My Book is Available? Really? Where?

Before you keep reading, go ahead and search for Flagrant Foul on any other book site besides Amazon...

Now, if you found it somewhere else, you clearly have been eyesight than I do.

For months, since I slapped an ISBN on the Foul as part of Published by Lulu, I at least figured that the cycle would have come around where it would be all over the place.

And then I came to a startling discovery.

One of the indie bookstores I follow on Twitter pointed out that it wasn't on their database, Indiebound. That led me to check around to some of the other stores.

Barnes & Noble? No.

Borders? No.

Books-A-Million? No.

While I don't doubt there's a way to try and get Flagrant Foul onto their site and the Indiebound database, I have yet to find it. Most sites like this don't necessarily come with a step-by-step instruction manual. And the question I sent to Indiebound has, at current, gone unanswered.

So, what's the deal? I can't believe that only showing up on Amazon is my penance for not having the $99.95 to shell out for my own ISBN.

Can it?

The Quest Has Ended...For Now...

After careful deliberation, I finally took the plunge and got the Published by Lulu distribution package for Flagrant Foul. As always, I wonder why I take so long to do what's right in front of me.

So, if you visit Lulu.com, you can get a copy of Flagrant Foul for $25.99, plus shipping. However, if you visit the Stories from the Forester site, http://www.flagrantfoul.com, you can buy a copy for $19.99, with free shipping!

What does this all mean? Will this spell the end of Quest for an ISBN? Not really. After all, there are other Quests to be had. Not to mention, if I'm going to get anyone to buy this edition of Flagrant Foul, I'm going to have to market the hell out of it! And for free! No easy feat, especially in these economic times.

We'll be seeing you on the blog tour circuit, and best you believe with basketball season here, it's a good time for it!

Then Again... Maybe Not!

I finally received my proof copy of Dilemma in the mail. From a self-publishing standpoint, it's good, because you have final say on what becomes public...

Then I looked at it...

...and looked at it...

...and looked at it...

Then I begin to wonder...

Is this really worth $14.50?

Realistically, I like the story and all, but the retail mark-up for this short a book is killer!

Not that I blame Lulu, really. Pocket books, of course, aren't really that big a revenue generator for anyone!

And as I've already mentioned, Dilemma was to be just one of two stories in Volume 1 of the Stories of the Forester.

That's not to say that I'll be taking Dilemma off the shelves. Once I approve it, it'll be available everywhere!

All I'm saying is, erm, download the e-book, either through Lulu or as an Amazon Kindle book. It's way cheaper!

Get Back in Line!

As I'm patiently waiting for my proof copy of Dilemma to show up at my doorstep, I am often brought back to the original question of why this book got in front of the ISBN line instead of Flagrant Foul, which is the basis of the Quest. As I've posted previously, I thought it to be a test of what an ISBN could do to increase exposure (Paraphrasing, of course).

But now, maybe that's not the real reason...

While the Quest, along with every other bit of promotion (radio, reviews, etc.), is primarily dedicated to Flagrant Foul, Dilemma remains, in fact, the first story in the Forester rotation. And as such, there is ample justification as to why it is already available on Amazon as a Kindle Book, along with the aforementioned Published by Lulu venture.

Regardless, the Quest will continue, now for both books. The question that remains, of course, will be which one will come out of the gates of popularity first?

The Bowker Stamp of Approval

Shortly after my previous post, I received a message from a representative from R.R. Bowker, which is, of course, the the agency that distributes ISBNs in the U.S. In short, he provided some very useful information, including a link (Click here) of all the Bowker-authorized companies. Lulu is definitely one of them.

This, of course, tells me a couple of things. First, and most importantly, regardless of the option (in this case being selecting the Published By Lulu service), I made the right choice by sticking with Lulu. Secondly, folks are actually reading this thing!

So, thanks to Bowker for the information, and I hope to hear even more in the future!

The Quest Begins!

As I've explained already, I am working on trying to sell enough copies of my book, Flagrant Foul, to cover the costs of buying the Published by You distribution package from Lulu, at a retail price of $99.95.

So, I humbly ask of you, my visitor, a couple of things...

1. Donations are not needed. I have a product to sell, and you can find it at the http://www.flagrantfoul.com or the Flagrant Foul book page.
2. If you want to read an electronic version of the book, I'd be more than happy to give it to you. Drop me a line and I'll send you a PDF! All I ask is you tell me what you think!

Those are my requests. Let the games begin!