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Post by unclegarf on Jul 24, 2020 3:10:42 GMT -8
Being shown here on the beeb but don't forget it is all on youtube. Bob's legacy is the (deceptively) simple style encouraged many to give it a go. I bet in this crazy covid world more are trying new and creative things. We will no doubt get a spike in debut novels over the next few months.
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Post by Ted on Jul 24, 2020 7:56:55 GMT -8
A spike in debut novels is quite likely.
I've been hunkering down at my seniors complex here in BC. Many residents are ordering in food so they don't have to go out. Fortunately there is a large park behind the complex so I can hop on my scooter and enjoy the park, the ducks, the turtles, the owls. raccoons and other critters. Oh, and the skunks.
Here in BC it's the younger generation which is causing most of the spikes in covid. They party on the beaches, homes, hotels, bars and restaurants without masks or keeping proper social distancing. Invincible, or so they think.
Stay safe everyone.
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 24, 2020 10:26:24 GMT -8
Hey, nice to here from you Ted. Yeah, best keep out of it all if we can. One thing about getting older is we have an inbuilt common sense chip. It has just been announced of a spike in my area of the UK. Interesting times indeed.
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Post by djmills on Jul 25, 2020 12:48:09 GMT -8
Ted, glad you are staying safe.
Gary, my first thought during lockdown was what would the new generation be called, "Covid Kids"? Like after WWII there was the "Baby Boomers" then "GenX" and "GenY". :-)
I also think many people will try some sort of creative project during lockdown, and find they are really good at it. Then learn it is both stimulating and relaxing, and might even change careers later on.
Here, one school boy worked on a mask attachment band prototype that fits around the back of the head and the ends hold the elastic of the masks in place, so the ears don't hurt. He is 3D printing it and selling them.
Other people are renovating their homes to keep busy during lockdown. Bunnings is booming! :-)
And I am trying to edit my current SF story between interruptions. :-)
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Post by ChrisLAdams on Jul 26, 2020 7:18:30 GMT -8
Ted, glad you are staying safe. Gary, my first thought during lockdown was what would the new generation be called, "Covid Kids"? Like after WWII there was the "Baby Boomers" then "GenX" and "GenY". :-) I also think many people will try some sort of creative project during lockdown, and find they are really good at it. Then learn it is both stimulating and relaxing, and might even change careers later on. Here, one school boy worked on a mask attachment band prototype that fits around the back of the head and the ends hold the elastic of the masks in place, so the ears don't hurt. He is 3D printing it and selling them. Other people are renovating their homes to keep busy during lockdown. Bunnings is booming! :-) And I am trying to edit my current SF story between interruptions. :-) Gen-19?
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 26, 2020 9:29:28 GMT -8
It's all going on, that's for sure. And I was thinking earlier on today. (It still happens occasionally). Brought on by my 90 yo mom who says she can't see herself hanging around too much longer nor does she want to. So i was wondering about we online writers. I'm 67 yo and doubt I'll live as long as my mom has. But all those ebooks still float around in cyberspace. Royalties still mount up in various places. What happens to them?? I've made a will giving my sister all earnings when I'm gone with a few clues as to where to find them. Some of it goes into paypal account from D2D and Smashwords and some like the Amazon ££ goes into my bank account. It all gets a bit messy and to be honest, hardly worth the bother of collecting at the moment. That said, we all know things can take off overnight. Anyone seen anything out there to make sense of it all? Maybe I'll send Zon a message and ask how we should prepare things.
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Post by djmills on Jul 26, 2020 13:16:11 GMT -8
Gary, you could do that with your sister. Or learn copyright. Or buy "Estate Planning for Authors" by M.L. Buchman like I did to see how to write/word the final letter to your heir to advice them of your Intellectual Property (IP) licences. I suggest you also read Dean Wesley Smith's "Magic Bakery" articles on his blog if you don't understand IP. Or google "Wills and Royalties" or google IP to learn all the various ways to sell each copyright.
Basically, I believe, if you don't have a will/heir for your IP, once you die, anyone who wants to can pirate your books, repackage them, and sell on all ebook sites and get the money themselves. And they can market the movie rights and collect the option money, and payment when movie rights are purchased, leaving your sister with nothing. And there are many other rights just waiting to be sold, eg. second rights, foreign rights, radio, audio, scripts, hard cover, large print, etc. And remember, the heir only has 70 US Years or 50 Aus years, etc., before the IP go out of copyright.
I have my will done including IP, and made lists of all stories, where selling/sold, ROI spreadsheet that I update each year, layout of business flowcharts, etc. but still have to write the final letter for my heir. I figured I could tell him where the passwords are, where the royalties come in, why he has to keep or change passwords, etc.
One more thing I have to add to my list of things to do soon. :-)
And my oil paintings, water colours, cartoons, etc ... they will probably get distributed to kids, grandkids, nephews, or burned. :-)
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 26, 2020 13:27:27 GMT -8
Hi, DJ. It isn't the legal leaving to my sister the issue, but the mechanics with the publishers such as D2D. I think D2D are the more accessible to ask than Zon, so I'll ask them the question and post any response.
Just asked the question to D2D
Hi. A bit of debate kicking off regarding royalties once an author has died. I put most of my stuff through D2D these days, but I also have some stuff via smash and directly with Amazon.
So. I'm 67 yo. and still writing. If I died tomorrow, what happens to the royalties that could go on for years? I have made a will leaving all and any royalties to my sister and included some instructions on where the ebooks are published etc. I haven't seen anything on a site such as D2D to perhaps register details of next of kin, etc, to make it easier to receive royalties when the author has died. You have anything at D2D? Also, what happens with copyright when the author dies?
Keep replies nice and simple please as I intend to post it on the forum
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 29, 2020 7:13:02 GMT -8
Damn and blast!! Had an excellent informative reply from D2D but in my clumsy attempt to cut and paste for here I ended up deleting it or archiving it in some inaccessible cave on my loptap. I've requested same info as pdf or something I can copy to post here. I have looked thoroughly through the D2D policy / FAQs and there isn't a word on any of this. Is it on the smashwords forum does anybody know? I'll get there in the end. I think this really needs to be tackled by all the Indie publishers so I'll keep on the case.
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 29, 2020 11:01:43 GMT -8
Breaking news! This just in from D2D. I think I have one just in from smash so will try to post that next.
Draft2Digital- Account transfer on death Should you pass away, or become incapable of handling your own affairs, your account would pass on to the person you name as the executor of your account or will. In most cases, we are working with a death, and we would request both a death certificate and the will that shows who you have named as the executor of your account. From there, we will work directly with that person to get the account moved over into their name, and get the password changed to a password they can access and remember. We would also work with them regarding answering tax questions and getting the banking details in their own name and showing them the basic details of our site. I generally ask if they wish to continue to list the books or remove the listings (I've seen it go both ways) and will help them with whatever they decide to do. Please feel free to provide our support email (support@draft2digital.com) to your executor and your lawyer to include within your documents for future reference. Please send in any documents Attn: Customer Support Manager Copyrights would continue to be yours, however an executor of your estate would still have the rights to continue to list your book on your account with us, unless you specifically state that you would like your books removed from distribution at the time you pass within your Will.
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 29, 2020 11:05:08 GMT -8
This hot off the loptap from smash.
HI Gary,
Thanks for writing in again. There are two different ways to go about this. The easiest way, if planning ahead, would be to give your sister your log in information (email and SW password) so she can log in once you've passed and make any necessary changes to the account. The three major changes would be to alter the payment info at Account > Payment Settings (https://www.smashwords.com/account/payee); change the password on the account (if she wants) at Account > Edit Account Information (https://www.smashwords.com/account/edit), and then contact our Service Team to change the email on the account.
Now, of course, it's a general best practice for account safety to NOT share your password with anyone, but as you're dealing with family here, we leave that to your discretion.
The other option: If she doesn't have any of this info ahead of time, she would need to contact us after you died. At that point in order to change over ownership of the account, she would have to provide us with the following: 1. A copy of the death certificate, 2. a copy of an affidavit (or will) identifying the beneficiary of the estate and/or legal controlling authority over the trust 3. and a copy of the said beneficiary and/or authority's drivers license or passport.
It's simply most helpful if you just don't die. ;-)
GW. I'll do my best with that final piece of advice. Pass the beer!
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 29, 2020 11:12:42 GMT -8
Option 2 on smash looks much like the D2D version. I assume the mighty Zon works in similar ways but probably requires a finger off the deceased just to be sure. Anyway, maybe keep a record of all this and pass it on to fellow Indies as it looks like useful info.
You're welcome.
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Post by unclegarf on Jul 29, 2020 11:35:57 GMT -8
I have copied all the above on a word doc which I will get printed off and added to my will. Considering I don't actually get along with my sister, I kinda wonder why I'm bothering. But, hey ho.
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Post by djmills on Jul 29, 2020 14:22:11 GMT -8
Thanks, Gary. I also put into a doc and will print out and attach to my will.
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Post by unclegarf on Aug 17, 2020 0:37:44 GMT -8
HOOPLA Just had a swag of emails from D2D advising me my stuff has been published on hoopla. Now because I live a hermit existence in a dark and dismal cave in obscuriland, all that ethernet stuff mostly passes me by. So I've heard of hoopla, not a clue what it does or how to use it, so has anybody any experience of hoopla with books?
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