tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post8946349390768290953..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: No Hoops, PleaseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-89158876418702590262008-07-09T01:00:00.000-04:002008-07-09T01:00:00.000-04:00I don't know who is in charge of online marketing ...I don't know who is in charge of online marketing at HarperCollins but they just don't get it. <BR/><BR/>They make it exceptionally difficult to get their stuff and then they time limit it and exclude the rest of the world. They have online book clubs and then only let you read the book online.<BR/><BR/>I think they are desperately trying to prove that giving away online copies doesn't work by making it a hassle to get them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-85449141478131941752008-06-09T20:16:00.000-04:002008-06-09T20:16:00.000-04:00THANK YOU! A fantastic post.THANK YOU! A fantastic post.Dawn Montgomeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13094479667234469671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-47834032482560332062008-06-09T18:15:00.000-04:002008-06-09T18:15:00.000-04:00I prefer the Baen model myself... Surf up, flip t...I prefer the Baen model myself... Surf up, flip through the titles (perhaps sorting by author), perhaps read a chapter or two online, decide you want novel X, download in your favorite format, done. No account or email required, just download and go (or read online). <BR/><BR/>Sometimes a hardback by a Baen author you like happens to have a cd full of their entire Baen backlist... And of course, you can download those for free too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-67409715467369885652008-06-09T17:52:00.000-04:002008-06-09T17:52:00.000-04:00Julia mentioned the Baen Free Library, but she did...Julia mentioned the Baen Free Library, but she didn't provide a <A HREF="www.baen.com/library" REL="nofollow">link</A> so I thought I would provide one. These guys have the right idea - you can download a free ebook as many times as you want in any of the available formats.<BR/><BR/>[image]Man in dirty mac with inside pockets bulging with books.<BR/><BR/>"Come on, little girl ... the first taste is free."[/image]Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00711265864291134621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-90690677029643072912008-06-09T16:16:00.000-04:002008-06-09T16:16:00.000-04:00I actually downloaded the first book Eos offered, ...I actually downloaded the first book Eos offered, one of Lois Bujold's I already own in paperback. I jumped through the hoops, finally downloaded my copy, went back to read it awhile later only to find I could no longer open the file I'd previously been able to use. I was also no longer registered with HP.<BR/><BR/>Free books sure are nice, (understatement) but when there's this much hassle getting to them? Count me out. I'll stick with those authors I love and spend my cash else where. <BR/><BR/>No thank you, Eos. Take a page from Baen Books and Tor. I've given my loyalty (mostly) to the authors in their stables when given the first taste free.<BR/><BR/>p.s. I'm eagerly awaiting Omega Games in August!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-25826518493270907022008-06-09T14:39:00.000-04:002008-06-09T14:39:00.000-04:00I came across that yesterday while I was browsing ...I came across that yesterday while I was browsing and was like... free e-book all right. Only that price kept flashing at me. So I ended up not downloading it because I am extremly lazy and didn't want to bother with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-22776965695746496692008-06-08T21:14:00.000-04:002008-06-08T21:14:00.000-04:00What a great post indeed. It's funny how long it t...What a great post indeed. It's funny how long it takes the powers that be to do the right thing, even when its sensible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-76437595445814984642008-06-08T17:20:00.000-04:002008-06-08T17:20:00.000-04:00I hate complicated things. If it's too much troub...I hate complicated things. If it's too much trouble, I don't mess with it.Shiloh Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785046046157000126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-42715344272386785412008-06-08T16:01:00.000-04:002008-06-08T16:01:00.000-04:00[rant]They do the same with sites of TV series. Th...[rant]They do the same with sites of TV series. They put info (<B>free</B> wallpapers, images, spoilers of episodes, interviews, etc) for free public access... if you are an US resident. <BR/>They actually BLOCK your access if they detect your IP isn't in US range, so you only see a screen where basically they say that you are unworthy of watching their show or having their free goodies, because, hey, you are a second class citizen of the world! (non-US citizen). (well, not exactly, but let me tell you, it makes you feel like one).<BR/><BR/>And since I live at the end of the world (Argentina, South America), sometimes I do want to see spoilers of TV series that I've heard about. Series that aren't aired here or won't ever be. Series I might be interested in buying, via DVD, mind you.<BR/><BR/>Why they allow US residents to see them, and the non-US people are stonewalled? It doesn't give them any brownie points in my book, really. <BR/><BR/>It is a very small thing, really, but makes my blood boil. We aren't second class people because we are not US resident/citizens. And we aren't going to enter the US borders illegally through a web site, or something. We want to see, to make a buying decision!<BR/><BR/>So, you know what? If the strategy is meant to force us to buy their DVD, it backfired. Because just out of spite, I wouldn't buy ANY series, or ANYTHING that comes from that particular TV cable chain ever again. I won't give my hard earned money to people who think my money is good enough to be spent in their products, but discriminates me as a second class citizen of the world. So, they lost a customer. Tough luck. [/rant]<BR/><BR/>Back to books, I've gone through the process you mention with several editorial houses (I don't remember any limiting their access for download to US residents though, but by now you guessed how well it would go with me). Now, I don't even bother. I had to close several mail addresses because of the spamming. If it's free, it's free, no strings attached.Nemhainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00449216725978947671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-90767794653520216462008-06-08T14:50:00.000-04:002008-06-08T14:50:00.000-04:00Well said.And ditto the folks praising the Tor mod...Well said.<BR/><BR/>And ditto the folks praising the Tor model. Yes, there's a quickie sign-up, but then it's a free e-book a week, no muss no fuss.<BR/><BR/>I hope someone from HarperCollins Eos reads your post.Amy Sissonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11048079879080286675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-79951681715481598292008-06-08T14:36:00.000-04:002008-06-08T14:36:00.000-04:00I've heard of the "phone" police but never a Novel...I've heard of the "phone" police but never a Novel Enforcement Squad. What's the world coming to?<BR/><BR/>BTW - I've been on the Tor Free-E bandwagon for a month or so and don't recall such strigent requirements. Wild.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-73491738818754549592008-06-08T13:43:00.000-04:002008-06-08T13:43:00.000-04:00Holy crap. At first I was all "free ebook by an au...Holy crap. At first I was all "free ebook by an author I'd like to check out, squee" but now I think I'll just stick with the book a week those pushers at TOR are supplying me with. I've been introduced to a bunch of new to me authors by this program, and it's EASY. All I had to do was sign up for the newsletter and download the freebie they send me every week.Charlene Tegliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483186891214783397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-20644291119896249122008-06-08T09:46:00.000-04:002008-06-08T09:46:00.000-04:00My mind is well and thoroughly boggled.I shop at W...My mind is well and thoroughly boggled.<BR/><BR/>I shop at Whole Foods sometimes. They have trays and trays of free samples all over the store. Take as much as you want to try. Nobody is even standing over the product telling you how great it is. It's just there. Period. I try a lot of free samples. I buy a lot of what I try--stuff that I never would have bought if I couldn't taste it first. <BR/><BR/>Prepackaged guacamole? Ewww, no thanks. How good could that be? But wait a sec, here's a sample. (Munch, munch). Oh my dog! It's delicious. I must buy some right now. And next week I must come back for more. And the week after that.<BR/><BR/>Just sayin'.Margaret Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464624057491288244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-69265663785971190922008-06-08T08:35:00.000-04:002008-06-08T08:35:00.000-04:00Yeah, Tor.com totally don't seem to care that I'm ...Yeah, Tor.com totally don't seem to care that I'm in the UK :). And they're a lot friendlier than these peeps.<BR/><BR/>Does the whole "mistransmitted" thing mean that if the ebook doesn't dload properly the first time, you're not allowed to try again? Because my dial-up and I often have four or five tries at the Tor .pdfs....nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-68530606268316368872008-06-08T07:50:00.000-04:002008-06-08T07:50:00.000-04:00Oh dear, that's a lot worse than getting a TOR fre...Oh dear, that's a lot worse than getting a TOR free ebook. Oficially, they have limited it to US residents as well, but I gave in my German zip code and get the weekly emails just fine. *grin* There was one step to sign up, and there are really no more than the one email a week with the download links, and maybe a second with recommendations. I can live with that.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-73375936901841203302008-06-08T06:30:00.000-04:002008-06-08T06:30:00.000-04:00Thank you.It's bad enough that publishers (like re...Thank you.<BR/><BR/>It's bad enough that publishers (like record labels) have taken this long to grasp the promotional value of freebies. But after decades of doing the wrong thing, they've (mostly) only progressed to doing the right thing the wrong way.*<BR/><BR/>I have dial-up internet because it's what my family can afford. It doesn't work well with the applications that some publishers are using to display ebooks on their websites. I want to know why they can't just format it as a PDF that I can download and read offline. Do they want to give me a free book, or not?<BR/><BR/>And they may as well forget about newsletters. My email filters auto-delete them.<BR/><BR/>*In my opinion, Cory Doctorow does it the right way. And I've bought several books by an author I first read through Baen's free library.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-34750419791269330192008-06-08T06:11:00.000-04:002008-06-08T06:11:00.000-04:00You have to be a US legal resident? Er, did they h...You have to be a US legal resident? Er, did they happen to realise that Sara Douglass is actually an Australian author? Are they being ironic?<BR/>Ah, I get it. They couldn't possibly offer us legal Australian residents a free Douglass book, could they? Might impact on their sales here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-64366340173807402722008-06-08T05:28:00.000-04:002008-06-08T05:28:00.000-04:00You know, the world should have more people like y...You know, the world should have more people like you in it. ;-) (Or is it "on it"? I don't know, I'm not from the US -no dowloading for me!)Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05355715233955562177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-57352333080763005582008-06-08T04:19:00.000-04:002008-06-08T04:19:00.000-04:00Lynn, you cracked me up. And this is brilliant. I ...Lynn, you cracked me up. And this is brilliant. I hope the publishing industry takes the advice.Tonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289555836644142365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-38625973008526104012008-06-08T01:25:00.000-04:002008-06-08T01:25:00.000-04:00Great post Lynn! I actually had to read this to my...Great post Lynn! I actually had to read this to my husband because I got a kick out of it. Excellent points all around. So, did you end up with the book after all was said and hooped? I mean done. ;)<BR/><BR/>RachelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com