Silenced by Silence: Draft2Digital Deactivates My Account Without Justified Explanation

 

Authors pour their hearts and souls into their work. We spend countless hours crafting stories, nurturing characters, and building worlds. To have that work taken away, especially without clear and solid explanation, is a devastating blow. That's exactly what happened to me recently.

Draft2Digital (D2D), a popular self-publishing platform, deactivated my account with no clear explanation and forfeited my earned sales. My books, which have always adhered to their content guidelines, were suddenly unavailable to readers.

Frustration and Confusion

The email notification I received was brief and devoid of details. It simply stated that my account had been deactivated due to a "violation of their terms of service." Frantic, I scoured their terms, desperately searching for any potential transgression. I found nothing. My books are not sexually suggestive, hateful, or exploitative.

Reaching Out, Getting Nowhere

I immediately contacted D2D support, hoping to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, the response was equally unhelpful. A generic email reiterated the account closure and offered no insight into the specific violation. Further attempts to reach someone who could explain the situation were met with radio silence.

Left in the Dark

This lack of transparency is incredibly frustrating. As an author, I rely on D2D to reach readers. Now, my books are in limbo, and my connection with my audience is severed. The worst part? I have no idea what caused this or how to fix it.

What Now?

I'm exploring alternative self-publishing platforms. It's a disheartening process, especially after investing time and energy into building a presence on D2D. However, I refuse to let this silence my work.

A Call for Action

This experience raises concerns about author rights and communication within self-publishing platforms. Authors deserve clear communication and fair treatment.

Have you experienced similar situations with self-publishing platforms? Share your stories in the comments below.

Together, we can raise awareness and advocate for a more transparent and supportive self-publishing environment.