LIFE IN EBOOK PUBLISHING

I work in eBook publishing/distribution -- which doesn't work the way anyone expects, apparently. Inspired by the late great lifenpublishing.com. Disclaimer: This blog is for entertainment purposes only. There will never be names or companies posted on this page. I will never post anything I feel jeopardizes the anonymity of my company, the clients I work for, or anyone who submits to this page. The purpose of this blog is to harmlessly (and hopefully in an entertaining way) laugh at the standard trials and frustrations of my job, which I do, in fact, love.

[ebookporn]

[lifenebooks]

Me: Hey, Amazon, why isn’t this book live? It says it should be live.

Amazon Support: We have received a copyright infringement notification on this book that we never told you about.

Me: Okay, can you tell me who submitted the claim so that we can work with them to resolve?

Amazon: No, that’s confidential information.

Me: Okay? how are we supposed to resolve if we don’t know who to talk to?

Amazon: Here’s a link to how to report a copyright concern.

Me: That’s not what I’m trying to do.  I just need to know who to follow up with to resolve the issue.

Amazon: We can’t help you any further.

----------------------------*emails Amazon copyright email*-----------------------

Me: Can you please tell me who we need to follow up with on this book? We would love to resolve the issue.

Amazon copyright: Sure! It’s these people -- obviously you need to resolve it yourselves. 

Me: ...................

[lifenebooks]

Amazon suddenly turns their Search Inside error reporting back on after a year of silence and mystery

It would have been great to know about these problems back when I sent those files in. Better late than never....?

[howdoiputthisgeekily]

When someone explains something I already know to me super condescendingly

[nprbooks]

Via the fine folks at Electric Lit – How to Name Your Big Important Novel. Apparently mine is The Left Hand of Anxiety of the d’Urbervilles, which is, I dunno, weirdly appropriate?

– Petra

[lifenebooks]

Tropic of Anxiety and Punishment.  Sounds awful.

[copperbadge]

GNU Terry Prachett

GNU Terry Pratchett

[lifenebooks]

Very Helpful As usual, Amazon.

In case that’s too small to read:

“The eBook file provided for this book has potential quality concerns. Go to the “Quality Problems” tab to see what issues have been found.”

Quality Problems tab:

“There are no quality problems with this book.”

[lifenebooks]

“I’m thinking about reflowing. Is there anything I need to know?”

[adultishunlocked]

Sunday morning

[adultishunlocked]

Attempting to network

[lifenebooks]

*After spending all my time sitting at a computer

[lifenebooks]

"I don't understand why the eBook is still wrong.  I already updated the PDF!"

[foxholeformat]

Responsive Ebook Design: A Primer

Modern websites are device-agnostic, but our ebooks are lagging behind. A look at how ebook publishers can catch up.

Here’s the main article for tonight’s discussion/ lab.

[lifenebooks]

Stayed up too late last night finishing a book

[lifenebooks]

Being acknowledged and thanked for doing an awesome job

[lifenebooks]

Slowly emerging from the post holiday/Spring season fiascos

I'm back guys!  Hopefully!

[bookshelfworm]

Unscrollable book

[brooklynbookgirl]

Realizing There Will Be No More Work Holidays Until Summer