[cadele]

I, too, don't care who is the stumbling block in the chain - I just want to buy the book.

I am so frustrated by geographical restrictions. I write to the authors, who are usually unaware/horrified and refer me to the publisher. I write to the publishers, who essentially ignore me.

I must be simple but here I am, waving my credit card, happy to pay the money, but I am rebuffed. Who do I have to F to get the book???

The lost sales must be staggering.

I still buy huge numbers of books. Thankfully there are lots of small publishers who sell to anyone, anywhere and, be still my beating heart, in virtually any format and with no DRM.

I have found many fine authors that way. Perhaps the editing isn't quite as good but I can live with that. That is something that the publishers can improve upon - it's fixable.

But, I am still infuriated that publishers like Penguin can't get their act together and negotiate the necessary contracts to publish ebooks in Australia.

Nothing depresses me more than finding out that an indie author I like has signed a contract with a major publishing house - suddenly there goes my ability to be able to purchase their work.

Or, as has happened to me this week, I found a new author and series. I can even buy one of their ebooks. The problem is that it is number 3 in the series. Numbers 1 and 2, naturally, are unavailable in Australia.

And they wonder why their businesses are failing, why sales are being lost, and why people out of sheer desperation turn to the pirates - who can sell it faster, cheaper, easier and with no DRM. What is wrong with this picture?!