chained to amazon

I published my first two books through Amazon Create Space.  At the time I praised Amazon for providing an easy to use tool to self-publish, provide print on demand books and help with marketing.  At the time Amazon was hailed as democratizing publishing and providing an opportunity for the “little guys” to participate in the publishing world.

Circumstances change, now I have a traditional publishing contract with Henschell HAUS Publishing, a regional publisher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.   Initially my contract was for my third book.  Several months later the publisher suggested I market the books as a series and offered a contract on the first and second book.  The covers were re-designed and improved, book size changed and now I have the Ian Murphy-Irish Troubles Series.

When the new series was published I received a notice from Amazon with a request to prove that publishing rights were given to HHP.  I complied and actually felt protected from Amazon.  Several weeks later I noticed that Amazon still had the original books and the new series.  This was confusing.  I learned that I had to send a request to Amazon to “retire” my titles in Create Space.  I assumed that meant the Create Space titles would disappear.  Wrong!!!
I received a long lawyer like response from Amazon that retiring a title doesn’t mean it is removed it only means I will not be able to order print on demand copies.  The Create Space titles remain on Amazon FOR ETERNITY. 

So, there will be confusion in Amazon world for the rest of time.  I can’t do anything about it. 

Once again Amazon is the 600 pound gorilla in the room. 
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Share your Amazon experiences with me.