It’s all about the numbers…just so you know. How many “friends” you, have, how many “likes.” How many reviews, how many stars.
And it’s getting ugly.
First we had the little stink bomb that authors (authors!) were using assumed names to trash other writers on the major sites such as Goodreads and Amazon.
Are you kidding?
Now we have covens of individuals claiming to be readers who love to eviscerate an author personally, not her work mind you, but the author herself. Then, when these “readers” get a response, they jump on the author like a pack of wolves tearing at a wounded Elk.
Why?
Well, just between you and me, this is what happens when everyone in the book biz has an algorithm.
Take Barnes and Noble….
I write stories set in Las Vegas. Understandably, they sell well here (I happen to live in Vegas as well.) So, imagine my surprise when the third Lucky book, SO DAMN LUCKY, came out in hardcover…. and the local B and Ns didn’t carry it. The book was not available for purchase ANYWHERE in Vegas. (Alas, we had no independent bookstores at the time)
Needless to say, I did not react well.
When I finally got an answer through my publisher I was told it was just a numbers thing. Whew. That made me feel SO much better….
Apparently, B and N orders books based on the last book’s sell-through…minus ten percent. Then Corporate salts them around to various locations—nobody could tell me how THAT decision is made. I’d probably need an Epi Pen.
So, Duluth got books. Vegas…nope.
And, apparently B and N looks at whether a store reorders the book. How can they reorder, if there was no order placed for them in the first place? And, lest you think I’m making this up, NONE of the markets where my previous books sold well (Dallas, Phoenix, Denver) got books. I myself went into the Dallas stores, and I had friends in the other markets do the same, and we asked the store to order some of the books. The managers looked at the sales history and ordered the new book.
And Corporate cancelled the orders.
It’s no wonder the company is on the ropes. At this point, I won’t shed a tear when they disappear.
Take Amazon:
As digital sales become increasingly important, Amazon wields more and more power. And we’ve all seen their various algorithms in operation. The star rating as well as the number of reviews factors into where a book appears on the site—what rank it has when folks do a search, whether it appears on various “recommended” lists, etc. As you can imagine, this has quite an impact on sales (sorta like having your book on display in Barnes and Noble…no I’m not bitter).
And there seems to be a lot of pressure to…pump up the numbers.
I’ve been told that there are sites where an author can buy reviews… any star you want.
And now we have authors and readers running around trashing books to move them down the list, and authors begging every family member on the planet to write a five-star review to move them up the list.
Many will say this is just digital “word of mouth.”
In it’s purest form—legitimate reviews—I agree. But that’s not what is happening anymore. The review sites and the digital retailers are trying to counteract the abuse of the system, the gross manipulation. But there appears to be no perfect answer. As a writer, I can no longer review books by others. But, I’m also a reader…. But, now my reviews are “suspect” so I’m not allowed to play—even when all I ever do is tout books I love. The others, I don’t review.
And, if I buy books that I authored? Those sales don’t count. Even though I buy the books to sell at speaking events where a bookseller has not been procured. Or I give the copies away as promotional tools. So, why wouldn’t these sales count? Because, I guess authors buy a bunch and store them in their garage…to boost the sales figures. Although, between you and me, how many books can an author buy? It would take a significant investment to boost the numbers. So, is it really such a widespread thing that it needs to be addressed this way? I think not.
The whole thing makes me sick.
To be honest, I don’t read my reviews (My son does, though, and he gives me a report—so, it’s not that I don’t care. I do. I just can’t have other folks’ ideas rattling around in my empty head. Totally messes with my muse.) My family members wouldn’t think to write a review. I don’t know where my book appears on Amazon searches. I don’t know whether I’ve been viciously attacked…and I don’t care. Maybe I should. But then what?
Is the book biz going to become like Major League Baseball or the Tour de France where participants have to cheat to compete?
What do you think is the answer?
Just for fun, this upcoming Friday through Sunday (the 15-17th) I’m giving away a digital copy of LUCKY BANG, the latest Lucky novella and the story that sets up the upcoming two-part digital series LUCKY NOW AND THEN.
So, head to Amazon this weekend and download LUCKY BANG for free, 2/15-17.
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Okay, that whole B&N thing is just crazypants. No wonder they’re tanking. Sounds like they took lessons at the Borders school for bankruptcy. As for the Amazon review thing? Yeah, people seem to have an honesty problem these days. I rarely bother looking at reviews anymore – even the ones from PW. If the book sounds interesting, I buy it. Sometimes I get burned, but most times I don’t. I’ll trust my own judgment before some random stranger’s.
I used to get so worried about reviews, and social media, and doing everything I could to “promote.” Then I realized the best thing I can do is park my butt in the chair and write the best books I can…and keep writing. And I’m MUCH happier that way. Best job in the world!
I love BE’s comment, “Borders school for Bankruptcy.” That amazes me about corporate canceling orders. This is a crazy business, and I understand not every bookstore can carry every book, but they need to look at what’s sold well in the past! And I’m with you on the reviews. I don’t read mine. Even the 5 stars. I think you nailed it when you said you don’t need other people’s ideas in your head. Those tend to stick and be really noisy sometimes!
It would seem to me that having books in your store to sell is the best way to make money. Now if the books never sell then yeah don’t buy more. Simple math is so much better then alogarithims. Barnes and Nobles has always been a little off as to what they stock and how the stock the books. That is why I preferred Borders over them.
No matter what I will find a way to buy the books I want from an author. As for reviews never read them and the few that I post are honest but never have I left a bad one.
I’ve heard stories similar to the one you wrote about Barnes & Noble. I don’t know the answer, but given the size and scope of their operations, I assume a change in their practices would require pressure from a trade group or other organization of authors and/or publishers. In other words: Not just a squeaky wheel, but a really big squeaky wheel.
Of course, B&N could hire bookstore managers and regional managers competent enough to know their markets (I know–what a concept!), and allow those managers to order accordingly.
As for the algorithm issue: I can see how it would be difficult to address, since it’s really just an advanced form of product placement, like a store owner deciding what to put in the window versus what to put on the back shelf. I do wish Amazon would at least delete the one-star reviews that have irrelevant comments like “I still have not received this book!” Those reviews don’t help the author, the reader, or Amazon.
As for reading reviews: I read the reviews on Amazon, and in most cases, I’m able to sift through the friends and enemies of the author and find enough helpful information to decide whether to buy the book. But, I have no use for “professional” reviews in places like PW because, in my experience, most of the people who work for such organizations live in a literary and cultural bubble, and have very little in common with me. I could not care less about their opinions.
Meanwhile, some of us will buy your books no matter where we have to go to get them, so you just keep writing.
Oh, Michael! You are a doll:) the book biz has always been archaic and somewhat removed from reality. I’ve run several businesses myself and have never seen anything quite like the distributing and selling of books. Crazy world. And thank God for the Indie bookstores who get to know their clientele (even cultivate it–novel concept) then hand-sell books. There is a special place in Heaven for those booksellers….and always for avid readers!
First, the gals at Mysterious Galaxy love you, and they got me to love you, and then they got (through me) my mom to love you. I think indie book stores will thrive in the new marketplace for authors in print. When they love, they love well
Second, I read my reviews. Good and bad. I don’t really care one way or the other, I just can’t stand NOT knowing. I’ve been dumped on and praised. I’ve been told not to quit my day job because I suck, and that I’m the best writer on the planet. Whatev.
And finally … that whole shit with BN just smells funny to me. I think I told you that before. Being in Mass Market, I get screwed by BN all the time. They never order enough in my hometown, they sell out, then order and it takes 3-4 days. My mom goes to all the stores and asks about my books –that are supposed to be on the mass market tower — and she’s often told they’re in the storeroom and they don’t have time to put them out. WTF? On opening day? When they are the only store in town? (Borders was much, much better to me.) But Borders bankruptcy had nothing to do with their sales and everything to do with their financing — they went bankrupt not because they couldn’t sell books or sell them well, but because they got into a high risk, high interest loan that spiraled out of control.
Anyway, maybe BN will treat me differently when I’m in h/c but that’s one of those things that is totally, completely out of my control.
B and N–yes, they are TERRIBLE about putting books on on the on-sale date. And the excuse is “they don’t have time.” And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Indies. And yes, Terri and Maryelizabeth at Mysterious Galaxy have been amazing supporters, as have the folks at Murder By the Book in Houston, Poinsed Pen in Scottsdale and Tattered Cover in HIghlands Ranch, CO. They have sure helped propel Lucky forward–couldn’t ahve done it without them.
Borders was much better to me as well. I do miss them.
As my ex told me years ago, “You are never as good as your best review, but you are not as bad as your worst.”
Still, I can’t write with other’s expectations, comments, etc. pinging around in my head.
Can’t count the number of times I went in to B&N on a release date and couldn’t find the book I was there to buy. Occassionally I could get someone to get me one from the back, but not always. My experience with Borders was no better. One of the reasons I love my Nook, the book I want is always there, well except for the those blasted Kindle exclusive releases.
Immediate access…it is a huge advantage. I’m sort of a mixed-media reader–print when I’m home, digital when I travel. I love both.
Deborah,
Thanks for shedding some light on the problem. It’s something we have all dealt with. So much of this business makes no sense at all.
I love your attitude though. Like you, I learned a long time ago that the best thing I could do was keep writing books and being thankful for an audience who appreciates the hard work we put into this.
It never fails to amaze me what the publishing world is REALLY like. Every day is a new lesson to learn.
Publishing…certainly not glamorous. Hard work and frustrating on the slaes end. BUT, it’s the best job, and I LOVE meeting other writer and avid readers. What an amazing, encouraging, insightful bunch! That’s the best part of this whole gig…well, besides being able to work in my PJs:)
I’ve been ready to turn in my Nook for a Kindle for awhile now.
Don’t know how much longer B&N can survive. Don’t really care. They do nothing for indie authors.
GO INDIE BOOKSTORES!
YES, Indie bookstores Rock!
If I want my head to explode, I try to explain the book industry to people who are in industries where the objective is to actually make money. The longer I’m in this business, the more I think publishers and bookstores don’t WANT to sell books–it’s as if they’re operating a nonprofit agency!
The whole thing defies description, for sure. And who exactly is the non-profit agency defined to benefit? I’m clueless.
But, the indie booksellers–they’ve figure this whole selling books thing out. Imaginative, dedicated, proactive, book-lovers. God Bless ‘em all.