ICYMI: @victoriastrauss post on SFWA comments to the US Copyright office on the matter of granting copyright to works created using artificial intelligence; as Ms Strauss notes, this applies to all writers of any genre.
Have you nominated your favorite #IndieBooks for the #IndieInkAwards yet? Nominations are open for the month of November for several awards from Side Character MVP to Wittiest Character, & to highlight amazing #LGBTQ Representation, #MentalHealth Rep, #Disability Rep, #BIPOC Rep, & more. Open to all fiction genres and YA, NA, & Adult books. While you're there, you might find more #BooksToRead !
We moved to Mastodon late last year, and quickly became big fans. This is one of the reasons we set up #FediBookFair, to help #authors and #publishers to market their books.
We've also set up a Mastodon server for #IndieAuthors. If you know an author that would like to be here but thinks it's too complex, give them our details. We'll help them get set up - for free.
Two of our authors are participating in the Cozy Mystery Free Book Blast for the spooky season! Grab these freebies and check out the Book Blast:
➡️ https://cozymysterybookclub.com/bookblast/
Participating Books:
Photo Bombed by Daria White
Enchantments and Escape Rooms by @amymcnulty
Pleased to announce this is up for preorder. It's set in 1970, there's magic and gods and drugs and queer romance, and I did actually write a couple of songs for the Macbeth musical. It's a direct sequel to Dionysus in Wisconsin, so if you haven't read that weird fever dream yet, now is a good time to check it out.
Quote: “Whore, yariman, kuzuningen, shine, shine, shine,” Meiko-kun gloated. The air in front of me seemed to waver like smoky glass and beyond I could see a landscape of tumbled monuments, shifting ash, and flickering shadows. The dismal sound of wailing voices filled my ears.
Indie authors - if you're denied entry to literary competitions and writing awards, grants and other opportunities, get in touch with the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) who is campaigning around the world for more fairness for independent and hybrid authors.
FCC to restore #NetNeutrality and also, hey, to protect our online activity from scrapping--be it for #ArtificialIntelligence training without our consent, or for even more nefarious purposes.
When the public comment period opens, for your own interest, comment--the vultures will, by the thousands, using bots/AI, so we need to show up and make sure our voices are heard, and our interests protected.
I know it's super tempting, especially when you barely make any money off your art, but please realize that in the long run, you'd be eliminating your own role: if #AI "can narrate it" there's no reason why it couldn't "write it".
And yes, this also goes for covers; you can't draw the line at screwing over other creators.
That's addressed by Bree in the third screenshot; she and Donna have an extensive backlist they can't afford to put on audio, because they can't afford to pay a human.
It's not tricky. It's a personal choice--like using AI covers because they "can't afford human-made art".
Some people will rationalize it, others won't, but the ethics and longterm consequences are actually clear.
If you like urban fantasy that is charming, intelligent, and fun, you might like Dionysus in Wisconsin. Reviewers have said "the magic swirling around [the characters] is fascinating and scary" and that it "[combines]...humor...tense action scenes, and beautiful romantic chemistry."
I’m giving away a standalone fantasy/alt-history m/m romance, The Uses of Illicit Art. Artisans have narrow magical powers in this pseudo-Victorian world, and Kit’s underwhelming Art is unlocking any door. Criminal gangs find it useful, though, so he’s hiding out to avoid them. Then bounty hunter Alexander Locke comes for him.
Don’t worry. Kit’s very good at locks 😉
Available at Smashwords free just for today (otherwise via #KoboPlus and #Scribd as well as at the usual retailers) — download it DRM-free and sideload it to any reader.
Hey #IndieAuthors I know this is last minute, but I just realized this Friday is Friday the 13th, aka one of my favorite days to run freebies. Since I don't have time to really do much, how about a hashtag sale? The way it works is if you have a #FreeBook, post with the agreed upon tag, and boost others using the same tag.
I'm thinking #FreebieThe13th catchy, eh?
Who's in? If we get at least 13 authors I'll make a cute graphic. #bookstodon
Quote: “What? What is going on?” I asked as the sound of trance music trickled out of the bedroom. That definitely meant Kao was upset, as if I needed any more evidence.
The Copyright Office extended the deadline to submit comments on its notice of inquiry on copyright & artificial intelligence. Initial written comments are now due by Monday, October 30, 2023, and reply comments are now due by Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
The #Copyright Office extended the deadline to submit comments on its notice of inquiry on copyright & #ArtificialIntelligence. Initial written comments are now due by Monday, October 30, 2023, and reply comments are now due by Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
Please spread this far and wide, even if your own books haven't been grabbed: what do do after you found out your book was used to train #ArtificialIntelligence
Also, please read the post above in the thread and submit a comment to the Federal Trade Commission about copyright!