More weirdness from Amazon …
There are two people of note who work for Legend Press: Idle Tom, the boss, and Emma, who is the power behind the throne. Although Emma is technically Idle Tom’s junior, I have deduced that she - without doubt - is the driving force.
If you ever have to deal with Legend, take a tip from me: Try and do your business Emma. Just a safer pair of hands. She is the steady hand at the tiller.
I don’t often get to talk to her, but … generally when there is any sort of palatable news, it is always Emma who delivers it.
For it would seem that Amazon’s weirdnesses are manyfold. Along with pairing my book up with my ex-wife’s, they have chosen The Well-Tempered Clavier as their first "Hero Product".
"Well Emma," I said, after Tom had been fagged off to make the tea. "This all sounds very good. Very good indeed! Tell me all about it."
"Well Bill," she replied. (Notice the careful mirroring that she used on me. That’s a publisher who knows how to soft-soap a pet author.) "Amazon are doing their bit to promote the top books from independent publishers - "
"Like Legend."
"Yes, like Legend, and your book has, in essence, got a good hero. So it’s their first Hero Product."
"Wow!"
"You never know - we might sell a couple more copies."
"Great." I paused, wondering how to couch my words in a breezy, pleasant fashion. "Do you know, I just feel luckier when I’m dealing with you. Is it … is it at all possible that you could get Tom to make the tea more often? Can’t you just send him out a bit, you know, to buy doughnuts or something else that he wants to guzzle; or maybe he just needs some time off. Doesn’t he need a holiday?"
"He doesn’t often take holidays."
"That’s what he needs then! More holidays!"
"Maybe it would do him good."
"Send him off to the Costas - he’ll love it there!"