A.D. Stewart's Blog
April 14, 2012
Piracy
Some of you know of me via Facebook and Twitter. I recently was the victim of piracy. Imagine to my horror waking up one morning to find a message on Facebook from a fan...
"I just purchased a copy of Black Pyramid and it'll be with me in a week or so! I'm so excited!"
I read the message over and over before my brain decided to work. First of all, I was pleased as punch that someone would get this excited for something I wrote. And I immediately wrote back how pleased I was for them. And I hoped they enjoyed the book.
At this point my eyes took in 'a copy' and 'it'll be with me in a week'. WARNING! How could she get a copy when Black Pyramid was no longer in print? So I typed back-
Do you mind if I ask where you got a copy?
And when ebay popped up in the little window, I thought, okay it's simple. Someone decided to sell their copy. No big deal. Nope. I was wrong.
After investigating, I found out that the company I originally hired to publish my book, hadn't cancelled my contract, even though they proclaimed that's what they did. In fact, they allowed their printing company to carry on printing my book. And I never received a single payment.
So you're probably asking what did I do? I spent four hours on the phone tracking down names and telephone numbers. I got hold of the right people and in the end, my book is no longer available for print from this company.
My advice for anyone doing self publishing, make sure, double check that the publisher has deleted your book template and isn't selling pirated copies. I may never find out what the printers made from my work, but at least they know that I am keeping my eye on them.
"I just purchased a copy of Black Pyramid and it'll be with me in a week or so! I'm so excited!"
I read the message over and over before my brain decided to work. First of all, I was pleased as punch that someone would get this excited for something I wrote. And I immediately wrote back how pleased I was for them. And I hoped they enjoyed the book.
At this point my eyes took in 'a copy' and 'it'll be with me in a week'. WARNING! How could she get a copy when Black Pyramid was no longer in print? So I typed back-
Do you mind if I ask where you got a copy?
And when ebay popped up in the little window, I thought, okay it's simple. Someone decided to sell their copy. No big deal. Nope. I was wrong.
After investigating, I found out that the company I originally hired to publish my book, hadn't cancelled my contract, even though they proclaimed that's what they did. In fact, they allowed their printing company to carry on printing my book. And I never received a single payment.
So you're probably asking what did I do? I spent four hours on the phone tracking down names and telephone numbers. I got hold of the right people and in the end, my book is no longer available for print from this company.
My advice for anyone doing self publishing, make sure, double check that the publisher has deleted your book template and isn't selling pirated copies. I may never find out what the printers made from my work, but at least they know that I am keeping my eye on them.
December 9, 2011
Dusting off the cobwebs...
It would seem that no matter how much time I set aside to write, something or someone ultimately demands that 'time slot'.
As a mother of 3 curious children and wife of one very talented husband, I'm constantly asked one question...
Do you find it hard to make time to write?
(Nods yes)
Of course I do. And my kids have, from time to time, taken it upon themselves to hide my keyboard! (Little monsters.)
I decided that after my eldest daughter told me she sees the back of my head more than my face- It was time to set a schedule. Great. Fantastic. Why didn't I think of this earlier? Because I didn't realize how much time I spent in my worlds!
Okay so now a ruling of no writing after 3pm. Kidlets come home from school. I spend time with them, everyone is smiling. And I don't have to keep buying new keyboards.
But seriously, it's all about setting boundaries and limits. A lot of the time, it's like being on the phone. Every mother in the world knows how this one works. Nobody in a fifty foot radius. Get on the phone, someone wants to ask you ten thousand questions. And every single one is normally pointless.
Hugs a bunch! X
As a mother of 3 curious children and wife of one very talented husband, I'm constantly asked one question...
Do you find it hard to make time to write?
(Nods yes)
Of course I do. And my kids have, from time to time, taken it upon themselves to hide my keyboard! (Little monsters.)
I decided that after my eldest daughter told me she sees the back of my head more than my face- It was time to set a schedule. Great. Fantastic. Why didn't I think of this earlier? Because I didn't realize how much time I spent in my worlds!
Okay so now a ruling of no writing after 3pm. Kidlets come home from school. I spend time with them, everyone is smiling. And I don't have to keep buying new keyboards.
But seriously, it's all about setting boundaries and limits. A lot of the time, it's like being on the phone. Every mother in the world knows how this one works. Nobody in a fifty foot radius. Get on the phone, someone wants to ask you ten thousand questions. And every single one is normally pointless.
Hugs a bunch! X
June 3, 2011
New to goodreads
I LIVE TO READ! Love doesn't come into it. Obession? Definetly! If I don't have a book in my hands most days, I'm either too sick to lift my head off my pillow, or, I'm busy with my family. And in amongst all that, I create worlds of my own.
I'm pretty new to the writing world. And like most novices, (along with a few health issues)I decided to self publish my first book instead of submitting to various pubs.
Black Pyramid: Book 1 from my epic series, Ancient Breeds- went live June 26, 2010. I've had alot of success with the story. And I'm very honored and touched that readers take the time to message me about BP. And I'm proud to announce that BP is due out in paperback once more with a new publisher. No more DIY for me! :)
Keep a look out on my website for more details on it's release and other works in progress.
www.ancientbreeds.co.uk/
For those of you that would like to follow me on Facebook, the link is below.
http://www.facebook.com/apps/applicat...
And thank you for joining me. Hugs a bunch. X
I'm pretty new to the writing world. And like most novices, (along with a few health issues)I decided to self publish my first book instead of submitting to various pubs.
Black Pyramid: Book 1 from my epic series, Ancient Breeds- went live June 26, 2010. I've had alot of success with the story. And I'm very honored and touched that readers take the time to message me about BP. And I'm proud to announce that BP is due out in paperback once more with a new publisher. No more DIY for me! :)
Keep a look out on my website for more details on it's release and other works in progress.
www.ancientbreeds.co.uk/
For those of you that would like to follow me on Facebook, the link is below.
http://www.facebook.com/apps/applicat...
And thank you for joining me. Hugs a bunch. X
