Quote:
Originally Posted by starrigger
I don't get it. What are you people complaining about? She put the book up for free for a good long time. Sure, the community helped her, and she helped the community. Then she found a publisher--which is grounds for cheering, not snide remarks--then she won a Nebula, which is also grounds for congratulations--and finally she acceded to her publisher's request to take the free book down. If people liked the book, then she gave good value for the donations. She didn't promise it would go on forever.
One can quibble over whether she might have given more notice, or whether the publisher was smart to demand the takedown. But that's no reason for the kind of condemnation I'm reading here. I've got books up for free download, and some people have made generous donations. If I decide to end the offer at some point, is this the kind of treatment I can look forward to? I hope not.
I think she did a cool thing, and it's a shame it had to end, but that's life.
The one time I took a look at her blog, I saw a lot of expressions of support for her move. She did what she had to do, and most people seem to understand that.
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I'm going to just parrot elfwreck here, she had the right to do it. But it wasn't nice, taking donations implied that it was paid for that's all.
You threw some books up already finished and can take them down at your pleasure. She put hers up bit by bit and took donations in exchange for posting the next chapter. Think of it as someone building a castle and every day people who think castles are pretty cool come by and drop off a few home depot gift cards to keep the project going. Then when the castle is finished someone picks it up with a helicopter and flies it away. The people who offered their help stand there stunned saying what the hell.
Her choice, no laws broken, no promise to keep the castle where it was built. Just... I don't have the words. uncool I guess. If i were the publicist I'd be offering people who donated over a certain level autographed hardcovers or something to try to smooth ruffled feathers and maybe everyone who donated a coupon for a discount on the hardcover. Something to show those people that they really do matter because they probably feel used right now. But that's just me, I think a short term hit in income beats long term bad will.