Quote:
Originally Posted by rcentros
While I agree that giving someone an eBook is not "recommending," I will mention that -- in the old days -- when someone was done with a paperback book, it was often passed on to the someone else. And while that may have been, technically, a "lost sale" it was also introducing a reader to a new author which, in turn, could lead to a new customer for the author.
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Yes, I get that and that is akin to handing someone the reader with the book on it (in today's digital world.) I'm not saying the person did it knowing that it "cost me a sale" or intending for it to cost me a sale. I understand the urge and the 'old' habit of sharing a paperback. That's my point. If it had had DRM on it, the casual sharing wouldn't have happened. Neither party even knows what DRM is (well, one of them knows now). The sharing wouldn't have worked. The relative might have asked me about it and I could have explained. The other party, had she been interested enough, would have bought it. Or not. Had she not bought it, I'd be right where I am now, no sale, nothing lost, nothing gained.
And again--this was not introducing a new reader to my work. She knew all about my work.
I recognize what "discovery" is and that it can be useful, but in that case, there is Lendleme and other lending sites that fulfill that purpose in many cases (certainly in my case if not the big 6). Buy a kindle copy and lend it that way. There are ways to discover books without inadvertently sending out random copies. People who "give" copies away may think they are helping the author by helping spread the word, but the real way to help an author is to gift a copy of the book. If you (general you) don't like the book enough to gift the copy, then it's easy--don't give it.
I realize not everyone is going to agree with my stance and I accept that. But I felt compelled to tell my side of the story. It's okay if you don't agree; I just wanted my feelings out there.
I do gift copies of my book quite often so that people have a chance to "discover" me. I have no heartburn with Lendleme and other sites. I often list my own books there so that people can borrow them.
It's a huge, huge morale hit when I see people post things like "I figured out how to send this book. Do you want a copy? I'll give it to you!" Or a more recent "Scandal" where there was a rash of returns going on--and blogs and threads saying "Amazon really doesn't care how many books you return. I've read several series now and returned each book and they haven't said a word. As long as you're within the seven days..."
Sure, that catches up with them. But it does nothing for a writer's motivation, let me tell you.