I sometimes wonder why some people are obsessed with self-published authors, this strange preoccupation leads them to take a pop at s/p authors (sometimes known as indie authors) at every opportunity that they can. This stems from the fact that they may have been unlucky in the past to pick up and read (on Kindle or another reading device) a badly formatted or unedited book. As much as I feel sorry for them having this unpleasant experience, it is easy enough to read an introduction to the book online, and also to read ten per-cent of it, before buying. You can quickly tell whether the book is to your taste. In my opinion, they have only themselves to blame.
Personally, I find some of the remarks offensive. Barbed comments, such as self-published authors only write rubbish, dribble, and have no idea how to spell. And a few unrepeatable things On and on they go. What amuses me more than anything is that their English is far from perfect, and they have trouble stringing a simple sentence together. It is a example of the old saying, 'the pot calling the kettle black.' I do wish they would get over themselves and get a life. Even a few self-published authors join in the mud-slinging. It is not nice to read and at times I am afraid it is taramount to bullying.
These people are entitled to their opinion, as we all are. I just wonder why they repeatedly post the same old boring remarks. I stopped visiting these forums because of this. Should I return after a break of a few weeks or sometimes months they are still banging the drum, same old, same old. It is tiresome. I will not be visiting them again.
I think it is disturbing to see the self-published authors being nasty, and at times downright offensive about their fellow authors. What happened to loyalty? Surely, it is up to the readers to make their own choice, or instead of going on-line and being rude why not leave a review? This is the correct place to leave an opinion. Not on an open forum. They also have the option of returning the book and Amazon do ask why you have returned the book. I honestly think they enjoy being nasty. Some people just do.
I have known readers track down authors, and mention they have found an error or two in the book. This is a far better approach than being vindictive in an open discussion. Although it is a great pity that they have to do this.
There again the fiction forum on Amazon is not a busy place anymore, this is where the abusive posts are made. Readers rarely visit it. Perhaps like me they are tired of reading the same old thing week in and week out. I should imagine the damage these people cause to readers who read their posts is quite limited.
One poster who dislikes self-published books, wrote that she has seen book shelves in the shops -I'm talking about the UK here- that are labelled Self Published Authors. Really? I never have. I should imagine that she means local authors. If she does, then I feel that she is confused, because many local authors are published with traditional publishers. Book shops will identify a shelf, ‘local authors’, readers know then that they can probably find well researched books or booklets (booklets are usually printed by the local printing shop) about the town's local history. Novels by self-published authors are shelved with all the other novels in the bookstore.
I know many self-published authors who have their books in bookshops around the country. Waterstones in particular supports indie authors, and will hold book-signings in their stores. Libraries support local self-published authors and will stock their books, only, of course if they find they are of a high enough standard.
Should you buy a book and dislike it you have the opportunity to return it within seven days. What more can a reader ask? I know many authors believe this is excessive time allowance. I think it is the law. A few authors have mentioned online that they have seen readers bragging that they have returned books when they have read them, and had a refund. This is unfair. I think Amazon will eventually catch up with these readers if they do it too often, but it is unfair on authors and publishers alike.
Personally, I feel that there are more well written self-published book in the marketplace than ever before. Self-published authors have become more aware that they need to present a good product before it will sell and be left decent reviews. Of course, they will still receive a few poor reviews, this always happens. Reviews are subjective, and no two readers will agree 100% on what they like or dislike about a particular book.
A few authors are now earning a decent salary by writing mini romance books –sometimes they write series –apparently these sell very well. These authors have found their niche in the market place. Others are also doing very well indeed. You do not have to be at the top or even in the Kindle 100 to earn high royalties. The more books that you have for sale the more you are going to sell.
The authors who are earning a living from self-publishing have published anything from twenty to a hundred books, not all in the same genre. They are now benefiting from their hard work.
Which proves the point that self-published books are well worthy of a read, and are beginning to make an impression in the world of publishing.
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