tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post4478484573949490320..comments2024-03-26T16:31:13.865-07:00Comments on Mark Lawrence: My attempts to get sense from KDPMark Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877925828353073272noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-48985886357921191032023-11-20T13:41:58.081-08:002023-11-20T13:41:58.081-08:00i managed to make around a grand a week for a year...i managed to make around a grand a week for a year on kdp but they have just dropped a poop bomb on it. It a very precarious way to make a living but make the most of it if it temporarily makes money. I'm moving my stuff to Lulu which will be worse in some respects like cistomer support. Also payment processors suck. You cant have it all your own way I'm afraid.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624702493388601936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-78372807099145592782023-07-01T17:37:53.371-07:002023-07-01T17:37:53.371-07:00I had a two book series with two art books of AI g...I had a two book series with two art books of AI generated sexy imagery (Sexy Cyborgs). I only published these because I found a ton of similar content on Amazon (just do a search for Suki Otomo and you'll see what I mean.) I figured if I marked the books as 18 and older only and mature content that they might get published. One did and one got blocked. Then I got the email about the account being temporarily blocked until I replied with an email agreeing to follow the guidelines. I sent the email and the account was reinstated - I also told them I had a second book that had similar content that was approved and so they blocked that one as well. They advised I unpublish any offending titles once the account was reinstated. BUT you can't unpublish a blocked book - the three ellipsis only offered the offending titles to be archived not unpublished. A few days later they sent me the termination of account email. I responded in two locations - on the terminated page, the termination email, and an email to jeff Bezos explaining the conundrum. Now I wait. <br /><br />This got me to thinking of how important it is not to rely on Amazon for all of your publishing needs, because they can crush all of your work in an instant. It seems there should be a competitor of equal strength in this marketplace. A competitor that can simply deny a title without taking everything else away from the author in the process. Seem silly to me to kill every other work an author has on KDP over a couple missunderstandings over vague guidelines that are bent for some but not for all.SecretSquirrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03338227540138833613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-28579075595859117072023-06-15T10:23:46.061-07:002023-06-15T10:23:46.061-07:00This happened to me when I stupidly tried to revis...This happened to me when I stupidly tried to revise and then publish a hard cover version. They completely screwed me over. Nothing ever happened in the end. The book and its title were permanently blocked. I can't even upload or create a new book with the same content. I mean Amazon is a business for profit. Why all the fuss? Why the obfuscation, the constant redirects to the Banglore outsourced help team who merely copy and paste generic responses? I've lost my book for good. And it's the same with ebay and ETSY. I think these corporations don't want us to be profitable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-21302531905609519782023-05-27T08:57:01.510-07:002023-05-27T08:57:01.510-07:00Hi S.W - you can email me at empire_of_thorns@yaho...Hi S.W - you can email me at empire_of_thorns@yahoo.co.uk with some more detail.Mark Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877925828353073272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-82180631074677200782023-05-26T11:28:29.663-07:002023-05-26T11:28:29.663-07:00Mark, not sure where to get permission for a quota...Mark, not sure where to get permission for a quotation to use as an epitaph: “A book is as dangerous as any journey you might take. The person who closes the back cover may not be the same one that opened the front one. Treat them with respect.”<br /> Mark Lawrence<br />S. W. Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01654864579983316386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-47703483539851039992022-12-07T13:56:01.547-08:002022-12-07T13:56:01.547-08:00I have been messed around like this - unpublished ...I have been messed around like this - unpublished in frustration and gave up - 2 weeks later they approved from out of nowhereUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624702493388601936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-75145617199079288062022-10-14T01:34:43.712-07:002022-10-14T01:34:43.712-07:00Hi Tina - (insert appropriate adjective)ly, as I n...Hi Tina - (insert appropriate adjective)ly, as I noticed at the time of the communication, he used a disposable email address (a long string of random characters), that I believe is designed to avoid exactly what you're trying to do. I'm pretty sure that it lasts just for one interaction. It starts 5003n00002uzqocaav...<br />Mark Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877925828353073272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-85138731408880694902022-10-12T02:02:24.667-07:002022-10-12T02:02:24.667-07:00Hi Mark, thank you so much for sharing your story....Hi Mark, thank you so much for sharing your story. I am having issues with the Amazon KDP support as well. Would you <br />mind sharing your contact with Jeremy. I am desperately trying to get in contact with someone to explain my matter. Thank you so much & best regards TinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-15686821802779889832022-09-28T12:48:24.239-07:002022-09-28T12:48:24.239-07:00Hi Mark. This process happened to me over the last...Hi Mark. This process happened to me over the last week. One with a pre-order I tried to submit and the other for a book that's been published since 2019. That one was put into review again after I went in to review categories and details before putting my pre-order up since they are part of the same series. It has been a nightmare to say the least. When I was officially blocked for both books years, I broke down and cried like part of me had died. After many emails not telling me what the exact issue was, and sending me a link to a t-shirt that my books were closely related to, they've told me it is due to having an author name, my legal name, like a known authors name. When I published in 2019, I searched my name and my book titles and found nothing. Since then, the fantasy author Samantha Shannon has blown up. That's great, but I write 23-34 page full-cover, children's picture books. We are in no way related, no covers, titles, detail, categories, genres, none of it. They asked if in my details I state that I am not her. I told them will do that if they unblock and put the books back at draft for me to do so. I also added that info into my Amazon Author bio. What I was worried about, and you mention above as well, is my KDP account is under my publisher name, Rawlings Books, LLC, and not my name, Samantha Shannon. So I have compiled proof, from Bowker to taxes, to my domain and the bank account they deposit royalties to, that it's my name and my LLC. Ugh...I'm exhausted and scared, but I found you and I emailed Jeff and I really hope I have luck hearing from someone. Bots suck. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-45125085656676300542022-09-18T17:49:43.099-07:002022-09-18T17:49:43.099-07:00Ugh--this just happened to me today. I just publis...Ugh--this just happened to me today. I just published my latest book (well, not anymore since my account is closed) but noticed the 'look inside' feature had the wrong content--it had the cover/first pages of a book yet to be published. So when I emailed as to what was going on, I was told to A) re-upload with the correct document or unpublish and re-add--which I did cuz the right doc was uploaded. All of a sudden--POOF--I get the 'you have misleading content' and doesn't not match the 'metadata' blah blah blah. No actual reason or explanation given. After reading this, I may just give up or just publish on Smashwords and laud that platform over Amazon KDP (WHICH ROYALLY SUCKS). Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-18590573461155628942022-07-30T14:25:42.569-07:002022-07-30T14:25:42.569-07:00I'm dealing with this now, too. In my case, I ...I'm dealing with this now, too. In my case, I feel like the solution should be a simple one; I'm publishing a Kindle Vella as an ebook, and have stated in the description that it was originally on Kindle Vella, and both stories are linked to my author page...yet I'm being hit with the "misleading content" emails.<br /><br />I tried sending screenshots to show I own the original book, only to get the same email again. I'm gonna try tweaking the description a third time, and see if that helps. It's really frustrating to be told to fix something, but have it treated like a scavenger hunt...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-71260320482445960812022-07-01T08:13:19.785-07:002022-07-01T08:13:19.785-07:00Thank you for publishing your story - now we all w...Thank you for publishing your story - now we all will try to hit up humans at the Bezos mailbox. Looks like going in and adjusting the price to better market or keep up with inflation is now kicking off KDP reviews for books that were selling just fine - but new guidelines are creating problems. Without having a human to talk to and explain, self publishing authors are frustrated to find out books blocked entirely. Makes you want to print books yourself and sell by fulfillment - those guys are getting better treatment. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-788725042196340602022-05-24T06:45:56.315-07:002022-05-24T06:45:56.315-07:00I'm pulling my hair every time I have to deal ...I'm pulling my hair every time I have to deal with these morons.... On my end, I have many paperbacks published...and lo behold! when I try to publish the same books in hardcovers.... wow I need to validate them again!<br />I tell these idiots, well you see, these book have been validated over 5 years ago... and there are live. Why a hardcover (actually a duplicate of the paperback) is not okay and needs to be, AGAIN, validated?<br />and of course all you get is stupid auto messages.<br />Sometimes I just delete the book and re-up it again hoping to stumble upon someone with brain....<br />These guys are just uncompetent. They would be better as greeters at Walmart!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-34832231846696163722022-05-17T03:52:59.651-07:002022-05-17T03:52:59.651-07:00NiceNiceMehedi Hasan Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09448107179821479674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-83611595310255874112022-04-30T17:25:19.316-07:002022-04-30T17:25:19.316-07:00Their bots are crazy. I got this email "Durin...Their bots are crazy. I got this email "During a quality assurance review of your KDP catalog, we found content in your catalog that is not significantly different from content you previously published. It was republished in a way that is confusing or misleading to customers because the book's metadata does not allow a customer to tell whether they might have already read the previous version of that content." - They listed authors that are not remotely similar to mine - not even same subject and then they listed "you must include the said authors we list and 000-000-000-0000-0001 and the french junk they listed" I am like, what the heck?? I thought KDP people were trained thus they should be able to know when their system is faulty. Kind of annoying - so I unpublished the said books. I am not putting similar authors that they listed that are NOT similar. makes zero sense and bad also for the author author since they are not in the same book subject as mine. KDP needs better training!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-76212117878377636922022-03-06T11:27:33.307-08:002022-03-06T11:27:33.307-08:00I came across this blog searching for Amazon Conte...I came across this blog searching for Amazon Content Review stupidity --there's a lot out there. I'm part of little publisher Club Lighthouse Publishing so we put out hundreds of books and we run into problems with the content review team all the time. We used to have a CreateSpace account for paperbacks and that got folded into a Kindle account different from the one that was migrated from MobiPocket (the CreateDSpace one was US and the MobiPocket Canadian). So now we have ebooks on one account and paperbacks and the other and the morons at content review cannot figure this out. Very annoying. I just changed the price on a paperback that's been out there for a couple years and got into publishing rights hell. Another time I was listening to a podcast on improving sales and it was talking about updating categories and keywords. So I did that on a few books that had come over from Mobipocket long ago, and got back a message that one of them did not meet content guidelines. So what was wrong? Something in the cover and interior. Well, what? No straight answer. I gave up and put the paperback out on B&N. As for the ebook, they blocked it, but where too stupid to realize that a couple of copies had come over from Mobipocket, so it's still out on Amazon. <br /><br />As many people have noted, for the most part we are dealing with the equivalent of a self driving car crashing into pedestrians, And when you do get a person, it's of the mud hut variety just blindly following a script. And although for paperbacks you can talk to a person, they have no control over the content review process. Thanks for the tip about emailing Jeff Bezos -- but what is the email address?JimJudyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08625722356573751592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-8542490580819795652021-12-29T10:29:50.571-08:002021-12-29T10:29:50.571-08:00Currently going through similar. My account is ter...Currently going through similar. My account is terminated for "misleading content" of which they can't tell me what the heck is misleading. Sigh. And of course, it's only my indie books that are affected, my publisher books are perfectly fine. Bezos email is likely my next bet. Adrian J. Smithhttp://adrianjsmithbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-80088584614831165832021-11-30T21:05:34.123-08:002021-11-30T21:05:34.123-08:00I am a new author and am suddenly fearful of putti...I am a new author and am suddenly fearful of putting my yet only partially written book on amazon. Guess it really is a good thing I decided that my first work was too rough to monetise. Perhaps by the time my second series is written Royal Road will have caught up to Amazon? Unlikely though. I somehow doubt Amzon will let it happen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15940374043442901559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-43194117095397214072021-11-22T07:58:33.235-08:002021-11-22T07:58:33.235-08:00I'm dealing with this right now and I'm a ...I'm dealing with this right now and I'm a publisher! Since it's been a week of "form" letters, I'll email Jeff and see what happens. Thank you.<br />Cynthia Hickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07629139979412026976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-74986391562081444212021-11-06T15:50:16.172-07:002021-11-06T15:50:16.172-07:00Thank you for taking the time to write this out. A...Thank you for taking the time to write this out. As I sit here with my own blocked book, my own logical email sent and I wait and wait, debating whether it's worth trying to get it unblocked or if I should cut it loose from the Mighty Zon. The anxiety, the stupidity...your post made me feel better. :)Writewood Creationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12472341492726430717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-55267240175014142492021-10-29T01:50:35.636-07:002021-10-29T01:50:35.636-07:00Well, well, well. Now we know where Jorg got his w...Well, well, well. Now we know where Jorg got his way with wordsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-24479844286042292332021-10-21T04:48:41.554-07:002021-10-21T04:48:41.554-07:00Marvellous, these incidents can be so cathartic to...Marvellous, these incidents can be so cathartic to write out and I'm glad you finally got to the end of it. For my sake as much as yours!Hatboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01593011396310118036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-1513325691556421062021-10-10T14:24:46.964-07:002021-10-10T14:24:46.964-07:00Amazon is a nightmare. A bit before Covid I decide...Amazon is a nightmare. A bit before Covid I decided to quit it and buy my books on other places: Waterstone, World of Book, Kobo... <br />I am not a writer, but an eager reader with a blog, and silly of me, I decided to get some money with Amazon, linking books. I hated it since the beginning. It was a road full of stones and with too much pressure to get a minimum, to put a link, to do this, to sign that, no sense emails... Life is too short to deal with narrow minds. <br />Welzenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08217373547656685982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-66434607565083206122021-10-08T21:07:31.448-07:002021-10-08T21:07:31.448-07:00An email to this usually gets attention from a hum...An email to this usually gets attention from a human with the power to fix things:<br /><br />jeff@amazon.com Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-7746309892663330792021-10-07T00:49:48.127-07:002021-10-07T00:49:48.127-07:00I'm getting war flashbacks from this.
The war ...I'm getting war flashbacks from this.<br />The war between Lloyds Bank and myself trying to provide proof of address to the flat that I own and them telling me that the official records of ownership are insufficient and that they need a LETTER XDRoscoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17265719195560784978noreply@blogger.com