YEAs
(Positive things to say about positive people, organizations, etc.)

BOOs
(Reports on negative experiences with people, organizations, etc.)

AutoDESK Developer Network [for 3DS Max] (7/2/2007)

Many thanks to the ADN team for finally making 3DS Max available for download via their website. I've been looking to get a copy of 3ds for over ten years. I hope to, eventually, master this application well enough to create a new textbook series - 3DS Max 10: One Step at a Time? What do you think?
(I'm also looking into Maya!)

Microsoft [for it's Office 2007 package and it's handling of the .lit file] (7/6/2007)

It took a real bonehead to come up with the new 2007 package! They've dropped the extremely useful text-to-speech tools that were available in the '03 Word application. (Writers who need to hear their works as part of the proofing process know what a loss this really is!) And they've dropped the coveted (by self-publishing writers) Read-In Microsoft Reader add-in used to create ebooks for the Microsoft Reader program. In other words, Microsoft has become extremely unfriendly to writers!

Boo!

BookSurge.com (6/30/2007)

This is Amazon.com's new POD subsidiary. I decided to try them out for my new SF (Sara: The Companion of God). I'm impressed with the overall appearance and pleased that I can now create a "pocketbook" size book (4x7). Would like to be able to do all this at a lower retail price, though.

Tony S. [Austin "Artist" who did most of the cover for Sara] (7/3/2007)

Tony spent a tremendous amount of time telling me what a great artist he was. Too bad he didn't spend it doing the job. My report:

• Didn't follow instructions

• Overcharged my courier and to date (two months later) hasn't refunded our money

• Delivered a poor piece of badly pixelated artwork that took me several days in Photoshop to make usable

• Didn't follow through on his promises (ie. read the book before doing the artwork, scheduling)

• Behaved in a most unprofessional manner (name-calling, belligerent) when confronted about the promised but never delivered refund

I recommend you steer clear of this guy!

Tracy Felder [Illustrator for my F'Lump children's series] (2004)

I met Tracy by posting an ad on the local college bulletin board. Her sample art work showed remarkable insight into the character requested and her work on the F'Lump books was exceptional.

I've lost touch with Tracy so cannot give you a better link than the one provided. If anyone sees her, say 'hello' from Tim and give her my best. (I wish I'd've found her and asked her to do the cover for Sara!)

Amazon.com (9/2006)

What was Amazon thinking when they dropped ebooks from their catalog?! Now they send potential buyers to a French company (MobiPocket) who isn't ready for the business. MP can't handle the problems associated with the influx of new publishers.

UPDATE (6/15/2007) MP still having troubles. Com'n Amazon. You can do better!