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BearMountainBooks · 02-05-2012, 10:00 AM

Well, there's simply no point in an author saying, "If you don't buy it, don't read it." Even if an author feels that way, they gain nothing by saying it. People who are going to download are going to do it anyway and making a reader angry doesn't serve much of a purpose.

I do think that readers don't realize how much torrent and free copies threaten an author (whether the threat is REAL or not, the FEAR is.) It may be an unreasonable fear, but it is still a fear--this system could take away my means to make a living.

A lot of authors live pretty close to the edge--and I mean both indies and trad published. So there can be a feeling that, "Every book counts." In some cases it does. If that publisher is sitting there checking stats and your series doesn't make it...

Just in the last year my cozy group has discussed 4 authors who lost their contracts. The readers complained bitterly about the series going away. It does happen. Did the darknet contribute to this problem? Probably not a lot. Did used books? ABSOLUTELY. Every single one of us on that thread has bought used books and some of the ladies take pride in never buying new.

At least three of the authors went on to create new series (some readers liked the new series better, some won't read it, and some like it less.) At least one author did not (yet) either get a new contract or at least has not produced a new book. That author wrote to one of the cozy fans and explained his time was better spent on his day job. This is an author who received a lot of air time from his favorite fan or two on our group. So that word of mouth thing might have helped a few sales, but apparently not enough sales.

Were these author all affected by the darknet? No. Will the darknet be a contributor to authors having to make this kind of decision (Can I continue writing)? Yes. More and more in the near future.

I'm not saying this to change anyone's habits or rationale. But I did write to one author long ago, before darknet. She had stopped writing her series because she had a 3 book contract. When it was up for renewal, she had opportunity to continue. But there wasn't a lot of money in it and with her life where it was, she opted to focus on other things.

So these things do matter (darknet and used books and the fact that authors don't get a large share of the pot most of the time.) Is it your problem? Only if it happens to be an author you love. And there are enough authors writing that you can always go find something else to read.

02-05-2012, 10:00 AM	#241
BearMountainBooks Maria Schneider Posts: 3,746 Karma: 26439330 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Near Austin, Texas Device: 3g Kindle Keyboard	Well, there's simply no point in an author saying, "If you don't buy it, don't read it." Even if an author feels that way, they gain nothing by saying it. People who are going to download are going to do it anyway and making a reader angry doesn't serve much of a purpose. I do think that readers don't realize how much torrent and free copies threaten an author (whether the threat is REAL or not, the FEAR is.) It may be an unreasonable fear, but it is still a fear--this system could take away my means to make a living. A lot of authors live pretty close to the edge--and I mean both indies and trad published. So there can be a feeling that, "Every book counts." In some cases it does. If that publisher is sitting there checking stats and your series doesn't make it... Just in the last year my cozy group has discussed 4 authors who lost their contracts. The readers complained bitterly about the series going away. It does happen. Did the darknet contribute to this problem? Probably not a lot. Did used books? ABSOLUTELY. Every single one of us on that thread has bought used books and some of the ladies take pride in never buying new. At least three of the authors went on to create new series (some readers liked the new series better, some won't read it, and some like it less.) At least one author did not (yet) either get a new contract or at least has not produced a new book. That author wrote to one of the cozy fans and explained his time was better spent on his day job. This is an author who received a lot of air time from his favorite fan or two on our group. So that word of mouth thing might have helped a few sales, but apparently not enough sales. Were these author all affected by the darknet? No. Will the darknet be a contributor to authors having to make this kind of decision (Can I continue writing)? Yes. More and more in the near future. I'm not saying this to change anyone's habits or rationale. But I did write to one author long ago, before darknet. She had stopped writing her series because she had a 3 book contract. When it was up for renewal, she had opportunity to continue. But there wasn't a lot of money in it and with her life where it was, she opted to focus on other things. So these things do matter (darknet and used books and the fact that authors don't get a large share of the pot most of the time.) Is it your problem? Only if it happens to be an author you love. And there are enough authors writing that you can always go find something else to read.