc was dealt with on my behalf. AUB was then published to Amazon and fishpond and other platforms and literary sites. I personally uploaded to smashwords.

My concern now, is that it has been 6 months since AUB was published and despite asking on several occasions (or more) I am not being given sales figures. (I'm also annoyed it was published to Amazon in my name and not my pen name but that is a small matter).

I'm wondering what my next cause of action should be. My husband feels I should request the publishing group to "pull" AUB off all their platforms request all stock of the book and republish for myself on KDP and sell my own copies through my website and fishpond. We are also considering paying the membership to join the Australian Author Association.

Any advice on how I should proceed? I know there have been sales, people have told me they have bought my book and have friends that have also bought my book.

I don't know anything about self publishing groups, but that sounds bad. Not giving you sales figures and not paying you (is that case?) after 6 months and not responding are not at all good. Not knowing what sort of agreement you made with them, I can't offer advise, but it sound to me like your husband has the right idea.

BTW: If you've been tracking your sales ranking on Amazon, you can get a rough idea of the sales and what you are owed. (KDP pays monthly, with a 60 day delay.)

Lilly wrote: "Hi folks.

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience using a self publishing group? I used one (I'll keep them anonymous for the time being). I paid to have my interior layout editing, cover ..."

Hi Lilly!

I self-published through IngramSpark and while there were a few hiccups I've been really happy with the quality of my book and the interface. I can request sales reports and receive them instantly. It sounds pretty shady to have been turned down the opportunity to look over your own numbers. If you ever decide to leave that group I'd be happy to share my research on a few other self-publishing companies :). Best of Luck!

I haven't been paid or given any numbers. When I ask I get told "I have too many books to keep looking for sales figures!"

I paid for them to take my book to the London book fair, there was interest yet the feedback was "what are the sales figures?"

So they didn't even get the figures together for that!

My contract that I signed states payment every 90 days if royalties over $25. I know I've sold enough copies via word of mouth to know I have reached that target at least! It also states that royalties are checked twice a year!

Lilly wrote: "I haven't been paid or given any numbers. When I ask I get told "I have too many books to keep looking for sales figures!"

I paid for them to take my book to the London book fair, there was inte..."

Sorry you are in this situation. At best, That behavior sounds completely unprofessional. If you don't have access to sales figures, then I take it you also can't change your categories or keywords on KDP? Do you even know what keywords they used? Those are extremely important for getting your book visibility. If you can't modify them, or modify your book blurb if indicated, your book is at serious disadvantage.

It sounds to me like you need to get your book out of these people's hands ASAP.

BTW: I checked your book's bestseller rank, and read the sample. I was quite favorably impressed. Although it's a genre I don't typically read, I would have bought it, except for what you said here, which led me to worry you might not get paid. My feeling is that your book is seriously under-performing, which makes me wonder if they took even the most basic steps (like proper keywords) to allow people to find it.

I hope you get this sorted out soon.

Thanks Owen. I'm thankful that the contract doesn't lock me into any time frame with them. After looking at it again, I checked the literary platforms it was supposed to be loaded on as per the agreement, and they only listed it on Amazon and fishpond! The only copy on Angus and Robertson is my smashwords edition!

I'm gonna draft a very serious email in the morning and give them a chance to respond before I pull it from them.

I've even had issues with ordering more stock through them! I approached a local printers, but they couldn't even come close to the $8.50 a book on a 50qty run. So they have a good printers, whoever it is, if you can get a order placed!

Wishing you the best with that!

Regarding printers, check out the POD thread (maybe you have?). Createspace is great for people here in the US, but other places might be better, due to shipping. (An author in the UK had better luck with Lulu.)

But for comparison, here are the current prices on Createspace in USD per copy, not including shipping. (As far as I know, there is no quantity discount.)

178 pages = $2.98
416 pages = $5.84
490 pages = $6.73
674 pages = $8.93

I've never shipped to Australia, but below is what it would cost to ship 50 copies of a 416-page book to Denmark if I placed an order right now:

Standard Shipping $57.99 Estimated Delivery Date: Wed, Jun 24, 2015
Expedited Shipping $68.49 Estimated Delivery Date: Mon, Jun 08, 2015
Priority Shipping $78.49 Estimated Delivery Date: Thu, May 21, 2015

You can see that standard shipping only adds a $1.16 (USD) to the print price, for shipping internationally (Denmark).

A note on shipping: I used priority shipping to send a book to Lublin, Poland and it got there in just less than 24 hrs. The book I shipped to Denmark, standard shipping, arrived in about week (as I recall.) So these estimates are on the conservative side.

Lilly, Do you have the option of speaking to a lawyer? This sounds like a case where you may want to do that. Just to get a legal opinion.

I actually contacted the Australian Society of Authors today to seek their advice. I've also adjusted my buy links on my website to go to smashwords since I get all those sales directly. Unfortunately most people like Amazon for their ebook purchases.

That sounds good. It's just been my experience that people will go to a lawyer when they have no legal ground to stand on but when they actually have a grievance, they never go. So I worry.

Let us know what the ASA has to say.

Sorry to read of this experience.
Hopefully it's just unprofessionalism and not something more sinister.
Best of luck with this sticky situation.

With Love and Gratitude,
TJ Shortt
www.shivercove.com

Update on where I am up to with this.

I contacted the Australian Society Authors. They advised to speak to a lawyer. However, me being me, decided to contact the SelfPub group and advise them I wanted them to pull my book from all their sales platforms and provide me with a full account of all sales.

They have done so (and in the next 24hours AUB will be live again on Amazon, published by myself via KDP). I was told I could have a sales report now if I paid $25 or I could wait until the end of June (our end of financial year). I told him I would wait.

At least now I have full control over my book and will know my sales and can market as I see fit to boost and promote my book.

Thank you to everyone for your words and advice. You just prove how much support this group actually is to each other.

I also contacted KDP and they actually hastened the process of removing AUB from my publishers platform after confirming they had indeed requested to unpublish it and advised that I could request they transfer my reviews as soon as my book is live again. I have to say I am very impressed with how quickly and efficiently Amazon respond to my contact requests for help and or advice. Every time I contact them, they resolve or answer me within an hour, two at most.

Awesome! Glad it worked out for you Lily!

That's fantastic! Please let us know how it goes with getting the sales report.

FanTAS-TIC!

Lilly wrote: "Update on where I am up to with this. ..."

Great news! Now I can go buy your book. : )

Awesome Owen! I look forward to hearing your thoughts and what you think!

Lilly wrote: "Awesome Owen! I look forward to hearing your thoughts and what you think!"

I'll get back to you in a few days. : )

:)