Amazon Kindle vs. Amazon Books

There is a battle brewing within Amazon books and Amazon Kindle.

I was looking up Scott Turow's new book, Innocent, released May 4, 2010, a sort of sequel to Presumed Innocent written in 1987 and Turow's signature book.

I was struck by two things.
1. The book was drastically discounted at $15.11 (from $27.99) and the Kindle version was only a few cents less at $14.99

2. Innocent as of today has an average of 2 1/2 stars in its reviews.

What is this all about?

I checked the reviews and it is hardly a reflection of how real readers liked Turow's book. There were five 5 star reviews, three 4 star reviews, and one 3 star review, who all basically liked the book. Then there were eleven 1 star reviews, who were basically Kindle readers taking umbrage at Amazon's policy of pricing hard cover books at a little over Kindle prices. They were very upset and voted with their stars.

What is Amazon doing?

I noticed this deep discounting happening with Stieg Larson's new book, The Girl who Kicked Hornets' Nests, which will be released at the end of the month, but it, of course, is already a bestseller. However, Amazon gave a much better price to Kindle readers. The Kindle price is $9.99 and the book costs $11.50 from hard cover original price of $27.95. The reviews were almost all five stars and no disgruntled Kindler users because the Kindle users got a decent price.

Why is Amazon doing this?

I can see why Amazon wants to get as many sales of Stieg Larsons' three books as they can: Kindle and hardback now and paperback later. It is a worldwide phenomenom with three books, three Swedish movies and now American versions of the movies being produced with American actresses begging to play Lisbeth being made of the books. The world is fascinated by this triology,especially with the knowledge that the author is dead.

Why are they doing this to Scott Turow's books? Will it hurt or harm the sale of his new book? It may give him more publicity, but will Kindle owners take their marbles elsewhere? Will they buy their hard copies elsewhere? I own a Kindle, but I still read most of my books the old-fashioned way. I am also inclined to see to see what the prices are in person at Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Both of my books are on Kindle. Right now How To Negotiate Like A Pro is ranked #1 in Labor and Employment Law and #1 in two separate Consumer Law categories although the total ranking is 51,130. This is constantly in flux and will probably have changed by the time you read this blog. Personally, I make a lot more royalty on a Kindle sale that comes directly from Amazon than on a paperback sale that goes through iUniverse, my self-publishing company.

What is surprising to me is why Amazon, who owns Kindle, would want to hurt Kindle readers when there are new e-book devices out there competing with Kindle. Don't they know that Kindle readers can take their business elsewhere?

I don't have the answers, but am wondering what you think. If you have an opinion on Amazon vs. Kindle, let me know.


Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

More About Next Generation Indie Book Award Winners

Last night I found out that How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Resolving Disputes was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. That was a nice Mother's Day present. Then I started thinking about what the award represents and what are "indie books" anyway?

Catherine Goulet, chair of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards said, "We like to think of our awards program as the 'Sundance' of the book publishing world." In an article on CNN.com, titled "If it's cool, creative, and different, its's indie. The term 'indie' traditionally refers to the independent broad banner of culture, created outside of the mainstream and without corporate financing."

Independent book publishing companies are independent of the major conglomerates that dominate the book publishing industry industry (think Harper Collins, Random House, Little Brown, Simon & Schuster). The "indies" include small book publishers and self-published authors (like myself).

According to Bowker, publisher of the Books in Print database, more than 560,000 books were published last year. That is way over 10,000 books a week. You can see how it could be difficult to be noticed.

When I started my journey of writing my two books, How To Negotiate Like A Pro and How to Mediate Like A Pro, I really did not know much about the world of publishing. If I had known I would be competing with a half million books each year, I might have tried something else.

Then I started thinking of the odds of winning 12 book awards for a self-published book. Having been recognized for my efforts has really energized me and I am now actively working on my third book, How To Interview for a Job Like a Pro.

Thanks to all who have been following me and my books.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up,New York Book Festival,both E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Winner of 12 book awards
Best National Book Award, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards,
Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Winner, Pinnacle Book Achievement Award,
Runner-Up, New England Book Festival,
Silver prize, ForeWord Book of the Year Awards
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival,
Runner-Up, DIY Book Festival
Winner, Reader Views Book Award
Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com

How To Mediate Like A Pro Wins 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award

How To Mediate Like a Pro has been named a Finalist in the Business Category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

There will be a party at the Plaza Hotel on May 25th during the Book Expo America (BEA) to honor the winners and finalists.

However, I won't be able to attend. My two grandsons are visiting and I am going to Disney!


This is the 13th book award that How To Mediate Like A Pro has won. I guess 13 is my lucky number!



Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

Mary Greenwood Exhibitor at UCF Book Festival

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April 14, 2010

Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of eleven book awards, and How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six awards, is one of the exhibors at the University of Central Florida Inaugural Book Festival being held at the Arena at the UCF campus.

More than 60 national and local authors, including best-selling novelist Carl Hiassen and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, will speak at Central Florida's inaugural book festival this weekend.

Schoolchildren from Central Florida will interact with the authors on Friday, April 16. The public is invited to attend on Saturday, April 17. Participants can listen to panel discussions, receive book appraisals and purchase the authors' books, and book signings are planned for all of the authors. The event also will include children's activities. Admission and parking will be free.

The University of Central Florida's College of Education, in association with UCF's Morgridge International Reading Center, is hosting the event.

Rich Sloane, director of Community and College Relations for the College of Education, encourages students and Central Florida residents of all ages to attend the festival. The event will feature a wide variety of genres and authors.

Authors will be available to discuss their works and give audience members the opportunity to learn about their creative process and how they bring their characters to life.

Local authors who are scheduled to participate include former Orlando Sentinel columnist Bob Morris and Pat Duggins, a former reporter for WMFE-FM, Orlando's National Public Radio affiliate.

Beginning with the 1986 Challenger accident, Duggins has covered more than 100 space shuttle missions. He soon will release his second book, "Trailblazing Mars: NASA's Next Giant Leap."

UCF alumna and graphic novelist Robert Venditti, author of "The Surrogates," will host a panel discussion offering a unique look into the comic industry and what differentiates it from traditional publishing. "The Surrogates" became a movie thriller starring Bruce Willis.

"Whether you're interested in books as a creator or as a reader, events like the UCF book festival offer the best opportunity for people to interact with like-minded individuals and learn about an art form that they love," he said.

UCF professors participating in the festival include Susan Hubbard and Cecelia Rodríguez Mílanes of the English Department and Richard Lapchick, the director and endowed chair of the DeVos Sport Business Management Program.

For more information, visit http://education.ucf.edu/bookfest.


For more information, visit http://education.ucf.edu/bookfest.





Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Winner of five book awards
Best National Book AWard, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com

Hindu Business Daily Book Review

Business Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Sunday, Mar 28, 2010


Money is not everything


Rule 1 that a mediator has to follow is to set the tone, says Mary Greenwood in How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 rules for mediating disputes ( www.macmillanpublishersindia.com). “My idea of a good mediator is someone who is fair, honest, and creative. That is the tone I like to create. As in everything else, first impressions are very important,” she writes.

In a chapter on ‘how to get started,' the author instructs mediators to begin by getting the parties to say what they want. While that may seem obvious, it is not unusual that the parties to a dispute really don't know what they want. “Many are so angry that they have not even asked themselves how the issue can be resolved. They may want to hash and rehash the circumstances that got them into this mediation.”

By asking the right questions, the mediator helps the parties clarify their goals, and also let them state what they are willing to give up in order to get what they want. “Sometimes the parties don't realise that some compromise is in order and that they will not 100 per cent of what they want. Sometimes one side wants something that is not important to the other.”

Money is not everything, reminds Greenwood. For example, a truly heartfelt apology can go a long way to resolve a dispute, she adds. “An employee might want time-off instead of money such as part-time work, flextime, or vacation time. Sometimes what is wanted is convenience rather than money.”

The penultimate rule – that the mediator should not expect thanks or gratitude – may sound blunt. But the author explains that despite investing a lot of energy emotionally in the dispute the mediator may not get any thanks for the hard work, because the parties have short memories. The fact that the case has been resolved should be the only encouragement the mediator needs, she cheers. “When it is over, it is over. Let it go. Even though the mediator should not expect thanks or gratitude, he can still thank the parties for their efforts.”

Handy reference.



Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Winner of five book awards
Best National Book AWard, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com

Mary Greenwood is Exhibitor at the University of Central Florida (UCF) Book Festival on April 17

Mary Greenwood, author of How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of 11 book awards, and How To Negotiate Like a Pro, winnter of six awards, is an exhibitor at the University of Central Florida (UCF) Inaugural Book Festival to be held April 17. It is being held on campus at the UCF Arena in Orlando Florida. The address is Building 50 Gemini Blvd., Orlando, Fl. 32816.



Admission is free. There are sixty exhibitors and many authors will be speaking. The keynore speaker is best-selling writer Carl Hiasen. There will be book signings, sales, and appraisals. If you are in the area, check it out and stop by my booth and say hello.



Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Winner of 11 book awards
Best National Book Awards, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Runner-Up, New England Book Festival
Winner, Pinnacle Book Awards,
Silver Winner, Reader Views Book Awards,
Honorable Mention London Book Festival
Winner, Best National Book Awards
Winner, Foreword Book Awards

Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com

Doppelgangers, Celebrity Lookalikes and Avatars on Facebook

WHO AM I?








There have been a few articles on dopplegangers and celebrity lookalikes on social media this week. With the movie AVATAR, the idea of a lookalike is rather appealing and freeing.

I have noticed this in my own family's facebook pages. My son's doppleganger is either Kiefer Sutherland or Conan O'Brien; my daughter-in-law's is someone whose name begins with Jennifer; and her sister's is Courtney Cox.

But, who am I? There aren't that many celebrities of a certain age. Then I remembered. Someone said I looked like Julie Andrews, many years ago in her Mary Poppins days. Then I found the perfect picture. This does look like me in High School, complete with the outfit and hair. We both look so young and innocent.

Now if I can only figure out how to switch out my photo on Facebook!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro:
Winner of eleven book awards:
Winner Pinnacle Book Achievement Award,
Winner Reader Views Book Awards
Runner-Up New England Book Festival
Silver Prize, Foreword Book Awards
Best National Book Award, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Runner-Up DIY Book Festival
Honorable Mention London Book Festival
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com

Giving Your Books Away on Kindle

Marketing Through Kindle Pricing

Here is a riddle that was recently in the New York Times.

Question: How do you make your book a best seller on the Kindle?

Answer: Give copies away.

The article went on to say that the Best Sellers on Kindle are not necessarily "sellers" in that they are often given away.

Question: Why would someone list their book for nothing or something close to it?

Answer: To get a low ranking on Kindle and intoduce a new type of marketing.

By marketing themselves this way, it is an entre for new writers and then once hooked, the theory goes, the reader will pay for future books by the same author.

This and other articles on Kindle got me thinking about my own situation. Both of my books, How To Negotiate Like A Pro, which has won six book awards, and How To Mediate Like A Pro, which has won 11 book awards have had modest success on Amazon and Kindle (I am not quitting my day job though). My books are ususally in the top ten on Amazon in the Alternate Dispute Resolution category, sometimes #1 and/or #2.

On Kindle they are listed at about half the price of the printed versions. I decided to try an experiment. I have just listed How To Mediate Like A Pro for $.99. The Kindle site says it takes 24 hours to be relisted. I am going to try this new price for a week and see what happens. If I get some "sales", I will list How To Negotiate Like A Pro as well.

Fellow Kindle writers, I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

If you have Kindle, this is a good time to purchase my Mediation book.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Mediate Like A Pro
New England Book Festival, Runner-Up, How To Category
Best National Book Award Winner, Law Category
Silver Prize, ForeWord Book of the Year Awards, How To
PInnacle Book Award Winner, How To Category
Winner, How To Category, Readers View Book Awards
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Award
Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com

Jackisms

These are my Dad's sayings, which we call Jackisms

JACK GREENWOOD’s Jackisms 1915-2009
A Gentleman and A Scholar

1. If you stick with me, you will be wearing diamonds.
2. Keep your snorkel up
3. Keep your chin up
4. Better than a sharp stick in the eye
5. Oppydildock
6. Bellyup (like a fish)
7. Don't take any wooden nickels
8. Let it roll off your back.
9. Roll with the punches.
10. As I live and breathe.
11. You are a sight for sore eyes.
12. Go get 'em tiger.
13. Connecticut is God's country
14. Connecticut is the banana belt of New England
15. The head gink.
16. Never get into a pissing contest with a skunk.
17. Put your best foot forward.
18. Always dress your best.
19. Go pound sand
20. Knock themdead
21. You can always tell a Greenwood, but you can't tell him much.(on pens at 90th birthday party)
22. What have you done for your country today?
23. Hold the fort.
24. Rigamarole
25. discombobulated
26. Don't forget your mittens. (from Shaggy Dog movie and when Marnie rented the porch to live)
27. Good on you.
28. Everyone is a critic
29. Give me high test (coffee)
30. That will grow hair on your chest
31. That will stick to your ribs
32. That is good for what ails you.
33. Have a hot toddy.
34. Pipe down
35. Hold the phone (stop)
36. Hold your horses
37. He's a peach of a guy
38. Trust in the lord
39. You don’t know how to eat.




Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Winner of five book awards
Best National Book AWard, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com

How To Mediate Like A Pro Wins Award in New England Book Festival

How To Mediate Like A Pro is Runner-Up Winner in the How To Category in the New England Book Fesitval. The ceremony honoring the winners will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2010, at the Omni Parker House in Boston, Massachusetts. This grand literary hotel was once a place where writers like Thoreau, Emerson and Longfellow met at the legendary Saturday club for poetry readings and high-minded discussions.

This is the 11th Book Award for How To Mediate Like A Pro


Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Mediate Like A Pro:
42 Rules for Mediating Disputes,
Runner-Up,New England Book Festival
Best National Book Award, Law Category
Best E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival
Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Pinnacle Book Award Winner, How To
Winner, How To Category, Reader View Book Awards
Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Silver Prize, ForeWord Book of the Year Awards
Runner-Up, DIY Book Festival, E-Book
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards
Best How To Book, DIY Festival
Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help
Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards
Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category
Honorable Mention, London Book Festival
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.com