Are you on Scribd?

chicki · 08-10-2010, 03:34 PM

As authors, we are always looking for new readers. I signed up for Scribd two days ago and have already had 47 readers!

If you decide to join, be sure to include your book cover as page 1 of your first chapter.

Here's to sales!

Chicki

Steven Lake · 08-10-2010, 04:22 PM

Not on there, but that does look interesting.

jaxx6166 · 08-17-2010, 06:44 PM

Is that place still harboring darknet refuges?

M T McGuire · 08-19-2010, 05:22 PM

I got quite a few downloads for my first short story and seven tenths of bugger all for the next one so I've kind of given up on it... I probably shouldn't though because it's probably me and not Scribd that's responsible for the dip in downloads.

Are you selling on there or just providing a sample?

Cheers

MTM

chicki · 08-20-2010, 07:45 AM

I just posted my first three chapters and have gotten quite a few reads and a couple of downloads. No selling there; just provided the order link to Amazon.

Chicki

neilmarr · 08-20-2010, 12:53 PM

Scribd is yet another US-centric outlet, Chick. Publishers (and indie authors) without an 'official' US presence are excluded. This is just one of many, many reasons why my own wee Canada-based house is currently working with a US lawyer to establish a legal (if only 'paper office') US base. Expensive, but worthwhile in the long run when you have a large and growing catalogue of titles. Maybe not for single indie authors outside the US, though -- more trouble and expense than it's worth to them, I'd think. Cheers. Neil

jaxx6166 · 08-20-2010, 11:01 PM

Wait..Canada? Neil you make my brain hurt. What happened to france

neilmarr · 08-21-2010, 03:58 AM

I'm still in France, Jaxx. Under house arrest. The team's scattered around the globe, though, and we decided to go for Canadian registration because my newish technical and admin partner from a year or so ago is based there and it's handy. We tend to work with authors by email and telephone (with only the occasional face-to-face meeting) because they, too, are in spread around. Mainly in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, but some tucked away in some pretty exotic spots. We're in the throes of US registration (paper office only) and are about to register also in Australia with a staff team -- editorial, admin, tech, promo, and we've even tied up a local printer for distribution Down Under. That's always been a problem because our current print and delivery depots (LSI) are US and UK. Cheers. Neil

jaxx6166 · 08-21-2010, 12:36 PM

Australia huh..? I've got a writer friend down that way was complaining that there really doesn't seem to be any local publishers indigenous to the county, kinda like kangaroos. She was telling me that just about every place she submits to is in England. But she subs to englands big companies more than indies I think

meromana · 08-22-2010, 12:23 AM

I've been on Scribd for about a month now and have had 100 reads of my book sample. Not sure whether that's a good count or not, but I'm happy with it. Best part for me, though, is that I found a groovy Wordpress widget that lets me show my Scribd-hosted sample on my blog in their reader, which is much spiffier than just throwing it up on the page in HTML.

--Maria

kcmay · 08-23-2010, 09:37 AM

Thanks for this tip! I think I may try it.

neilmarr · 08-23-2010, 11:29 AM

***Australia huh..? I've got a writer friend down that way was complaining that there really doesn't seem to be any local publishers indigenous to the county, kinda like kangaroos***

And she's got a point, Jaxx. Australia has had a raw deal and things appear to have been getting worse rather than better lately. Funny, though, that as far as ebooks are concerned (only this year have the Bruces and Sheilas really been catching on to the concept), they were once ahead of the field.

Back around 2000 when I first thought of turning from a non-commercial developing-authors' website I was running to acual publishing, my first plan was to go ebook-only. When I shopped around, I found that the only house I could find already working on a similar plan was Jacobyte Books in Australia. They'd kicked off back in the nineties with an expert team.

We eventually started to publish -- then UK registered -- in print and ebook, but when Jacobyte tried to do the same thing and support low ebook sales with print editions, they met a brick wall when it came to print, distribution and getting into the high-roller online stores. Eventually they faced closure because of this and apathy Down Under.

To save their excellent titles and authors from almost certain overnight obscurity, my own BeWrite Bools took them over and adopted around forty titles and a stable of around twenty-five authors.

We've remained good buddies over the years and a month or two ago, we got our heads together with the original Jacobyte Editor, technician, admin lady and a new local printer in Adelaide, and we're now in the midst of arranging to put the old Jacobyte team back together and registering them as the Australian end of the (now Canadian) BeWrite Books operation.

But, Oz is still tough on publishers -- and by extension on local authors -- so it's going to be an uphill catch-up struggle.

Give it until about mid-October, Jaxx, and get your friend to drop me a line and I'll make the introducions for her to her new local indie publisher. She might like to try her luck closer to home for a change.

Cheers. Neil

jaxx6166 · 08-24-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Give it until about mid-October, Jaxx, and get your friend to drop me a line and I'll make the introducions for her to her new local indie publisher. She might like to try her luck closer to home for a change.
Cheers. Neil

Thanks for the note. I gave her the heads up about good things coming to Oz. Why do they call it Oz anyway?

But, back on topic - - Is ScribD still the "exclusive US e-Book distributor" for the likes of JK Rowling? Or have they nipped that in the bud?

Stanford · 08-26-2010, 03:08 PM

Free excerpt with a link to Amazon or other purchase site sounds like a fine idea. Will definitely try it. Thanks for the tip!

MacEachaidh · 08-27-2010, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

Why do they call it Oz anyway?

'Cause that's how we pronounce the first syllable of the name of the place, jaxx. North Americans tend to pronounce it as "oss" (and call us "ossies"), and Brits as either "oss" or "orss", but for us the sound is closer to "oz".

Anyway. I'm another one shut out of concerns like Scribd because of geographic restrictions. (G'day Neil! Sorry if this sounds a wee bit self-interested, but I look forward to seeing your Aussie branch up and running!

)

08-10-2010, 03:34 PM	#1
chicki Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Device: Kindle	Are you on Scribd? As authors, we are always looking for new readers. I signed up for Scribd two days ago and have already had 47 readers! If you decide to join, be sure to include your book cover as page 1 of your first chapter. Here's to sales! Chicki

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08-10-2010, 04:22 PM	#2
Steven Lake Sci-Fi Author Posts: 1,157 Karma: 14743509 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Michigan Device: PC (Calibre)	Not on there, but that does look interesting.

08-17-2010, 06:44 PM	#3
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Is that place still harboring darknet refuges?

08-19-2010, 05:22 PM	#4
M T McGuire Addict Posts: 231 Karma: 1006970 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England Device: kindle	I got quite a few downloads for my first short story and seven tenths of bugger all for the next one so I've kind of given up on it... I probably shouldn't though because it's probably me and not Scribd that's responsible for the dip in downloads. Are you selling on there or just providing a sample? Cheers MTM

08-20-2010, 07:45 AM	#5
chicki Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Device: Kindle	I just posted my first three chapters and have gotten quite a few reads and a couple of downloads. No selling there; just provided the order link to Amazon. Chicki

08-20-2010, 12:53 PM	#6
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Scribd is yet another US-centric outlet, Chick. Publishers (and indie authors) without an 'official' US presence are excluded. This is just one of many, many reasons why my own wee Canada-based house is currently working with a US lawyer to establish a legal (if only 'paper office') US base. Expensive, but worthwhile in the long run when you have a large and growing catalogue of titles. Maybe not for single indie authors outside the US, though -- more trouble and expense than it's worth to them, I'd think. Cheers. Neil

08-20-2010, 11:01 PM	#7
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Wait..Canada? Neil you make my brain hurt. What happened to france

08-21-2010, 03:58 AM	#8
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	I'm still in France, Jaxx. Under house arrest. The team's scattered around the globe, though, and we decided to go for Canadian registration because my newish technical and admin partner from a year or so ago is based there and it's handy. We tend to work with authors by email and telephone (with only the occasional face-to-face meeting) because they, too, are in spread around. Mainly in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia, but some tucked away in some pretty exotic spots. We're in the throes of US registration (paper office only) and are about to register also in Australia with a staff team -- editorial, admin, tech, promo, and we've even tied up a local printer for distribution Down Under. That's always been a problem because our current print and delivery depots (LSI) are US and UK. Cheers. Neil

08-21-2010, 12:36 PM	#9
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Australia huh..? I've got a writer friend down that way was complaining that there really doesn't seem to be any local publishers indigenous to the county, kinda like kangaroos. She was telling me that just about every place she submits to is in England. But she subs to englands big companies more than indies I think

08-22-2010, 12:23 AM	#10
meromana Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 11430 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: my laptop	I've been on Scribd for about a month now and have had 100 reads of my book sample. Not sure whether that's a good count or not, but I'm happy with it. Best part for me, though, is that I found a groovy Wordpress widget that lets me show my Scribd-hosted sample on my blog in their reader, which is much spiffier than just throwing it up on the page in HTML. --Maria

08-23-2010, 09:37 AM	#11
kcmay Addict Posts: 363 Karma: 500001 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle2	Thanks for this tip! I think I may try it.

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08-23-2010, 11:29 AM	#12
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	*Australia huh..? I've got a writer friend down that way was complaining that there really doesn't seem to be any local publishers indigenous to the county, kinda like kangaroos* And she's got a point, Jaxx. Australia has had a raw deal and things appear to have been getting worse rather than better lately. Funny, though, that as far as ebooks are concerned (only this year have the Bruces and Sheilas really been catching on to the concept), they were once ahead of the field. Back around 2000 when I first thought of turning from a non-commercial developing-authors' website I was running to acual publishing, my first plan was to go ebook-only. When I shopped around, I found that the only house I could find already working on a similar plan was Jacobyte Books in Australia. They'd kicked off back in the nineties with an expert team. We eventually started to publish -- then UK registered -- in print and ebook, but when Jacobyte tried to do the same thing and support low ebook sales with print editions, they met a brick wall when it came to print, distribution and getting into the high-roller online stores. Eventually they faced closure because of this and apathy Down Under. To save their excellent titles and authors from almost certain overnight obscurity, my own BeWrite Bools took them over and adopted around forty titles and a stable of around twenty-five authors. We've remained good buddies over the years and a month or two ago, we got our heads together with the original Jacobyte Editor, technician, admin lady and a new local printer in Adelaide, and we're now in the midst of arranging to put the old Jacobyte team back together and registering them as the Australian end of the (now Canadian) BeWrite Books operation. But, Oz is still tough on publishers -- and by extension on local authors -- so it's going to be an uphill catch-up struggle. Give it until about mid-October, Jaxx, and get your friend to drop me a line and I'll make the introducions for her to her new local indie publisher. She might like to try her luck closer to home for a change. Cheers. Neil

08-26-2010, 03:08 PM	#14
Stanford New e-author Posts: 10 Karma: 24 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York, NY Device: Kindle	Free excerpt with a link to Amazon or other purchase site sounds like a fine idea. Will definitely try it. Thanks for the tip!