PA BOOK PRICES

You didn't put anyone down Alice. I agree that with better administration, lower prices, more marketing, more of our books would have been sold, to everyone's advantage.

But I am still happy with my book, the friends I have made, and the learning experience.

Carol

I have summed up my positive PA experience many times. It was a education and an experience, a step into a new world, an opportunity to connect with a variety of people I would have otherwise never known. My life has been enriched beyond expression.

Carol and DK,

I am very happy with the book, friends --just not going to worry about sales any longer.

If PA is worried they can think of what to do.

My contention is that it would be in their best interest to lower prices.

Why should I spend $378.40 to get my book to a reasonable price? No reason.

If they tried half as hard to market my book to the public as they do to me, they might get somewhere.

I don't care--my house is paid for. I don' t keep the prcoeeds, It would benefit them to have better sales--not me.

The thing is that when you look at the excellence of the books written by authors here, they need to be read. Their value is in the reading.

Carol

Carol,

You are so right. It is not in my power to fix this though.

None of us can fix it. We just aren't in charge. DK's answer is one we can all accept and is a good one. Unless we are owners of a publishing country where we do things different, having learned from what we don't like, there is little we can do except what we have done in letting our issues be known.

I remain in a quandary of what to do in the present and the future, where to go, what to write, whether to write something marketable or something from my heart and soul that is waiting to be written. (Not to say that writing from my heart and soul isn't marketable, but again I have no control, and there is a part of me that believes both marketability and writing with heart and soul go together.)

If I was 20 years younger and healthier, I would make different decisions than I will today.

Visiting galleries and gift shops with my artist friend last week was inspiring. What was important to everyone was the quality of their work, the creativity, the variety, the love and enthusiasm. To me that is what I want from writing. Some will sell, some will collect dust in the shop or bookshelves, but it is all value if it fulfills the purpose of enhancing our lives, giving something to the world whether that world wants it or not.

My friend does look at marketability with her artwork, but she also uses her imagination, always looking for new things to create with paper and odds and ends. That is what I want to do, what I love to do.

Carol

Carol,
I also agree with DK.
Our experience with writing, getting published, meeting fellow authors, participating in writing forums, polishing our skills and giving of ourselves, is a journey that continues. Those who are taking this journey discover new and exciting things everyday. This journey should never end. It's quite a trip.

I agree with you all and also agree with myself. I am not against PA. I like them, I just am not a bookstore--ain't gonna be one either.

It is to my advantage to keep my book in print with them, purchase copies if and when I need or want them, ignore sales offers.

I just thought it funny that they called me.

I am well able to determine advantage.

I don't think for a second they were worried about me.

Maybe they were concerned, Alice.

Remember my call last Christmas Eve. I thought it was sincere.

Carol

Okay. How many of you spent $378.40 to get your book price down?

If you did not, would you?

Just curious!

Well, Why are you all so quiet?

Step up to the plate.
A little faster please.

Thanks!

Absolutely not. We have a new forum member who made it quite clear what the cost of printing a POD book entails; PA has just bet on the 40,000 authors buying enough family books to keep their profit margin. They now have their own print shop, too.

Arirang: The Bamboo Connection is available at www.dkchristi.com at a reasonable price, at book signings at a reasonable price and at Kindle at $9.99. At this point in time, a book published in 2006 isn't going to stir up a lot of purchasers unless my recent Ghost Orchid stirs up new readers who want to purchase from my back list.

Books from 2006 are on the sale shelf at BN for $6.95. PA isn't going to lower the price consistently that low for Amazon.com regardless of how many books I buy.

Thank you, DK--Abe agrees with you, Carol agrees with Abe I agree with you all-- case is closed.

Alice, I wouldn't spend $3.78 to do it. Or for that matter, even a dime.

As usual, Dick is right. We cannot stand up to the bashers and accuse them of being OTT in their fervour if we use PA as a vanity press. It is okay to buy books when you have a definite market for those books or to give away as promotional material/gifts. It is not okay to succumb to pressure sales and special offers that only last two days. It may be part of PA's business plan but it is not what we signed up for.

That said, I don't have the missionary spirit required to drive me to want to protect those who ought to know better. I'll leave that to the bashers.

We all agree. PA is wonderful--and so are we (we means those published by PA and those not) Thank you for your input.


SHELAGH IS TOTALLY--100% RIGHT IN MY SIGHT.

Good news our book prices are down--permanently. Shipping went down too.

We spent nonthig--they lowered them--high time.

10/13/2009

Hello Alice...


You are right ! Recently I had two book signings and
both times store managers asked me do I bring the books ? I said "NO"
as an author my rule is I don't buy my own books ! The store has to order them and the publisher gives them a generous discount. Guess what
they ordered the books and what was left over they kept to stock in the
store....I only buy my books when they come out for me, my sister-inlaws
and certain friends thats it ! I would if I had the money buy 100 books and
give them to The Santa Fe Animal Shelter to sell for $10.00 not $16.95
and for them to keep the profit to help the animals.." Dusty"

Cheers..Joe...