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So, on Saturday, I was in the middle of shopping for groceries when I received this email from Amazon's KDP division:
Due to repeated Content Guideline violations in regards to books you have submitted through your account, specifically books that disappoint our customers, we are terminating your account and your Agreement effective immediately.
I got that email for both Prom Changed Everything and High Heels in a Minefield. Now, bear in mind I never once received any kind of notification from Amazon or KDP prior to this that there were any problems whatsoever with my books or their content (yes, I checked my spam folder). The line about how my books "disappoint our customers" really threw me because outside of a few trolls here and there, every single one of my books has received very positive reviews. What does disappointing their customers even mean? Did someone complain about the content of my books? And yet, in literally the snap of a finger, my account was terminated for no discernable reason I can fathom.
At present, only my latest book Call of the Hunt is still available for purchase on Kindle, likely because I orchestrated its entire publication through Createspace (which may apparently be shut down too since it is an Amazon company). All of my books are still available for paperback purchase, though again I don't know how long that is going to last. I emailed KDP and was told yesterday that they need to look into my situation and would get back to me by Friday. I have no idea what this means for me and my future with Amazon, but don't think that it means the end of seeing my work in publication. I already have emails into several publishing companies asking if they would be interested in publishing my work and I do have a few other self-publishing alternatives I'm looking into as well. There might be a slight delay in being able to purchase my books, through Kindle at least, but you can be sure they will be available to everyone who wants to buy a copy soon.
I'll try updates coming, especially if my account is reinstated, but if you're okay with a paperback copy of my work those are still available to purchase.
Comments
Amazon's Rules
Rule 1 - we don't have to tell you why we do things.
Says it all really.
Sad that they have felt the need to take down 'High Heels in a Minefield'. I have the kindle edition and am about halfway through it. So far I can't see what is wrong with it. There are plenty of more explicit works on Amazon especially in the Domination section. (opps what a give away...)
Samantha
That really is the worst part
That really is the worst part. The only excessively vague explanation I've received so far is that my books "disappoint our customers". There were absolutely zero specifics, especially when I've received so many positive reviews on all of them.
Amazon, Kindle and Beyond
As far as your published books are concerned, I already own and have read almost all of them. You are one of the few authors I buy sight unseen as as a book is published and have never been disappointed. As soon as I read this post i immediately made sure I had downloads and turned off updates from Amazon so they wouldn't delete it block my copies.
Like many juggernaut companies today who think bigger and expansion is better sacrifice quality control and customer service, hence more automation and less personal training which result in more robotic responses to even the simplest and singular issues. More antipathy results and ignorant responses to customer controls.
While the internet and the digital age is great for most people it is also another perfect tool for business greed and mismanagement. Anywho as I said, I got one have supported your works this far and will continue to do so.
- Beverly Colleen
**********
I am a leaf on the wind, but someone turned the fan off.
Hopefully Amazon will do the
Hopefully Amazon will do the right thing and reinstate your account and book listings. If that doesn't happen immediately, keep at it, present your case, elevate it a higher level in Amazon. They are in the business of selling books, not censoring them, so you should prevail.
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
Hmm
I've read your stories and can't imagine how that kind of comment could pop out. I guess it's possible that you and likely others have been targeted by an anti LGBTQ hate group with some sort of focused smear campaign. I suggest that you PM Erin and explain your situation. She may have some alternatives for you to consider that could simplify your dealings with Amazon.
I don't know Amazon
I don't know Amazon, but I guess all the BC-TS buyers of your books could write to Amazon inquiring why you books are not offer anymore, and maybe even have a little bit about what was like in witch books.!
More drastic solution would be trying an online petition with 'Change.org' or 'Avaaz.org'.
Best of luck Hugs tmf
That would be... interesting.
That would be... interesting. Of course, I would never outright ask people to blast email Amazon in exactly that fashion so their customer service mailbox is overloaded with emails wanting to know why my work is no longer available for Kindle.
I would never
I would never try to overloaded there system in anyway.
That would only do the opposite effect. But having some of your readers asking them why is something else...
Peace and Love tmf
If it's any consolation
If it's any consolation Amazon did something similar to me a few years ago. They said I'd violated their guidelines but despite a lengthy correspondence refused point blank to say what guidelines or in what way or where I could find these guidelines
Polly
The first rule for dealing with Amazon
is not to talk about it.
etc etc etc
Seriously, if they have guidelines and those aren't available then they leave themselves wide open to lawsuits. In a 'sue first and ask questions later' society like the USA I'm surprised that they haven't been sued already. Maybe they have and settled out of court.
If Apple can be sued for 'not telling their users' about something which they did but no one reads release notes do they? then maybe it is time for Amazon to get sued?
I've virtually stopped using them for anything other than books. I know that I'm fighting a losing battle against their plan to be the only retailer left standing in large parts of the world but I'll do what I can even though it is futile.
Samantha
Agreed
Even books I try to minimize purchases, Lulu if available.
5 star review
I gave a 5 star review to your last book. I hope that help to change amazon’s mind.
One possibility is how they were labeled.
I seem to recall that they weren't under any of the LGBT labels but under romance and similar categories. This may have resulted in a number of people buying the book that objected to the content because they didn't expect it and felt mislead. Amazon may have felt you were trying to deceive the buyers by placing them in categories that had wider appeal or that you were deliberately misleading them to increase your sales. Just a thought.
Commentator
Visit my Caption Blog: Dawn's Girly Site
Visit my Amazon Page: D R Jehs
<insert Jack Chan face meme>
I had to reread your post a couple of times trying to understand why they did that to your writings.
Nope, still don't get it...
I've loved them since I first saw them posted here and elsewhere and jumped on the chance to purchase them when they cropped up on Amazon. Here's hoping somehow things get resolved for you quickly because I impatiently wait in between postings and books for your next piece.
Thank you for this post.
Maybe the questions and comments here (and follow up response from Amazon) can help all of us. I will admit that I am worried... not of content, but of sales on the back end of a run.
I would be very curious if Commentator's observation about categories may have been relevant here... and if those "trolls" accounted for a wide swing in stars.
I so wish you luck and success in your efforts. Please help us all learn by keeping us posted. If anyone else comes across this too, every teensy bit of information may help us all!
Hugs,
Stacy
Unfortunately, stars and
Unfortunately, stars and reviews have nothing to do with what happened since every single one of my books has no lower than a 4.5 star average. 95% of the reviews on nearly all of my books are very positive with only a few detractors.
Age appropriateness?
I help Erin et al with Doppler Press, and I know part of the process of putting a book up on KDP is setting what ages the book is appropriate for. If your books had any aspects that may be considered inappropriate for children, but didn't limit it to 18+, you might have parents complaining to Amazon. Just an idea, as I haven't read any of your work yet :)
Take down?
Paradox, I have greatly enjoyed both of those books, and find nothing wrong with either one. Their action is confusing, weren't both rated well? there are quite a few with only one or two stars.
Look into LULU, they have contacted me about my stories, and you will receive larger royalties. I havn't done so, I want BC to receive a fee this won't happen with other publishers I understand.
Karen
I'm confused as well. As you
I'm confused as well. As you noted, it seems like my books have been quite well received by the reading public in reviews, sales, and page reads via KU/KOLL. I'm hoping I will get some clarification on this issue because right now their explanation is utterly vague and makes no sense based upon the data I have available to me.
Your account and Books
Not sure what is up but High Heels in a Minefield and Prom Changed everything still showing on Amazon UK
The paperback version is
The paperback version is still available for all of my books. It's the Kindle editions that have been removed from Amazon with the exception of Call of the Hunt.