(no subject)

[erastes]

.

Erastes gets her rant on

GAH! I know I've said this before, but PEOPLE! If you are putting a book on Amazon, put a BLOODY DESCRIPTION on it, will ya? I'm looking at this book "Blue Gray and Gay" which I can only assume is a book about gayness within the American Civil War and there's no way of telling! Plus the fact it's £17.73 for a paperback, I'm not overwhelmed with lust to get hold of a copy. If anyone knows Tom Flack, give him a kick from me and ask him where else i can buy it? He appears to have no web presence either.

And while I'm moaning - and I intend to have a word with EAA members about this too - please please - treat a blurb, or a promo as if it were words in your book. I've opened about ten promos this week to find bad spelling, wrong or no punctuation, appalling sentence structure. What, do you think, will entice your readers to spend good money on a book if the blurb is sloppy and feels like it was something just dashed off for fun?

And finally?

Join a sporking community and let the mods down? No love. No love at ALL.

*STOMPS OFF, STILL RANTING*

Comments

[kethlenda.livejournal.com]

So what you're saying is that professional authors are just as egregious when it comes to "I AM TEH SUXX0R AT SUMMERIEZ. R&R PLZ." :D

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I think I will have to start compiling a McTabby style list, but in original fic land...

*evol*

[rwday.livejournal.com]

If you look at that book on Amazon.com instead of UK there are reviews which might at least give you an idea of what it's about. Very stupid of his publisher not to include at least a one or two line summary, I agree.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

James found a different version, yes it is a gay historical fiction, but it's still bloody expensive for a paperback. I'll have to think about it. It's 420 pages too, no wonder he couldn't get it published.

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

*pat pat pat*

at least it is a nice day?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Weatherwise, at least. Work-wise. BLICK.

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

hehehe... i spent today in a poorly ventilated space with solvent based markers - sitting here waiting for the come-down headache now!

It is supposed to be a good weekend for weather on this side of the UK... maybe some sunlight? I have to study for my construction skills safety test. Bleh. The questions... they bore my brain.

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

In other other news - have you read the Vesuvius CLub by Mark Gatiss - it is um... well, I'd say extremely well researched historical fluff with one of the most compelling characters in existence - the lovely Mr. Lucifer Box.

When the opening line of a book is: "I have always been an appalling judge of character. It is my most beguiling virtue." well, I had to buy it then. That, plus the lovely illustrations by Ian Bass, very a la Aubrey Baerdsley... a wonderful light, and slightly insane read. With a lovely amount of gay erotica and random insanity. Not a long and serious read, but it really captures the Edwardian period. GO GET IT.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

NO!!!! Another one for The List? How wonderful! Thank you!

[electricandroid.livejournal.com]

don't know if it helps - but Mark Gatiss is the author of "League of Gentlemen" and some of the new Dr. Who.

This book is full of whimsy by the way, which is what makes it so perfect -the second one, the Devil wears Amber, is set about 10 years in the future, and is much more disenchanted, but still brilliant!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Whimsy is what I need, I'll certainly try it

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Oh Erastes, I'm feeling like you haven't had a good day... But you make me laugh with your post... sorry, but that icon on the beginning is too funny! Elisa

[erastes.livejournal.com]

The week has sucked like big elephants.

:(

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I wish I could do something to make you feel better... Elisa

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Just knowing you are thinking of me is nice enough, trust me. I have better people online than in real life, all in all.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Sometime for me it is simplier talking online than in real life. The net allows me to be free and reach more people I know can understand me.

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

*sending you hugs*

Hope the weather is as lovely nor-east of here as it is sou-west of you.

*using fave icon*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's been bright, which is a bonus, but my week has been HORRIBLE so I've hardly notice. But hugs are always appreciated.

Thanks!

[jmsnyder.livejournal.com]

If you look on Amazon's US site, you see he's self-published several books.

"Blue, Gray, & Gay" revised is here: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Gray-Gay-Part-Revised/dp/0976481707/

And the sequel, "Blue, Gray, & Gay Part II," is here: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Gray-Gay-Part-II/dp/0976481731/

Can't find anything else about him, though.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Ooo - thank you so much - that's very useful - I may ask an American mate to get me a copy of both of them.

[c-lovell.livejournal.com]

a good rant is needed every now and then. I understand how you feel. :-)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I was just about at the end of my tether, don't know why people think that they can renege on their responsibilities just because it's fandom.

*frowns*

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

Oops, sorry, that made me giggle!! I've had a shitty week so it's good to know I'm not alone xx

[erastes.livejournal.com]

you have NO idea.

:(

[markprobst.livejournal.com]

The first version of Blue, Gray, and Gay was published by Authorhouse (Vanity Press, nothing wrong with that, but it's just a step above Lulu) and for the second version the author created his own publishing company. He obviously needs to promote his book better if he wants to get anywhere. Plus he used a "review" on amazon to tell people to disregard a bad review because it was written by his ex - that's just tacky.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's hugely tacky. And the review he uses in the Amazon page is a "received email" which is not really worth putting up, frankly - you might as well just have nothing. No web presence, no email and no blog (even on Amazon) is HUGELY frustrating.

I may buy it yet, but it's a disgusting price for a paperback.

[ermyne.livejournal.com]

One of the reviews on the US Amazon site is apparently written by the author himself and really bears out the adage "never respond to your critics"!

Looking on Abebooks it seems he is now publishing himself, including one out in 2007, "Inhibition", in the imprint TFBooks. Unfortunately his website http://tfbooks.com seems to be busted which is a shame as judging by the google cache, there were sample chapters available there.

There's a revised edition of BGG available on US Amazon too, but even there the only blurb is supplied by quotes of reviews. How peculiar.

Ooh, found an ebook version of the latter! see
http://store.payloadz.com/str-asp-id.26261-n.Blue_Gray_Gay_Part_1_Revised_eBooks_-end-detail.html
Only I doubt it's possible to download it because his own website (which I presume hosts the download) is no longer functioning. But there is a link on the ebook site through which you can supposedly contact the "merchant" (who appears to be TF himself).

Reading the summary of "Inhibition" on the Ebook site demonstrates why the author avoids writing summaries whenever possible (miauw!)

Ermye, indefatigable bibliographic ferret

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I adore my flist (and you) because it always amazes me how far people will go to do a favour for a friend they've never met!! Thank you so much!

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Your icon is adorable when it's angry.
(ducks)

re "treat a blurb, or a promo as if it were words in your book"

No shit, Sherlock! I can't tell you how many times I've immediately taken a book off my "consider buying" list because the author demonstrated comprehensively awful writing in the summary. And it's even worse when you run into the same promo spammed on every list.

OTOH... if the summary and/or excerpt are really dreadful--and usually they're about the same--chances are the book isn't much better. Not great for the careless writer, but probably a good thing for the reader.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

exactly, I'm really never going to buy a book with a promo blurb or excerpt which is full of errors.

[ejab62.livejournal.com]

Won't comment but will give a hug. Think you need that more.

*HUGS*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks Hun!

I did.

Do.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

Is there a thingemy on EAA about good ways of writing a blurb? I ought to go and have a look and not be so lazy, but such is life. I know I suck at it.

By the by, though, just read Standish and loved it. Just saying :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

There is now - I just put one up:

http://www.eroticauthorsassociation.com/articles/blurb.htm

Ooo! Thank you! I was terrified to ask you what you thought.

:)

[julesjones]

Of course, in some cases the publisher has put a description in the database, and Amazon does not bother to use it, even after being prodded multiple times by publisher and author. No, I'm not in the least bit bitter and twisted about having to ask readers to put up reviews just so that there's something n the page to give a clue as to what the book's about...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes - and I've just noticed that there's no description on Standish UK. I was sure there was.

*headdesk*