1) B&N raised the payout limit to $25.
What does that mean? It used to be that a writer had to accumulate $10 in royalties on their account before B&N would deposit the finds electronically into the writer's bank account.
I needed to dig through the Terms & Conditions to find the total for royalties before payout was raised to $25.
By the way, that's US dollars.
They aren't the only retailer doing this. Draft2Digital recently raised their net royalty accumulation to $10 USD. Kobo's royalty accumulation has been $50 CAD since I first joined (back in 2015, I think).
I'm disappointed because it's just one more way for the retailers to make money off of writers rather than customers. By keeping the money in their accounts longer, they make the interest, not us.
2) B&N will no longer carry any paperbacks with the retail price less than $14.99.
At least, this change has been on a banner on the B&N Press website, and I didn't have to spend an hour digging through legalese. My feeling is that B&N is cutting off their noses to spite their faces. A lot of indie writers, including me, have had to raise their paperback prices thanks to the economic chaos from the COVID-19 pandemic.
That already sucked, but now, the costs for supplies like paper and ink are rising again thanks to the U.S. attacks on Iran and the traffic through the Straight of Hormuz being choked.
I'm already trying not to raise my paperback prices again, but B&N trying to force the issue steams me. So, if some of my books disappear from the B&N website that's why.
All-in-all, the recent changes in retailer behavior is pushing me to start my own online store sooner rather than later. I'll let y'all know!
Unfortunately, I'm in the same position as everyone else in the country. I find it necessary to raise prices on e-books. I've been resisting it for the last ten years.
Any e-books currently released will remain at their current prices. Any unfinished series, like Justice and Millersburg Magick Mysteries, will remain at their current price levels.
Any NEW novels or series, i.e. any work where Book #1 or a new single title, is released on retailers after May 15, 2026, will be priced at $5.99. Novellas will be priced at $3.99.
It sucks to raise prices when we're all just trying to get by.
For various reasons, including the COVID pandemic, DH and I've never been able to attend any of GK's ceremonies. The kid kept saying we didn't have to come to this one. But I insisted, telling him I wanted to attend ONE adult recognition ceremony.
You see, he didn't graduate from high school. He dropped out for reasons DH and I understood and supported. In our white-collar town, something like this was a major scandal, but none of the three of us cared. Not every person is cut out for cookie-cutter classroom bullshit.
During the ceremony, his 1st sergeant and captain said some wonderful things about GK's service. Their words were genuine and sincere. At the end of the ceremony, GK was called upon to make a speech. GK thanked those who had mentored him and recognized the efforts of his fellow soldiers in getting the job done. It was a humble and sweet speech from an accomplished young man who had failed his public speaking class in his teen years because of severe anxiety.
To say DH and I are proud of the man our son has become is an understatement.
When the unit was dismissed at the end, GK said he needed to take care of a couple things and then he'd meet us for dinner. His captain overheard, came over to us, and said, "Harden, you're done for today. Go spend some time with your parents."
Sarcasm, an appreciation for SF&F, and a love of chocolate are pretty much the only things GK inherited from me. He got everything else from DH. However, we both love him and are proud of him. He's everything we could want in our progeny.
And now when he calls, I'll say, "Hey, Sarge! What's up?"
Once again, I'm struck by how many writers view their art as playing the lottery. If their books doesn't sell X copies or Y dollars, it's an utter failure is their eyes.
However, they cannot anticipate what the reading public might like. No one can. All the other arts can't either. Really, they can't.
But in some writers' heads, they believe if they write that one book that takes off and sells millions of copies they will be set for life.
That's lottery thinking. That's why I've seen so many people stop writing since I started publishing fiction. They aren't writing and publishing because they love their stories and want to share them with the world. They write hoping to make a quick buck.
And the cycle has started again with the coming of AI. *sigh*
A computer, any computer, even with super sophisticated software can only spit out what has been inputted. Any stores, any paintings, any music is the sausage that comes out after it's been ground up. And artists don't even add spices. It's just blah-tasting meat remains.
And they don't understand why the public isn't lapping up their tasteless, blah meat sludge.
If you want t be a writer, write for yourself first. And I mean really write. Write the story you'd love read. Write what you want to say. Write because it brings you joy.
Let me tell you something. I'm still writing after thirty some years because I have fun. I find joy in a well-crafted story.
And you want to know something? I can keep my high blood pressure and my diabetes under control because I'm having a blast writing these stories.
I'll keep writing stories as long as I'm able because I love doing it. It's the next best thing to cuddly with your loved ones.
I've had to get up early every day this week for phone calls, appointments, and time sensitive tasks.
A bench warrant was issued for my arrest. I forgot to pay a speeding before the court date. The fine has been paid, and the warrant canceled. I switch between laughing at my absent-mindedness and being totally embarrassed because I'm usually on top of deadlines.
My cousin is still planning to move to Ohio. We were on the phone nearly two hours going through everything she's gotten done since our last phone conversation. Plus, discussing all the things that need to be arranged on any move.
A new health issue for me has raised its ugly head. A complete blood workup is scheduled for Monday before I get a referral to the specialist. I'm finally cutting down my diabetes and high blood pressure meds after changes to my diet and attending yoga classes. I don't want to add more drugs to my personal pharmacy, but I may not have a choice.
DH has been at the high school nearly every night this week since its peak high school lacrosse season. I thought I'd have a chance to catch up on some stuff around the house. Except the princess pup has been having tummy trouble with her new arthritis medicine, so I spent a good chunk of my free evening time cleaning up dog vomit. No, she is not still taking that med, and I need to call her vet on Monday.
The one good thing this week was Genius Kid found out he's going to be promoted to sergeant. DH and I are going to his base to see the ceremony. I'm excited to see my son. Unfortunately, we can't stay longer in Georgia, but GK plans on coming home for his birthday. I'm just really happy he's not still in Kuwait. I know it's part of being in the service, but it doesn't make it easier.
Over the weekend, I'll try to catch up on the writing that did not happen earlier. And maybe that's part of the problem with my funky mood. As I said in a previous blog post, I write to relax.
