[neilmarr]

***if I do need such services, I'd like to throw some business the way of a fellow MR member***

That is a great attitude, Worldwalker, and worthy of you. It also, inadvertently, goes some way to answering Richard's justified criticism of my earlier post (either a misunderstanding on his part or sloppy posting on mine -- I suspect that the fault lies in the latter possibility).

The underlining of the last four words in the italicised extract from your post, by the way, is my uninvited intrusion, but I hope you'll forgive me that because they do perfectly illlustrate the point I wanted to make ... but fluffed.

I'm sorry if I offended you Richard. I certainly did not intend to insult any existing member here.

But let's look again at a couple of things: You signed up to MobileRead in December 2007 and, at this point, have posted well and interestingly a generous 1,289 times, and that this is appreciated is reflected in your good Karma. That, as far as I'm concerned, means without the shadow of doubt that you are an active and valuable member of the community we share.

I know that Rhadin contributes much more to us than merely quietly offering, through a modest link in his signature line, excellent, pro editorial services to MobileRead friends here who would benefit from them.

What I'm concerned about with Worldwalker's suggestion is that it might well attract too many fly-by pedlars who, unlike you, are untried and untested here and whose services may well be of dubious value, who have little or no intention of contributing and who might arrive purely and simply to exploit an attractive, established and pretty target-specific pool of over 50,000 potential clients.

I too carry a link to my own website as a signature line, but I wouldn't expect that link to be taken at all seriously had I come here merely to promote my wee house. That would not be fair play, and I don't feel we should risk badly motivated newcomers by freely providing them with a platform that could so easily be taken advantage of. It's worth mentioning that neither you nor I use a book cover or logo avatar, mine is just me (admitedly a snap from ten years ago) and yours is a cute dog that's probably your own pet.

Back on track: Similarly, I would be highly suspicious of someone in the author-promotion and shameless self-promotion threads who posts in no other threads, accumulates very few posting credits and whose sole purpose seems to be to exploit these forums to tout his or her ebook to a a clearly defined potential customer base. This, again, is not criticism of genuine members who offer their general thoughts and knowledge to the community as a whole as well as -- quite acceptably -- promoting their work.

Again, apologies for seeming to have criticised a fellow MR member in good standing, Richard. It was the last thing on my mind. Perhaps I should have included a phrase like 'present company excepted', because that's exactly what I meant.

Best wishes. Happy weekend. Neil

PS: You are right to point out that I mention BeWrite Books quite often, Richard. But only in the context of discussion within a running thread. As far as I know, I've never sold a book through this site.That's OK because I've never tried to and it wasn't my intention to do so.

I came here to seek advice on a reading device I had teething problems with, and the response was overwhelmingly generous and effective. So, in an early post, by way of thanks, and within the running thread where I'd asked my question and been so warmy answered, I invited members to pop into the bookstore section of our site and let me know of any title/s that catch their eye so that I could send them free of charge.

I've made the same offer many times since if, for instance, a newcomer is having trouble buying contemporary books or his/her location and questions suggest something we have that might suit them. I've quietly sent out hundreds of free books to MR members, as many here know. Many receive free books on a quite reglar basis. I've also freely helped members in other ways. Like your own, promotion is not my reason for coming here by any means.

And nope, we're a million mles from vanity press, Richard. I'm reluctant to say this now because my motive for doing so might be misunderstood; but why not pop into the site and take a look at our 'about' and 'for authors' pages, then go to the bookstore section and let me know of anything that might appeal so that I can send the book/books to you in the available format of your choice to take a look at?

I really am sorry and embarrased to have disturbed you with what I now see could well be seen as an irresponsible post. Very best. N