Note: Many people have taken offense to this post, but I've never heard from the author on it, even when I mentioned in the comments that it could be taken down. So in that regard, is it really as bad as everyone says, or does it smack of truths our fragile ears would rather not hear? I'll let you judge.
Joe Nobody is a big author in the self-publishing world who has a great series of novels called Holding Their Own. These books are very popular and speculate on a world gone amok after various catastrophes.
The first book is typically in the top 20,000 books on Amazon, and that’s pretty impressive considering Book 1 goes for $9.99.
That’s why I find it so funny that Joe Nobody, a typically smart and shrewd author who’s also immensely helpful to other up-and-coming authors, would want to shoot himself in the foot.
There was a thread running on Kboards today called “Should I go after a reviewer?” and which you can see below.
The first book is typically in the top 20,000 books on Amazon, and that’s pretty impressive considering Book 1 goes for $9.99.
That’s why I find it so funny that Joe Nobody, a typically smart and shrewd author who’s also immensely helpful to other up-and-coming authors, would want to shoot himself in the foot.
There was a thread running on Kboards today called “Should I go after a reviewer?” and which you can see below.
The whole premise is that there was a 23-year old that left a 1-star review on Joe Nobody’s book. According to him and his lawyers this cost him $23,000 in lost sales, although how that can be proved is beyond me.
The real question is whether it’d be beyond a jury, as that’s what Joe Nobody wants to do – sue this young and foolish kid so that he can either recoup his losses, get the review removed, or both.
Am I the only one seeing the absurdity in this? Here’s an author ranking incredibly well on Amazon. According to his profile on Kboards he’s sold 126,000 books in the past 3 years and that means he’s made more than $1 million. I can't understand why $23,000 is giving him such grief, can you?
Am I the only one seeing the absurdity in this? Here’s an author ranking incredibly well on Amazon. According to his profile on Kboards he’s sold 126,000 books in the past 3 years and that means he’s made more than $1 million. I can't understand why $23,000 is giving him such grief, can you?
Why don’t we try to get to the bottom of some of this, as well as the power that self-publishing message boards can have to both help you, and hurt you.
The Book in Question
The book that’s being discussed and which caused the outrage is called Without Rule of Law: Advanced Skills to Help You Survive.
The book is selling quite well, at least compared to my books, and I think it’s selling pretty well for a 192-page non-fiction book priced at $9.98. Take a look at the ranking and the reviews:
Overall an impressive rank and review set, I think
- Ranking: Here you can see the book still enjoys a decent ranking, around #175,000. Of course for a high-stature author like Joe Nobody that’s just not good enough – that’s a nobody’s ranking!
- Reviews: You’ll also notice that there are 35 5-star reviews there. Those are so easily forgotten, aren’t they? Kind of like hard workers that do most of the pushing but never get any of the attention, recognition, or pay raises, right?
And let’s not forget that prominent 1-star review that’s now there, which is what’s really causing this whole ruckus.
When I get bad reviews I do what many do, I lower my price.
Stick to a No-Commenting Policy
I’m reminded why I stick with a no-commenting policy on all my reviews, both good and bad, and truthful and untruthful.
I’m not sure that you can see the original review the reviewer left on Joe’s book. These things can be changed, and I have no doubt the reviewer did that in this case. What can’t be changed, however, are the number of comments that now appear on this book.
I’m not sure that you can see the original review the reviewer left on Joe’s book. These things can be changed, and I have no doubt the reviewer did that in this case. What can’t be changed, however, are the number of comments that now appear on this book.
A well-thought out comment, but now the cat is out of the bag - you've taken the bait
As you can see, there are 19 comments, many of them a back-and-forth between the author and the reviewer. How is this going to help you sell books?
First, that reviewer doesn’t care about you. Second, anyone who wants to buy your book can read those comments. I’m willing to bet a large chunk of that $23,000 Joe Nobody is pissing and moaning about was lost due to his own misguided comments.
You can tell that the reviewer marshaled his forces to his aid, getting friends to say his review was helpful. A poor review getting labeled as helpful is no way to get a book in Amazon’s good graces, but Joe’s insistence on pushing the issue, assuaging his ego if you will, only exacerbated the problem. Once again I’m reminded of my firm policy to not respond to reviews.
First, that reviewer doesn’t care about you. Second, anyone who wants to buy your book can read those comments. I’m willing to bet a large chunk of that $23,000 Joe Nobody is pissing and moaning about was lost due to his own misguided comments.
You can tell that the reviewer marshaled his forces to his aid, getting friends to say his review was helpful. A poor review getting labeled as helpful is no way to get a book in Amazon’s good graces, but Joe’s insistence on pushing the issue, assuaging his ego if you will, only exacerbated the problem. Once again I’m reminded of my firm policy to not respond to reviews.
Should Bad Reviews Go On Top?
How about that 1-star review? It’s there front and center, which it should be – it’s been labeled by Amazon customers as the most helpful review. The fact that Joe Nobody helped make it that way through ignorance, sheer egotism, and an irrational approach is surly being left out of that $23,000 lawsuit.
Listen, you can do everything in your power to make your books succeed or you can do everything to make them fail. Joe Nobody has taken the route of failure with his book, and the only one who can be blamed for that is himself.
One commenter on the thread was nice enough to suggest Joe email Amazon Executive Customer Service ([email protected]) or even email Jeff Bezos at his public email address ([email protected]).
I’m sure both of those options will be tried, and probably with some luck. After all, Amazon can make a lot of money with Joe Nobody. Now if you or I were to try that tactic? Well, I doubt we’d have the success, or am I wrong?
Listen, you can do everything in your power to make your books succeed or you can do everything to make them fail. Joe Nobody has taken the route of failure with his book, and the only one who can be blamed for that is himself.
One commenter on the thread was nice enough to suggest Joe email Amazon Executive Customer Service ([email protected]) or even email Jeff Bezos at his public email address ([email protected]).
I’m sure both of those options will be tried, and probably with some luck. After all, Amazon can make a lot of money with Joe Nobody. Now if you or I were to try that tactic? Well, I doubt we’d have the success, or am I wrong?
A Disconnect With Readers
Comments like this and others I’ve seen recently show me how much of a disconnect there is between big-name authors and the people that read their books.
See, there’s a real double standard, and Amazon will show favoritism toward big authors like Joe Nobody while ignoring people like you and me. That’s probably the biggest hurdle you’ll have to overcome if you want to get to Joe’s exalted position someday, you know, the one where you can threaten to sue your reviewers and actually have the money to back the threat up!
There’s a disconnect between the haves and have nots, and what’s so absurd is this is being typified by someone who writes prepper books. Well, perhaps a great many preppers are wealthy people who made much of their money off the backs of the poor man. After all, how else are you going to afford bunkers, food caches, and other survivalist gear? The real survivalist instincts come from having nothing.
Joe Nobody has the money to sue because he’s gained the fans to get that money. I wonder how many he’ll alienate when he goes through with this idiotic and childish idea, or how many have been alienated already by this unassuming thread on a self-publishing message board.
See, there’s a real double standard, and Amazon will show favoritism toward big authors like Joe Nobody while ignoring people like you and me. That’s probably the biggest hurdle you’ll have to overcome if you want to get to Joe’s exalted position someday, you know, the one where you can threaten to sue your reviewers and actually have the money to back the threat up!
There’s a disconnect between the haves and have nots, and what’s so absurd is this is being typified by someone who writes prepper books. Well, perhaps a great many preppers are wealthy people who made much of their money off the backs of the poor man. After all, how else are you going to afford bunkers, food caches, and other survivalist gear? The real survivalist instincts come from having nothing.
Joe Nobody has the money to sue because he’s gained the fans to get that money. I wonder how many he’ll alienate when he goes through with this idiotic and childish idea, or how many have been alienated already by this unassuming thread on a self-publishing message board.
The Power of Self-Publishing Message Boards
That’s what it shows us most of all perhaps, the power of both ruin and renewal that message boards have. Here’s an author that’s respected for what he’s done, looked up to in the self-publishing community, but then goes and says something like this.
I’ll certainly read every one of Joe’s comments with a good grain of salt now. Money’s the overall motivator here, as it is with many, but this comment about feeling shafted by a 23-year old really shows where this author’s true sympathies lie.
Getting a bad review is tough, I’ve got some. I sure couldn’t afford a lawyer to get my bad reviews removed, even if I wanted to.
Just because you’re selling tens of thousands of books doesn’t mean you have a thicker skin than that author just starting their first 500 words. Joe Nobody’s comment today proves that, and it shows you struggling authors out there what not to do.
Take your hits and roll with them, and don’t let silly blows fell you along the path to your dreams.
I’ll certainly read every one of Joe’s comments with a good grain of salt now. Money’s the overall motivator here, as it is with many, but this comment about feeling shafted by a 23-year old really shows where this author’s true sympathies lie.
Getting a bad review is tough, I’ve got some. I sure couldn’t afford a lawyer to get my bad reviews removed, even if I wanted to.
Just because you’re selling tens of thousands of books doesn’t mean you have a thicker skin than that author just starting their first 500 words. Joe Nobody’s comment today proves that, and it shows you struggling authors out there what not to do.
Take your hits and roll with them, and don’t let silly blows fell you along the path to your dreams.
You Might Also Like
What is the Eye of the Beholder?
What Do You Do After Hitting Publish on Amazon?
How You Can Get Your Blog to 100 Posts Fast
Would You Rather Write 100 Shitty Books or 1 Good Book?
Is SEO Making Your Stupid?
Why Websites That Say ‘Fuck It’ Do Better Long-Term
A Huge Blog Commenting Misstep
10 Reasons It’s Time For You to Stop Commenting on Blogs
Your 2014 Self-Publishing Game Plan
The Problems Discounted eBooks Pose
What Do You Do After Hitting Publish on Amazon?
How You Can Get Your Blog to 100 Posts Fast
Would You Rather Write 100 Shitty Books or 1 Good Book?
Is SEO Making Your Stupid?
Why Websites That Say ‘Fuck It’ Do Better Long-Term
A Huge Blog Commenting Misstep
10 Reasons It’s Time For You to Stop Commenting on Blogs
Your 2014 Self-Publishing Game Plan
The Problems Discounted eBooks Pose
RSS Feed