A person using 'Alison Hartman' for pen name is lifting stories from sites and selling them on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3AAlison+Hartman&s=relevancerank&text=Alison+Hartman&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1
Check to see if your stories are there.
The stories under that pen name at Amazon are mostly real worldish romance, much of that is gay/lesbian.
Regardless of the type of stories, theft of them affects all. Lazeez in noting this, is doing more to protect authors than many others in similar positions would.
My .02
Regardless of the type of stories, theft of them affects all.
Agreed, and no where did I suggest otherwise.
Lazeez in noting this, is doing more to protect authors than many others in similar positions would.
Agreed.
My comment was meant more for helping others narrow down if they need to go look for themselves, by categorizing the types of stories I saw there.
If your stories are all far future science fiction, high fantasy, or historical fiction, no need to bother. There's nothing there that fits those categories.
The stories under that pen name at Amazon are mostly real worldish romance, much of that is gay/lesbian.
Luckily for me, unless I missed it the ne'erdowell didn't steal a story titled 'Gay!'.
AJ
a story titled 'Gay!'.
When reading that story, at first I thought that the 'cursed' character actually had been gay, and her curse (to reverse his sexual preference) accidentally made him think he had always been hetero.
Which could have actually worked as a storyline.
When reading that story, at first I thought that the 'cursed' character actually had been gay, and her curse (to reverse his sexual preference) accidentally made him think he had always been hetero.
Drat, I didn't think of that interpretation. I will have to revisit the story at some point to fix a few problems, so I'll have a think about making the situation clearer.
Many thanks for your feedback,
AJ
Drat, I didn't think of that interpretation
I would've gone that route with that premise, that's why I thought that. (Although it might've been her use of 'homophobic' that inspired it... the meaning of that term being being afraid of one's own homosexuality)
There are a lot of people doing that on Amazon. I have found my stories there many times over the years. They will eventually strike them, but it can take a while and does not stop them from doing it again to somebody else.
This is why I have long suggested people do what I do. Take one of the first sentences from a story and do a google search for it in quotes. Quite a few authors use that as a sample to get people to buy the story, and that makes it easy to find in that way.
I have found one of my stories there at least 5 times, with 3 different titles. But until they get serious and crack down on this it will simply continue.
Take one of the first sentences from a story and do a google search for it in quotes.
That won't work if the book is on Amazon like these are.
That won't work if the book is on Amazon like these are.
True, not all use a sample chapter to try and get readers to buy it. But as I have found, more than a few do that. I have had 4 or 5 struck from Amazon in this way.
True, not all use a sample chapter to try and get readers to buy it.
I put the first 8 words of my latest novel (in quotes) in an Amazon search after selecting "books." Amazon didn't find it. I then did the same with Google. Didn't find it either.
Then, in quotes, I put the first and last name of my main character. The name is in the first line of the novel and in the description. Amazon didn't find it. Google did.
So Google can probably see the description, but not the contents of the book. I guess Amazon doesn't look at the description in its search.
So Google can probably see the description, but not the contents of the book. I guess Amazon doesn't look at the description in its search.
IIRC, the main search only looks at title for books. There is an advanced search that will look at author and a bunch of other stuff.
the main search only looks at title for books. There is an advanced search that will look at author and a bunch of other stuff.
Amazon search or SOL search?
The goal is to find books on Amazon that were stolen from SOL.
Where is the advanced search on Amazon?
It's been a few years since I've used it, but there at least used to be a more detailed search setup for books with separate fields for title, author, and other details. I'll see if I can find it again.
ETA:
Found it. On the Amazon main page, at the top left is the icon with the three horizontal lines. That button pulls up a shop by category menu. If you go to books, or to Kindle E-Readers & Books | Kindle Books you get a third line of links across the top of the page This third line of links has an advanced search link.
Unfortunately, I checked it does not have an option for searching inside the text or for searching the description.
And I think I was wrong on the main Amazon search on books, it's not just title, it's title and keywords.
It's still there, you just have to convince Amazon you want to look at books, it doesn't seem to be available from the initial entry screen.
It's riddled with bugs, and it doesn't let you search inside books so it's of limited use if a perp has changed a story title and description.
AJ
Found it.
I never knew that existed.
I publish my books under a made up publisher called ESPub. I did the advance search on it in the Publisher field and it found my books. Same with my author name in the Author field. But it can't help us find stolen books.
One strange thing. The "Advanced Search" is in a different location if you choose "books" rather than "Kindle books." Dumb.
One strange thing. The "Advanced Search" is in a different location if you choose "books" rather than "Kindle books." Dumb.
True. And I'm not going to argue with your editorial comment on it's placement.
I publish my books under a made up publisher called ESPub.
Technically, if you don't publish under your own name, you need a recognized, searchable entity name (i.e. ideally a publishing corporation, even if it's an LLO (Limited Liability Organization).
at the top left is the icon with the three horizontal lines.
It's called a Hamburger Button (Wikipedia) :)
@Keet
It's called a Hamburger Button (Wikipedia) :)
In tower resting.
I was very surprised to read that it's design and usage goes way back to before the first Windows. Up until now I presumed it was designed with the upcoming of mobile devices.
It's called a Hamburger Button (Wikipedia) :)
Just press "Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!"
Just press "Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!"
Sadly, I doubt that more than 15% even know what the "Olympia Restaurant" is.
Sadly, I doubt that more than 15% even know what the "Olympia Restaurant" is.
Or the source...which is in Chicago.
There is an advanced search that will look at author and a bunch of other stuff.
Besides, what Switch was suggesting was searching the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) codes. You specify them at the time of publishing, though for mainstream publishers, the publisher controls those elements.
Luckily for me, unless I missed it the ne'erdowell didn't steal a story titled 'Gay!'
I'd be careful dismissing these, as the titles are ALL incredibly generic. I'm guessing Ms. Hartman (?) just slaps on an attractive cover (I wonder whether he steals those too?), so there's no telling whether there are any 'far out sci-fi' stories there or not, as the titles likely have no baring on the stories.
I especially like his "What a Different a Year Makes" title. If you can't even be bothered with reviewing or spell-checking his titles, what makes you think he even glances at the stories he steals?
However, I'm guessing we should direct our concerns, not at banning this particular non-author, but at raising concerns among Amazon Services LLC. Their phone number, in Seattle, WA, is (206) 266-1000, though it's unclear whether they are owned by Amazon.com or not (LLC implies the company owns some Amazon stock, nothing more).
there's no telling whether there are any 'far out sci-fi' stories there or not, as the titles likely have no baring on the stories.
The few I checked that far on seemed pretty small. These aren't big novels. They are barely short stories.
Now, you would think that someone suddenly submitting what appears to be hundreds of stories in a three day period would send up some kind of red flag warning that something was amiss, wouldn't you?
Now, you would think that someone suddenly submitting what appears to be hundreds of stories in a three day period would send up some kind of red flag warning that something was amiss, wouldn't you?
Not necessarily, as it's not only authors who publish books, as more often it's either the distributor, publishing group or agent who'll post books by multiple authors (legally).
Why waste perfectly good coffee?
Because for certain people, only really hot strong coffee can remove the dried cum from their keyboard...
(You'll need brain bleach to remove the mental images now present)
(You'll need brain bleach to remove the mental images now present)
What mental image? I've got the physical right in front of me.
Hydrogen Peroxide works much better, but liquids and electronics never work well together.
I wonder if my employer knows what damage we are causing by spraying down our interfaces with disinfectant every shift.
Not quite what I was thinking.
More, why am I spraying liquids on sensitive electronic devices.
But your version works, too.
More, why am I spraying liquids on sensitive electronic devices.
Too much tweaking, too little self control??
But then 'juicy' is an apt adjective when describing you
:)
But then 'juicy' is an apt adjective when describing you
Juicy?!? Many words have been ascribed to me. Juicy has not been one of them. I salute you.