Xlibris Sucks.

February 2010

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28
		Holidays
Feb 14 - Valentine's Day

[SirLawrence]

So yesterday my father brings me my mail from my Manhattan P.O. Box.  Much to my surprise is a royalty check for $56.00 from X-Libris.  I had learned most OTHER writers had received royalty checks for $26.00.  However, attached with a note was, "WE WANT YOU BACK! etc etc"...

Perhaps self-marketing and self-promotion on Craig's List DID work.  But very minorly.  This mind you, pertains to my first three POD books, entitled "Espionage First", "Spencer Prague", and "Death of the Common Writer" - by NO MEANS my fourth book...this time I knew better.

However, if you do the math, a $56.00 a year royalty check for THREE novel-length titles with them (authors get 5 to 10% royalties on sales from X-Libris)...people who purchase a trade paperback of one of the titles, I get $2.30.  For people who purchase a hardcover edition, I get $3.30 for it.

So how many copies of my first three books did I sell? This is by NO MEANS the amount I made in 2002 when I released Espionage First, and pitched it at the right time - as 2002 was the year for espionage; with movies like The Bourne Identity, Die Another Day, Sum of all Fears.  It started off with a BANG! Then from 2003 and on - shit's creek!!

To sit down and write a novel for 6 months to a year, and this is what you get folks.  So I assume I sold like twenty-something copies.  I will know further in January when I get my tax form.

It's kind of pathetic...I can write two great money-making articles or short stories in ONE MONTH, and get paid the same, instead of wasting my time with NOVELS.  But, here's the catch...if it wasn't for the novels, the short stories wouldn't sell either.  They are like a "full length resume".

$56.00 - yes folks, for hard work on three novels in two and a half years time, I am going to celebrate by eating McDonalds TWICE this week.

Lawrence

[DLaBounty]

And how much does Xlibris make?

[vinniethevole]

I think I'm going to be solely a Silverthought creature from now on.

It may not make me a ton of money in the short term, but at least I know who is making the money.  And it's helping fund this community, which is sort of like re-investing in your own hobby.  Paul will make the books look great, and get them into the hands of people who will appreciate them.  The money will follow eventually.

[SirLawrence]

Me thinks the same.  I must become a denizen of the Silverthought Community.  SCREW PRINT-ON-DEMAND. 

Here to - The Rise of Silverthought Press!!!

Lawrence

[Paul Hughes]

in your publishing agreement with xlibris, did it state that you'd be getting higher than 10% royalties?  10% seems ridiculously low, even for mass-pod.  i have a hard time feeling any sympathy for someone complaining about 10% royalties when that was the number on the contract.  with pod, you get what you pay for, or what you sign to.

[SirLawrence]

Trust me, I learned my lesson after they moved to the Phillipines and they started downsizing in Philly PA.

No, as the company grew - (and then obviously downsized) - there was no fine print.

However, at least the books are owned by me, all rights, should I republish, and registered at the Library of Congress.

Got my TX Forms here.

Lawrence

[Paul Hughes]

...it's helping fund this community, which is sort of like re-investing in your own hobby.

you wouldn't believe the amount of digital whoring for SLU i've been doing to fund this little operation.  i feel so dirty, but money's money.  don't hate me too much when they send out their next fundraising email with a flash attached...  i'm to blame.  but at least ignition's bought and paid for.

[vinniethevole]

Hey man, when you love something, you sell your soul for it.  I'm still working my brutal underpaid medical assistant job 50 hours a week with no lunch breaks to fund my massage therapy business.  I think I speak for all of us when I say we hope that this Silverthought thing takes off like a rocket and we're more than willing to put the raw materials into your hands.

To me, a receptive venue and an established reading audience is worth more than $100.

[SirLawrence]

Hmmm...I think X-Libris owes me more.  I mean most titles sold were trade paperback, only a few hardcover.  But I think I sold 34 copies of my first three books in the last year.  The majority purchasing Espionage First and Death of the Common Writer.

I must look into this with them after the weekend is over.  However, getting an email response from X-Libris is like waiting on hold for three months.  And I prefer to email because I can at least get in touch with Philly PA.  I don't even bother calling the Phillipines (where they are now) anymore...unless I want to talk to a bunch of non-English speaking, underwage-paid idiots. 

Maybe I should learn Cantonese...hrmph!

Lawrence

[Andy Laughton]

I've heard a lot of rumors over the years of POD presses underreporting sales and cheating authors out of royalties.

[SirLawrence]

X-LIBRIS SUCKS THE BALLS - THE END OF X-LIBRIS and its AFFILIATES!!!  THEY SUCK THE BALLS SO DON'T USE THEM or "ANY" POD PRESS!!!

SAMPLE LETTER BELOW!!!

Dear Lawrence R. Dagstine,

This letter is to inform you of important adjustments made to the process of having your title, Spencer Prague, listed through online channels such as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and borders.com.  In order to accommodate an ever increasing volume of titles our distribution affiliates have always charged Xlibris a fee for keeping a book listed on these sites.  This fee was originally offset by the online channel websites by running a micro-inventory of each available title.  In August 2004, online channel establishments ceased to run such small inventories.  Due to this change, Xlibris will now be removing titles whose sales activity does not generate enough revenue to offset the listing fees.

 

As a result of these changes, we are required to introduce a Channel Distribution fee of $50 for those that would like to continue their online distribution.  This is valid for one year and affords you the opportunity to continue marketing your book.  Benefits of the service include:

 

You, the author, determine how long you would like your book listed with channel distributors regardless of sales activity.
 

Provide alternative established venues aside from your personal website and the Xlibris website, for generating book sales.
 

Your title is due for renewal in the distribution network in April 2006.  As sales of your title through the distribution channels have been below the minimum required offset point, the title will be removed from the networks of our online channel affiliates and will solely be supported by the Xlibris bookstore after April 7, 2006.  Please call us at 1 888 795 4274 and ask to speak with a customer service representative to let us know if you would like to take advantage of the Channel Distribution Service and have your title remain available.

 

We do apologize for the inconvenience this may cause and would like to thank you for being part of the Xlibris family.

Sincerely,

Reynold Jayme

Webpage Specialist

[SirLawrence]

I like how when you pay for an independent service with someone like X-Libris, users of LSI POD technology/micro-inventory...they say a book will not go out of print.  Guess what folks, this is proof that Xlibris is in desperate need of cash to stay afloat and asking for more cash to list a book on Amazon, a measly fifty bucks...when the contract with them states you GET THIS SERVICE INCLUDED.  I give Print on Demand till 2010.

This example of the company listed below is Stage One.  Read the Letter BELOW.

And whatever you do, DON"T USE Xlibris!!!

Lawrence