Despite months of trying by Smashwords, Smashwords’ retailers have yet to correct my updated titles on their sites: covers don’t match books and vice versa.  At some sites my titles are absent or not indexed.  Readers will reasonably assume the errors to be mine and my work slovenly.  It, or rather they, are embarrassing.

I’ve taken The Eldridge Conspiracy and most of my biofab novels out of Smashwords distribution at all but Barnes and Noble’s Nook site, where it alone is correct.  I may try to post them again—would nice to be on Sony—but for now, it's Nook and Kindle.

I like Smashwords.  I like their philosophy. Whatever bumps they're experiencing is probably due their rapid growth and will eventually be smoothed out.

Typically I only check on my books at Amazon's Kindle, relying on Smashwords for other ebook retailers.  I stumbled across one of my titles at Sony the other day–there was a problem.  I then checked all my titles at most of Smashwords' retailers.  More problems of the same nature: old covers with new book files; wrong titles on new book files; new covers with old book files and, in one case, a missing book. There were 11 errors for three books across four retailers.  (Diesel, Nook, Kobo and Sony.)

Wherein the problem lies, Smashwords or their retail partners, I don't know.  Now that I've called their attention to it, I'm sure Smashwords will fix it.  I can't be the only one.  Had I not checked, though, well… (Miracuously some of them sold anyway and with some nice ratings.)

If you're a writer who uses Smashwords and you don't already do so, you might want to make a habit of checking your books at all retailers to which they're shipped. Don't be as complacent as I was.  If you want to delve into the details, the list's below.

Cheers,

Steve

The Eldridge Conspiracy http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/21146

1. Kobo http://tinyurl.com/3t6jvj3
               Wrong cover

2. Diesel http://tinyurl.com/3f3mxr8

Right cover, old title; indexed under old title, not new

3. Sony http://tinyurl.com/3cczjc2

New cover, old title.  Indexed under old title, not new

4.  B&N Nook  http://tinyurl.com/3raquht

Wrong title; old cover; indexed under old title, not new

The AI War http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44789

5. Sony  http://tinyurl.com/3s2oryp

Wrong title:  long ago changed to just The AI War

6. Kobo  Not in Kobo bookstore

7. B&N Nook http://tinyurl.com/3urb56s

Right cover, wrong title; indexed under old title

8. Diesel http://tinyurl.com/3suw638

Right cover, wrong title

The Battle for Terra Two http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/35256

9. Kobo http://tinyurl.com/3o5y9jh

         Very old cover

10. Sony http://tinyurl.com/3ldpz7n

Right cover, wrong title; indexed under wrong title

11. B&N Nook http://tinyurl.com/3urb56s

Very old cover

12. Diesel http://tinyurl.com/3nc74k

Correct!