by Foster Winans
  We are increasingly advising our client authors to stay clear of Amazon when planning distribution of their books. Having your book listed on Amazon has long been a sign of "arrival," a symbol of legitimacy as well as a high-profile "hit" when potential readers Google your name or book title. But Amazon reviews don't mean much when anyone has the capacity to stuff the ballot box with five-star votes by getting their friends and employees to post on their behalf. But worse is Amazon's predatory pricing strategy. Amazon routinely sells your books at prices far below retail. So the book you can sell from your web site, or by direct mail or on the lecture circuit for $24.95, Amazon offers at $16.95. This is cannibalism. Now Amazon is tightening its choke hold by limiting access to a large sub-group of authors. See this article in the Wall Street Journal.