Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
A number of authors would prefer that you bought they books--they like their editors & publishers, and want them to get paid for their work as well.
Considering how authors are prone to flip out when someone says, "your ebook isn't available in my region so I downloaded it," I'm surprised more authors don't get upset when readers tell them they've only read secondhand copies of their books.
It seems like they keep shifting the goalposts--is the real issue, "you should be paying for your entertainment" (in which case, what's wrong with paying your friend for an ebook, especially if he deletes it from his drive when he gives you a copy), or is it "you should pay THE AUTHOR for your books," in which case, why don't they scream about the evils of secondhand copies?
|
Some authors and publishers do. I've seen authors post that they won't go to a book club to do a talk because the host mentioned that they obtained 4 library copies and 12 used books. I've seen authors blog that used books don't bring in much-needed income and to please buy new. Used books are entirely legal, of course, and the industry can't do anything about it. But don't think there aren't complaints about it.
I'm on a few forums where there are LOUD complaints from readers about how this and that series has been cancelled--and these are from people who NEVER buy new. They spend a lot of time comparing their local used bookstores and discussing bookswap and where to get such and such book used. Nothing wrong with that. But it is ironic that they then complain about publishers when a favorite series get cancelled.
Conclusion: It's a dog-eat-dog world. Nothing new there!