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Topic: Wondering about self-published book

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Subject: Wondering about self-published book
Date Posted: 9/3/2008 7:48 PM ET
Member Since: 10/6/2005
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I recently got a book that when I first opened it, I thought it was an ARC. It turns out it was self-published by the author - and she did a pretty shoddy job of it too. There are typos galore, which I found distracting. The covers and pages are poor quality and getting wavy after only 2 readings and the book hasn't even been exposed to water. It DOES have an ISBN - but I'm wondering if a book with such poor quality publishing should be posted? It has 7 wishers, and only 1000 copies were ever even made...

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Date Posted: 9/3/2008 7:58 PM ET
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Well it doesn't sound unpostable by PBS standards, but I can understand your hesitation. If I were you I would maybe post it, but PM the requesting member before you send it and let them know what condition the book is in.

I don't know if this is "legal", so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't see the harm since technically it sounds postable.

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Date Posted: 9/3/2008 8:24 PM ET
Member Since: 2/15/2006
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I don't know what I would do but I know I'm on a waiting list for a self published book. I have heard that the author did a lousy job, the book is lousy, etc. but I still want to read it. I would say that if the book meets posting requirements when you are done with it, you could repost it. Sounds like it's  a book that will have a short shelf life.

susan/vt

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Date Posted: 9/3/2008 8:29 PM ET
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I have seen the same thing.  I thought the last self-published book I got was an ARC.  There was glue on the binding and the colors weren't lined up properly during printing on the cover image.  The paper was cheap--almost like newsprint.  The author did a very good job, though.  It was an obscure non-fiction book and I'm glad to have it as a keeper.

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Date Posted: 9/4/2008 8:32 AM ET
Member Since: 10/6/2005
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Well I ended up posting the book and it got requested right away. I PM'd the requester about the condition of the book and she cancelled her request. So now I'm waiting to see about person #2...

(BTW it was a really lousy read, too, not just condition...)

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Date Posted: 9/4/2008 8:47 AM ET
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This wouldn't be the DAra Joy book where she put her husband on the cover would it?  I heard that was self-published and really bad.

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Date Posted: 9/4/2008 10:36 AM ET
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Last Edited on: 6/9/10 3:34 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Date Posted: 9/4/2008 10:37 AM ET
Member Since: 4/3/2008
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I agree that technically it's in posting guidelines and it's ok to post and send.

I think that self-published books are like out of print books, and you kind of have to take whatever you get as long as it's still postable.

I would assume, for example, that every copy of the book would have all those typos.

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Date Posted: 9/6/2008 8:31 PM ET
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Most ARCs do have ISBNs on them.

tsatske avatar
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 11:15 PM ET
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ARCs have never been an issue for me. Since my Dad sells rare adn first edition books, any ARC i did not want would go to Daddy. I have been trying to get my whole family to join this great site, though, and one of my sisters was pretty unhappy about the ARC rule. She is a manager at a major national bookstore, and she has a LOT of ARCs from book conventions. (and she has the same Mom as me, but a differant Dad, so no real impetus on her part to give them to MY dad, LOL). She also has a lot of signed first editions, too. Hey - maybe I can talk her into a deal where, if she joins the site, she can just sell the ARCs and first editions to my dad, and he can give her credits for them. hmmm....
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Date Posted: 9/7/2008 2:19 PM ET
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Latricia,

I think there are ARC swaps as well as people who offer them free with an order. I've gotten some great ones this way, not particularly picky as long as I can read it.

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Date Posted: 9/7/2008 6:10 PM ET
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It sounds like it meets PBS posting guidelines, so I'd just post it. I might add a tag to the book: Self-Published.

Hmmm... maybe that 's a new tagging idea.. :)