More B&N Shenanigans

These latest bits of info were probably in the e-mail I never received from Barnes & Noble ("B&N"), but if any of y'all didn't get the memo either, here's what I've learned.

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!

Ellora's Cave Redux: When Publishers Don't Learn Their Lessons

The folks at Ellora's Cave are at it again. This time, their attorney sent a letter to Romance Writers of America, threatening to file a libel suit. Nate Hoffelder at The Digital Reader has a nice run down of the latest situation. And the comments at TDR fill in more information. You can read the full text of RWA's notice here.

Basically, it's the same ole-same ole. Actually, it's even older than the recent lawsuit against romance blogger Dear Author.

Issues between RWA and EC have been going on for nearly ten years. The first problems occurred back in 2007 when RWA changed its approved publisher rules in order to block any writer who has an e-book only release. (The president at the time was notoriously dismissive of e-books and writers who signed e-book contracts.) The issue at the time was not specifically about EC, but ANY e-book publisher. I attended the RWA National Conference that year, and sat through the annual board meeting. A lot of members were angry because EC had approved status for several years before this bullsh** happened.

The behavior of certain board members and general members wasn't pretty.

There was another major upheaval between 2011 and 2012 within RWA, again over the subject of e-books. Indie writers weren't considered to be actively seeking publication. Around this time, RWA changed the term from "approved publisher" to "qualifying markets", and EC was eliminated from the list. Also, during this period was when I first heard rumors of problems at EC, but most of the romance community was focused on the collapse of Dorchester.

So RWA has been warning its membership away from EC for some time. The only thing that's changed? RWA, acting on behalf of members who previously published with EC, is demanding payment of overdue royalties.

EC has been denying the allegations of non-payment for some time. But the funny thing is that every time EC goes to court, the case gets settled right around the time opposing counsel demands proof of payment.

The difference between suing DA and RWA? DA is a romance book review blog essentially headed up by one person. RWA represents over TEN THOUSAND romance writers.

While I quit RWA in 2012 because I didn't agree with their e-book and indie publishing policies (according to several friends, thing's have recently changed), I don't agree with trying to silence critics. If EC really wanted to settle things once and for all, prove that all writers, editors and artists have been paid in full.

It's that simple.

Big 6 Underreporting E-Sales?

If you haven't read this yet, I strongly suggest you read Kris Rusch's blog post from last Wednesday.

And if you're published with a traditional publisher, and they're selling your e-books, please, PLEASE check your royalty statements carefully.

All I can say is I wish I were surprised by this.