As if self-publishing didn’t already have an image problem—after all, once called the “vanity press,” this is an industry that’s progressed through “self-publishing” to, now, the “indie press” and even “private publishing,” which I just adore, it’s so dignified—now those who use e-readers must contend with spam.
You heard me. Spam.
In a piece published a couple weeks ago, Reuters reported that Amazon is being inundated with junk books compiled from cheaply purchased or even stolen material and sold in the Kindle store for 99 cents. Some spammers even reformat classic literature that’s gone out of copyright, as reported in Salon:
One of the first to observe this phenomenon is British marketer Mike Essex, who found, in the Kindle store, nearly 3,000 99-cent e-books “created” by one Manuel Ortiz Braschi. Braschi is purportedly the author of Canvas Painting 101, 40 Ways to Prevent or Get Rid of Stretch Marks, and Seven Days to Profitable Blogging, among many, many others. When he’s not providing this invaluable guidance to the public, Mr. Braschi somehow finds the time to offer his editorial assistance to such authors as D. H. Lawrence, Leo Tolstoy and Georgette Heyer.
Oh, my. Setting aside this phenomenon that makes a person work very hard at cheating the system when the same amount of effort, applied to a legitimate concern, might yield the same or even better results, we now have thousands of “books” (and I use those scare quotes with glee) clogging up the Kindle system.
Well, not the Kindle system I use. I don’t buy 99-cent books. Nor do I buy the $1.99 books or even the $2.99 books. (I’ve written about this before, here, here, and here, so you know how I feel about it.) I admit to some ambivalence, since it’s an acceptable marketing practice to offer one of an author’s early books for a reduced price to encourage readers to discover a writer they might not have otherwise sampled. (And then there’s J. K. Rowling, who plans to release new Harry Potter material—and all seven of the books, never before available as e-books—from her own website. However, I’m reasonably certain none of Rowling’s material will lack editorial oversight.)
The best thing you can do—for real authors; for your own reading pleasure; and for me, who earns her living from the publishing industry—is to purchase e-books offered by publishers whose names you recognize. (You can’t judge by price alone: read the last two paragraphs of the Salon piece and you’ll see why.) Right now, kids, it’s caveat emptor in the Kindle Store.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Spam, plagiarism and fraud notwithstanding, I have a proposal for you: why not do a blog assessing the Top Five Self-Published books? Your list could start with The Shack by William Young and include Saving Rachel by John Locke.
Hundreds of thousands of aspiring authors are paying various companies to “publish” their books. Yes, most of these books are editorially inferior. But not all. Some are quite good, and selling like hotcakes. Let’s not forget all the awful books released by “real” publishers every year…and the many that sell paltry numbers despite their professional pedigree.
Totally agree that the publishers have released some crap books (The Bridges of Madison County, anyone? And let’s not forget the Twilight series). I still think the publishers’ ratio of good/bad is better, generally speaking.
And yes, Mike Shatzkin, whose blog I read and who seems to be intelligent and kind and fair, also says there are some good indie authors. I’m not against the concept — I’ve recommended self-publishing to friends. I’ve worked on books that were ultimately self-published.
If I didn’t have to earn a living (and all of this moaning I do has to do with the fact that the publishing biz is in a bit of a pickle and because that’s where I earn my living, I’m in a pickle too) I’d be happy to take up your challenge.
Well, sorta (have you seen the pile of unread books by my bed?!). I’ve read The Lace Reader (Brunonia Barry), which was a self-pubbed success before it was picked up by the traditionals, and I’ve read Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, which also found its way to the big 6 after being self-pubbed. The Shack I bailed on. The writing was too atrocious and there’s just not enough time left in my precious life for that. I’ll give Saving Rachel a try; it’s just 99¢ for Kindle. Have you posted a good review of it on Amazon? What else should be on this list?