eBook Derision at crime Writing Festival

[Steerpike]

The interesting thing about this blog post, by writer Stephen Leather, is how vehement the reaction is from those who feel threatened by a new market they don't understand and can't seem to embrace. Personally, I can see benefits in both self-publishing and going the traditional route, and I buy a lot of traditionally-published books, but I think eBook are the future of the industry. Raging against them doesn't seem to be productive:

How To Make A Million Dollars From Writing eBooks (or How I Learned To Love The Kindle): Appearing At Harrogate - The Plot Thickens

[JCFarnham]

I tip my hat to Stephen Leather, and the "token bookseller" he mentions. I hope no one minds but I'm going to ignore people like that ... publisher was it? Hell, I don't really care to be honest.

Selling high volume at low prices is a well documented practice in all other industries. It's how wholesalers stay in business for goodness sake. It's hardly something to sniff at, and it's hardly something that's going to be the collapse of the fiction market.

It's happening. If you don't get on board with the new fangled internet thing then I'm not entirely sure you'll make it out the other side of this period in publishing history.

The next step would be walking into a shop, picking something physical up off the shelf, handing over your money, and having the book appear on your ereader instantly. If you can do this all by pointing your smart phone camera at the "something physical" then all the better.

I've just given away my million dollar idea. Enjoy it.

[morfiction]

I'll weigh in on this one. I have one book on Amazon. Well, several. You just have to know to search my pen name. Some company is selling a paperback of mine for $36. This is about sixteen dollars more than what it sells for on Lulu. I could be wrong, but there is a markup.

I also have ebooks on Amazon but I focus on updating my SmashWords ebooks whenever I get around to fixing my own mistakes. I'm selling for $1.25 and to the best of my knowledge have had no sales. SmashWords is continually sending me complaint emails that my books don't fit their publishing standards somehow. I'm okay with that. I make tons of mistakes!

My sales are almost non-existant. I am flattered some third party would buy my book then try and sell it. I'm one of those people the traditional press might complain about. And I'm okay with that.

[Chilari]

Wait, someone is selling your book without permission and without any money getting to you? That's illegal. You should do something about it.

[morfiction]

I should? *scratches head* I asked Amazon about it I think. I don't remember.

[Steerpike]

I should? *scratches head* I asked Amazon about it I think. I don't remember.

Yeah, unless they are simply selling a used copy of your book, which doesn't seem likely. Just send a letter or email to the company selling the book, identify yourself, and ask them to stop. That's where I'd begin. Again, unless it is a used copy or there is some other means by which their sale is authorized.

[morfiction]

Well I never actually filed a proper copyright form.... Should I?

[Steerpike]

Well I never actually filed a proper copyright form.... Should I?

Are you in the U.S.?

Copyright vests in your as soon as your work is put down in a "tangible medium," like on paper, computer disk, or what have you. So your copyright is protected as of that time. Generally, you cannot bring an infringement suit in the U.S. unless you have registered your copyright, which is relatively cheap and easy to do.

However, if you're just going to send an email or letter asking them to take the book down, you don't need a copyright registration to do so.

[morfiction]

Yes, I'm an American citizen.

[Steerpike]

Yes, I'm an American citizen.

Just send them an email and see what they say. Many times, that's the easiest way to get things done. If the site isn't in the U.S., it could be hard, from a practical matter, to force them to stop.