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Originally Posted by crich70
My memory played me false. I do remember seeing some threads where problems with the system were discussed and got it backwards.
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Not a problem. I dunno about you, but as of late, my own memory ain't what it used to be. Ya know?
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Some of it is the fact that the system is still fairly new compared to traditional publishing I think and of course there are always those who do try to game any system in their favor. I have heard that some people put free book offers near the back of their books so if someone goes there to find the offer it is counted as reading the pages.
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Yes, the offer-at-the-back-of-the-book thing is still alive and living. I don't know if any illegitimate authors used it--no doubt they did--I do know that legit authors use it, too. I guess, given that they've written real books with real plots, etc. I tend to turn a blind eye to it.
I do warn them, however. Not just for their own good, but selfishly, too. I have sort of lost my sense of humor about author/publishers that a) never get their ISBNs right, until AFTER we've wished them well and on their way, so the books have to be modified; b) don't find their last few typos until they upload the file at the KDP, and just GOTTA make those changes now; b) that get Kindle Quality Notices, for their spelling/grammar mistakes, and expect us to donate the time to fix them; c) ad nauseum. Therefore, I want them to get everything done, BEFORE they leave us, so that I don't have to deal with the inevitable discussion about how what we charge is fair, or not.
Spoiler:
(n.b.: I'm particularly cranky today, even for me. We had a client, did 3 books with us. In the middle of the 2nd, she called me, needed some reassurance, etc., about this and that, and I helped her, and helped her with her marketing plans, too. She even emailed me, about a week ago, to tell me how much that helped her and how I was right [about this or that].
Today--having moved her 4th book into production--I get an email from her telling me that "nothing against [us], but because of a recommendation, and price and turnaround time, [she is] using someone else." Gee, great. I guess my time donated to her books' futures has no bloody value. I mean, really? Does she think that El Cheapo Company #187 is going to take her whining phone calls?)
Just bloody tired of it. Anyway, yes, that bit--getting them to flip to the back for special orders, etc.--that's still used, quite a bit. In a way, is it cheating? Possibly. But it would be hard to argue that, given that they have a proven track record of producing highly readable, popular, good-selling books. One who uses it is an Edgar-winner. {shrug}. So....you know. I don't tell them that they cannot. If they were first-timers, I'd probably say something.
Hitch