Tags
Cambridge University Library, CreateSpace, Faith Hope and Trickery, Fatal Forgery, Kindle, pricing, self-publishing
You know that saying, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”? Well, I am really struggling today with that first part – accepting things I cannot change. One of my reasons for publishing “Faith, Hope and Trickery” on the date I did was to have my own big box of books from CreateSpace in my grubby paws by today, because tomorrow I am off on holiday for a week (hurrah!). In order to do that, I paid handsomely for super-duper-über-speedy delivery. And I waited. Last Thursday I had a little email from CreateSpace to say that my parcel had been dispatched, and giving me the UPS tracking numbers. Of which UPS had never heard. And – skipping over the boring bits – yesterday I heard from CreateSpace: “I researched your account and found an unexpected delay in the shipping process. We’re working to resolve the technical issue and will ship your order as soon as possible.” With the best will in the world, that parcel is not going to arrive today. And breathe….
On the positive side, two bookshops have already said that they want to stock the book – one is taking three copies, and the other is taking ten. I have three reviewers lined up, champing at the bit to get their books, and of course I want to stroke my vanity by submitting a copy to the hallowed archives of the University Library. All of this, however, will now have to wait until CreateSpace remembers that its role in life is to print books and send them out. I bet this doesn’t happen to John Grisham.
(On the matter I raised the other day – about whether to keep “Fatal Forgery” as a bargain Kindle book – one friend has said this: “My instincts around your 99p question is that if you price something too low, then people may cease to value it. I find myself not buying really cheap books in the supermarket because I imagine they must somehow be ‘bad’ books if they are that cheap. I am probably wrong in that assumption but it stops me buying.” Any other thoughts?)
Susan Grossey 