Making Connections discussion

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I'm so technologically dumb that I have to ask this question:

When you send someone a free copy of your book through Kindle, does it automatically transfer into mobi. file if that's what they requested? If not, how do I send it in that file?

Thank you for your patience:)

We all start out dumb, but eventually if you do it enough times you learn the ins and outs. I've published thirteen of my books and another for someone else.
This is both simple and complicated. Simple if your book is on sale on Amazon Kindle. Complicated if it's not.
If your book is on Amazon Kindle and you are sending someone the book as a free gift, you have nothing to do but supply the recipients details and pay for it. Amazon take care of the rest.
Naturally, your recipient needs to have a kindle or the reader app to be able to read the book.

But, if you want to email people a free copy from your own computer, you will need to create a mobi/epub/pdf version depending on what they require.

It's not straightforward but here's the gist if you have a PC.
Your recipient will need the SEND to KINDLE software from Amazon. When they receive the file they need to save it to their hard drive. Right click on the file when saved and choose send to kindle.
To Create Mobi & ePub files: -
Atlantis word processor works with Word docs and it's not expensive. It will create the files for you as mobi and ePub when you choose to save special and then save as ebook.
But you will need another piece of software from Amazon, a plugin for Atlantis, that will create the mobi file.

To create a pdf there are a number of apps that will take word docs and convert. I use Adobe's own pdf creator software and export directly from Word.

Hope that helps. I've been writing a book about writing, formatting, marketing for Amazon Kindle since last year and believe me, it can get quite complicated, so don't beat yourself up about it.
Good luck. Tom

Tom, that was very helpful. Thank-you!

Groovy wrote: "Tom, that was very helpful. Thank-you!"

My pleasure. Let me know if you get stuck and I'll try and help.
Tom

27 best books on writing from @SignatureReads.
http://bit.ly/2gfaFH9

Hey everyone. I need some advice on how to turn a series into a box set to sell on Amazon.

Thank you,
KK

Living in Cyprus: 2014 I'm about to do the same. I'm assuming you simply create a word/pdf or whatever document containing all your books and send up to Amazon.
I think the hardest part is creating an image of the box set. I use boxshot & photoshop to create 3D images but can't find a template for a five box set.
Good luck with that.
Yom

Tom wrote: "Living in Cyprus: 2014 I'm about to do the same. I'm assuming you simply create a word/pdf or whatever document containing all your books and send up to Amazon.
I think the hardest..."

Gotcha about the all books together into one doc. I should have realized that. And I think Fiverr is the best place to get the graphic made. I wonder though if Amazon would accept a cover like that. I guess I will have to find out and see :)

Thanks again Tom.

Karina wrote: "Tom wrote: "Living in Cyprus: 2014 I'm about to do the same. I'm assuming you simply create a word/pdf or whatever document containing all your books and send up to Amazon.
I think..."

Good point, RE Amazon, I'll take a look when I get the time!
Tom

Hi everyone!
I have a question and it not related to a book but...

I'm wondering how everyone manages squeezing reading into their schedules!
I work full time and go to school part-time. My evenings are mostly free but I have a daughter, shes 3, and shes so full of energy! So once dinner is made, it's play time.
Then she's off to bed at 10...

For me, this should be my time to read but I find that I don't get much reading done!

Anyways, in 2017 there are so many books I want to read! So my question is, how do you all make time to read?
And do you set goals for yourselfs? (I tried to do this but failed)
Any advice?

Hello, am just learning to navigate the author program. Have linked the RSS from my webpage to the goodreads author blog, but failed to unclick the box to show the entire blog post. Would prefer that only the first paragraph of each post show up there, but can't find a way to change it. Any suggestions?

How do I cancel goodreads ad?

what kind of ad?

Hi everyone, I'm Olwen, author of 'Gallstones Alternatives and Truths'. I wish to ask a question on behalf of a friend, who has just completed his first children's book .
He asked me, "which publishing company would you recommend for a children's book".
As, I have never written or published a children's book, I have no idea which publishers do. I would appreciate any recommendations so I can forward to him. Many thanks in advance, Olwen

Hi everyone. I feel 'new ' publishers NEED to know this, I didn't, if I had, I would never have offered a free book from my web site.

It has been brought to my attention that the messages sent with my free book contains my home address.
I have just been informed That: if a auto responder system, is used on a web site to mail out a free e book, the message sent with the free item- includes the auto responder supplier AND Your home address. I raised my concern to my provider, stating I feel very vulnerable to either stalkers or hackers.

They replied: My apologies for the confusion, but that address cannot be removed completely from your messages. As per the US Federal Can-Spam act, it is required that a valid postal address be included in your messages

Please be careful - use a PO BOX as your address
Take care and stay safe
Olwen

Is it a bad idea to send a pdf to someone to review? Couldn’t they turn it into a word file & edit it & make it their own to publish?

A lot of authors send pdf's not sure about the security piece around that, or a better idea maybe to convert your file over to mobi or epub.

Tom wrote: "Karina wrote: "Tom wrote: "Living in Cyprus: 2014 I'm about to do the same. I'm assuming you simply create a word/pdf or whatever document containing all your books and send up to A..."

Angela wrote: "Hi everyone!
I have a question and it not related to a book but...

I'm wondering how everyone manages squeezing reading into their schedules!
I work full time and go to school part-time. My even..."

Tom wrote: "Karina wrote: "Tom wrote: "Living in Cyprus: 2014 I'm about to do the same. I'm assuming you simply create a word/pdf or whatever document containing all your books and send up to A..."

Hi Angela; I personally don't think setting goals works for everyone and may take some of the joy away from reading. One of things I like most about reading is that you can stop and start as frequently as you need to; and I get how that might be necessary with a young child in the house. So I guess my hope is that are having as much from from reading as you can.

Angela wrote: "Hi everyone!
I have a question and it not related to a book but...

I'm wondering how everyone manages squeezing reading into their schedules!
I work full time and go to school part-time. My even..."

Of course, it is never easy to find time for all sorts of things when have a busy working life as well as young children. Some have said setting goals does not work for them. Nevertheless, I find, after spending a while looking at the regular demands upon my time, it helps to identify a time bracket that is sort of 'free' most days. Most of us have one or two somewhere in most days. Ooops, have used 'most' a lot. Never mind. What I am trying to say is, it is possible. May only be a few minutes (15-30) here and there but at least you get to read, and enjoy, the book.

Angela wrote: "Hi everyone!
I have a question and it not related to a book but...

I'm wondering how everyone manages squeezing reading into their schedules!
I work full time and go to school part-time. My even..."

I'm in the same 'boat' as you except that I don't have any children. I currently work full time, go to school part time (online Masters program, which is very time consuming) and find that I don't have any extra time for leisurely reading. I'm enrolled in an accelerated Masters program online and for these past 7 1/2 weeks, I didn't even pick up a book to read for fun. There just isn't any time. I end up working on assignments and studying right until bedtime. Maybe you would be able to squeeze some reading into your schedule, but I just didn't find the time. I definitely miss fun trips to the library too.

Happy reading!

So I’m new to goodreads and I’m still learning how to use it. I feel pretty stupid because I thought that when you rated books with stars it was to make it so good reads would recommend you books you would like. Well, I kept having a book show up on my front page and I wanted it to go away and goodreads to recommend something else so I put one star. That was the wrong thing to do! The author messaged me about it and seemed upset. I was so humiliated! Now I know, but are there any other mistakes that newbies make? I want to avoid embarrassing myself again. I am really liking goodreads and I started using it to find recommendations for new books to read.

Hi Yoli, yes it does take a bit to get used of things, of course if you have any questions just message one of the moderators in the group!

As you must know yes the stars are for reviews - 1 star is pretty much like saying the book wasn't that good, so I can see an author contacting you.

I'm not sure what tips to give you, but if something comes up just ask questions most members are friendly and would love to help.

Or post in here.

Tana

Well, you did get part of it right. Once you've rated enough books (can't remember off hand how many - the number 20 comes to mind for some reason) Goodreads does start using that information to make more reasonable recommendations.

The thing is that your rating isn't private to you, it's listed against the book for all to see. If you're not familiar with the site I can see that's an easy mistake to make :(

Having said that, I think the author was out of line contacting you at all. That is something I've always understood to be a BIG etiquette no-no. In this case, the rating wasn't actually a genuine reflection of the story so you might say that was fair enough, but the author had no way of knowing that, and authors have absolutely no business berating readers for providing a rating - good or bad.

Hi everyone

I have to write an essay with 15 pages about a specific theme. I want to write about "modern books with caste system". But for that i need at least 5 with books with a caste system.
I just know this books:
-Selection by Kiera Cass
-Matched by Allyson Braithwaite Condie

Do anyone of you knows other modern books with a caste system?
And would the books Divergent (by Veronica Roth) and Maze Runner (by James Dashner) also work?

I would be really grateful for your help <3.

PS: I'm sorry for my bad english, my motherlanguage is german.

Would the hunger games and Legend by Marie Lu books work. I do agree about Divergent not sure about Maze Runner as I've never read or seen the movies

Tana wrote: "Would the hunger games and Legend by Marie Lu books work. I do agree about Divergent not sure about Maze Runner as I've never read or seen the movies"

Yeah i think the hunger games will work. I don't know the Legend books but I'm going to read it to check if it would work. Thanks for your answer<3. It's really nice of you!

No Problem have a great day!

Thanks you too!

Hello Readers: New here and requesting assistance please. How does one access books on Goodreads? Any & all assistance will be much appreciated. Thank you all :)

Hi in which way to you want to access them, do you mean to read or purchase?

I received a book through ARR but the print is so tiny I can't read/review it. I tried enlarging the font on my ereader but I can't adjust the file at all. What should I do?

Jo-Anne email the author and see if he or she has a different format.

Hi readers, I want to let everyone know about a site called Kiss Library, kibrismagazin.com/library. I found it by accident, I typed in my book name and expected to see Amazon come up. Kiss Library also came up as selling my book. I did not give them the authorization to sell my book. I did some checking on the site and found that they have been known to do this kind of thing before. I have asked to have my book removed from this site. I had no idea how much piracy went on for books. I did learn that this site is probably only one of hundreds. I just thought it might be something people would want to watch. Check out kiss library and see if your book is listed.

Jo wrote: "Hi readers, I want to let everyone know about a site called Kiss Library, kibrismagazin.com/library. I found it by accident, I typed in my book name and expected to see Amazon come up. Kiss Library..."

Thanks for the heads up. I found my book (with its old cover) there as well.

What did you do? What can be done? This is my first book and it really angered me that it would have pirated so quickly.

You can send DMCA request to the website, but if they're pirating work it's unlikely they'll respond. This website should offer some assistance on how to proceed.
https://www.whoishostingthis.com/reso...

I filled out the DMCA form that they actually gave me a link to (it's down near the bottom of the page on the left) and I sent them an email. They replied within 48 hours that they had taken my book down and I can't find it there if I search by my name or by the title now.

Thanks, Meredith and Chris. I sent a request to remove my book. I haven't seen it on the site since.
Is there a platform where authors can speak out about pirated books. Like what the music industry did a few years ago. Every time you turned around a singer was giving reasons why not to download songs. Authors should do the same.
It made me angry.

An excellent suggestion, Jo. I'm confident many writers will thank you.

It would be nice, but we would run into the same issue the music industry did, you can't stop piracy. DMCA requests are your best weapon, just remember to send copies to the web host and ISP as well. Most hosting companies and internet providers will shut down services if the website doesn't respond.

Thanks Chris and Frances.

Chris wrote: "It would be nice, but we would run into the same issue the music industry did, you can't stop piracy. DMCA requests are your best weapon, just remember to send copies to the web host and ISP as wel..."

Wow, I came here to ask about another issue and started reading the thread. I went to the Kiss Library site and found 7 of my books. I filled out the DMCA form and sent it off. I'm looking forward to see what happens next. Thanks for the heads up.

On another issue, I wanted to ask about blog tours. Has anyone done one and had any success? And what is one exactly?

I posted a request for reviews for our new book and ever since then I keep getting sales pitches for me to purchase reviews from rather suspicious characters.

Today I got something different about a blog tour -- that's supposed to result in dozens of reviews from wordybookpro.com.

Does anyone have any advice to offer on the subject? Are they good or bad? Should they be avoided at all costs?

P.S., was your post to a Goodreads site? There are discussion groups whose members offer to read and review others' books -- for the love of reading. Don't pay for a review, unless it's from a well-known, respected (and, unfortunately, expensive) company like Kirkus.
Does Amazon's Author Central have answers to any of your questions?

Frances wrote: "P.S., was your post to a Goodreads site? There are discussion groups whose members offer to read and review others' books -- for the love of reading. Don't pay for a review, unless it's from a well..."

Yes, I posted the review request to Goodreads and included my email address. I suspect that's how the folks "selling reviews" got my contact info. I appreciate the tip. Normally I get about 3-4 pitches per week and ignore them. But the "Blog tour" was a new one on me.

Thanks again. :)

My question is: I signed up for A Body Resurrected--suspense/thriller-- to be reviewed on Jan. 22. I haven't received a reply about it yet. And I'm wondering if I did something wrong. Did I send it to the wrong email? Could you please let me know? Thank-you...

Groovy wrote: "My question is: I signed up for A Body Resurrected--suspense/thriller-- to be reviewed on Jan. 22. I haven't received a reply about it yet. And I'm wondering if I did something wrong. Did I send it..."

I sent you an email about the program with the questions I need to list your book in our group for review, did you respond to the email or did you get the email. If not can you look in your spam or junk folder?

Thank-you, Tana. I received the email and responded. It must not have gone through. Nothing in the spam folder. I'll just resend if that's okay.

Novice authors seeking reviews and avid readers seeking books to review should be aware that a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulation requires that any review obtained through an offer of or solicitation for some form of compensation, including cash payment, gift card, free book, and/or reciprocal review, must include an acknowledgement of said compensation within the context of the published review.