So many rules! So many scammers............so many things I didn't know before I ventured down this publishing path. Who says you can't teach an old dog, new tricks! I have learned many in recent days.
First, let's talk about the rules. This insight pertains to the application for, and the eventual receipt of my very own Copyright Certification of Registration. Yes, my book is copyrighted by the Library of Congress, United States Copyright Office in Washington DC. I received the official document late last week. That, in and of itself, is humbling. It means that my words, written in my own style, are mine, and mine alone. Wow. I just patted myself on the back. . . again.
But wait . . . what about the rules? Well, the first biggie is this one. If you, as a writer, have in anyway, shape or form, published any part of your project in any public medium, including but not limited to all social media venues, that part forever more, cannot be included in the actual copyright files, going forward. My first question to that would be, "Why didn't anyone tell me this before I did exactly what I wasn't supposed to do!"
If you recall in my last blog post, I included a few paragraphs from Chapter 18 of my book. I thought I was being creative, giving you, my readers, a taste of what you were to expect after publication. Nope. . . shouldn't have done that! Oh well, lesson learned.
The next issue arose when I was informed that "if" you create a photographic composite piece (as I did) for the front and/or back cover of your book, and use images that are not your own, you have two choices. One being, get written permission from the rightful owner to include said image, or, don't include the image in the copyright files. All good so far . . . I am on top of things. Except for this. . . "if" you use any part of a "stock" image from a "free image site" to enhance your cover creation, you may not copyright that part of the image at all. The answer is no, notta, never. Again, I wasn't informed of that rule before I went to all the effort of coming up with an awesome cover design. Ok, I get it. . . now. The solution: I just excluded the front cover design from my filing.
Now for the maddening part . . . "if" you hire a professional to come up with a unique cover design, even though none of that work is actually yours . . . yes, you guessed it, you can include the professional design in your copyright files. Like I said, it's a mad, mad, mad world.
Ok, what about the scammers? We all, at one point or another, have dealt with this particular scourge on society, and being a writer or published author just seems to attract them like flies on shit. Two recent examples come to mind. My book hadn't been posted on Amazon more that a couple of hours when the phone rang. Now, normally, I do not answer if it is an unknown caller, but this one came up on the screen with a full name. I was genuinely curious, so I answered. "Jenny" greeted me with a cheerful voice, informing me she was the buyer with a certain bookstore in Richmond VA. The hairs on my neck instantly stood to attention. She congratulated me on being published and wanted to discuss the feasibility of putting my books in her store. This seemed like a reasonable thing for someone to ask . . . except that she immediately asked if I provided discounts for volume purchases. Red lights started flashing. I immediately knew it was a scam because I know, and she should have known there is a mechanism in place for all bookstores to purchase any quantity of books through Ingram World Wide Book Distributers. As she was continuing to talk, or rather, make up more bullshit, I put the receiver down and attempted to look up her on-line presence. She must have sensed a stall because she hurriedly offered to send all the information to me through email correspondence and abruptly ended the call. Damn, I didn't even get to ask her how the weather was in Richmond!
The second issue happened less than an hour later. I had gotten curious as to what was going on with my listing over at the two Amazon sites, the US and the Canadian arms of this company. The US site, I discovered, was up and running with all the correct information and pricing attached. This was a good thing. However, upon inspection of the Canadian site, I found it only populated with a "third-party seller" and they had inflated the price of my book astronomically! Those bastards!!
I should point out, this did not come as a surprise to me. I had been warned by the publishing company that Amazon gives these outside sellers first dibs at getting a kick at the can before they get their own revenue streams up and running (and grabbing their heavy-handed share of the book profits.)
So, all this to say, have faith dear readers! The on-line selling through Amazon will happen in Canada soon, as will the e-book sales for Kindle and Kobo etc.
To close out this post, I will offer you this alternative. I have ordered, and will receive soon, a significant number of copies of my book to physically have with me. That means that if you can't make it to Kingston or Sarnia, the two places where I will be signing copies, you can email me at my address below and request a signed copy of my book, then mailed to you directly by including your municipal mailing address. This pricing will consist of the book cost plus Canada Post shipping charges, for a total of $45 each . . . paid by e-transfer to the same email below. I have direct deposit so no need for answer to any question.
I am so grateful for each of you and am thrilled to be able to finally get this passion project out into the wild. Thank you so much, and I sure hope you get what you need out of my musings!
Dana