Blogging on Amazon.Com

[pbray]

Amazon.com has created a program where authors can post messages to their readers that will be available on the detailed book info pages.

Here's the announcement: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/15700651/102-3390299-4410511.

If you click on "Learn More" link you'll be prompted to send your info in to Amazon.Com and once they confirm you are who you say you are, they'll invite you into the program.

If you take a look at Tobias Buckell's latest title and scroll down you can see an example http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765312271/.

Any thoughts on whether or not this is a good thing to do?

Edited on 1/10/2006 to add: Now enrolled in the program, verified as the "real" Patricia Bray, and my first post should appear on my book pages in the near future.

Comments

[jenniferechols.livejournal.com]

You rock! Thanks for posting this!

How could it not be a good thing to do?

[eeknight.livejournal.com]

I did it but I'm still waiting for them to "authorize" me to post to my titles.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I swear that you used to be able to something like this years ago. I filled out a form with, among other things, a reference name (my editor, in my case) and posted an essay about the book in question. You could also fill out an Amazon "interview" that was posted on a separate page. Sometime in 2000/2001, Amazon phased out this sort of author input. Now it's back.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I think I will probably sign up, especially when the page for the next Jani book goes up. But some authors are taking issue with what they see as an Amazon rights grab of anything posted on the site, and are linking to anything that they don't want Amazon to own instead of posting it directly on the site.

Blogging on Amazon.Com

[(Anonymous)]

Seems like a good way for authors to let folks know about their web sites. Free publicity is always good. What could it hurt?