Authors pushing books

[Worldwalker]

Just wondering about the status. Book ads have started invading the device forums, too.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

Just wondering about the status. Book ads have started invading the device forums, too.

do you mean ads, or authors posting details of their works ?

[Moejoe]

I'd like some clarity also from the moderators. I feel I'm skirting the line with my stuff and it's beginning to feel a little awkward posting stories. Selfish, maybe? Anyway, I'm all for a spam free writers' corner, whatever it takes.

EDIT: Actually, I'll do it myself. I won't be part of the spam any longer.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I'd like some clarity also from the moderators. I feel I'm skirting the line with my stuff and it's beginning to feel a little awkward posting stories. Selfish, maybe? Anyway, I'm all for a spam free writers' corner, whatever it takes.

EDIT: Actually, I'll do it myself. I won't be part of the spam any longer.

Oi !

Don't you dare not post your stories ..... !!!!!!

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Oi !

Don't you dare not post your stories ..... !!!!!!

Sorry, I didn't mean that, I should have phrased it better I'll still post them, but I'll keep it to a nice discrete linky in my sig when a new one is out, instead of clogging up the writers' forum with announcements.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Sorry, I didn't mean that, I should have phrased it better I'll still post them, but I'll keep it to a nice discrete linky in my sig when a new one is out, instead of clogging up the writers' forum with announcements.

Phew !!!!

[Worldwalker]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

do you mean ads, or authors posting details of their works ?

In the Sony forum, I noticed a "My book is now for sale at the Sony store" advertisement. I haven't checked the other device forums, but I expect that they have the equivalent, depending on which stores are carrying which ebooks.

And I just deleted the rest of this post because it was sarcastic enough to get me banned.

[BearMountainBooks]

Is there a proper place to post a question about how many people like and shop at the Sony store? I know there are a lot of people with Sony devices on this forum. I've been wondering where most of them do their e-book shopping, but because I'm a writer...I have a feeling that if I post such a question, it will look like an ad.

I know there was a post around here a while back and it seemed a lot of people were shopping at Fictionwise, but also that shopping there was tapering off now that Fictionwise was bought by B&N. I think the situation calls for another "shopper survey."

Anyone else with no ulterior-appearing motives care to post such a thing???

Pleeeease???

Maria

[netseeker]

Update: We are finalizing the details for the change (new section where authors can promote their works). Some strict author guidelines will be added as a sticky in the same section and we will begin moving book announcements / ads soon. Please allow us a little time to move these posts into their new sections. If you do notice a post we have missed, please do report it so it is brought to our attention.

Michael

[TGS]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

Is there a proper place to post a question about how many people like and shop at the Sony store? I know there are a lot of people with Sony devices on this forum. I've been wondering where most of them do their e-book shopping, but because I'm a writer...I have a feeling that if I post such a question, it will look like an ad.

I know there was a post around here a while back and it seemed a lot of people were shopping at Fictionwise, but also that shopping there was tapering off now that Fictionwise was bought by B&N. I think the situation calls for another "shopper survey."

Anyone else with no ulterior-appearing motives care to post such a thing???

Pleeeease???

Maria

I think you have been around long enough and got enough posts under your belt to post the question without winding anyone up. I think what most people object to is to being treated as just a pair of eyes for an author's advertising without the poster making any contribution to the MR community. Even though your question might have the grounds of its motivation in your own interests I think the responses would be of wider interest - so, I say go ahead and post.

Just for the record. I never buy anything from the Sony store because that would require me to install their crap software, which I'm not willing to do - and I'd never buy a DRM'd book!

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by TGS

I think you have been around long enough and got enough posts under your belt to post the question without winding anyone up. I think what most people object to is to being treated as just a pair of eyes for an author's advertising without the poster making any contribution to the MR community. Even though your question might have the grounds of its motivation in your own interests I think the responses would be of wider interest - so, I say go ahead and post.

Just for the record. I never buy anything from the Sony store because that would require me to install their crap software, which I'm not willing to do - and I'd never buy a DRM'd book!

Thanks for the feedback! Buddy of mine tried installing the software. Not sure what happened but his post telling me about it was full of non-printable characters.

Any idea where I should post such a poll? General forum? I'm very curious about where people do most of their shopping. I think smashwords is starting to pick up more shoppers (could be my very active imagination) and I still buy a lot of stuff at Amazon (it's not all DRM'd even though most of it is!) I buy a lot of indie authors though and most of them don't select to have DRM added.

If there's a good spot that you know of, let me know. If someone doesn't beat me to it, I'll design some sort of trick question poll...

Maria

[Ea]

Originally Posted by TGS

I think you have been around long enough and got enough posts under your belt to post the question without winding anyone up. I think what most people object to is to being treated as just a pair of eyes for an author's advertising without the poster making any contribution to the MR community. Even though your question might have the grounds of its motivation in your own interests I think the responses would be of wider interest - so, I say go ahead and post.

Um, what he said I owe you TGS

What I object to is the blatant advertising of posters who doesn't participate in the discussions and use every conceivable opportunity to blast their own horn.

BearMountainBooks's suggestion of a Sony store thread doesn't even come close to putting her best foot forward - by far. I'm personally quite okay with people putting their best foot forward - it's when the ulterior motive behind a post is nothing but advertising I get annoyed. Just like when unknown authors are friending you on Goodreads or Shelfari just to promote their books.

[TGS]

Perhaps start a new thread here - worst that can happen is that nobody responds, but I think people like responding to polls, so I think including one is a good idea, (but be prepared for an avalanche of post which say something like "I couldn't answer your poll because none of the answers fit my circumstances" and the like).

Good luck

[Worldwalker]

Make sure there's an option for "I don't buy ebooks, I just use MobileRead/PG/whatever." There are some people like that. I'm mostly a person like that, actually, though access to good indie books is slowly changing that.

I'd really like to see a much more comprehensive poll than any forum software can manage, preferably with at least a few thousand responses, correlating people's reading device(s), book budget, other entertainment choices, preferred bookstores, feelings on DRM, re-reading habits, choice of genres, and of course all the usual demographic stuff. I have a strong feeling that the ebook market is the ebook markets, and the vendors of everything from devices to books to little LED booklights are missing this entirely.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

Make sure there's an option for "I don't buy ebooks, I just use MobileRead/PG/whatever." There are some people like that. I'm mostly a person like that, actually, though access to good indie books is slowly changing that.

I'd really like to see a much more comprehensive poll than any forum software can manage, preferably with at least a few thousand responses, correlating people's reading device(s), book budget, other entertainment choices, preferred bookstores, feelings on DRM, re-reading habits, choice of genres, and of course all the usual demographic stuff. I have a strong feeling that the ebook market is the ebook markets, and the vendors of everything from devices to books to little LED booklights are missing this entirely.

Hmm. Methinks I will not try to get *that* much information. The masses might throw me off the forum for completely different reasons than self promo--like taking an hour to read the poll...! Not that I wouldn't like the answers, but it would be like the lady who told me she had 3 questions about the state of the economy and after 5, kept right on going until I hung up the phone...

Thanks guys. I'll post it and see what I get!!