There was a BIG blog mess going on last week when a reviewer who has a reputation for being fair-minded, basically ripped an author a new one. It de-escalated, or rather went down in flames, from there. The bottom line was the reviewer read an Ellora’s Cave book, absolutely hated it, and proceeded to tear it to pieces. Now, I don’t have a problem with the “tear-it-to-pieces” part of the discussion. If you spent your money on a book that royally sucked, say what you want about it. If you believe the editor should have caught a number of basic technical elements, fine.
BUT many of the responders sunk to the low point of calling names while remaining anonymous. Now that’s just plain nonsense. Not to mention the firestorm that followed probably resulted in the author making a killing on sales, rather than squashing what the reviewer felt was awful writing in general.
So, I’d like to have a frank discussion about the bottom line of last week’s shit storm sweepstakes - the quality of books being published today. And just be real with me - do you feel that the books you’ve purchased lately were worth the money you paid for it? If not, why not? If so, why?
While Karen’s current blog is focused on EC, I’m interested in them all, whether from Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, Loose Id, Changeling, the New York pubs, or whoever.
We’re not giving any brownie points here, so don’t gush all over a book or pub that you really didn’t feel all that hot about. But don’t rip one that was done well. Got me?
As a writer, I can say that most of us are readers first. So, if you’re an author, talk to me from a reader’s point of view. What makes you buy a book? Or are you on book buying hiatus because you aren’t finding anything that blows your skirt up?
Do you think reviewers are fair? Or do you think most of them just paint a happy face on most books they review whether the book was good or not?
Warning: I don’t care if you use names, or if you respond anonymously. It’s all about being straight up and finding out what you really think about the industry right now. BUT ANY PERSONAL FLAMING/NAME CALLING WILL BE DELETED. PERIOD.
So…whaddup?
TJ
). It takes up way too much energy, to do so.
Hi Ladies,
by Lisa Avila May 6th, 2007 at 2:28 pmI’m a reader and I read everything from childrens books to erotica. I buy books based on many things, authors that I like, reviews, covers and titles. For the most part I’m satisfied on the quality of books I buy, there have only been a couple of books that I have bought that I just couldn’t finish, both by the same author. I think that reviewers reflect the type of genre they like. For instance if a reviewer likes historical books, those books get better reviews, if they dislike paranormaal then parenormal get bad reviews, at least in the reviews I’ve verses actual books, that is what I have found.
Hm. Interesting topic.
I thought Karen’s blog got completely out of hand.
As a reader, I only have one real complaint. Loose Id’s e-books are priced far too high. $1.99 for a 2K story? $5.99 for a 35K story? $6.99 for a 60K story? Melany Logen’s Torc’s Salvation is over 80K and is only $6.49. Other e-pubs might over charge, but I’ve not bought from them all.
I think Samhain is far more reasonable. We’re talking e-format. And I thought one of the draws to e-format was they were cheaper to produce? Saves paper and all that jazz. So, why do some e-pubs have inflated prices?
As a reader, I never pay attention to reviews. I preferred to make my own mind up. As an author, I know a review is only one person’s opinion. Though, I do appreciate the good ones. ;) Even the not so good ones if they’re well written and give conductive criticism.
Mel
by Melissa Lopez May 6th, 2007 at 2:45 pmSorry about that. I copied one of my daughter’s on-line haunts, instead of my site addy. :)
Mel
by Melissa Lopez May 6th, 2007 at 2:50 pmDo you think reviewers are fair? Or do you think most of them just paint a happy face on most books they review whether the book was good or not?
When I read this I had to respond even though I had planned not to. It is my opinion that reviewers try to give an honest opinion about the book without tearing up the author. Yet I can understand reviewers who only put a happy face on all books. Authors are people too and maybe having a bad day but there have been authors who have been abusive in response to a less than glowing review. These same authors have received good reviews on other of their books.
by Chris Roberts May 6th, 2007 at 3:26 pmReviewers are not paid to review these books. They do it because they love it and they love books.
Just my opinion. Being an author is a profession and as such authors need to act professionally and others will follow in your footsteps.
Getting off my soap box now.
Actually, I DO care if people comment anonymously. I think part of the problem, a big part of it, is that people feel free to lob out any crap they want when they don’t put a name to it. The people calling names and making accusations were for the most part doing so anonymously. So as one of the people who runs this blog I gotta say, if you’re gonna say it, do so with a name or shut the fuck up.
Sorry, that’s a huge issue of mine and IMO, it’s cowardly to lob accusations like that without a name. Especially as several of them were outright fabrications like - EC editors can’t do anything but line edit - bullshit, my editor edits comprehensively - both for grammar and content. Another was “any EC author who denies they’ve never been told to sex up a book is lying” Well who the hell are you to speak for me? I have NEVER been told to sex up a book. Period. Not by any publisher.
If you have the balls to say it, have the balls to use your name or hide behind anonymity elsewhere.
by Lauren Dane May 6th, 2007 at 3:26 pmI think Lisa’s comment that reviewers tend to reflect the genre they enjoy, makes total sense. Before I became an author, I reviewed books for a very short period of time. I tried to be careful not to choose a book that I knew I wouldn’t really be into.
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 6th, 2007 at 3:57 pmHey Mel,
Yeah, I think it went a bit overboard, too. Karen has every right to say what she wants on her blog and if she hated the particular book that caused the firestorm, then fine. But I also think it should have been reined in when the name calling and pot shots began.
I don’t know what to say about the prices of eBooks. I buy from Loose Id and Changeling, but can’t for the life of me figure out how they price the darned things. It costs me almost as much to get an eBook at some places than it costs to walk into Borders and buy a Christine Feehan book off the shelf. Go figure…
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 6th, 2007 at 4:01 pmHey Chris,
“there have been authors who have been abusive in response to a less than glowing review.”
Really? I don’t know why I’m surprised. I think I tend to place authors ‘above the fray’ and don’t expect them to lash out at a reviewer. Not everybody is going to love every book. And while I hate getting poor reviews it’s never crossed my mind to contact a reviewer and tell them off about it. Wow. *tj crawling out of her naive cave*
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 6th, 2007 at 4:05 pmWoohoo! GO LAUREN! SAY WHAT YOU FEEL, GIRL
by TJ Michaels May 6th, 2007 at 4:07 pmI’m with Lauren. I don’t appreciate anonymous comments. I believe there’d be less drama everywhere without them. Until they revamped the website, I visited the Romantictimes boards for years. Anonymous comments were always slamming and flaming. Ugh. Cowards.
My EC editor is competent as well. And, I’ve not been asked to sex up a book either.
Mel
by Melissa Lopez May 6th, 2007 at 4:25 pmI’ve had two editors and I’ve never been asked to sex up anything either. I tried to leave a post on Karen’s blog today saying that, but it wouldn’t let me - kept timing out.
My editors, both of them, have always been great with punctuation and grammar. I suck a dangling modifiers (hate those damned danglies) but they manage to always catch ‘em. And if something doesn’t make sense in a mani, or they ask for an explanation or ask me to revise. I appreciate that because sometimes I’ve looked at a mani so long I miss things.
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 6th, 2007 at 4:33 pmEveryone has a right to their opinion…but they also need to have facts to back them up, not hearsay. Yes, there are some books I have read I am not particularly fond of, but someone had to have seen something redeeming about them or they wouldn’t have seen the light of day. Just because they are not written to standards I hold (and these are standards of MY OPINION ONLY, not everyone’s), and have expect from other publishing houses, does not mean they are “bad” *sheesh*
I have authors who are favorites and others who are not. But each one of you, whether writers of contemporary, GLBT, paranormal, Sci-fi, or erotic (or any of the other gazillion genres readily available) should be commended for putting your work out there, not vilified for the attempt. You open yourself for everyone’s opinions and as my momma says (often enough I finally believe it), “Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and some of them stink”.
There are editors who are more detailed oriented than others. There are those who rush through edits from overload. But I would like to think that, as an editor myself, I am vigilant with flowing storylines, correct usage of grammar, run-on sentences, poor layouts, and all the rest that goes into helping produce a better-than-average story for the readers, who are paying good money for a product.
But hell…who hasn’t screwed up one or twice?
Let it go, move on, and be adults about it. Work to improve your craft, whether editor, publisher, or author.
If YOU have a beef take it up face-to-face with the person or business you have a beef with. Don’t vent to the ‘Net.
*having vented herself, she goes back to her closet to work on edits*
by Debi Sullivan May 6th, 2007 at 6:00 pmWooo! Go, Debi! I’m with you on the “vent to the ‘Net” thing.
As authors, part of the job is being professional. Not to mention, my contract says I will not disclose the inner workings of my publisher. And since I signed the darned thing, the least I can do is keep my word and not flame them on the ‘Net.
It’s like any relationship - some things are going to make you happy. Some things are going to piss you off. But you talk to the one who got under your skin.
Everyone needs to vent - but if I need to do it, I’ll vent to a trusted friend, not to the world at large.
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 6th, 2007 at 6:24 pmI thought people got extremely carried away by the whole thing. I read the initial review. While it was obvious that the reviewer did not like it, I didn’t feel like it was a personal attack. She definitely didn’t like the writing and felt that it basically sucked but I didn’t hear her saying that the author was vile or useless or anything like that. (Others may have read the review differently.)
THEN, the responses started. ALL EC editors suck, ALL people who write negative reviews are evil bitches, ALL…you get the idea. Generalizations piss me off.
And guess what? If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, shut the fuck up and don’t write it on the net. And if you do write it? Own up to it. (You all know what/who I’m talking about….)
I was pretty stunned (have been before and probably will continue to be) at the nastiness that some people feel free to spew. And how extreme people’s opinions are. (There’s really a bunch of intolerant people out there. I don’t know why that surprises me.) If you don’t like someone’s writing, okay, don’t buy their work again. If asked, I would respond honestly but dang, the vitriol that was oozing all over the internet last week was disgusting. Likewise, if you don’t like someone’s reviews, stop reading.
I do think the author in question showed a lot of class and restraint by refusing to be drawn into the fray. Kudos to her.
Wait…did you ask about the quality of work??? Man, did I go off on a tangent or what?
It does seem that there are more ebooks lately that I actively dislike. It’s not that I’m buying more–I’m actually buying less–so it’s not just that the quantity is higher and therefore there’s the same percentage of books I don’t like. I’m not sure what it is. it could just be cyclical. It could be me. Who knows. Here’s the deal–if I find an author I don’t like, I don’t purchase again unless the next one really, really, really looks tempting. People change, their writing changes, shit happens. I’m willing to take another look.
Did I go off on a tangent again? Sorry!!!
by Collette May 6th, 2007 at 9:19 pmI spewed forth with this on my own blog but it fits the topic so I’ll toss it in here since no one ever looks at my blog anyway
This is sure to get me on numerous shit lists but I know from my own e-book buying experiences that the worst clunkers end up being new authors’ first or second books ever written. The fact that e-publishing is open to much shorter stories than the
major houses, means that even eight, ninth or tenth published books can be by authors who’ve only been writing a very short time. Add to that the number of new e-pubs springing up with slots to fill means that more marginal stuff will get through.
Yes, I know that quite a few “first books” even get picked up by the big houses and make loads of cash but in general it takes a
lot of writing to get to the point of your work being ready for public consumption.
Personal computers make it easy for avid readers to craft their own stories but I think it makes it too easy sometimes. Back in
the dinosaur days when having an electric typewriter was a big deal, you had to think long and hard about what you wanted
to say and how you wanted to say it or you’d be typing pages and pages over if you wanted to move a paragraph or cut a
few sentences.
Even so, I thought my early efforts were great just as 99.9% of other new writers do, and I sent my manuscripts out and I got
the lame little form rejections. And like 99.9% of other new writers I was sure the agents and editors were just wrong, or
didn’t like something about me for some reason.
It took me seven years of writing–about one million words worth– until I could see the flaws in those early books. Over seven years and over a million words written and untold thousands scrapped to make it to the point that a real live New York editor wanted to pay me for my work.
by Barbara Sheridan May 6th, 2007 at 11:05 pmI found out about the post, etc. after the fact. It did surprise me when the comments turned to personal attacks, seeming blanket statements…just plain ugly.
I am a reader who discovered ebooks a little over a year ago. My tastes are pretty broad. I love the paranormals for taking a serious break from reality, but sometimes find that I don’t want to be swept so far away. Contemporaries and romantic suspense or humor are what I turn to then. There does seem to be fewer options among those in new releases lately. Likewise, I love erotic romance stories, but sometimes have been seeing a lack of the romance that made it all truly heartmelting. Menage, BDSM, etc. can be very exciting, but sometimes I wish there were more of the really erotic M/F to choose from.
As for quality of the books I have been coming across lately, some have been wonderful and some have been just awful. A book is a whole package with story, cover art, general editing and proofreading. I have only a vague idea of the responsibilities of an editor, but I do wish the books would be checked better for inconsistencies, mistakes in spelling, grammar, word usage. A surprising number of these mistakes would have been caught just by using the Spell and Grammar Check function in Word. Have found higher number of these problems with ebooks from certain publishers and it makes me sad that the author’s book isn’t treated with more respect. Cover art can be displeasing to me and not bother me too much about a book.
In truth, I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect a basic standard to be met in order for the product to be worth the price. I think it has been mentioned that ebook costs have been increasing quite a bit. Initial draw was partially due to the reasonable pricing.
Reviewers should be honest about what they read. However, it may be that some are more scathing than they should be and others feel too much pressure to be nice so are unable to be truly critical in analysis. Lisa is correct, if reviewers choose the books that they review, it is more likely that they choose stories that they prefer, leading to higher ratings than anorther reviewer without same leanings would give.
Book summaries give me the overview of a work. However, I tend to buy books that I have had the opportunity to read an excerpt from so that I get a chance to see if the writing style is to my tastes.
Well, you did ask for our opinions. Admittedly, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable jumping into a fray so am glad I can have my say here. I realize I am hiding in all of my wool, but hope you would have seen me around enough to know that it would not be because I wanted to be vindictive anonymously.
by Little Lamb Lost May 6th, 2007 at 11:56 pmAs a reader I was agog and aghast at most of the dust-up that went on last week. It was like the Energizer Bunny, it kept going and going and going. And the odd thing was it was everywhere. But for sheer entertainment value, it was better than most soap operas on television.
Now, to return to the topic at hand. I’m with Little Lamb Lost on this one. When I am forking over my hard-earned dollars I expect a minimum standard of quality in anything I read. The occasional error won’t turn the book into a wall-banger, but it will annoy me. More frequent errors drop me out of the flow of the book and can make it difficult to lose myself in the story again. While I read more than average, I still think if I find myself wondering why a book wasn’t edited better, then someone who is a professional surely should have seen what I saw and more. As for inconsistencies, they drive me nuts. If there is one in a book, trust me, I will find it and I will chew on it forever. My final complaint is one I’ve seen increasingly lately, and that is world-building problems. If an author is going to take the time to build a world, then do us a favor and make sure things are explained, described, and followed-up on.
I’ve read two books recently by new, for me, authors that failed to cross the t’s and dot the i’s in their fantasy building. One failed to describe fully the elements in her fantasy world. Which left me puzzled in general. But then she failed to wrap up the essential plot to the story. By the time it was all over I was left to scratch my head and think, that’s it? The protaganists were great, it was all the other stuff that annoyed me.
I’ve had the occasional book that was so badly proofed that I wrote the publishers, one was an EC book and the other was a NY publisher. The EC book was so poorly done, I almost sent them back a corrected copy of the book. Heck, it might have gotten me a job. Who knows? I ran out of time and couldn’t get to it, so I let it go. The NY published book was a hardcover release of a widely read author, others have had the same complaints so I know I’m not the only one to have problems.
I tend to be a demanding reader. Not everyone reads the way I do. If others can overlook these things and get lost in the story, more power to them. I’m not one of them. I realize that no matter how many times you check a book, errors slip by. Those aren’t the errors I’m talking about. I’m talking about the whole book riddled with errors ones.
As for reviews, I’ve recently started out writing reviews for a site. However, I’m not sure if it is for me. I find that I have to be a bit more diplomatic than I am used to. When I write reviews for my Yahoo group, they know what to expect from me. While I might not slam an author, I will give my unvarnished opinion and since I know I’m not trying to get free books from anyone, I can tell the whole truth as I see it. I’m also reviewing books I’ve purchased, so there isn’t any conflict of interest.
The only reviews I’ve really come to rely on are those from friends who share the same tastes in reading material that I do. They have pushed me into some great books, that I don’t know if I would have found otherwise. Rarely do they steer me wrong.
I hope this is the type of comments you guys were looking for. I’m always willing to fork over my two cents!
by Qadesh May 7th, 2007 at 2:24 amI missed the blow up when it occured, so can only comment on what I’ve read of the fall-out, but one thing that crossed my mind while doing so was the number of mediocre books I’ve read lately by authors who have never let me down before and it got me to wondering why this is so.
I think (as a writer in a very hard and demanding market) the pressure to always be forefront in the reader’s mind has had a worrying impact on what some writers (including myself) put out. The time demands on both writers and editors continue to grow, more so with each new epublisher that joins the ranks and each new name added to their lists. We MUST get that new book out, that new series out, before the ink - whether cyber or real - dries on our last one or heaven forbid, we are forgotten about. (This is a very real fear for many authors I know, and for more than one, its brought them very close to burn out.) This means some authors rarely get the chance/luxury of finishing a mss, putting it aside for a few months and then revisiting it with a fresh mind. I WISH I had the chance to do such a think, and I know others do too. (Please note, I’m not trying to make excuses, which leads me to….)
…The flip side - anything but 100% effort and attention is not acceptable when your product is being paid for. I wouldn’t expect a car-washer to leave mud on my mud-flaps, why should I expect a book I’ve paid for to be less than grammatically perfect. I’m not referring to minor plot issues here, mainly because it is almost impossible to find a story (whether on paper or film) that doesn’t contain at least one plot hole or contrived situation (and again, something I’m totally guilty of, I’m ashamed to say), but a GOOD story should engage a reader well enough that those holes and coincidences are forgiven. It’s when poor editing yanks a reader out of the world created in the words that I get irritated (Stephen King’s Cell was unfortunately, a mind-field of missed typos in the edition I read, so I guess even the ‘greats’ are um, should I say guilty?
OK, so I’ve rambled on… and during my first post ever on this great blog. I’ll go away now. Hope I didn’t offend anyone. Thanks.
by Lexxie Couper May 7th, 2007 at 5:17 amI didn’t Changeling over prices, too. I’ve not bought from them in a while.
I’ve gotten ideas of book lengths through blogs. Many authors list book lengths.
Mel
by Melissa Lopez May 7th, 2007 at 5:57 amLauren, you darn wild woman! I gather you don’t like annon comments, eh mami? teehee
Okay, I rarely, if ever visit blogs, unless It’s a friends or I’m procrastinating writing the ending of a book that is due like in a couple of weeks
So, I keep the negative vibes away, this way. I don’t visit the site you all mentioned, nothing at all against the blogger, I just don’t visit many sites at all. There are a few I try and pop in on, like Joyfully reviewed (Joy is a damn STUD)
I will say, that everyone has a right to their opinion, reader, reviewer, or author. I believe that sometimes, however, folks on the net plum lose their minds. Seriously, is name calling really necessary? Is it necessary to go on and on and on and on and on and…you get my point, trashing books and authors? ::shrug:: I don’t think so, but hell, again, everyone has a right to their opinion. It would be cool as hell though, if there were more positive posts. Not saying we have to be Mary Poppins all light and sunshine, but damn, do we have to be so friggin’ mean?
My time on the computer is first dedicated to my writing. I write a lot. Always honing my craft, and I’ve been blessed to have contracts to fill. It doesn’t leave much time for internet hopping, half the time my own blog, or myspace is sadly lacking in attention. The time I do spend, once in a while going out to check out buddies blogs or whatnot, I don’t feel like reading all the mess I sometimes accidently, fall ass-backward into finding. I quickly leave those sites and go back to my own, dysfunctional yet highly functional private world, lol.
In the end, in the words of my beloved Big Momma, “everything aint for everybody” I love my readers, they are loyal and welcome all new readers. But if someone reads something of mine, and doesn’t dig my flow, I won’t stalk them. I won’t call the great spirits to curse them and their line for generations to come. I won’t bitch and gripe (at least not online
). It takes up way too much energy, to do so.
I write for Ellora’s Cave, Kensington, and recently, Halequin Spice. I enjoy writing for each one my publishers, have had great sales and hope to keep striving to be the best I can.
And all I can do, all any of us can do, is keep doing the damn thang, write to the best of our ability, and enjoy the ride!
Y’all be good,
by Kimberly May 7th, 2007 at 9:14 amKim
I didn’t read the original post that caused all the ruckus, but I will share my reading experiences lately. I’m a writer and avid reader, and I read from a bunch of sites, EC, Samhain, Loose Id, NCP and the like. I recently purchased a book from a respectable publisher I’ve read other good works from. The cover was great, I’d seen a decent review for the book elsewhere…and it royally sucked. Too many characters, a plot that circled and circled, no resolution at the end. I was extremely pissed (and I don’t normally get angry by a bad book) that I’d spent my money and so much time reading the thing, hoping it would get better. I was tempted to submit a “don’t buy this book” review, then thought the better of it. I didn’t like the book, but someone else did. And as a writer, I respect the time it took the author to write the blasted thing. But I have to wonder what the heck the editors were thinking publishing it. I’ve come across other works I didn’t care for, but have found that certain publishers are better than others. And unlike most of you, I do go by reviews as well as the blurb. With books (both print and ebooks) so expensive today, I’m not going to fork over 6 or 7 bucks if the book gets a 1 or 2 star unless I know the author and like her. i.e. Gena Showalter’s The Nymph King. RT gave it a 2, but I loved the book. I think the reviewer was anything but a paranormal reader, but I liked the author, and didn’t care what the review said.
:) Marie
by Marie Harte May 7th, 2007 at 9:51 amI haven’t read the other blog either, but when it comes to this topic I will say that everyone is entitled to an opinion. I don’t really enjoy snark blogs or reviews, they’re just not my thing. However, both as an author and a reader, I enjoy honest reviews. I want to know what a reader liked, and what they didn’t like.
As to the quality of stories. I think tastes vary, and what I think sucks, someone else will love. I’ve just become more selective in my buying.
by Sasha May 7th, 2007 at 9:52 amA big shout to all ya’ll!
I really appreciate everyone’s comments. Especially those of you that don’t typically blog.
Bottom line - it’s an individual thing. Reader’s aren’t going to love everything. Hell, as a writer, I look back at my first mani and cringe. Even though the plot is kick butt and the characters are awesome, there are some things I had to learn about putting a good book together. And those things didn’t come into focus until I had an editor willing to point them out to me.
And reviewers are readers - they’re not going to like everything. Check it - my debut received a 4 from RT. My best and favorite book, CARINIAN’S SEEKER, received a 2. And it’s a damned good book.
Did I rave at the reviewer? Not. Besides, it received 5 stars at several other places, so I just swept it under the rug, stomped on it a few times and went on to the next task.
You all have been great in your responses! And, er, Kimberly and Sasha…ya’ll came out to play and it made me feel so SPECIAL *tj sniffing*
LLL, Marie, Lexxie and Qadesh, ya’ll are top notch.
Mel, you’re the woman. Barb, Collette, Chris and Debi, you’re much appreciated.
Now…check out Lauren’s contest! And Shelley is up to god-knows-what. Those two women are busier than a one legged man in a ass-kickin’ contest!
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 7th, 2007 at 11:43 amI guess I’m totally in the dark - I only heard about the blow-up on Friday.
As a reviewer, I choose to review books I think I would like. Even if I find a book I dislike, when I post the review I can generally find something positive to say. Now since Karen was not on a review site, she has no need to censor her opinion, and every right to let people know the book had lots of problems. As a reader who pays good money for books, I appreciate that.
I don’t buy books based on reviews, however, if it is a new author, I’ll read reviews just to get an idea of how well the author wrote the book.
My book purchases are based on excerpts I’ve read, the blurb, or word of mouth from the loops I’m on.
I’m very thankful there are so many ebook and print books to choose from. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, and many options for getting it.
by Lisa Freeman May 7th, 2007 at 1:11 pmWell said, Lisa :D
TJ
by TJ Michaels May 7th, 2007 at 1:15 pmAww TJ, You are special!
Honestly, constructive conversations are good, and you approached this in a great way!
by Sasha May 7th, 2007 at 1:17 pmGoodness, I meant to type…
I didn’t know Changeling over priced. I really need to proofread all my comments. ;)
Happy Monday~
by Melissa Lopez May 7th, 2007 at 1:18 pmMel
Out of curiosity, how did Melissa come by her word counts for the Loose Id books? I just flipped through a few ebooks in Acrobat and I couldn’t figure out how to suss the word counts, only page numbers, which, obviously, does me no good in determining word count.
I’m also curious to know which LI books at 35k sell for 5.99. My first book with LI is 45k and I always thought the cut-off was higher than 35, though I could be wrong.
In either case, Ellora’s Cave has far more expensive books. I just read a 70 page book that cost about 4.50. I have no idea what the word count was (like I said, I don’t yet know where to find it!) but it wasn’t anywhere near what I was expecting for a 4.50 ebook - for a dollar more you can get book 3 times that in length.
by Isabella Snow May 20th, 2007 at 2:53 am