Derry, Northern Ireland

Derry, Northern Ireland
A book I'm working on is set in this town.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Processing David Martin...

Spent the evening trying to figure out the best format and company through which to publish David Martin. The artwork is almost done and the cover's up for work. I'm pretty much decided on a 6x9" format, black & white interiors, full color cover. But since it'll be illustrated, I wonder if that's too big? I guess I won't know until I put it together.

I checked with Bowker about buying my own ISBN for the book, but they want $125 for one. They also offer self-publishing...started at $325!!! Create Space will charge $25 for a wider service and nothing for publishing, but I don't trust their reporting. According to Amazon Author Sales Reports, I've sold 3 copies of the paperback of Bobby Carapisi. CS says I sold 2.

I know one sale was to me, so I'd have a paperback copy of the book, and another paperback sold a couple months back (I'm surprised it sold any, it's priced so high). Then another sold in late August. I pointed out the extra sale and they claim it's a resale of the one copy I'd sold. In short, I'd sold 1 copy of BC to someone who had an Amazon Marketplace account, like me, who then resold it.

I don't really believe them. I've long suspected Amazon's deal is to slightly underreport sales, just enough to add to the profit line but not enough to cause a full-scale audit. After all, they have close to 10,000,000 books on hand...they say.

I don't know. I guess no matter who the publisher is, you're at their mercy when it comes to knowing how well your book's selling.

I've been trying to get hold of the publisher of HTRASG, PM, RIHC6 and BC to get some money he owes me. Can't get him to answer the phone or respond to e-mails. Guess that's a dead end. My next step is to insist he sign the books back to me, I publish them, myself, and see if I can make any money off them.

I now have 4 people who owe me enough money to pay off my tax burden and make a good dent in this year's taxes...but you think I'm seeing a dime of it? Sure.

2 comments:

MAC said...

I hope you resolve it soon.., I WANT TO READ IT!!!

JamTheCat said...

So do I!!!!!! ;)