As always, we have a lot of news tonight. Join us and comment along with us.
Big stories are:
Oyster (The Netflix for Books App) and;
Google Play Store book store revamp. Is Google looking at increasing their e-book market share?
Are the invites already going out for Oyster? A couple of people I follow on twitter said they got their invite, checked the catalog out and the books enrolled were all old, ones they’ve already read or ones they had no interest in reading.
There have been enough horror stories among self-publishers though with Google’s price slashing (to compete with Amazon) that they’ll have to prove themselves to alot of authors again. And word is on the KBs that they are still price slashing.
I don’t think Amazon pays your regular royalty- they will keep it at your regular royalty rate. For example if Google drops your price below 2.99 and Ammy matches the new price, Ammy will pay the 70% but pays that on the new price.
I’m not convinced that search results that include book products will matter. Unless they are parsing your book for content, someone would have to search for your name or the title of your book.
csjameson Yeah, but, Google Authorship ranking is a reflection of where you rank in the generic Google search results– not what CircleCount says your ranking is. So, if someone types in red-haired writers and CS Jameson shows up in the top 10 results then you have a good Google Author Rank.
Nicholas Kahler Yeah, but, if you search for J.K. Rowling you’re telling me that it’s not difficult to find out that she is associated with the Harry Potter series.
jlward Nicholas Kahler If you do that search now, it has a list of her books in the right rail. You may not be able to click on them to buy them from Google, but its still pretty clear. I’m not sure what you mean, John.
Carl Sinclair csjameson Trish McCallan Sorry, I was at a clown meeting! Had to drive home. I tried to leave earlier, but we were doing balloon decoration practice. LOL!
I’m just either looking through all my favorite genres or typing in my favorite authors. I found some decent non-fiction also, including books on writing.
I read an interview with Amanda Hockings where she said she’s making more money since her sale to her traditional house since they are getting her in Walmart, Target, Costco
I have decided that I am going to engage in some civil disobedienpce and disrupt the show by offering a running commentary on this episode of Buffy.
Also, Dave, did you hear there is a new Harry Potter movie in the works?
This episode is entitled “Beneath You” and is the second episode of season 7. Buffy has just arrived at her new job as the fuzzy description counselor at the new Hellmouth High.
gregorylynn The first step to recovery is acknowledging you have a problem, since you don’t have that acknowledgement – then I don’t see your problem. LMAO!
Ooh, Buffy looks for Spike in the basement and finds only rats.
Oh hey, there’s Willow. Sigh. She’s getting ready to go home and she’s not done getting Dumbledored and she’s afraid she will screw up again.
Warren wouldn’t like that, but rumor has it some people find Dark Wllow sexy. We cannot, however, confirm this rumor.
Giles is such a gentleman, holding the umbrella and carrying the suitcase as he kicks the cute redhead out of his country. She’s clearly of Irish descent, you see.
Oh, and a sidewalk just ate a dog and there’s Xander to the rescue. And the first thing Xander does with the pretty girl who is scared is take her to Buffy’s house.
And he wonders why he can’t get chicks.
Nicholas Kahler jlward The list of her books on the right is there because of her Google Author Rank. I’ll find some articles for you that go into more detail than I can do in the comments section.
jlward Nicholas Kahler Good deal. I’m open to converting, I just can’t see a lot of value, even if Google is selling the books directly. At least, not anytime soon.
Oh snap, they’re getting all uppity with Buffy because she didn’t tell them she ran into Spike in the basement.
Did I mention Fuck Spike?
“Everything about you is wrong, Spike.”
Ouch.
“She’s a girl, and she’s my friend, but she’s not my girlfriend.”–Xander
Now, where have I heard that one before?
Also, Xander gets to take the pretty girl home. Buffy is doing a better job getting him a little than he is.
Nicholas Kahler jlward Well, the value isn’t the idea that Google is going to sell your books from the search page. The value is that a higher search rank and having Google acknowledge that you are an expert on some subject will get you a higher search rank. The higher search rank makes it easier to learn about you and your books. It increases your visibility.
Crissy’s right that a one time sales spike will never hold rank for long, Amazon weights a slow steady growth and a higher price tag stronger than a sharp one time spike and low price tag, so you may get a spike for a day but you’ll rank and sales fast.
jlward Nicholas Kahler There’s just so many other ways to do that. Not that I don’t think another method is appealing, I just question whether it’s going to make a dent or if it’s just going to further bolster the people who are already established. It’s like adding another social media channel when you aren’t using the existing ones successfully.
Buffy and Spike investigate the carnivorous sidewalk and Spike explains that he was only crazy because he was crazy. I think Buffy buys it, and that’s a bad thing.
Now there’s some rape talk, the mere existence of which makes me wonder why Spike hasn’t already woken up on fire, which, incidentally, is what Dawn told Spike would happen if he did anything to Buffy.
I like Dawn. Buffy and Spike can go screw. That might be some unfortunate phraseology, but there ya go.
sryeager csjameson Nicholas Kahler maryeihla Well let me lose that star and say I haven’t read Lovecraft, but I’ve heard the term and know through word of nerdom.
And pretty girl hits on Xander and he doesn’t notice. Captain Smooth. Also, he says he’s listed. Do phone books even exist anymore in the real world?
And by real world, I mean not the benighted state in which l live which was once referred to as being too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.
It hasn’t changed much since then.
Ruh roh, pretty girl says she wished her ex boyfriend would stop and Xander says in that exhausted voice, “Wish?”
Oh hey, there’s Anyanka, funny how that works.
And Anya stares deep into Spike’s eyes and knows that he has a soul and Spike doesn’t want anyone to know so he’s trying to get away and manages to punch Anya in the face over it.
So…yeah, nice soul ya got there. Hitting women is just the thing you want to do when you get sane.
Then Buffy kicks his ass.
Blah blah blah…less Spike, please.
And I feel like I am talking to myself here. Clearly you’re all doing it wrong.
Oh hey, giant worm monster now chasing pretty girl up a fire escape. Good luck with that one, Missy.
And Anya reverses the spell just in time for Spike to jab a big metal thing through the shoulder of the newly restored ex boyfriend.
Oh, and he’s clearly still insane.
Now Spike and Buffy are talking in a church or a crypt or something. I dunno, screen’s dark, I think there’s something wrong with my magic picture box.
And Spike makes to take off his pants. Stay classy there.
“Spike, have you completely lost your mind?”
“Well, yes, where have you been all night?”
Spike blathers a lot.
I’m not really listening.
Did I mention that someone dies in the first line of HemoGoblins 1? His name is Spike.
Oh hey, Buffy realizes Spike got his soul back. She’s unimpressed. I can sense Angel’s annoyance from here.
And now Spike is hanging himself on a cross like every pretentious douchnozzle in Junior High and that’s the end of the episode.
We would continue this thrilling play by play but the next episode has a lot of Willow so my hands are needed elsewhere.
Welcome to the Roundtable!
As always, we have a lot of news tonight. Join us and comment along with us.
Big stories are:
Oyster (The Netflix for Books App) and;
Google Play Store book store revamp. Is Google looking at increasing their e-book market share?
Plenty more to discuss. See you soon!
Hi all
Hey everyone! It looks like we’re going to be starting early tonight.
Early? The rabblerousers haven’t arrived yet!
Hello, my friends.
Boy it’s quiet in here today
crissymoss We’ll get louder, I’m sure.
Hey all. How goes?
Where’s that Carl Countdown?
Nicholas Kahler Evening, Mr. K.!
Nicholas Kahler tech issues like always 😉
Carl married Storm. It’s a thing. What he calls a ‘power outage’ is actually a pretty rowdy domestic dispute.
OMG, John is hosting! I <3 you, Ward!
Nicholas Kahler Eh, Carl came back. So, it’s his show again. Oh well. One day I’ll stage my coup!
I already miss John being the host.
jlward Nicholas Kahler Sad face.
Trish McCallan Oh well. We ended up starting on time anyway. You can blame Wade for that.
BuddyGott I do too. I do too. Not really. Too much actual work is involved.
Carl Talks… Cylons Out… No One Talks… Everyone Talks at Once…
Wash, Rinse, Repeat… Scene. There’s the show.
You can all skip the next 40 minutes. You’re welcome.
Are the invites already going out for Oyster? A couple of people I follow on twitter said they got their invite, checked the catalog out and the books enrolled were all old, ones they’ve already read or ones they had no interest in reading.
I like what Dave just said. A six month (or so) window on new releases sounds good.
All I can think about when I hear that company name is that song ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ from Alice in Wonderland.
http://www.kboards.com/index.php/topic,161575.0.html
The kindle boards discussion on the Oyster app.
‘Sup guys? I forgot what day it is. How y’all doing?
gregorylynn ‘Sup, Gregory
BuddyGott gregorylynn My mother called me Gregory…once.
gregorylynn BuddyGott Aaaah, a Stripes reference! You’re cool in my book, Greg!
BuddyGott gregorylynn Not Stripes, Johnny Dangerously. Though, I rarely wear underwear, and when I do, it’s usually somethng exotic.
gregorylynn BuddyGott Don’t call me Francis.
jlward gregorylynn BuddyGott You just made the list Buddy.
jlward BuddyGott And by Buddy, I mean Not Buddy.
jlward gregorylynn BuddyGott I feel ashamed for getting that wrong. I fear now that I may be kicked out of the Joe Piscopo Fan Club.
Are all of the Realm Keepers books already up on Oyster?
Ah ha! Finally got this livefyre thing to work
Eric Guindon Greeting, Eric.
Couldn’t get it to work on Chrome 🙁
God damn storms!
Heya Buddy and company – good to be here.
Howdy
sryeager Hey Steve!
sryeager Yo Steve!
There have been enough horror stories among self-publishers though with Google’s price slashing (to compete with Amazon) that they’ll have to prove themselves to alot of authors again. And word is on the KBs that they are still price slashing.
Hey, everyone.
I still maintain that the only advantage Google offers over Amazon is a DRM free format.
Hello everyone!
David Anson Hi David
When I say DRM free, I mean purchasing a non-proprietary book product. EBUB vs. MOBI.
You can start the party now…I’m here
I don’t think Amazon pays your regular royalty- they will keep it at your regular royalty rate. For example if Google drops your price below 2.99 and Ammy matches the new price, Ammy will pay the 70% but pays that on the new price.
csjameson Woo Hoo! Putting on my party hat!
Sorry guys, I have to bug out, my wife wants to watch Buffy.
BuddyGott David Anson Hi Buddy
gregorylynn Later!
Bye, Gregory,
BuddyGott csjameson Sorry, I had a clown meeting!
gregorylynn Later
gregorylynn 🙁 I see how you are…now that i”m here.
csjameson About time you showed up Cyndi- we were waiting to get the party rolling until you arrived.
Nicholas Kahler winky smily
Trish McCallan Well, that WOULD suck!
I’m in the top 800 profiles on G+ for females
http://blog.smashwords.com/2013/09/new-smashwords-series-manager-improves.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+Smashwords+(Smashwords)&m=1
thedavidwwright Trish McCallan Yeah, that’s what they do, or so I hear, and yes, it does suck.
I’m not convinced that search results that include book products will matter. Unless they are parsing your book for content, someone would have to search for your name or the title of your book.
csjameson Yeah, but, Google Authorship ranking is a reflection of where you rank in the generic Google search results– not what CircleCount says your ranking is. So, if someone types in red-haired writers and CS Jameson shows up in the top 10 results then you have a good Google Author Rank.
BuddyGott sryeager Hi Steve
Nicholas Kahler Yeah, but, if you search for J.K. Rowling you’re telling me that it’s not difficult to find out that she is associated with the Harry Potter series.
Yeah, it does suck, which is why so many people pulled their books from Google and aren’t tempted to go back even with the new interface.
The people who used to buy my book from Wattpad, always bought it on Smashwords. (shrug)
jlward Nicholas Kahler If you do that search now, it has a list of her books in the right rail. You may not be able to click on them to buy them from Google, but its still pretty clear. I’m not sure what you mean, John.
Doesn’t the Kindle app make books device neutral now?
I do both.
Is there a kindle app for Nook now? There wasn’t when I had a Nook.
I almost always buy from Amazon’s site. Faster than doing it on the device.
Trish McCallan I have the Kindle App on my phone and I have a Nook. So I do both for both stores. I don’t think Kindle has an app for Nook.
Trish McCallan Something tells me the Nook creators probably don’t want to release their SDK to amazon developers. =P
BuddyGottKindle and I always buy from Amazon’s site, too.
Nicholas Kahler Pretty much ; )
Carl Sinclair Nicholas Kahler Winky smiley! ;D
csjameson I would never abandon you, you’re my favorite clownbrarian.
I’ve had my Oyster account for over a week and love it!
csjameson Trish McCallan Hey Cyndi Pie
Carl Sinclair csjameson Trish McCallan Hey sweets!
Carl Sinclair csjameson Trish McCallan Sorry, I was at a clown meeting! Had to drive home. I tried to leave earlier, but we were doing balloon decoration practice. LOL!
I make enough writing to cover my bar tab. Isn’t that enough?
maryeihla She’s a plant! Take her down!
sryeager Sounds legit
sryeager Only if you drink like a pansy. 😉
maryeihla How are you finding the selection?
Nicholas Kahler sryeager You’re on a roll tonight!
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager cool story bro
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager I’m collecting likes. Please make your donations payable to Auh Yea Industries!!
Nicholas Kahler csjameson sryeager I’m sorry…put all my coins in “OH GOD!” and “Yeah right there!”
I’m just either looking through all my favorite genres or typing in my favorite authors. I found some decent non-fiction also, including books on writing.
Maybe it’s a workload decision? Not everyone likes the business of publishing.
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager You should have seen me first. I would have made you a better deal. 😉
Nicholas Kahler csjameson sryeager 😉 Not many people make me squirm. Good job! LOL!
I read an interview with Amanda Hockings where she said she’s making more money since her sale to her traditional house since they are getting her in Walmart, Target, Costco
Trish McCallan Books are (unfortunately) a commodity product. Volume is everything.
csjameson BuddyGott sryeager And ‘Hi’, right back.
I have decided that I am going to engage in some civil disobedienpce and disrupt the show by offering a running commentary on this episode of Buffy.
Also, Dave, did you hear there is a new Harry Potter movie in the works?
This episode is entitled “Beneath You” and is the second episode of season 7. Buffy has just arrived at her new job as the fuzzy description counselor at the new Hellmouth High.
Nicholas Kahler Trish McCallan Exactly- and they are pushing her print books hard.
gregorylynn Oooo…..Ahhhhh
gregorylynn Good. I’ll have something to read while Crissy is talking.
I gave you guys a peak. I know you were missing my face.
Carl Sinclair I always miss your face
Also, management has asked me to inform y’all that any talk of Whedon addiction is entirely false. Entirely.
csjameson gregorylynn I don’t know the episode but I enjoy Cyndi making those noises.
Oh cool! A pyramid scheme.
Carl Sinclair Just those backward power systems down under….
gregorylynn The first step to recovery is acknowledging you have a problem, since you don’t have that acknowledgement – then I don’t see your problem. LMAO!
thedavidwwright that almost sounded like Johnny!
You can also make money writing books about how to write a book.
gregorylynn I love that episode. Continue.
maryeihla So true!
maryeihla Or start a religion.
Ooh, Buffy looks for Spike in the basement and finds only rats.
Oh hey, there’s Willow. Sigh. She’s getting ready to go home and she’s not done getting Dumbledored and she’s afraid she will screw up again.
Warren wouldn’t like that, but rumor has it some people find Dark Wllow sexy. We cannot, however, confirm this rumor.
sryeager maryeihla or both of those things.
sryeager maryeihla It was determined that I might be a goddess today….so…I should totally start a religion.
sryeager maryeihla Don’t you dare say a word about Kahlerism!
Nicholas Kahler sryeager maryeihla OH! Kahlerism is an interesting religion. You have to live a dual life.
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager maryeihla … which means, I only need half of your life savings to get started. =D
Giles is such a gentleman, holding the umbrella and carrying the suitcase as he kicks the cute redhead out of his country. She’s clearly of Irish descent, you see.
Oh, and a sidewalk just ate a dog and there’s Xander to the rescue. And the first thing Xander does with the pretty girl who is scared is take her to Buffy’s house.
And he wonders why he can’t get chicks.
Nicholas Kahler csjameson sryeager maryeihla I thought we already determined where I spent all my coins!
Oh, and here’s Spike to be all Spikey. Fuck him and his hair.
tech difficulties?
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager maryeihla You’re a goddess, where are the offerings from your worshippers?
Nicholas Kahler jlward The list of her books on the right is there because of her Google Author Rank. I’ll find some articles for you that go into more detail than I can do in the comments section.
David Anson Always. =)
Nicholas Kahler csjameson sryeager maryeihla Well, my goddess is an invisible pink unicorn….so…..nobody really believes in me yet. I take cookies.
jlward Nicholas Kahler Good deal. I’m open to converting, I just can’t see a lot of value, even if Google is selling the books directly. At least, not anytime soon.
Oh snap, they’re getting all uppity with Buffy because she didn’t tell them she ran into Spike in the basement.
Did I mention Fuck Spike?
“Everything about you is wrong, Spike.”
Ouch.
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager maryeihla There’s some kind of coded message in that comment… isn’t there?
Nicholas Kahler csjameson sryeager maryeihla ::whistles::
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager maryeihla Well let me just say… I’m a believer. 😉
Nicholas Kahler csjameson sryeager maryeihla Cookies?
“She’s a girl, and she’s my friend, but she’s not my girlfriend.”–Xander
Now, where have I heard that one before?
Also, Xander gets to take the pretty girl home. Buffy is doing a better job getting him a little than he is.
Nicholas Kahler jlward Well, the value isn’t the idea that Google is going to sell your books from the search page. The value is that a higher search rank and having Google acknowledge that you are an expert on some subject will get you a higher search rank. The higher search rank makes it easier to learn about you and your books. It increases your visibility.
http://www.ashlynforge.com/contest/
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager maryeihla I like Pink Unicorns, but also like Nyarlathotep too.
Crissy’s right that a one time sales spike will never hold rank for long, Amazon weights a slow steady growth and a higher price tag stronger than a sharp one time spike and low price tag, so you may get a spike for a day but you’ll rank and sales fast.
That should be you’ll lose rank and sales fast.
Nicholas Kahler David Anson winky smiley
sryeager csjameson Nicholas Kahler maryeihla Aren’t those creepy crawly octopus thingies?
csjameson sryeager Nicholas Kahler maryeihla Gold star… had to inject Lovecraft in this conversation somehow.
jlward Nicholas Kahler There’s just so many other ways to do that. Not that I don’t think another method is appealing, I just question whether it’s going to make a dent or if it’s just going to further bolster the people who are already established. It’s like adding another social media channel when you aren’t using the existing ones successfully.
Buffy and Spike investigate the carnivorous sidewalk and Spike explains that he was only crazy because he was crazy. I think Buffy buys it, and that’s a bad thing.
Now there’s some rape talk, the mere existence of which makes me wonder why Spike hasn’t already woken up on fire, which, incidentally, is what Dawn told Spike would happen if he did anything to Buffy.
I like Dawn. Buffy and Spike can go screw. That might be some unfortunate phraseology, but there ya go.
sryeager csjameson Nicholas Kahler maryeihla Well let me lose that star and say I haven’t read Lovecraft, but I’ve heard the term and know through word of nerdom.
http://www.proedit.com/word-people-bizarre-habits-famous-authors/
csjameson sryeager Nicholas Kahler maryeihla Silver star then. 😛
After party?
sryeager csjameson Nicholas Kahler maryeihla I’ll TAKE IT!
csjameson Are pants required?
BuddyGott csjameson I don’t know…but I’ve already broken that rule then.
BuddyGott csjameson Not for you, Buddy.
And pretty girl hits on Xander and he doesn’t notice. Captain Smooth. Also, he says he’s listed. Do phone books even exist anymore in the real world?
And by real world, I mean not the benighted state in which l live which was once referred to as being too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum.
It hasn’t changed much since then.
Nicholas Kahler BuddyGott csjameson Phew!
I chew on my hair and index finger (so much it’s bruised). I also collect journals to spark my inspiration. I have to listen to music.
Ruh roh, pretty girl says she wished her ex boyfriend would stop and Xander says in that exhausted voice, “Wish?”
Oh hey, there’s Anyanka, funny how that works.
csjameson I almost always have music on while writing.
They definitely should have cut the live feed like five minutes ago… cause I’m sure Dave will regret telling this story. In like… 15 minutes.
Dave, don’t you have a basement?
Oh hey, shocking, Anya turned the ex into a giant worm monster.
I’m shocked.
And Anya feels bad for the dog.
csjameson And I’m also wearing my Darth Vader costume the entire time.
BuddyGott csjameson I should dress in clown to write. See what that does to me.
“Is there anyone here who hasn’t slept together?”–Pretty Girl
::Xander and Spike share a significant glance::
csjameson BuddyGott Sounds hot.
BuddyGott csjameson Well that’s not usually the response I get when I’m in clown. LMAO!
csjameson BuddyGott Buddy is attracted to anyone wearing makeup. The more the better.
Nicholas Kahler csjameson BuddyGott Interesting….::runs to put on more mascara::
Nicholas Kahler csjameson BuddyGott Yes. Well, not always. Tammy Faye Baker did nothing for me.
And Anya stares deep into Spike’s eyes and knows that he has a soul and Spike doesn’t want anyone to know so he’s trying to get away and manages to punch Anya in the face over it.
So…yeah, nice soul ya got there. Hitting women is just the thing you want to do when you get sane.
Then Buffy kicks his ass.
Blah blah blah…less Spike, please.
Dave’s whole life is a weird habit.
thedavidwwright Me too! I get in the heads of the characters like that.
And I feel like I am talking to myself here. Clearly you’re all doing it wrong.
Oh hey, giant worm monster now chasing pretty girl up a fire escape. Good luck with that one, Missy.
EYE OF THE TIGER!
Hey! Damn it….yes….you got me. I wear it while doing both. I remove the gloves first, though.
gregorylynn I’m listening
csjameson Rising up to the challenge of our rivals…
Nicholas Kahler Dave regrets nothing.
And Anya reverses the spell just in time for Spike to jab a big metal thing through the shoulder of the newly restored ex boyfriend.
Oh, and he’s clearly still insane.
A F T E R P A R T Y !!!!!
crissymoss Nicholas Kahler He will the next time I’m outside his window…
csjameson Who wants an invite?
BOOM
csjameson would if I could… Sunday.
jlward csjameson Me!
jlward csjameson Me
Spike basically just told Buffy that shit’s gonna get real in a totally bloody and dismemberment kind of way.
Buffy is not impressed.
jlward csjameson Me, for a bit, then I need to get back on copy edits.
Let us know if you want in for an afterparty invite.
Worst. Rendition. Of. Eye. Of. The. Tiger. Ever. 😛
Eric Guindon Burgess Meredith just rolled over in his grave.
Xander tells Anya she did the right thing.
She seems unimpressed.
jlward csjameson Can’t tonight. I have writing to do.
Sending a new hangout out
Now Spike and Buffy are talking in a church or a crypt or something. I dunno, screen’s dark, I think there’s something wrong with my magic picture box.
And Spike makes to take off his pants. Stay classy there.
“Spike, have you completely lost your mind?”
“Well, yes, where have you been all night?”
Spike blathers a lot.
I’m not really listening.
Did I mention that someone dies in the first line of HemoGoblins 1? His name is Spike.
Oh hey, Buffy realizes Spike got his soul back. She’s unimpressed. I can sense Angel’s annoyance from here.
And now Spike is hanging himself on a cross like every pretentious douchnozzle in Junior High and that’s the end of the episode.
We would continue this thrilling play by play but the next episode has a lot of Willow so my hands are needed elsewhere.
csjameson Nicholas Kahler sryeager Cyndi wins best comment of the night. I’ll fed ex the trophy.
csjameson Carl Sinclair Trish McCallan For real?
I make enough money writing to cover my bar tab too. (I drink like once a year)