Recently, Amazon has come out with a policy that is creating tons of outcry. They are refusing to post reviews of books written by people who happen to know the author! Are you kidding me? How do they even know that the reviewer knows the author? And are they close friends? Or have they just met the author? Here is Jas Ward's story:
Jas Ward, an author who has self-published five books in the Kindle store, is challenging Amazon with a Change.org petition after one of her readers was unable to post a review of her book on the site. The petition, which has already garnered more than 11,000 signatures is calling on Amazon to change its policy.
The issue began when reader Imy Santiago, who is also a self-published author, tried to post a positive review of Ward’s book on Amazon but was rejected. After multiple attempts of trying to figure out the problem, Amazon told Santiago that they couldn’t post the review, “because your account activity indicates that you know the author.”
“I have interacted with a couple hundred authors over the past year; from events to signings, authors and writers rub elbows during networking sessions. This does NOT mean I know you personally,” she complained on her blog.
“Your current process of removing reviews that a reader has created to show their honest & sincere opinion on a book is not fair and cripples the review process more than assists,” reads the petition.
Activists are asking people to sign a petition, protesting Amazon's actions. They are looking for 15,000 signatures and currently have a little under 12,000. Here is the link:
Activists are asking people to sign a petition, protesting Amazon's actions. They are looking for 15,000 signatures and currently have a little under 12,000. Here is the link:
https://www.change.org/p/amazon-com-amazon-change-the-you-know-this-author-policy?recruiter=340170619&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
On a happier note, Taylor Stevens is the author of 5 books in the Michael Munro series. The latest, The Mask, has just come out. In fact, I have written about Taylor many times through the years - from an interview to her blog subjects to reviews of her books. These are the dates that I either devoted a full blog, or at least a partial one, to Taylor - 3/25/11, 7/14/13, 8/8/13, 9/3/13, 10/7/13, and 1/13/14. Why am I telling you this? Because I strongly urge you to go on her website - taylorstevensbooks.com - click on "contact," and sign up for her blog. You will easily and painlessly learn all kinds of stuff about the publishing industry. Really fascinating for us bibliophiles.
My next post will definitely be a review or two - I promise.
On a happier note, Taylor Stevens is the author of 5 books in the Michael Munro series. The latest, The Mask, has just come out. In fact, I have written about Taylor many times through the years - from an interview to her blog subjects to reviews of her books. These are the dates that I either devoted a full blog, or at least a partial one, to Taylor - 3/25/11, 7/14/13, 8/8/13, 9/3/13, 10/7/13, and 1/13/14. Why am I telling you this? Because I strongly urge you to go on her website - taylorstevensbooks.com - click on "contact," and sign up for her blog. You will easily and painlessly learn all kinds of stuff about the publishing industry. Really fascinating for us bibliophiles.
My next post will definitely be a review or two - I promise.
Glad you posted about this. The petition is making the rounds and only shy about 2000 signatures.
ReplyDeleteWow. That's about 2500 more names than when I posted this. That's good news. Except what happens when they get enough signatures?
ReplyDeleteJust signed the petition, thanks for the link. They had over 13,000.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know what happens at 15,000 signatures.
ReplyDeleteMe neither :)
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