Kobo Send Out Writing Life Newsletter Despite Not Actually Writing Any Life
I couldn't believe it when I received a Kobo Writing Life newsletter about half an hour ago. It is my understanding that Kobo recently removed all books published through their Writing Life platform, as well as those submitted through intermediaries like Smashwords and D2D, due to a scandal that resulted from their own failure to filter books. Yet they saw fit to deliver their October self-publishing newsletter.
The October edition of their monthly newsletter includes self-publishing hints and tips. At no point does it address the enormous matter that they're not actually selling any self-published books at the moment.
After the Daily Mail published a story showing that hardcore erotica involving incest, bestiality and rape showed up in WHSmiths search results for kids' books, Kobo removed all self-published books from their store. At first their web pages for my titles, such as Pompomberry House, showed the cover and synopsis alongside the words 'Currently Unavailable'. Now even the basic details have vanished. Kobo apparently plan to reinstate self-published books, after a thorough review of content.
I blogged about why Kobo's actions are very wrong on Monday.
The self-publishing community is disappointed by the actions of WHSmiths and Kobo. Author, Tim Arnot, posted 'WH Smith attempted to shift the blame for their own failure to check their stock onto Self-published authors and Kobo in particular. Kobo panicked an yanked all SP and aggregated books in the UK and to a lesser extent elsewhere. Neither action is warranted or justified.'
David Gaughran, author of Let's Get Digital agreed that targeting indie books sends a negative message about self-publishing to the world, propagating a stereotype that we're fighting to rebuke.
By not addressing this, and instead sending out a glossy newsletter that pretends the problem isn't even happening, Kobo are continuing to show that lack of concern for the self-publishing community.
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