I am retiring from the book creation business.

Madam Broshkina · 02-18-2008, 08:13 PM

I have received a comment about the books that I have created for this site (lack of Em Dashes). That person hesitantly asked me to recreate all the books that I have already made (over 500). Due to a computer crash I have lost many of these books and the fact that I could not get the tools suggested to fix the problem to work correctly I have decided to retire from the book creation business. Many thanks for those of you have passed on karma for the books that I have created.

Sincerely,

Madam Broshkina
.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-18-2008, 09:17 PM

while i can understand your reaction, i just would like to say that in the short time i have been a member of this forum i have been impressed and grateful for all your contributions, and your work will certainly be missed (and the books you have already shared will certainly continue to be appreciated !).

yvanleterrible · 02-18-2008, 09:23 PM

This really sucks!

You shouldn't let someone bully you like that for em dashes!?!?!

I'm sure a lot of people around here feel the same. You have done a fastidious task that not many here have taken patience to do. Of course if there are other pressing reasons that might not be mentionable... but being bullied out! Unacceptable...

I personnally applaud yor work.

Patricia · 02-18-2008, 10:07 PM

Yvan, I feel that a hesitant request from someone isn't bullying. (Some people are very bothered by emdashes and there are several threads about them.)

Madam Broshkina, I do hope that you will reconsider your decision. You could quite reasonably decline to re-do your existing uploads. If you want to include emdashes in future books then I'm sure lots of people can give some advice on the book cleaner files if they are causing trouble.

wallcraft · 02-18-2008, 10:26 PM

There is absolutely no reason why you should feel obligated to update your existing ebooks.

The tools for handling MOBI files are now good enough that if someone really does not like the way a DRM-free MOBI handles em dashes, or whatever, then it should be relatively easy for them to fix the problem themselves.

If you don't still enjoy creating new ebooks, then, obviously, stop doing so. But please don't let something this minor cause you to stop. It sounds like part of the problem is that em dashes are not easy to handle in your normal work flow. My approach to this would be to ignore them (i.e. do whatever you are doing now). However, if you want to handle em dashes in new works but don't have a good way to do so - then perhaps someone can help if you provide more details.

Gideon · 02-18-2008, 11:00 PM

Thanks for all you've done, and I'd like to add my voice to those that say you shouldn't even feel remotely pressured to make these changes.

If they are bothered, it is their problem, not yours. You've done a service you share for free, if they want it some other way - that is up to them.

But whatever you do, thanks for all you've done!

JSWolf · 02-18-2008, 11:01 PM

It sounds like Book Cleaner is not being used and any em dashes that are in the text are being converted to dashes. That was the original problem till I asked vvv what to do and he told me. Then I noticed that patricia has em dash problems so that was how the Book Cleaner attachment thread was born and thanks to HarryT and others it has grown to fix a number of loading issues with Book Designer.

As for stopping converting eBooks, please don't and just ignore the request for redoing the ones you've done. It's not that big an issue. But with the Book Cleaner files, you can sort it out for future eBooks and all will be well.

HarryT · 02-19-2008, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

This really sucks!

You shouldn't let someone bully you like that for em dashes!?!?!

I honestly don't think that a "hesitant request" constitutes "bullying".

It IS a reasonable thing to request - at least for future books. Personally I far prefer books which have proper dashes rather than hyphens. It does seem something of an overreaction to say "someone's asked me to start using dashes so I'm going to give up creating books".

As Jon says, just use the BD bookcleaner files for your future books and you'll get dashes preserved. IF you decide to make improvements to your earlier books - as I frequently do to mine - then THAT'S the time to add dashes to those.

Don't give up, though; that's just daft. Personally I always welcome ways in which my books could be improved; I hope that nobody would be discouraged by polite suggestions for improvements.

Madam Broshkina · 02-19-2008, 04:20 AM

Thanks most of you for all the kind words concerning my retirement from posting books on this site. Though having a moderator on this site saying my decision is an "overreaction" and "daft" only gives me more reason not to reconsider posting books again. The suggestion that I received came from another moderator on this site who I have found to be arrogant in his past posts. This moderator has already caused some members to leave this site. If it had come from someone else perhaps I would have not daftly over reacted.

HarryT · 02-19-2008, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

Though having a moderator on this site saying my decision is an "overreaction" and "daft" only gives me more reason not to reconsider posting books again.

No offence intended, MB, but I'm afraid that I do think that it's rather an overreaction to say "I'm going to give up creating books" when you receive what you yourself say was a "hesitant request" to preserve dashes in your books. That's just a personal opinion - not speaking with my "moderator's hat" on. I know that the books that I post have been improved in all sorts of ways thanks to the helpful suggestions I've received from many other people, and I always welcome such comments (although I may on occasions disagree with the suggestion and not act on it!).

All I'm saying is please don't let what I'm sure was a suggestion aimed at nothing more than making your books better put you off; take it in the spirit in which I'm certain it was offered.

SpiderMatt · 02-19-2008, 04:51 AM

That's too bad. I appreciated your upload of My Lady Nicotine. Personally, I agree with people who say you should continue making books if you enjoy it. If you don't like it anymore, then I can understand that. I wouldn't quit something I enjoy doing just because of what someone else thought about the work. But then again, I find it pretty easy to ignore such things if I don't find the criticism constructive. Any any rate, a lot of people on this site appreciate your work, so if you are so inclined, please come back with an occassional upload if you find yourself making books in the future.

vivaldirules · 02-19-2008, 04:18 PM

emdash? What's an emdash? And who cares? I think you've done a terrific job, MB, and I particularly like your choice of authors and titles. Whether you continue or not, I thank you for your efforts.

Reminds me of comments by some of the hackers. They spend many hours writing code for other people to use for free and then get criticized when it doesn't do what someone wants. Nuts!

badgoodDeb · 02-19-2008, 05:34 PM

Say it ain't so!! You'll be greatly missed, if you do cease to make books. If it isn't fun anymore, than so be it ..... but if you still enjoy it, with or without em-dashes, your work is GREATLY appreciated.

Please don't go .....

JSWolf · 02-19-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaldirules

emdash? What's an emdash? And who cares? I think you've done a terrific job, MB, and I particularly like your choice of authors and titles. Whether you continue or not, I thank you for your efforts.

Reminds me of comments by some of the hackers. They spend many hours writing code for other people to use for free and then get criticized when it doesn't do what someone wants. Nuts!

See here for a discussion on em dashes.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14781

jamesdmanley · 02-19-2008, 05:50 PM

sounds like more e-book snobbery. sorry to hear about your decision, but thank you for all your contributions! they will be missed

02-18-2008, 08:13 PM	#1
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	I am retiring from the book creation business. I have received a comment about the books that I have created for this site (lack of Em Dashes). That person hesitantly asked me to recreate all the books that I have already made (over 500). Due to a computer crash I have lost many of these books and the fact that I could not get the tools suggested to fix the problem to work correctly I have decided to retire from the book creation business. Many thanks for those of you have passed on karma for the books that I have created. Sincerely, Madam Broshkina .

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02-18-2008, 09:17 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	while i can understand your reaction, i just would like to say that in the short time i have been a member of this forum i have been impressed and grateful for all your contributions, and your work will certainly be missed (and the books you have already shared will certainly continue to be appreciated !).

02-18-2008, 09:23 PM	#3
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	This really sucks! You shouldn't let someone bully you like that for em dashes!?!?! I'm sure a lot of people around here feel the same. You have done a fastidious task that not many here have taken patience to do. Of course if there are other pressing reasons that might not be mentionable... but being bullied out! Unacceptable... I personnally applaud yor work.

02-18-2008, 10:07 PM	#4
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	Yvan, I feel that a hesitant request from someone isn't bullying. (Some people are very bothered by emdashes and there are several threads about them.) Madam Broshkina, I do hope that you will reconsider your decision. You could quite reasonably decline to re-do your existing uploads. If you want to include emdashes in future books then I'm sure lots of people can give some advice on the book cleaner files if they are causing trouble.

02-18-2008, 10:26 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,975 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	There is absolutely no reason why you should feel obligated to update your existing ebooks. The tools for handling MOBI files are now good enough that if someone really does not like the way a DRM-free MOBI handles em dashes, or whatever, then it should be relatively easy for them to fix the problem themselves. If you don't still enjoy creating new ebooks, then, obviously, stop doing so. But please don't let something this minor cause you to stop. It sounds like part of the problem is that em dashes are not easy to handle in your normal work flow. My approach to this would be to ignore them (i.e. do whatever you are doing now). However, if you want to handle em dashes in new works but don't have a good way to do so - then perhaps someone can help if you provide more details.

02-18-2008, 11:00 PM	#6
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Thanks for all you've done, and I'd like to add my voice to those that say you shouldn't even feel remotely pressured to make these changes. If they are bothered, it is their problem, not yours. You've done a service you share for free, if they want it some other way - that is up to them. But whatever you do, thanks for all you've done!

02-18-2008, 11:01 PM	#7
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 76,370 Karma: 136466962 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	It sounds like Book Cleaner is not being used and any em dashes that are in the text are being converted to dashes. That was the original problem till I asked vvv what to do and he told me. Then I noticed that patricia has em dash problems so that was how the Book Cleaner attachment thread was born and thanks to HarryT and others it has grown to fix a number of loading issues with Book Designer. As for stopping converting eBooks, please don't and just ignore the request for redoing the ones you've done. It's not that big an issue. But with the Book Cleaner files, you can sort it out for future eBooks and all will be well.

02-19-2008, 04:20 AM	#9
Madam Broshkina Manic Do Fuse Posts: 2,312 Karma: 3325462 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Sony 500, 505, 350, Kindle 3, DXG, nook, Irex DR800SG, iPad	Thanks most of you for all the kind words concerning my retirement from posting books on this site. Though having a moderator on this site saying my decision is an "overreaction" and "daft" only gives me more reason not to reconsider posting books again. The suggestion that I received came from another moderator on this site who I have found to be arrogant in his past posts. This moderator has already caused some members to leave this site. If it had come from someone else perhaps I would have not daftly over reacted.

02-19-2008, 04:51 AM	#11
SpiderMatt Grand Arbiter Posts: 447 Karma: 1574837 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Arizona Device: iPod Touch, Amazon Kindle, Motorola Droid	That's too bad. I appreciated your upload of My Lady Nicotine. Personally, I agree with people who say you should continue making books if you enjoy it. If you don't like it anymore, then I can understand that. I wouldn't quit something I enjoy doing just because of what someone else thought about the work. But then again, I find it pretty easy to ignore such things if I don't find the criticism constructive. Any any rate, a lot of people on this site appreciate your work, so if you are so inclined, please come back with an occassional upload if you find yourself making books in the future.

02-19-2008, 04:18 PM	#12
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	emdash? What's an emdash? And who cares? I think you've done a terrific job, MB, and I particularly like your choice of authors and titles. Whether you continue or not, I thank you for your efforts. Reminds me of comments by some of the hackers. They spend many hours writing code for other people to use for free and then get criticized when it doesn't do what someone wants. Nuts!

02-19-2008, 05:34 PM	#13
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,515 Karma: 64095689 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Say it ain't so!! You'll be greatly missed, if you do cease to make books. If it isn't fun anymore, than so be it ..... but if you still enjoy it, with or without em-dashes, your work is GREATLY appreciated. Please don't go .....

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02-19-2008, 05:50 PM	#15
jamesdmanley Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 817 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: houston Device: prs-500	sounds like more e-book snobbery. sorry to hear about your decision, but thank you for all your contributions! they will be missed