Tag Amazon

Hoofin’ It is No. 1! Thank You, Readers!

Reg Spittle 2 Comments

My third adventure trekking book is a number-one best seller! I am so grateful to readers.

Hoofin’ It on the John Muir Trail has hovered in the top ten in several categories, but today it made the leap to the top in the Kindle walking category.

The actual sales remain modest, but Hoofin’ It has continued to find new readers since its launch in January.

I also want to send my deepest appreciation to readers who took the time to write reviews:

“This is a great read and fun story…It does exactly what a book of this type should…Makes you want to go hike it as well!”

“Hoofin’ It on the John Muir Trail lets the author do the walking while you do the gawking, imagining the splendid scenery and unmatched beauty of this special wilderness so thoroughly described. You don’t have to be a long-distance hiker or wilderness adventurer to enjoy this book.”

“Hoofin’ It is just as delightful as Reg Spittle’s first two books with a slightly different spin. I had no idea that the John Muir Trail was a difficult as it is, and if Sue and Reg found it arduous, there aren’t many of us who could accomplish it. Seeing the map day by day made each climb clear. I felt like I knew his hiking mates and especially the packers. All long-distance backpackers of a certain age should read all three of these books for confidence and inspiration. I’m looking forward to next year’s trip. Go Reg and Sue!”

“Fun read from an author in his 60’s. This was a sweet book with great characters and a different perspective.”

“Reg’s vivid prose takes the reader through strenuous climbs and risky descents, and the descriptions of the magnificent Sierra vistas will fill you with awe. Their fellow hikers and the packers that guide them become like family on the trail, and Reg details their bonding with warmth and humor. Although the book isn’t intended as a guide, there are plenty of helpful tips for prospective hikers on clothing, packing, eating and trail etiquette (including the fine art of “poop maintenance”). All in all, it’s a joyful read.”

“Loved this book, it tells the amazing story of their hike without being long and drawn out. Very inspiring story.”

The ten distance treks and three books have brought challenges and joys beyond any I imagined. And none would have been possible without Sue, my walking partner, chief editor, and artistic designer. Here’s to many more journeys together!

My Book Was Plagiarized

Reg Spittle 8 Comments

At first, I thought the message was a fake.

A reader of my first book wrote that she had discovered another version of Camino Sunrise: Walking With My Shadows on Amazon.

“I started reading and realized I had already read it…with new and peculiar grammar,” her note said.

I found the book on Amazon, with a new cover, title, and author, but there was no doubt. It was my book, sort of. The book description was mostly the same, with a few awkward revisions that made me wonder about the editor’s language skills.

It got worse. The character names were the same, the chapter organization was identical, and my wife’s artwork was there, in living color. My story was there, but with seemingly random substitutions that made me laugh as I winced painfully.

I felt violated and was mystified. I reported it to Amazon, using a form for infringement complaints. I sent Amazon a record of my copyright and links to my book and the other version. A few exchanges later and Amazon wrote that the offending book would be removed.

I am relieved and grateful to the reader, who, by the way, wrote a review of the copied book to alert prospective readers that it was a fake.

I also appreciate Amazon’s quick response. Amazon was a big help getting my books published, but I am disappointed that the fake book made it through their “filters,” even though it was only offered on Kindle Unlimited.

The offending book is gone, for now. But I wonder: What would motivate someone to do this?