Photo by Diego Romeo on Unsplash
Help Google Books
This is episode 3 of our Google education effort. Have you read episode 1, Global Ghosts Afterlife? Therein we explore some difficulties you may encounter if you change your domain name. In episode 2 Google Ghosts Trap we look at another manifestation of ectoplasm in which authors-book has become enmeshed.
Now authors-books would like to help Google Books find more books and not lead to a Google Books Blind Alley. We have tried to communicate, but an elephant can be haughty and not hear the ant.
Google Books Blind Alley One
Moo ….. Molly Moo ….. Molly Moo from Mollymook!
Here’s the irony.
Just do any internet search for Molly Moo from Mollymook and the page 1, probably number 1, result will be authors-books.
But, search for Molly Moo from Mollymook with either classic Google Books, or the new Google Books and the results will be of no help at all for you to purchase the book.
The problem is clear to see. Google Books is looking in the wrong place for many books. So classic Google Books is implying that Amazon, Booktopia, Dymocks and Fishpond might be good places to look and the new Google Books is offering Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Amazon. But authors-books can tell you, you’re wasting your time, because at authors-books we personally know the author and know that we are now the sole stockist.
We’d be happy to so inform Google Books if only there was a way to do so. A way for the Ant to talk to the Elephant. Surely, it wouldn’t be difficult if the Elephant, with his big beautiful ears and sensitive trunk, just decided to reach out and listen?
Google Books Blind Alley Two
While Google Books was no help to someone wanting to purchase Molly Moo from Mollymook, or indeed any of the other titles by Sue Hays, at least it mentioned Monty the Mutt from Milton and Peppy the Paint from Pigeon House as other titles by the author.
However, This is Michael by Dian Hammond is unknown to Google Books. Although, it is listed in The National Library of Australia catalogue.
Now in the case of This is Michael, as well as purchasing it from authors-books, you can also buy it in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia at Collins Booksellers. Once again unknown to Google Books. If only Google Books could easily be told.
This is Michael is an entrant in the Able Golden Book Awards 2025. The author, Dian Hammond has been notified that This is Michael is a Finalist in the Awards.
Google Books Blind Alley Three
The concept for authors-books came about on discovering the difficulty of distributing a book other than through well established publisher to distributor to wholesaler to bookshop relationships. Also, on hearing some of the difficulties of self-publishing and worse, vanity publishing.
This reality was kindly explained to us by John at The Book Room Collective in Byron Bay. On vacation enjoying the Queensland sunshine, it was time to dream. What crystallised you can read here about us authors-books.
Not easily deterred and on a mission our publishing imprint Data Stream Pty Limited has now published two more children’s books by Alexandra Tesoriero: The Wise Little Owl and Magic sounds.
Yet, while all three books can be found through Google Books, yet again it is a Google Books Blind Alley. There is NO useful suggestion on where these books can be purchased. We did try to give feedback to Google Books, pointing out that Google’s own search engine has no difficulty finding these titles, usually number 1 on page 1, for purchase at authors-books. But sadly, at Google the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. While this is laudable for carrying out works of charity (Matthew 6:3), surely it is tiresome when the Google Books claim is to be able to “Search the world’s most comprehensive index of full-text books.”
Please Let Us Educate the Elephant
The elephant, with a long memory, so beautiful, wise and knowledgeable, please let us educate you. Please don’t be a Google Books Blind Alley, we’d like to help. It wouldn’t be difficult would it? Just a simple form.
❤️😘😍 🙏🙏🙏 🐘🐘🐘 🎆🎆🎆
Google Books Blind Alley No More
Google Books, you can be in the vanguard! Do not be the Google Books Blind Alley. Be the Elephant that lets the Ants help you. Be all hearing, all seeing of:
- New models of book distribution
- Country based and regional booksellers
- Community publishing groups and enterprises
authors-books is a new paradigm online book seller
A new model of book distribution where you will find many authors and titles not available elsewhere.
Although not always consciously recognized, book publishing and distribution is a lottery for new authors. Works of great distinction can be unrecognized for years, decades or lifetimes.
Dip into Authors’ Books and who knows what treasure you will find from an author determined to speak?
When you buy a book here many of our authors will send you a signed copy with the personal inscription you ask for!
Are you an author who would like to have your book(s) for sale here? Please read about The Authors’ Community which tells you how you can apply.
Country based and regional booksellers
As noted above in Google Books Blind Alley Two, people can buy This Is Michael in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia at Collins Booksellers. Wouldn’t it be helpful if that possibility was presented by Google Books? Why not? Why not indeed. We have here suggested the solution for greatly enriching Google Books with missing information encompassing country based and regional booksellers to make Google Books so much better.
Community publishing groups and enterprises
We were recently inspired by another example of Changing Australia on hearing about Kids’ Own Publishing. How wonderful if all the books at this and other community endeavours were findable through Google Books. And once more the left hand hasn’t let the right hand know what it’s doing.
So we just picked the first book, A Quack in Time, in the Kids’ Own Publishing Book Shop. You can do the Google search for the title. Yes there it is at search result number 1, the book launch. And at number 3 on Instagram. Kids’ Own Publishing is professional, they’ve done the hard yards and certainly would have told Google Books had they had access to the Google Books Index Advice. Simple as ABC Alphabet. Go get’m Google.
authors-books Google Education Series
Past episodes
Have you read episode 1, Global Ghosts Afterlife? Therein we explore some difficulties you may encounter if you change your domain name. In episode 2 Google Ghosts Trap we look at another manifestation of ectoplasm in which authors-book has become enmeshed.
Future episodes?
Maybe. Currently considering our struggles with the Google Merchant Center.