MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - E-Book Piracy: The Publishing Industry's Next Epic Saga?

David Derrico · 12-25-2009, 08:59 PM

I like to make my work available from as many places as possible, in any format the reader wants to read it in, without DRM. Many of you are saying that you will ONLY buy non-DRM work, and some are saying they will only buy direct from the author.

I'm not doubting any of you, and I'd also prefer to sell direct when possible. But the fact remains that retailers are necessary. As an independent author, I have no name recognition, no bookstore presence, no publicity machine and no money for advertising (which would quickly eclipse my royalties and I would be paying money for the right to distribute my work). In my mind, Amazon earns its 65% cut. I've had my own website up for years (where I sell my eBooks in any format with no DRM), and have always charged LESS than Amazon (except for the current 99 cent sale, where it's the same). Since I don't have to give Amazon their cut, I pass the savings to the reader. Yet, my direct sales through my website are but a TINY fraction of my sales through Amazon. The bottom line is that small authors just can't afford the time and money to get people to notice their work, and Amazon at least gives us an outlet.

In my perfect world, everyone would come buy directly through my website, but it just doesn't happen.

12-25-2009, 08:59 PM	#27
David Derrico Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 510132 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Florida Device: Kindle 3 & Kobo Wireless	I like to make my work available from as many places as possible, in any format the reader wants to read it in, without DRM. Many of you are saying that you will ONLY buy non-DRM work, and some are saying they will only buy direct from the author. I'm not doubting any of you, and I'd also prefer to sell direct when possible. But the fact remains that retailers are necessary. As an independent author, I have no name recognition, no bookstore presence, no publicity machine and no money for advertising (which would quickly eclipse my royalties and I would be paying money for the right to distribute my work). In my mind, Amazon earns its 65% cut. I've had my own website up for years (where I sell my eBooks in any format with no DRM), and have always charged LESS than Amazon (except for the current 99 cent sale, where it's the same). Since I don't have to give Amazon their cut, I pass the savings to the reader. Yet, my direct sales through my website are but a TINY fraction of my sales through Amazon. The bottom line is that small authors just can't afford the time and money to get people to notice their work, and Amazon at least gives us an outlet. In my perfect world, everyone would come buy directly through my website, but it just doesn't happen.