Thanks, if you were any more helpful, I'd be starving

[pbray]

Google alerts can be a good thing. It lets me track a press release in the wild, or find out about new reviews of my books.

It can also be a bad thing, when it alerts me of yet another ebook piracy site. I'm not going to give them credibility by posting a link, but here's how they describe themself:

You love books, yet have a low budget and not sure which books to purchase. Why not try reading one or two books of different authors to see if they suit your interest. At my blog, I provide you downloadable full-text ebooks...the cost to you is free

Gee. Thanks. It's one thing to lend a friend a copy of a paperback ("Try this author, I think you'll really like her.") But thinking that you're somehow doing a service by posting ebooks for free on the internet? You've just taken that one sale and turned it into one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand or more free downloads. But that's okay. Everyone knows authors are rich and we don't need the money.

After all, it's not like I have any expenses to cover. I get to try laptops free all the time. Electricity, internet, mortage, groceries, they're all free too. My doctor is happy to give away free hours of his time so patients can try him out, the same goes for the people who change the oil in my car, and the guy who mows my lawn.

Maybe the people doing this don't understand, or they just don't care. Maybe they're blinded by news stories about the advances that luminaries receive and have no concept that the average genre novelist makes less than minimum wage, and that's without any benefits.

Yes I remember what it's like to be poor and not to be able to afford the books you want. I remember days when I would literally skip meals in order to save up the cash to buy a new book, and making do with the limited selection at the library. But back then it never occurred to me to start stealing books to feed my habit, and it wouldn't occur to me now.

And, of course, for every e-piracy site that gets shut down, two more spring up in its place.

Grr. Argh. It's Monday and I see stupid people.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Sympathy. It amazes me how many people out there seem to forget that books have writers who depend on them for their income.

[shana.livejournal.com]

There are plenty of sites with LEGAL free ebooks available.

As a consumer, I find that the 'free sample' size that will hook me and lead me to buy the book to finish it happens to be about three chapters or fifty pages. (Which is probably why that is the amount that agents and editors want as a sample for portion-and-outline submissions.)

As a librarian I am always happy to make recommendations to patrons, and get books from another library if we don't have them here. And to take recommendations from patrons, and order them if I can. (Sometimes I can't.)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

And, as suricattus said, if our publishers can't make a profit selling our books, we'll be dropped. So giving away free copies of your favorite author's books isn't doing them a favor, it's actually a great way to help kill their career.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Samples are good. In my poverty stricken days, I would sample books by reading the first few pages in the bookstore before deciding if I needed to buy. With the invention of the internet you don't even have to go to a store, you can read sample chapters on my publisher's website or on mine, enough to give you a taste.

Or there's the library option, though with mass market paperbacks policies and availability vary by library.

And as you suggested, you can always ask a friendly librarian for advice. Or a bookstore employee or go to one of the recommendation sites such as Goodreads.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

But didn't you know? It's all about the free exchange of information! Copyright is inherently BAD! Any limits on the free dissemination of anything are BAD!!

Ahem.

I work, as you know, in academic journal publishing, which consists of a few enormously big, resource-rich for-profit players and a great number of much smaller, generally resource-poor not-for-profit players, and the big debate in the industry right now is Open Access. Yes: free content for all! Except ... who pays for this, exactly? The models vary, but it's amazingly difficult to get certain "stakeholder groups" to understand that getting work into publishable condition always costs money.

Kind of like maintaining food, shelter, and hydro long enough to get a book written always costs money.

I'm all for free samples to get readers hooked, but really, people.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's the sheer sense of entitlement that boggles me. Then, again, I've noticed that many of the people most vociferously proclaiming that information deserves to be free are people who have someone else paying for the basic necessities of daily living.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I reported them to their blog service provider and filed a DMCA copyright infringement notice. Also put the word out to other authors who were impacted. Since this person is on a US based blog service, it's likely that their blog will be taken down when enough of us and our publishers have complained.

The problem is, of course, that these sites are constantly springing up, and it's a full time job to keep on top of them. And for ones based on servers outside the US, you need paid legal teams to go after them, something the average author can't afford.

[jennifer-dunne.livejournal.com]

Sadly, my publisher has someone whose primary job is simply identifying and shutting down pirate sites.

Yesterday, I discovered a new type of e-piracy. Photocopied sheet music, posted as PDFs. (Of course, once I looked at the PDF to confirm it was, in fact, the music I needed, I ordered a copy of the book. But until I did, the guilt was crushing!)

[jemck.livejournal.com]

Nodding and waving in agreement here from the UK side of the Atlantic.

And yes, dunno if it's just Monday, but there does seem to be a lot of stupid about at the moment...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Photocopied sheet music? I suppose it was only a matter of time.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced that if I consulted a horoscope it would say "Stupidity is in ascendance today, with ill manners rising in the house of boorishness." Or at least it should.

[guinwhyte.livejournal.com]

The spike in stupidity started just before the full moon last weekend and has not stopped. I had to maneuver my car around someone today who was walking in the street...one step away from the sidewalk. *facepalm*

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's contagious.

[ex-fashioni.livejournal.com]

Lord, but folks like this have to be beat severely with a Clue x 4. It's so infuriating because they're convinced )or they're trying to convince others) that it's going to increase sales. Why? Where is this logic? Seriously!

Then there are the ones who see pirating as "revenge" for some imagined slight that an author has visited upon their person.

Get. A. Grip.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Sadly cluesticks are in short supply.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

There ought to be a karma stick that we could whack them with.

[atateatarin.livejournal.com]

That's uncanny; on Friday I had some idiot kid lie down in the middle of the road in front of my motorbike! And in the same week a friend had someone walk out in front of her car and then flip her off when she had to slam the brakes.

Is there some kind of Stupiditus pandemic going around or something?

[guinwhyte.livejournal.com]

I think so. Forget the swine flu, this is the scariest contagion going around.

[atateatarin.livejournal.com]

I think this goes hand-in-hand with that idiotically naive mindset that all authors are loaded. I've had to shoot down so many people with 100ccs of Reality, who tell me 'I'm going to write a book this year and publish it! I'll never have to do real work again and it'll be awesome; you can come and live with me in my mansion!'

Yeah because it's apparently that easy. Don't we all have manservants and olympic-sized swimming pools and laugh about the ecoinomic crisis? No? What blasphemy and lies!

[dynastic-queen.livejournal.com]

This e-piracy business is just rank and nasty.

These days, I'm poorer than I've ever been in my entire life. It's been torture not being able to have books, even from the bargain shelves. But I tell you what--I will starve for a book before I ever pirate one. Ev-vah. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

Disgusting.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you, and to others.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe they're competing for a spot in the annual Darwin awards .

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I heard this girl lived with wolves or maybe it was sheep but anyway she wrote a book and got five million dollars for it, so it happens all the time. All I've got to do is write a book which will be way better than hers and I'll be set for life.

Yeah, right.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

E-piracy is so common that normally I don't react. I don't go looking for these sites but it's hard to ignore when the Google alert drops the news in my inbox.

Sympathies on being book deprived--I know how that feels.

[laughingfalcon.livejournal.com]

Um I have a lovely thing called a library if I want to "try out a book for free". And quite often, when I find a series I do like, I DO go out and buy it. :)

But I'm back a generation. And the attitude of supporting that which you like isn't around. Hopefully the new generation will realize the importance of supporting the things they claim to like before there is nothing left worth pirating or buying. :/

Best of luck to you on the pirate hunting.

[gallaure.livejournal.com]

Just to lighten things a little, and maybe help...

Last year when True Blood came out, and I found out about the Charlaine Harris books. I searched the web for excerpts so that I could decide if I wanted to go to the bookstore and buy. I'm QUITE broke, so the decision to spend cash was heavy. My boyfriend is a librarian, but he said there were about 3 months worth of holds on the first book, and I wanted to read before I finished watching the series (and SO glad I did!! )

I clicked on a link in a blog that led me to a download page, and there I was, staring at thirty authors' books, including the 1st 3 Sookie Stackhouse novels. The whole novels. Complete. Pdf format.

That pissed me off. I'm a writer, and who wants to write for free? But I wanted an excerpt, so I read the first bit of sookie 1. Then I went out and bought it. Then I bought 2. And 3. And 4 and 5 and 6, and then 7 which was only in hardback, so $26 worth of one book.

Then, I told several friends on Facebook who had just read other vampire books. I let them know that these were better. Not one but EIGHT of my friends went out and did the SAME thing I did. We all bought 7 paperbacks and 1 hardback each, and this during a major recession. Most of us have already bought the new book that just came out, too.

So, even though that blog poster is a complete ass and a thief, he made a lot of money for Charlaine Harris. You're completely right to report the blog you found, just like I did. We will unfortunately NEVER be able to stop these people, but at least you know that not all people who find these web publishings of your work will be thieves and jerks. Some of them will become fans, and they will bring others.

Fortunately, now I can get free sample chapters from Amazon on my Kindle, so I don't have to get mired in that searching-for-excerpts bog again.

[jemck.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly. This made me laugh sufficiently to now laugh off a comment on another thread entirely elsewhere, that I have been itching to rebut, even though I know that doing so would only be fruitless/pointless/indulging the bonehead responsible...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good wishes. I don't generally pirate hunt because it is indeed a full-time job, but I couldn't ignore this when Google emailed the alert to me.

I'm also of the generation that bought used books when we couldn't afford new, and went to the library when we couldn't afford used books. And having met so many authors since I began writing, I know that the vast majority of us aren't getting rich, and this kind of free giveaway (without our consent) isn't going to help matters.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Sadly, for every story like yours, I think there are at least as many stories that start out "I was going to buy the new JANE DOE novel, but then my friends told me I could get it for free off the internet so I did." Which, if enough readers do this, leads to the ultimate conclusion that "And now two years later I'm wondering why JANE DOE isn't writing any more books, I really liked her." Except, of course, that JANE DOE's publisher wasn't selling enough books (print or electronically) to make it worthwhile to keep publishing her, so JANE DOE was dropped. And JANE DOE, unable to live on good wishes, has gone back to work and given up writing.

It's hard to see the impact when we're talking about bestselling authors. But for beginning and midlist authors, losing a few hundred or a few thousand sales can make all the difference.

[gallaure.livejournal.com]

Fair point. Just wanted to try to put a bright side out there, though.

Also, if it helps, all the free pirated copies I've seen are REALLY CRAPPY. Instead of 'we'll' it will say 'w311' and the like. Makes it hard to read, and annoys the HECK out of me, especially since I'm a grammar/spelling nerd.

Support Your Favorite Authors

[vespican.livejournal.com]

I found LiveJournal because a particular author whose books I enjoy has an LJ page. (I bought the books or received them as gifts.) I've also discovered new (to me) authors via LJ and have purchased and read at least some of their work. Aspiring to publication myself, I can certainly sympathize with the need for sales. I make and will continue to make every effort to obtain copies of any writer's work through legitimate means only. I'll do what I can to support you, even if it is only enough for a beer or cup of coffee. I hope that when my time comes, you and others will return the favor.
Dave

Re: Support Your Favorite Authors

[pbray.livejournal.com]

And your support is appreciated!

There are lots of ways to support your favorite authors without buying books-- folks who have read library or used copies have supported me by telling friends how much they enjoyed my books, by posting reviews, or even just stopping by a booksigning to say "Hi, I love your stuff."

Of course sales are good, and the more sales, the more likely my publisher is to want to keep publishing me. And whenever I find a new author that I like, particularly if it's their first novel, I'll buy multiple copies to give out to friends, and make sure I post reviews and recommendations, because I know how important those early sales numbers are. Someday I hope to be doing that for you.

[frohock.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

I don't know if they'll take the site down or not. I had a problem with my book reviews being stolen off our library's Booklove Wordpress blog. I went to the site, and the individual was stealing book reviews from a lot of Wordpress blogs by stripping the names of the authors out and removing links. I filed a DMCA copyright infringement notice and while that one was being investigated, the individual ripped off another book review. I filed a second notice and tried to put the word out to other Wordpress bloggers. Guess what? The site is still there, although they haven't stolen anymore of my reviews, they're still in business.

You'll probably have better luck with your publishing house behind you, but this is a rampant problem all over the Internet, and no one sees the slightest thing wrong with it. Except us, that is.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

How incredibly frustrating for you.

I did get a response to the DMCA I'd filed saying that the material had been taken down. The blog is now "invited readers only" so I have no way to check to confirm. There's also nothing to prevent the blogger from simply creating a new website elsewhere and reposting the illegal material there, and starting the whole cycle over again.

another writer here, via difrancis

[upstart-crow.livejournal.com]

This would be why I do not download music or books, ever. The entitlement of the digital age really upsets me sometimes.

Sorry you have to deal with this crap.

Re: Support Your Favorite Authors

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Certainly library and used books, and recommendations to friends are legitimate ways of promoting an author. The key is "legitimate!" As long as it adds up to more sales and more interest, the better.
Dave

Re: another writer here, via difrancis

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks, appreciate the support.

Rising trends of lacking morals - so soapbox for me

[(Anonymous)]

That's a good message and something that is so appallingly huge on the trend rise. This is such a soapbox issue for me, too. The whole gamer/computer age allows for non-interaction, so personal space, manners, thinking of someone other than you seemingly gone by the wayside, along with cause and effect and long-term thinking processes. I suppose every generation says the same about the next gen. Back to the original and the note though, that's great news that the site was taken off public lines.

Thumbs up to everyone here! Have a great weekend!

Pats D / votremerci@yahoo.com
Louisville, KY
"I long ago ate my Sea Change M&Ms won from that contest." ;-)

[p-n-elrod.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean and have Google alerts in place and a few things to say about this issue. You're polite. I'm not. I hate thieves.

http://p-n-elrod.livejournal.com/52622.html

http://p-n-elrod.livejournal.com/52812.html

http://p-n-elrod.livejournal.com/56166.html

Once a week I go to the download sites and send emails stating I'm the copyright holder, could they please remove this or that page?

You have to be polite to the pirate's pimps, y'see. I am anyway, being angry doesn't speed things.

Most of them are good about it and do this right away.

What these oh so "helpful" pirates don't get is that somewhere there is a bean counter recording sales of a writer's books.

They record sales, they record how many times it's checked out from a library.

Based on those numbers a publisher decides whether or not to offer a new contract to that writer.

If the numbers are down because of all those invisible downloads--readers getting the books for "free"--then the writer gets no new contract, and doesn't write new books.

The piracy downloaders who love those books ultimately lose. They shot themselves in the foot, and their favorite writer has to focus on his or her day job if there is one to make ends meet.

Not a world I wanna live in!

Cheers, mate.

-- Pat Elrod

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I don't deliberately search out pirate websites because of the aggravation--it can be a full time job, and I just don't have the time or patience to deal with the aggravation. But I couldn't ignore this one when it popped up in my Google alerts.

Now Google alerts has let me know that the DMCA notice I filed has been posted on Chillingeffects. Apparently objecting to someone giving away my novels for free is likely to have a chilling effect on their ability to commit e-piracy free speech.

[p-n-elrod.livejournal.com]

You're totally right, playing whack-a-mole with pirate sites is an aggravating time eater, but I've got it down to a few minutes on Thursday mornings, now. (Knock wood.)

I'm sure it's the end of democracy when writers try to defend their copyright. Chillingeffects must be a very popular site for thieves to rant about how they're doing a everyone a favor.

Let them rant.

This has nothing to do with freedom of speech and everything to do with some thief taking stuff that doesn't belong to them.

I'd like to see them try explaining to a cop how going into a store, boosting and sneaking out with an item, then giving it away to the first person they meet in the parking lot is not theft.

Everyone is perfectly welcome to go to a library and check my words out for free. Librarians are notoriously pro-freedom of speech, that's why they have copies of the US Constitution in books right next to copies of Mein Kampf.

Maybe I got paid only once for that library book with my name on it, but somewhere a bean counter recorded the sale. The librarian notes how many times that book goes out and orders more copies of the next one.

Twits who steal a writers' words to pass on may scream about freedom of speech all they like, but let someone burgle their house and give away all their property--especially their computers--in the name of freedom of speech and see how THEY enjoy it.

One thing I've found is that MOST FANS ARE WONDERFULLY HONEST. They want to do the right thing and will buy books or borrow them.

Others just don't yet know that "free" downloads can screw up a writer's ability to land new contracts because of it being an invisible "sale." But once they're told they also do the right thing.

There are, thankfully, a relatively few hard line pirates who continue on "in the name of free speech." Some are just wired that way. Some will put up anything on a share site so they can download other stuff or they're lazy wankers who earn a few pennies on downloads rather than getting a real job.

Let them wail and complain, we're still in the right on this one. It is OUR choice whether or not to give our words away for free, not theirs. If they want to do it so much, let them write their own danged books and give their hard work away.

You and I have to earn a living! ;)