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GRANT LEISHMAN

raped and pillaged

27/3/2016

20 Comments

 
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A couple of weeks ago, I awoke to the horrifying realisation I had finally been raped and pillaged by the Amazon Review Police. Like so many authors before me, I was immediately filled with righteous indignation and rage. 

"HOW DARE THEY!" I railed to the empty room, which rapidly brought my wife hurtling down the stairs at a breakneck pace to see what terrible accident had befallen me. After assuring her that all was fine, I sat down at my laptop to seethe and stew at the injustice of it all. My gut reaction (and anyone who knows me well, will know how BIG a part of my decision making process, my gut is), like so many others in this position, was to fire off a demented and angry email to those awful people at that evil empire.

For once in my life, I didn't listen to my gut, I listened to the calming, dulcet tones of my beloved wife. "There's a reason for everything honey," she said soothingly. "If you can't review on Amazon any more, there will be something better coming along shortly. It's the way the Universe works." Oh yes, there are times I fume at the calmness and control my wife possesses. but this time I was glad I followed her advice and didn't react in the heat of the moment.    

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Now, I have no idea why Amazon targeted me for their retribution. There could be any number of reasons why, but at the end of the day that is irrelevant. I don't like the fact that Amazon rule the self-publishing market with an iron fist. I would love more competition in this market, but the reality is most ebook sales happen on Amazon's website. That's just the way it is. I remembered the old adage. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Despite my inherent antagonism to Amazon and the dominant position they hold in the ebook market, I keep reminding myself of one important factor: Without Amazon, very few of us would have had the opportunity to fulfill their lifetime dream and become Authors and in my case, full-time Authors. For that we must always be inherently grateful.

The first I knew that Amazon had deleted all my reviews (I would guess, some 150 odd, at the very least) was when I started receiving messages from other Authors, sad that my reviews had disappeared from their books. Invariably, their comments were always the same in tenor. "Your review was one of my favourites. I'm saddened that it has gone.Your review was thoughtful, honest and helpful" Rest assured, I was just as saddened at the review's demise, but after much thought and contemplation, I decided there was nothing for it, but to accept their, in my opinion, short-sighted decision.

I believe they have, by their actions, lost one of their more, honest, helpful and thorough reviewers. I bought the books, I read them from start to finish (even the ones I didn't like) and I spent a considerable amount of time composing and posting my reviews in a number of places. On reflection, I have decided their decision is their loss, not mine. 

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I did get a little frustrated by some people who sent me messages telling me it was my own fault; that I should have done this thing, or that thing, disconnected this link or that link, or posted from a different IP address. The reasons were numerous. My reaction to this is simple: I don't believe I've ever "bought" or been paid for a review, my reviews are honest, thoughtful and thorough. If that's not good enough, then so be it. It appears the trolls who happily besmirch other authors with one star reviews and negative comments are acceptable, but my reviews are not. Their choice! 

It is Amazon's website; their private kingdom and as such they have every right to set the rules (silly and indeed prejudiced against Indie Authors, as some of the are) so I have no problem with them enforcing those terms and conditions. I just wish they would stop targeting Indie Authors exclusively and concentrate also on the MILLIONS of fake reviews that legacy published authors attain through intermediaries. That having been said, I would challenge most Indie Authors to prove to me they have never broken any of Amazon's terms and conditions. We all know the value of reviews for our books and we all want them. Yes, I've done reciprocal reviews, but those reviews were not "paid for" in my language, they were honest reviews of other author's books I have bought and read. I am reading more books these days than I probably used to, but the difference now is those books are almost 100% Indie Author's books. 

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As I have contemplated the situation over the past few weeks, I wondered what I would now do about my reviews. Two things are clear: 1/ I will continue to read voraciously and my diet will almost exclusively consist of indie books. 2/ I will continue to review EVERY book I read, it just won't be on Amazon anymore, which is sad for the authors of those books, but no real skin off my nose. I will review on Goodreads and my own website exclusively.  

Some time ago, I began a review section on my website, where I posted my reviews that I was already posting on Goodreads and Amazon. Interestingly enough one friend has suggested it is this review section on my website that Amazon may have objected to. They apparently may believe they own the copyright on MY words on MY review on THEIR website. If that is written into the terms and conditions of their website use, then fine, that is the case. This friend suggested that my review section of my website made me (in Amazon's eyes, at least) a professional or editorial reviewer. To that assertion, I said BOLLOCKS!

I had a review section on my website for two reasons. 1/to have more content that may interest visitors and 2/ to hopefully draw more people to my website, so they would read the other content I had created and also hopefully discover my wonderful and fantastic novels. If that makes me a professional reviewer, then so be it.       

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The idea that I would or could be a "professional" reviewer got me thinking - why not? I still buy all these books and I still read them, from cover to cover, so why not offer my services as an editorial reviewer?

Now, as an editorial reviewer I cannot post that review on Amazon, that is clear. (I can't anyway, because I'm now persona non grata with the powers that be), so what I would be offering is to post these reviews on my website, Goodreads and indeed any other site (apart from Amazon) that the author requested.

The important thing here is what is the quid pro quo? There is none. This is a service I am happy to offer for free. You supply the book, or give me an Amazon gift voucher, or provide it on Amazon as free and I'll review it - end of story.

This is the "something else" that my wife talked about earlier in this blog. Rather than Grant Leishman - Author. I am now; Grant Leishman - Author, Blogger and Editorial Reviewer. If anyone wants to take advantage of this service, I intend to update my website to provide a sign-up option for people to use, but in the meantime, if you want me to review your book, just contact me, through the contact form available on this website under Contacts and Links. I'm more than happy to do it.

As one door closes, another door opens. Life is like that - we never know how the journey to our dream is going to pan out, we just have to follow the twisting, turning labyrinth to find the prize at the end.

Amazon's loss is my gain!

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One final point, before I end today. Someone asked me why I hadn't even questioned Amazon as to why they had deleted my reviews. "At least you'd know then, what you'd done wrong and you could rectify it." The answer is plain and simple - FEAR!​

I have heard the horror stories from other Authors who have dared to question the all-mighty mega-conglomerate, that is Amazon, and their reward for their indignation and anger; to have their own books pulled from Amazon's website. Now, again, as I stated before, it is their private fiefdom and they can literally do what they want within it, but to take away the one opportunity us Indie Author's have to have our voices heard, is cruel and unusual punishment in my book. I cannot and will not take the risk of losing what is the opportunity to "live my dream" as a full-time author. I cherish that way too much.

​The day may come when Amazon's dominance of this market is broken and real competition becomes a reality. When that day comes, I will cheer and shout "Viva La Revolucion" along with the rest of the peasants, but I can't, at this point in my fledgling career as an Independent Author risk the chance of losing it all over this matter. Sad, but true. For now, I will bow obsequiously at the foot of the Bezos Throne and accept their ruling.     

Till next time, have a wonderful, peace-filled day!   
​

CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!

EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES LIFE PRESENTS TO YOU AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS! 

Have a great life and spread the love! 

Changing the world – one reader at a time!
20 Comments
Rachel link
27/3/2016 05:10:26

Well said Grant! You have been dealt a cruel blow, especially as I know your reviews have always been fair and honest - but you've taken it in your stride and found a way to excel regardless - your ongoing support for indie authors is appreciated by many! :)

Reply
Grant Leishman
27/3/2016 07:42:23

Thank you for your kind words R. Funnily enough, within a couple of hours of posting this blog, I had already received a request from an author for an "editorial review" that she could place on Amazon. Quite exciting really. I'm stoked.

It is out duty and responsibility to help others on their journeys to their dreams. To do otherwise would deny our humanity. I love helping others fulfil their dreams...Karma is actually one of the most powerful laws of the Universe.

Reply
Claudette Melanson link
27/3/2016 20:11:09

Great post! I myself have had nearly 50 removed, all honest, and my sales practically fell off the face of the earth when I emailed the CEO about the petition going around. I pulled all of my books from KDP and will NEVER be exclusive with Amazon again. Let's hope Smashwords will take off or we can sell more from our own sites--even better.

And you know what they say...the bigger they are...

Reply
Grant Leishman
28/3/2016 05:18:58

Like many people, I started with Smashwords and gravitated naturally to Amazon. For now, Smashwords is a great place to do your publishing, but as for selling......nah, not so much. We are unfortunately, for now anyway, tied to the monopolistic behemoth.

As you say........the bigger they are.........we can but hope

Have a great day

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Blakely Bennett link
29/3/2016 07:57:49

I don't care for Amazon's policies, especially as they apply to Indie authors but I do understand some of it.

I know lots of authors who "exchanged reviews" who didn't buy or read their compatriots novels or books. It feels ethically wrong to me. I'm always looking for honest reviews by people who actually read my stories. I also refuse to pay for a review. There seems to be a new crop of readers who are wanting payment for reviews.

Blakely

Reply
Susanne Leist link
29/3/2016 08:08:45

I feel your pain and helplessness. I had gone through a similar experience with Google. They kicked me and my blog off Google because I was supposedly phishing. I don't know what I was phishing for. I only knew that I had accumulated over 100,000 views in a short period of time. I had cut down on my shares but they still kicked me out. I created a new blog with a new Google email and I'm back. In two months I have over 40,000 views and over 100 followers. I heard from another author that I should never post my book's links on the site. Google doesn't want them. Big Brother has spoken and I must listen this time. It's hard to be the small fish phishing.

Reply
Grant Leishman
30/3/2016 06:59:04

Yes Susanne, I sometime suspect there is a fear among some of these major social networks that success somehow equals cheating. It is frustrating, but thankfully I'm over that now and concentrating on just doing editorial reviews.

Indeed it is very hard to be the little fish in an enormous ocean, but we do what we can.

Grant Leishman
30/3/2016 07:02:37

I think you're right, as always in these things, it is a small minority who spoil it all for the majority. That's the way it is though, so move on and try something else is what I've decided is the only thing to do.

Thanks for your comment and support.

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Donna link
29/3/2016 08:45:59

I started out and continue to be an editorial reviewer. It is interesting the number of authors who contact me and want nothing more than an Amazon review. They are missing a wider audience as anyone coming to my review site may see the review whereas they have to find the book first on Amazon in order to read the review.

Reply
Grant Leishman
30/3/2016 06:53:17

Thanks fro the comment Donna. I think I will enjoy being an editorial reviewer only. In fact, within an hour of my blog being posted, I received my first request to provide an editorial review, so I found that very rewarding.

I look forward to many more.

Reply
Donna link
31/3/2016 08:46:53

I remember getting my first review request. But soon I felt overwhelmed with the number I received and had to learn how to say no. I finally had to add more reviewers to my site to keep up with the requests.

Grant Leishman
31/3/2016 12:04:34

I hope to be that successful Donna. I've had a couple of requests to date. I do read about three books a week usually, so that would be my limit. Yes, learning how to say NO nicely, is clearly a skill to be acquired in this role.

Christoph Fischer
29/3/2016 11:30:12

Well said. If they can dodge taxes and create horrible working conditions for their staff world wide without anyone interfering, what chance do we have to take them on?
Apart from e-books, I buy nothing of them now to do my part to break the monopoly and support businesses with better ethics.
All the Best!

Reply
Grant Leishman
30/3/2016 06:51:08

Thank you for your support Christoph. I am thankfully over the initial frustration and as I said in the blog, when one door closes, another opens and in some ways that's a salve to this. I can live with it now - not like it, but live with it.

Reply
Author Ash Stone link
29/3/2016 12:18:10

Wow! Those are strong words to use to describe what Amazon did, but I understand where you are coming from.

Reply
Grant Leishman
30/3/2016 06:48:50

I'm not sure they're that strong Ash, certainly not in comparison to what some have said. They are true though and for whatever reason Amazon has taken this extremely tough stance, we have no choice but to fall in line. They do indeed rule this marketplace and for "indie authors" it is still the No.1 marketplace for us by a very long margin.

The good thing is they cannot stop the writing or the creativity, so that will continue regardless of their stance on this particular issue.

I am interested to see if they react at all, as this particular blog is posted on my author page on Amazon.

Reply
Kiru Taye link
30/3/2016 04:35:43

That is quite a blow and I do feel your pain. As you say it's their fiefdom and there's nothing anyone can do about the rules.

Reply
Grant Leishman
30/3/2016 06:43:54

Yes indeed.......their game, their rules. I'm over it now, to some extent. As I said in the blog, one door closes and another door opens. It is what it is and it was meant to be. If I take that attitude, I will be fine. Thanks for the comment and support.

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me link
5/4/2016 10:53:11

Devastating and cold hearted, sorry this happened to you! :(

Reply
Grant Leishman
5/4/2016 12:16:33

Thanks me......yeah, it was at the time, but as I said, one door closes and another door opens. I've come to terms with it and I will return someday under a different guise.....lol. I'll just be much more craful next time.

Reply



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