70 Comments
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Don Pape's avatar

Got my Baker approved copy today. Wahooo!

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Oh, I'm so glad! Thank you for letting me know, Don =)

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Don Pape's avatar

Such a beautiful wee book with big thoughtful ideas. Wishing you all the best Lore.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

She is so wee isn't she?! I love her size. Just perfect.

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Don Pape's avatar

And dare I say it, perfect for ordering multiple copies!!!!

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

I mean, I wouldn't mind =)

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Adriel Booker's avatar

Lore, I’m so sorry this has happened. It’s unconscionable. Is Amazon legally allowed to print KDP copies like that? Surely that’s illegal and they should be held liable for damages to customers, the publisher, and the author. ?????

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you, Adriel. It's complicated, but not illegal, and therefore I don't see them being held liable for anything =( In the meantime, we're doing our best to get the real copy in people's hands and trying to figure out next steps. One thing I'd encourage all authors to make sure of, though, is that it states in your contract that POD/KDP/ISP copies will not be made.

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Adriel Booker's avatar

Wow, that’s mind blowing. As if Amazon didn’t already have enough ways to exploit authors.

Thanks for the practical tip as well. Will definitely note this for future contracts. My current contract certainly doesn’t have this language. 🙁

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Neither did mine. It doesn't say anything about even the possibility. But it will now =)

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Diana's avatar

I ordered from bookshop and still got a knock off copy. I complained to them. Has this happened to anyone else?

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you for letting me know, Diana. I'm finding that it has happened to a number of people. It would really help me if you could fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1KvGkCU7lm9PSfDswIuahg8rw1LyMmFP5RJc9Evs-1V5DyA/viewform

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Amy Haworth's avatar

I found you today via a Substack rabbit trail. What a gift! I just ordered the book from your publisher and it was 30% off with free shipping. Thank you for this post and the alternatives to Amazon.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

So glad you're here, Amy! I love a good rabbit trail ;)

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Carol's avatar

I finally got my book yesterday and a refund for shipping from Amazon. I am savoring it by a chapter a day. With every page of Chapter 1, I was saying, “Yes, this”.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

THank you!

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Elle J's avatar

Whelp, I got a fake copy. Still looks like a lovely book, but how disappointing that Amazon can do that to an author (and reader).

Are they making (more) money by doing this? The audacity.

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Erin H Moon's avatar

This sucks Lore. I am so freaking sorry this happened.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thanks, Erin. I'm freaking sorry too.

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Tabitha McDuffee's avatar

There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason. I’m so sorry this is happening, Lore. Praying and trusting with you that your words (in their correct form) will end up in the right hands and hearts at the right time.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you, Tabitha. That is really kind!

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Karin's avatar

As a designer in publishing I can imagine how frustrating it would be to see a cheap knockoff of your beautiful work after putting all that time and care into getting the specs just right. The little details do matter! I hope to get my hands on my own (legitimate) copy soon, I hope the mess gets sorted out.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you, Karin. I confess, I can't tell when it's my own history as a graphic designer that makes this whole situation so much worse or if it's just hubris...All I know is those little details DO matter!

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Caroline Beidler, MSW's avatar

I went to order and saw the message and got the kindle version instead. Am in the midst of reading and savoring. Thank you for moving through the hard part of launching (I'm peering at my next launch season across the field from where I'm standing now) and staying with it, despite the hard.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

It's a tough season, it takes every ounce of me to show up using these muscles during launch, but I love this book so much that it's worth it =)

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Emily's avatar

I saw this on Instagram and couldn’t believe it it was real! I am so so sorry for you. Having a real copy of the book I do feel what a treasure it is and it smells so so good as well as all the texture on the front cover, it is a delight to the physical senses as well.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you for saying that! I feel that way about it too =)

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Jennie Robertson's avatar

The knock-offs are so maddening! I'm so sorry this happened!

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you. I mostly just feel so sad that some of you guys aren't getting the real book. It's so pretty!

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Jennie Robertson's avatar

Yes that is sad. :(

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Elizabeth Jones's avatar

I'm so sorry! Also I had no idea Amazon did this. Grrrr. Thanks for modeling a beautiful way to handle this particular frustration.

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Yep. And thank you. It's been a pretty frustrating week =)

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Susan Kuenzi's avatar

What a bummer. I can only imagine how frustrating this experience would be for you. And your thoughts about how writers end up having to live our the words they write even as things go awry rang so true. My friend told me how writing her book took five years, and she experienced such hard opposition spiritually as she wrote. Praying they get to the bottom of who is responsible for those knock offs and stop them permanently. What I can't understand is how they got ahold of your manuscript and cover and created a knock off. Hope this sort of thing is stopped. So sorry it impacted your launch and the fulfillment of your book. But I trust God will use the work of your hands and heart in the lives of readers despite this very frustrating, unfair snafu..

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Sally French Wessely's avatar

I’m so sorry this happened to you! I got a notice the book was back ordered on Amazon. I canceled the order because I knew something wasn’t right. I will reorder from one of the places you listed.

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Elle J's avatar

I was trying to cancel mine but it was too late. Arrived today (fake).

How do we know the entire real book is in this fake copy?

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Thank you!

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Lottie Greer's avatar

Ugh, I'm sorry, Lore. All the frustration when it should be a time of celebration! I got a real copy in my hands and love it. I hope my Amazon copies are the real deal, too, but if not, we'll gripe about it to Amazon on your behalf! 💯

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Lore Wilbert's avatar

Yay! I'm so glad!

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