InSanity~Normalize, Don't Stigmatize Mentall Illness.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Just the Right Time: An Amazon Faux Pas

 
Imagine my surprise when I opened my book, Just the Right Time * to sign a copy for my cousin. *marked down to only $5.11; it's a perfect holiday gift and Amazon best-seller # 542, 510. Woohoo! (Look out, Snookie! I'm gaining on you.) Instead of my poetry, though, I found this:
 "Big Sister, Little Sister at the zoo, having fun. Blowing bubbles under the sun."
It seems Amazon made a printing error, and this incited all sorts of words from me, none favorable. "Blowing bubbles under the sun?" Are you *bleep*n kidding me? Who wrote this *bleep*? No wonder self-published authors have such a lowly reputation. 

I grabbed my phone. "Hello...I just opened my book to sign it, and I found someone else's book in mine for the first five pages. This is inexcusable! Amazon should be embarrassed! It's really bad poetry too!...You can't get me another copy until Tuesday? That's unacceptable. I'd like to speak with your Manager."

The Manager was equally patient and apologetic. He assured me that this occurrence is a rarity. I assured him, however, that this assurance doesn't help me; it was my last good copy. Ultimately, they sent me five free copies. I'm good with that.

Please note that I don't mean to bash Amazon-Createspace. They have been very friendly and easy to work with. I recommend CreateSpace for anyone interested in self-publishing. Yet I'm still baffled as to how a bit of the sisters got into Just the Right Time.

After researching this sisterly literature, I learned the true meaning of "Don't judge a book by its cover." See, Big Sister is the author. Plus, Big Sister is only 4-1/2! I'm so sorry, Big Sister. I didn't write my first poem until age 11. Keep at it, sweetie. You're gifted beyond your years. I didn't mean those nasty things I said about your poetry. Well, I did. I just didn't realize you're a preschooler. Blow more bubbles. Have more fun with Little Sister. Then, write more poems about it all, honey.
 
Alas, here's my theme poem on the sixth page. The stunning artwork is thanks to Robin Mead.

It's not too late
It's not too soon
To watch the stars dance towards the moon
Paint rainbow colors across the sea
Invite the ladybugs for tea.
Ride the clouds to fairy lands
Grow cookie gardens in the sand.
To see a world where nothing's wrong
And make it so through silly song
It's not too late
It's not too soon
To watch the stars dance towards the moon.

You can find either of these special books on Amazon. 
Who knows what you'll get when you turn the pages!?

I don't have new pictures for Sundays in My City, so this is my Sunday post. Have a great week!

32 comments:

  1. I hope that is a unique and rare occurrence, but who knows... maybe it will end up like a rare penny and be worth more than you ever imagined.

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  2. It's a good Sunday post and not too late and not too soon. :)

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  3. Still baffles me how part of her book got into your book.
    Her first book and she's not even five? Don't I feel like a failure now...

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  4. Wow I sincerely hope this was a rarity. This kind of error is a hard one to make any excuse for to be honest.

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  5. Isn't that weird? At least you got some extra books out of Amazon!

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  6. Wow, that's pretty weird...and wild. Wondering why I didn't get the book with the additions. LOL.

    Love the poems, Robyn. :) Thanks.

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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  7. If other people ordered a book would they be getting it coming out like that too before you called Amazon or was it a one off? Cute that little girl was being published but she should not be getting in the way of your book! Is there a way I'd be able to order a copy of the book Robyn? Like would Amazon work for me since I live in the UK?

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  8. Human, Robyn,

    You never know what will happen when you turn the pages. Of course, having paws, it takes me a bit longer.

    What a bizarre situation.

    Cookie gardens in the sand...neat stuff.

    Pawsitive wishes,

    Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! :) x

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  9. Hey, that's not such a bad thing!
    If your name is "Bubbles."
    Yep...Al Penwasser: Going For the Lowest Common Denominator Since 2009

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  10. OMG! I'd have had a heart attack! At least you got the Great and Powerful Amazon to actually speak with you. I've had complaints and never found a way to talk to a person there. (Just like friggin' Google. All computers and no humans.) But five free books is a reasonable apology. Now, where can I find these cookie gardens of which you speak, hmm? :-)

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  11. So they only got one copy of your book wrong, Robyn? You ought to keep it as a collector's item! Your poem should be the lyrics of a song sung by a girl like the young Judy Garland...and not like Miley Cyrus!

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  12. bashing a little 4 year old, how low can you get lol never heard of them mixing things up like that before

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  13. That is odd. At least they attempted to make things right with you.

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  14. So the Overlords aren't perfect? I like the way you straightened out the error, Robyn! A woman of action, you are.

    That would be very annoying. . . now we know. . .never assume.

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  15. Oh my-- that's not a good mistake at all- would make me angry too. Now that it's fixed though, how cute for the little one who wrote the bubbles poem!

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  16. Authors work so hard to perfect their words and having something lie this happen is intolerable. I did read, though, that when Moby Dick was first published in London they left out the final fifty pages.

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  17. MsA, I'm holding onto it just in case.

    Alex, me too - on both counts.

    Lexa, when you published thru CreateSpace (run by Amazon, but it seems to be entirely separate), you get around the clock telephone support. It's a big reason I chose this route. I'd have no idea how to contact Amazon directly.

    Thanks, all.

    Have a safe, peaceful, festive week.

    xoRobyn

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  18. Well, at least they gave you a few free books. Better than a kick in the butt :) Hahha...just teasing.

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  19. That's hilarious! I could barely spell at 4.5.

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  20. Maybe the next batch will have Moby Dick or The Great Gatsby!

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  21. Wow...that's amusing and not all at the same time. At least they're good at working with people, I guess. I'm glad you got it worked out!!

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  22. I happen to have Amazon's customer service number save in my phone, by the way. So if you ever need it... :)

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  23. Ha, that's crazy! I'm actually kinda jealous. The worst we've ever had is a book that had a page cut in half in the middle. We also called and got a few free copies out of it, which was nice since all we wanted was a replacement and weren't even mad. Other than that, we've had hundreds of paperbacks come our way for stocking purposes and haven't had any other errors. Can't really complain about Amazon/Createspace.

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  24. Wow. The mistake is not acceptable, but your post is hilarious. Thanks for the laughs, sorry about the error and wow, she's 4.

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  25. Oh my! That would have been very upsetting indeed. I hope that was the only copy like that.

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  26. That would be so frustrating! At least Amazon was willing to fix the mistake quickly.

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  27. Well, at least you can make us all laugh about it now :) I'm glad they fixed it for you. I admit, I probably would have been ticked too if that happened to me.

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  28. Glad you got it straightened out, though it's so strange that it happened in the first place. BTW, You've selected one of my favorite poems in your book. Do you think Big Sister could help me write a novel?!

    Julie

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  29. That is an awful mistake even if it is rare. I am glad they are trying to make amends but still it's a horrible mistake for a self-published author.

    Love your poem. I will get on Amazon and order my copy of your book. I hope it doesn't have the preschoolers book in it. (although I am sure she is sweet)

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  30. Thank you so much, Cheryl, and all. Big Sis, too. Keep blowing those bubbles.

    xoRobyn

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  31. Oh man, what a Boo-Boo!
    Enough to make you Boo-Hoo..
    4 1/2? Oh God, imagine the poor extended family ALL having to buy copies haha

    Anyway, that's pretty messed up.

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