Mmm - a book about Edward Bradley, aka Cuthbert Bede, and acrostics, is on the long-term agenda!

Best wishes and good luck

Susan

I'm sure that there are many other Lulu publishers in the UK with books relating to games. There may even be a few members of this wiki who do, but not all of the members here add details for their books. I'd say there is, considering her output, a distinct possibility that Susan Watkin will at some point be writing a book about Victorian games.

Cheers, Chris.

Give it a try and see what you think. It should make Susan happy as her Lulu pages are featuring quite prominently in the results.

The forum threads started by 'Automatic' are actually created by someone clicking on the discuss button at the bottom of each page. These are threads which are actually linked to the individual page and do not feature in the main forum index. When the discuss button is clicked on and no thread has previously been create for that page then the thread is created by the wiki, therefore 'Automatic'. This would only happen where a (0) is given next to the discuss button. Obviously whoever clicked on the button decided not to actually add a message and that way empty threads can be created by the so-called 'Automatic' and with no title either. Where the discuss button shows a number greater than (0) then there will be that many posts attached to that per-page-discussion. So it's best not to click on a (0) discuss unless you wish to leave a post relating to that particular page.

See the thread at http://lulu.wikidot.com/forum/t-4351/buttons-at-the-bottom-of-each-page for more info.

Hope this helps.

Chris.

I see that this topic was started by "Automatic" (not me!). We don't have a member called "Automatic", but why would the wiki system start a topic? Odd! Anyway to put some content into the topic, I put indexes of some of my books on the wiki so that Google would pick up the topics covered in the books.

Best wishes

Susan

The Wayback Machine archive of the UK Wiki Lulu can be found here though this group don't ask permission, the archives are not of the same quality and they may not, unlike the British Library archive, be updated to work with new technologies. They do, however, archive more frequently.

I heard a piece on the Today programme this morning about a chap who had sent the opening chapters of some of Jane Austen's books to various publishers, with just the title and character and place names changed. Were the books recognised? Read on!

http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2129738,00.html#article_continue

Since having the freedom to publish what I want through Lulu I have not tried mainstream publishers but it does make you wonder about the "quality" of some publishers' readers.

Susan

For example from the TIP - UK Based SEO Forum I have around 100 back links, hope this information is useful

"Hello everyone,
Sorry for the short notice but I was just wondering if anyone among you lives in Cornwall or in Devon? Lulu leaves London for a change to explore the beauty of Cornwall.

Two things will be happening in that part of the world next week:

1) My colleague, Carolyn Hack and I, will be giving a presentation about Lulu.

We will be visiting Cornwall to speak at the Self-Publishing seminar on June 14 2007 at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. The event starts at 6.30pm and will include a roundtable discussion with several authors who have self-published via Lulu or other self-publishing operations.
The event has been organised by thewritingcentre.com and it costs £15 to take part. Find out how to register here:
http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=684&Itemid=142

2) For those of you who can't or do not want to come to the talk, I would also like to organise a free meetup in Falmouth on Friday 15 June at 6.30 pm. The name of the pub is yet to be confirmed but I will keep you posted. It will be an informal opportunity for you to meet local authors, some of them publishing with Lulu, so bring a copy of your book! It will be a chance for everyone to talk about their work and learn about other authors' stories.

The invitation extends to anyone who lives not just in Cornwall but also in Devon or in the South West or indeed to anyone who wants to come along.
The more, the merrier…

I really look forward to meeting some of you there."

Lucy Pereira.

Please post to the thread on the Lulu forum if you are interested.

Peter

I think the lowering of the postage prices by Lulu for up to three items has probably helped to offset this. Though, obviously, this would change if the special postage rate was ended.

When I saw the special postage rate described as a "promotion" I wondered what the end date was.

From the email from Henry Hutton about the offer

"Offer valid 4/27/07-7/27/07."

Of course Lulu could decide to extend of amend the offer after after 27 July, but then again…………

Also Lulu's printing prices have gone up a little. I recently published a second version of one of my books. The two books are identical size; the price to me of the version published over a year ago is £5.11 and of thbe new version £5.58.

Susan

The Indie Bookshop I now run average around a book a week and has sold 12 books in 11 weeks.
Fiction does no where near as well as non-fiction both from hits and sales.
Apart from two books all the sales to date have been non-fiction.
Of coruse, with shop stock listings costing as little as 3p for 30 days, one sale will pay for a listing for quite some time :-)

Better results are enjoyed when listing books as Auction or Fixed Price, bu thten the listing fees are much higher and can only be placed for a maximum of three days. With SPider I tend to mix and match sometimes running it as shop stock but occassionally firiing out a Fixed price listing.

Good luck whichever way you go.

taff

One odd thing I've noticed - my ISP is shown in the statistics as "Energis Uk". My ISP was Freeserve, then that became Wanadoo that became Orange. I never knew I was now with Energis Uk - if I really am??

Best wishes

Susan

Peter

I have found this debate fascinating!

I would say, please let us remember censorship leads to the burning of books (and paintings)!

The Burning of Books leads to Auschwitz!

As someone who has personal, ACTUAL first hand experience as a gay man of the violating impact and effect of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary (metaphorically) kicking in my front door early one morning, but actually seizing my computer on spurious allegations. The impact and effect upon the spirit of what remains to me in my sincere belief and opinion grossly homophobic conduct by numerous Cornwall police officers subsequently involved from Cornwall over a prolonged period of intimidation, the result of which has been total destruction of my lawful businesses, destruction of my social circle, affect upon health, abuse of my lifestyle & culture by police.

All on censorship!

This finally led as a result of my complaints to TWENTY-TWO recommendations (the mere tip of the ice-berg) in 2006 by the Independent Police Complaints Commission of improvement of public service by the Devon & Cornwall police, but this information itself censored and attempted to be gagged, leading me to write my books.

Oh! Just for the record, my computer and all my CD ROM property HAD to be returned to me as NO illegal material was found on them by the Criminal Forensics team. Likewise other spurious allegations, unfounded.

Also for the record it is my opinion and belief based upon my actual personal experiences that I have encountered No honesty, No integrity, No impartiality and No transparency in the conduct from Devon & Cornwall police. (I personally would no today trust a single Cornwall police officer with so much as used chewing gum as a result of my multiple experiences of numerous officers) and all this kicked off over personal interpretation of censorship regarding sexuality .

That has not stopped what has now entered its fourth year of serious intimidation, violence and abuse against myself, family and friends, by and as a result of conduct within Cornwall authorities based upon a spurious witch-hunt regarding my open sexuality and my voracious criticism of Cornish Authorities for engrained and entrenched prejudice & homophobia I have personally experienced and observed over almost two decades as an out gay man.

It’swhy I wrote my books!

I have some very strong views on censorship! There are some great over reactions in today’s society trying to undermine freedom of speech and some very insidious conduct by those in positions to abuse their power.

I think Juvenal wrote ‘who guards the guards’ or ‘who polices the police?’

Censorship;- it’s a sticky!

Hugz

Malcs

Peter

Peter

Peter

taff

Peter

I always say that I tend to buy a 50-50 split of mainstream and self pubbies work these days. However, looking at my bedside table it is now more like 90-10 in favour of independents - and with the exception of one title, all writing has been up there with many mainstream titles!

taff

Peter

Peter

Peter

This brings me to the other experience I mentioned: When i was about 12 I bought what looked like a horror book about Hitler and vampires from a bookshop and it turned out to be incredibly sexually explicit from the word go (I think the first sentence). I remember my parents being slightly worried but then letting me read it, probably because it was easier to do so than to explain why not. However back then I didn't really know what was going on and what all the words meant. It wasn't a very good story either. The point is, does it not come down to the idea that if someone is too young to understand the words then reading them does them no harm? I am not sure where current understanding is on this, but would be interested what other people think.

It does however strike me that while films are rated in the real world, books are not. Music too can contain all sorts of offensive material and be sold to children. So I really don't see it as being a double standard putting adult fiction at a lower rating so it does not dissapear from view. The problem is with lulu really, and I do not understand their thinking when you can write whatever you want on most websites offering user-created content. If my books ever did get published they would be accesbile to minors, so in my mind that makes me perfectly happy making them the same on lulu. While I totally agree that it would be wrong if any books marketed as "everyone" had offensive imagery, I don't see the same need for censorship of the written word. If real bookshops let children browse adult material in books then why shouldn't sellers on Lulu?

Okay Chris - no problems there for me.

Nice results for the Pirates yesterday!

Peter

Peter

I know your time is tight but it would be great to have you on the admin team again.
You are the founder of this forum and it is growing fast so, even if your involvement is only in a limited way you should be enjoying what you started as this moves from strength to strength.

btw; don't forget I am not a Lulu author either so even if you left Lulu there is no excuse LOL
There is a lot here that is general to self publishing, not just Lulu.

taff

Your temporary absence gave me the opportunity to look at your work and I'm well impressed.
I trust that you'll have a pint or two tomorrow and snack on an 'oggie awaiting a great victory at Twickers.

The material in question has been reclassified as Mature, presumably by the author, but as I had threatened to pull all of my material from Lulu, they may possibly have had some say in this, I really couldn't say. The important thing is that it has been recategorised. I can sympathise with authors and publishers who may struggle for page views when the access levels are set to Mature, but the setting is there for a reason. I am, and always have been, inherently, an advocate for free speech; but Peter made the point concerning personal responsibility, and the operative word here is responsibility. I, and, I may add, many others, did not feel that the author in question was showing any such responsibility in this respect, and there are, very occassionally, times when pressure needs to be exerted for the common good. I do not, generally, make a habit of such protestations (my last being to help rid us of the Poll Tax some 17 years ago).

I must here apologise to Peter. All of my replies to his comments were based on the assumption that he had actually read the preview in question; and I had already taken the decision to stand down by the time that I realised that he hadn't. As said, it was my intention to quit Lulu itself, so my reason for being here would have been negated anyway. The situation has now changed, though I will, of course, be keeping a close watch. I have today received the proof copies of my latest publication and about which I am very happy indeed. So, it is with some personal relief that I don't now have to quit Lulu.

I will, if the members are agreeable to this, be happy to return to administering the wiki, though, as stated on my Lulu forum post, I am increasingly busy at present, and am likely to be so for some time to come, so I may not have quite as much input as before. As far as I am aware, all of the moderators on this site have exactly the same permissions as I myself have, so, there are, in effect, three administrators for this wiki (and four if I resume), and one or two others may well be needed at some point; so it is certainly not imperative that I return to this role, and I await the advice of the members here with regard to this.

Peter

My own works often contain descriptions of sex and violence, and I would prefer them to be classed for older teens (or above). Classifying them as adult, however, would be both misleading and unduly cautious. I am sure that there are others who have had similar thoughts about their own writings. This, undoubtedly, is a problem, and it is one for which I don’t have a solution (Peter’s is good, but I suspect it won’t be followed). If there are members classifying adult works as available to everyone, the simplest solution would be simply to ask them to change their Lulu settings to “adult” and to deny them membership in this site if they refuse to comply. This doesn’t seem unreasonable to me.

Dorian

Peter

Chris and Peter.
You need to sort this out guys.
In my experience if the driving force of a forum (ie; Chris) leaves then in the majority of cases the forum dies.
If Chris really does want nothing more to do with the forum then I will also have to question my own involvement.

…and for the record. I agree with Chris.
If an individual wants to promote adult material that contains adult imagery (whether on Lulu or elsewhere) via click through from this site then they should be given the option to remove this and, if they refuse, then they should be denied access to the Wiki.

If this is not the given rule for this site then I no longer want to be listed as a moderator as I do not want my name associated with moderating a forum that supports links to uncensored adult material.

Taff

Peter.

Peter