As I mentioned a couple newsletters ago, Amazon had closed my account. They say I had more than one account. I asked for details so I can file a fraud case with the U.S. Government, for they would have to use my Social Security number to do that. Amazon continued to use the same email with no information except that the accounts had been closed. They used the plural, so three accounts? I’ve passed on all the info to the Authors Guild to check into it.
Sorry, but I have little faith this will change. It’s all David and Goliath, the Elephant and the Ant. Yeah, I know the smaller person/creature won in the end against the bigger one, but it would take a lot of small authors to straighten Amazon out. So I decided to win in a different way.
There are other booksellers and I’ll concentrate on them.
Like Rakuten’s Kobo Plus. They are an ebook subscription service like Kindle+ (Kindle Unlimited’s new name) and cost less for readers. AND they do not require the authors to only download their books to their site and nowhere else. So be sure to check it out.
Book Signings
My book signings in October did okay. Never made my money back for the tables, but hopefully I will have some returning fans. I did have several people sign up for my newsletter. Hey, newbies! Thank you!
If you ever wonder why authors are charging so much on their books let me show you a few things.
The event can cost the author anywhere from $65 to $700. That doesn’t include gas/airfare or hotel. The printing of books with shipping charges can average around $6.00 per book (paperback). The printers do not offer free shipping if you wondered. Then there is the swag authors give out, such as bookmarks, pens, cups, etc. All paid out of the authors’ pockets.
Authors on average sell around one to twenty books at the events. Often the lower end of the quantities.
For now, I have two book signings planned for next year. One in May (Huntsville, AL) and hopefully the usual one in October in Jasper, AL.
Giveaway
If you would like bookmarks or/and signed bookplates (to stick inside your Carla Swafford books) send me an email to authorcarlaswafford @ gmail.com with your snail mail address and how many you would like.
Keep reading.
Carla
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