[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by ficbot

So, you are asking us 'why should I produce it.' I am going to turn the tables on you and ask 'why should I buy it?' I can explain, if you want to, exactly what steps I must take to get a secure eReader file onto my Sony Reader. It's quite labour intensive, involves three software programs and about 5% of the time, does not produce a readable book anyway. If you want me to be a customer so badly, why do you have to make it so hard?

Well, since I provide multiple non-DRM'd formats of my e-books, I'll save you the trouble of explaining your conversion steps.

I firmly believe in providing value in my e-books. That is why, besides trying to write reasonably-entertaining stories, I proof them (some days better than others), create covers for them, personally prepare them in multiple formats, go through the trouble of customizing the easiest purchasing interface I could, and sell them at a reasonable price, to make sure there are the fewest impediments to buying and enjoying my books.

But even with that effort, I hate to say it, but I feel thoroughly unappreciated for my efforts, but as a writer and a self-publisher, thanks to threads like this. No, I'm not expecting MR readers to start e-mailing to the four corners of the globe, telling everyone they can, "Steve Jordan is a writer we can all appreciate, he does it the way we like it, let's all buy his books and show the world how much we love a great e-book seller!"

But I'd like to at least have the impression that someday my labors to entertain others may produce some fruit, instead of hearing excuse upon excuse used to justify taking my works and not paying for them, and looking at an empty bank account. As it is, I could make more money mowing lawns in my neighborhood than I make from this right now. So my question stands: What's the point?