The Amazon Controversy: The Best Thing To Happen To Your Book

I think most of us in the book world spent the last week lamenting the fact that POD books, authors, and publishers were getting shut out of Amazon. Well, not shut out per se but were being given new rules, Amazon rules, and you would either comply, or else.

The truth is this was bound to happen sooner or later. As I looked at the situation, and discussed it with some people both at the office and in the industry, there's something I soon came to realize: this could be the best thing to happen to book promotion in a long time. Why? As authors we assume that Amazon is "taking care of things" - they are doing the selling for us, and consequently we have become complacent in our marketing.

The truth that you and I both know is this: when you crunch the numbers, most are really only selling only a handful of books on Amazon anyway but many of us still buy into the fallacy that it's the gold mine of sales. This move by Amazon is going to prove that we don't need this big e-tail giant after all, not if we're smart and push our resources into other areas. When you break it down, the truth about Amazon is this: we liked them for the exposure they gave our books. And yes, they took care of sales, this is true - but there are other sites just waiting to take a sale away from Amazon. Books-A-Million and Barnesandnoble are just two that come to mind. You'll find there are many more. By limiting your online exposure to Amazon, and perhaps your own web site, you were in a sense severely limiting the exposure for your not thinking outside the book, so to speak.

Amazon's decision has now forced the smart, creative, savvy author to look outside of the norm and field sales in some other fashion. It's forcing us to consider our options and/or realize that there are other ways to sell a book rather than to send consumers to Amazon. So, how can you compete with this retailer most default to? Here are some strategies to get you started. Let me warn you, there's nothing new here, but all the same, I think it's helpful to hear it again:

· Have a great web site that's easy to navigate. By what I call "shortening the staircase" to a sale, I mean making them go through fewer steps to get to your product.

· If getting folks to buy on your site has been a challenge try offering specials, autographed copies or bundles on your site to entice readers to buy there, not go looking for your book elsewhere.

· Push your message into social platforms like Squidoo, NothingBinding, Facebook, AuthorNation, AuthorsDen, and even the much dismissed but still ever popular, MySpace. There are many of these places out there and tons more popping up all the time. Use them, don't just stick with one, use all of them to further increase your chances of exposure for your book.

· Get to know other e-tailers and other ways to sell your book. Make sure your book has reviews on sites like Barnesandnoble and other similar e-store sites.

My message is what I have said numerous times. Instead of staring at the closed door, find an open window and make it happen. Amazon may have closed the door, but it's only through this limited access that we realize there are other options out there and they are plentiful. The truth is this: soon all e-tailers will follow this model. Whether it's this year or next - everyone will want to own a greater market share of a Let's face it, the profit of selling a book is minimal at best for these e-tailers, the more they can make on the creation of the book itself, the better.

So what Amazon has done in effect is force us to become less dependent and more self-reliant. At the end of the day, the author who relies on him or herself for share of his or her success will win out. Depending on someone else or something else is never a good way to market because when what you've come to depend on is no longer there, the marker is set back to zero and you must start . It's tough enough to market your book in a world swimming in new titles, it's tougher still to keep restarting a marketing campaign. Don't let an online e-monster determine your fate, your success, or your future. Take a lesson from the controversy and take control of your own book. Today.

The Debate Over Altered Used Books

There has been some serious debate over the issue of individuals who use books, whether they are used books or not, to create altered books, which several feel is actually defacing books. However, the majority of the used books that these individuals are using would be ultimately destroyed or wide up in piles of rubbish in some dump site some where.

The fact of the matter is that several publishers actually destroy thousands of books within a single year, which is not including all of the textbooks that our children use that are only meant to be used for a particular set number years and then are also destroyed. These facts are not considered into this debate simply because all individuals are seeing is that the books are being defaced. Not do not take the time to look at the over all picture, due to only seeing what they wish to see. They do not realize that these individuals are actually bringing these used books back to life, which would more than likely never be used again due to the condition they were in before they began their project. Several of these used books are purchased from either , thrift stores, or from bargain tables at used book stores.

Individuals that become involved with altering books have a passion for paper crafts such as collaging, while others are painters, sculptors, and book artists. The pages contained in these used books, which have been altered, will reflect the personality of the individual through their ability, tastes, and styles. This is the most simplest form of art for individuals to express their feelings using collages, painting, rubber stamps, fabrics, and a variety of pastel chalks, pens, and markers. Many of these individuals will display their new form of art work to showcase them to others, which some have been exhibited in art galleries all over the world.

Several artists will take the used books that they are able to find in used and cut the bindings. Then through the many pages within the book itself the artist will create poems by obliterating words and phrases. Once this process has been completed, then these poem pages are sent around the world to other artists. Altered books are any book whether old, new, or used that has been recycled by any creative means in a new form of Once individuals take the time to open their minds to this new type of art form, then they soon discover that they no longer feel anxiety over the books being defaced, especially when they realize that these books need to be recycled anyway. They soon come to realize that by saving these books these artists are able to create new pieces of art. The used books are have started becoming their new canvas for them so that they can express themselves. Anyone is capable of creating altered books as long as they have the will power and are creative enough, because there are no rules and the individuals have no limitations as to what they are able to create either.

What To Look For In A Bowling Guide Book

As a spectator with an untrained eye, bowling is simply getting the ball in one hand, walking a few steps then releasing it to hit the pins a few yards away. Standing in the lane, it's truly a different story since it takes proper hand and eye coordination to accomplish that strike.

There are many ways of learning how to bowl. Classes are offered at bowling alleys, instructional videos can be purchased or by watching the world's best on ESPN. Before signing up for a class, find one of the best books available to get an insight into the sport of bowling.

A book about bowling should explain the history of the game. It should show what equipment is used and the rules of how to play. Illustrations can show the layout of the lane and the purpose of dots, arrows and markers which serve as guides to the target. The book can also help determine what type of bowling ball is best for the player since it varies with factors like gender, age and weight as well as the different styles of releasing the ball and it's advantages and disadvantages. Since this game is not solely for right handed players, it should also explain the adjustments that left handed players need in order to do well.

It serves as a guide that will explain where the player stands before making that approach and releasing the ball, the importance of the 'follow through' that will get the ball to travel at the right speed to hit the pins and avoid gutter balls.

Since players are not always able to achieve strikes, the proper ways to hit the remaining pins or possibly get a spare should be explained. It is very rare that a perfect game will happen. Should things go bad, the book can serve as guide to help the person psychologically bounce back from the bad frame and do well in the next frame.

The book should also feature drills that some professionals use that the player can apply to further improve performance of the game.

The guidebook should provide information such as places that sell bowling accessories that someone new to the sport can explore.

Bowling is a sport that anyone regardless of age can learn. People can do this for fun or do it on a regular basis after joining an organization to participate in tournaments. By finding a book that contains all of this information, the player will learn in no time and perform well.

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