Faceplanting into an Amazon Author Page
We followed a nice walk through by Cedar Sanderson (https://madgeniusclub.com/2023/03/25/how-to-author-central/) to set up our Amazon author account. It is a pretty good description, but it somewhat assumes that you already have an author central page or at least are very able to claim your book (AKA that you haven’t only been published in anthologies that you need to find a way to claim.)
It is strange setting up an account, because we want to go wide eventually (meaning being on more platforms than Amazon). However, our current story is with Raconteur Press (please never ask me how to pronounce it because… I can’t), and they only publish on Amazon. So, they strongly suggest starting an author page. It seems like a good idea — doing all the professional stuff.
Hence, today, the day of setting up an author account! Being professional. Keeping of track of apparently important information. Starting another way to let people find us! Like this, our awesome puppy filled blog, and hopefully our other books when they come out.
So, here we go!
One. Two. Three. Charge!
Step one: Faceplant.
We faceplant. Right into the anti-robot step up that is more anti-Anna (or anti-epileptic, anti-migraineur, anti-light sensitivity) than anti-Robot.
The first faceplant was probably more “Anna” specific than anything. I had trouble doing the sign in process because the anti-robot system now includes moving and flashing images.
You might notice that our blog does not have much in the way of videos or moving images. In fact, we will probably always not have animations (even for commenters). Videos will only be posted by us and “Anna approved”, meaning that I can watch them.
But Amazon sign in has added a new layer, specifically that part that used to be “read these letters that are blurred with a line in them” has changed to a moving flickering image of doom. I physically could not read it. It was so flashy, flickery, and just plan hard to see.
I could try to read it, but I would rather not spend the day in helpless pain.
Which meant that even though the Amazon author sign up had been delegated to me, at the first step I ended up need to ask Tod for help. Talk about feeling dependent. Agh!
I prefer to be as independent as possible and in theory computers are suppose to give me that. I work and do all sorts of stuff but recently it feels like everything is back sliding. What used to help me (computers) is now making things harder.
But, we got past that. Onward and upwards!
Step two: Stall out!
Next we go into sign in and since Tod was helping now, we tried using his phone number. No go because we have a normal Amazon account that uses that phone number.
We want the name under our “A. Kristina Casasent” name not under something else. So… We did the sign in using my phone number, which I guess will be OK. After the not being able to sign in, at least it will be under my phone number? Right?
Step three: Find the path
Then we go to claim the book. I look up the Amazon number for Space Cowboys 2. I find the book. I click to claim it…
And we are not listed as an author.
Okay, fine they have a way to send in the information to prove that it is us. We had to send a picture of the listing, the Amazon id, and the other items. A few pictures and an email and Done… For now. We will see if they think we are actually us.
However while I am here I might as well set up the rest of the profile, right
Wrong! Nope, Not possible.
Step four: Run into the brick wall.
You cannot set up the profile, picture, bio, and details until you have claimed a book. That is fine, except, well… We cannot do the rest of the step up until we have a book… Why you ask? Because the system is screwy.
This is actual something I sort of understand. Amazon is set up so that anyone can make an account. But, you really don’t want people filling the accounts with info, and graphical content and taking up space on your server until you have their product to sell and you might make money from them.
However, this gatekeeping system is keeping me on the other side for today. It won’t last forever, but… for now, we are on the other side looking at the rose covered gate and wondering if the thorns are really too sharp or if we can scale it. We are going to wait for someone to open the door.
Step Four: Wait to be Verified.
On a good note, this did make me glad that we have chosen a name that is easier to verify is “us”.
Also, I am not embarrassed about what we write. I can claim it and own it even at work. Although, I might be given odd looks for writing science “fantasy” and straight up fantasy while being a scientist. It is a lot easier to prove we are (or I am) A. Kristina Casasent than it would be to do the same thing if we did some weird mash up of our names like “Anna Tod”, “Kris Casa” or “Atod Sent”… You get the picture.
So, I am suddenly grateful for the long name we choose to publish under and that it legally matches my name.
Step Five: Over the hedge
Amazon did really very quickly even on a weekend, like 3 hours or less. Wow. And then I was able to get everything else set up by just following Cedar’s directions.
Yay! It is done. And we are live with something new and professional. Check out our amazon author page at https://amazon.com/author/casasent
Hint… We expect to have something out coming out in a month or so.
We will keep you posted.
Cedar’s original blog post is https://madgeniusclub.com/2023/03/25/how-to-author-central/