[Jack Krenneck]

I don't know how long that feature has been there, but I've only noticed it recently myself.

I've also noted that many of the books that use it are in the top 100 and have been published by Thomas and Mercer - an Amazon imprint. I've also noticed their blurbs are pretty good and all seem to have been written by the same hand, so to speak.

 

[Jack Krenneck]

Hmmm the plot thickens! Sure looks damned fine with a 'from the editor' endorsement first thing on the page

I've seen non Thomas Mercer books with this (don't know if the other publishers are also Amazon imprints though ) : http://www.amazon.com/Wreckage-Emily-Bleeker-ebook/dp/B00NAJZDIM/ref=pd_sim_kstore_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=12S98J1TB9KGV2WVJT1F

Yeppers - Lake Union Publishing is another Amazon imprint.

I love me a thickening plot.

 

[Jack Krenneck]

A-ha....

Curiouser and curiouser...

Maybe we can do a cheeky "From the Editor" bold title first thing in our descriptions and have our editors wax lyrical about our books

Better be careful - the blurb police may not like you doing that

 

[Jack Krenneck]

Just doesn't seem right, but what are you going to do?

As I stated some months ago, I'm desperate to get my eggs out of the Amazon basket. I think we're going to see more and more of this sort of thing. I don't blame Amazon, I blame my dependency on them. If I were in their shoes, I'd probably do the exact same thing - push my own brand... make the most money.

Some folks think the lists are rigged. Others believe the rankings are skewed. I've even talked to a few people who are convinced Amazon is holding back positive reviews on books that compete with their imprints. Shrug. Ain't nothing you can do about it if you want to make it as an indie author. For sure, iBooks and B&N aren't going to pay the bills for most of us.

In Amazon's defense, I will say that the Thomas and Mercer blurbs that I sampled in the top 100 were very good. I'm not surprised that they're selling. Also, they're promoting the winners of some type of Amazon competition, which I take to be a transitory state of affairs.

But still...