This list is a result of frustration at both indie, small press, and bigger publishers.

This isn’t about the price of hardcovers, but more about small digital first publishers ( and authors) who puts a 3 dollar price at a short story that is less than 15 000 words.

I prefer to read a sample or a cheap short story before I buy a new to me author, and I can say that if I find either the sample or the story to be badly edited, I am much less likely to buy the book.

For me, the point of a cover is to catch the interest of a reader. If I see a book with an amateurish cover, it tells me that the publisher (or the author if it is indie published) were reluctant to spend money on the cover.

It doesn’t matter how good the blurb is on the book, if the blurb I find online is two lines long. Or replaced with an excerpt ( Yes, Avon, I am looking at you…)

I accept that often the cover quotes on books comes from authors the author knows. But what makes my hackles rise is when I read endorsements by anonymous people. Why? Because it edges a bit too close sock puppet reviews for me.