PA reinstates me, but I like it here better

I am now able to get on the PA board again, although I have little desire to spend much time there. This place seems more interesting and it doesn't have people lacking a single clue about the publishing business. Anyway, a woman from PA called me today and fixed the problem while we were on the phone. Apparently a few people complained on their board and a few others sent them emails. I will post there occasionally just to see how long it takes for them to ban me again.

I think this post, a review from the Akron Beacon Journal, was the last straw for PA and got me banned.

The plot is rousing and, finally, inspirational, but the text is marred by copy errors, and there is one scene between Raffi and another person that Francesca, talking in the first person, could not know about.
Here Lies the Heart of a Woman in Need (162 pages, softcover) is $19.95 from http://www.publishamerica.com.

Is that a review you posted, Dick? Now they ban folks who tell the truth? I was asked to review a few that were so bad, I simply had nothing good to say, and did not review them at all. If I had been truthful, I would have had to say : don't buy this book unless you can overlook glaring errors.

We are really tickled to have you here, and I think you will find your sage advice most welcome by most, if not all, members.

P.S.

I like it better here, too.

I'm tickled pink.

You call THAT cranky? Jesus, I ought to sign up there just to show those people what nasty posting is really like. :-)

Glad you're here, Dick! I've seen that happen time and again with PA banning someone at the request of an email. I've only been banned once - for trying to discuss slavery and racists - and it was for a story I was writing. Someone complained and without a warning, I just couldn't get online there. I thought I had forgotten my password - lol.

Someone trying to be politically correct, or an over zealous censor? Maybe both, and maybe emails complaining are imagined. I have seen some very unfair bannings take place there. People banned for simply defending their position. I guess they crossed the wrong individual.

Not to worry, Dick, they banned me about the same time they did you. After the infocenter made a comment about not allowing political posts, I said that it was probably because infocenter wasn't old enough to vote. Instant ban!

Course, I couldn't care less, there isn't very much there that I really cared to post about, as most of the posts are about as interesting as watch paint dry.

When I'm not working on a short story or a book, I have two or three message boards that I visit now. This one, of course, and as I'm the secretary of WOW and there are some interesting people there, I spend some time there, and then there are a couple of political boards I read, but seldom post to.

There's some good folk here, and not as much infighting as a couple of other boards I can think of, so I think you'll fit right in.

E. Don Harpe wrote:

Not to worry, Dick, they banned me about the same time they did you. After the infocenter made a comment about not allowing political posts, I said that it was probably because infocenter wasn't old enough to vote. Instant ban!

That is quite a funny reply. They obviously have no sense of humor!

Consider the fact that Dick Stodghill has been on the PA board for a long time. He has written a great book that PA listed as book of the week and month. He was on the History Channel and PA capitalized on that as well. He has helped numerous people by taking the time to answer their question. For them to ban him without even a courtesy call or email to discuss the problem says it all: Incompetence.

I could not agree more, Abe. Dick has always shown himself willing to advise and assist newbies. Which is more than one can say about most of the others who have been there for a while. In fact, he is about the only one who offers answers to valid questions that others often give belittling replies. He is also held in very high esteem by more than a handful of other authors on that board, and some who have also been banned.

It is obvious to me, that there are a favored few who can pick arguments and get others banned for answering! (They are probably the same ones who started the discord to begin with, and more than likely on purpose.)

fter the infocenter made a comment about not allowing political posts, I said that it was probably because infocenter wasn't old enough to vote. Instant ban! javascript:emoticonp('')
lol!

What the prevous post was meant to say:

after the infocenter made a comment about not allowing political posts, I said that it was probably because infocenter wasn't old enough to vote. Instant ban!

LOL

Writer11 - remember to log in so that you can edit your posts.

~Shelagh

If PA can ban a distinguished author like Dick Stodghill, I think they can ban anybody. I saw a few folks on the PA board seeking him out on a thread "Paging Dick Stodghill", so you're a very wanted man Mr Stodghill

Ahad,
early on, I remember a remark by Dick Stodghill on a different forum from PA, where he said that he didn't write his book so that he would have to go out and buy it himself.
I fell for the big 50 purchase - when I first got my book costing me a bundle for the shipping that nullified the discount. I haven't bought any since and don't intend to. Either it will sell by commercial means or it won't.
To each his own. Others may have an entirely different marketing strategy and want to sell their own book.
Like Dick, I didn't write my book so that I would have to go out and sell it. And I'm not going to have a garage full of unsold books either.

Well, I think buying the initial 50 copies is actually a very smart idea Abe and I personally did the same. It gave me an opportunity to get the word out that I'm published and I had spare copies to submit for reviews and press attention.

Beyond those initial 50 copies I saw no further merit in buying my own books, nor do I have any future intention to do so. But, as you say, each to his own and I would be wrong to advocate any differently to others.

Quote :

...it doesn't have people lacking a single Shocked clue about the publishing business.

There is one here, Dick. Me. *sigh* I seem to be the only one too. And as if to confound that statement I will ask the question: What is PA? Is it Publish America? I don't think it is Published Authors.

I was thinking Pennsylvania

Dick Stodghill wrote:

I am now able to get on the PA board again, although I have little desire to spend much time there. This place seems more interesting and it doesn't have people lacking a single clue about the publishing business. Anyway, a woman from PA called me today and fixed the problem while we were on the phone. Apparently a few people complained on their board and a few others sent them emails. I will post there occasionally just to see how long it takes for them to ban me again.

Hey Dick didn't know you got banned well you're in good company I got banned once too for complaining they turned down a second book a week after making my book with them book of the week for seven weeks running!

Hey maybe we should start the WGBFTPABAWDGAF Club oh sorry, we got banned from the pa board and we don't give a fig Club

Anyhoo, this is a far better place with nicer people and oops slipping into Aussie a great shelagh at the helm!!!!! yours Bruce ooops Rainbow

I think you're better off out of there, Dick.

That is no way to run a business.

Sue - PA is PublishAmerica as you thought. So far I have not been banned by Pennsylvania, as Lin suggested, but you never know what lies ahead.

Aside from certain things about the messageboard and the fact they will publish anything that comes over the transom I have no complaints about PA. They did what they said they would, nothing more and nothing less. The company does not have a sales force so they depend on people buying their own books, something I won't do as I'm not in the book selling business. Many of the complaints about PA come from people who felt their "masterpiece" should hit the bestseller lists and were shocked when it didn't come close.

As for not knowing your way around the publishing business, this is a good place to ask questions. Don't be embarrassed over having to do so.

Thank you, Dick. I probably wear Shelagh out with all the questions I ask. I started a publishing company in March, 2006. Published my first book (yes, mine) officially Jan 2008. I have so much to learn but am amazed at times at what I have learned already. Especially when I am discussing it with people who have questions.

Thanks again for your input!

Sue Sunshine wrote:

Thank you, Dick. I probably wear Shelagh out with all the questions I ask. I started a publishing company in March, 2006. Published my first book (yes, mine) officially Jan 2008. I have so much to learn but am amazed at times at what I have learned already. Especially when I am discussing it with people who have questions.

Thanks again for your input!

Hi Sue

I looked at the website for weaving dreams but there seemed no information on whether you publish other peoples books and if so what the details re costs etc