Very impressed with author Joe Haldeman

ficbot · 07-25-2010, 09:53 PM

I had purchased Joe Haldeman's ebook from Fictionwise awhile back and it is one of the dozen or so I have that was caught in Fictionwise's post-agency black hole where you can't download them again. I have most of these problem books in HTML and while I would like to redownload them once more now that I know a better way to liberate them, I at least have HTML versions. Somehow, Joe's book did not get backed up properly though and I lost even that much.

I wanted to check something in the book and look at it again but could not find it on my backup drive. I was disappointed to contemplate paying twice by having to buy it again elsewhere, but Fictionwise would not let me download it again. So I decided to email the author directly and see if he had an e-copy he could send me.

I took a screenshot of my computer while I was logged into Fictionwise with his book showing in my library with a download link. I then emailed this proof of purchase to him (his email address was on his website which I found after 2 seconds with Google) along with an explanation.

The next day, I got a reply but the email was blank so I wrote again and suggested one of us might be having computer difficulties but I would still really love to hear from him. I got an email back later that very day from his wife! She said he WAS having computer problems but wanted me to be taken care of so she was sending this from her own computer. She sent me an MS word document with his manuscript for the book, and also offered to send me an autographed paperback!

That is customer service, right there. No excuses, no 'sorry but there is nothing we can do about this as it's the publisher/agent/whomever's fault.' No canned form letter. Just a real author out there trying to help his customer. I will remember this.

kindlekitten · 07-25-2010, 10:44 PM

awesome! (and he is a great author!)

AnemicOak · 07-25-2010, 10:47 PM

If you were to recommend one book to start with from this author what would it be?

Worldwalker · 07-25-2010, 10:48 PM

That is real class.

luqmaninbmore · 07-25-2010, 11:03 PM

the Forever war.

FizzyWater · 07-25-2010, 11:05 PM

Very nice! Wow.

MaggieScratch · 07-25-2010, 11:07 PM

Well played, sir.

sabredog · 07-25-2010, 11:10 PM

Great stuff!

I have had similar experiences with Michael McCollum, John Hemry (Jack Campbell) and Steven Lake. The outcomes of which were all good.

John Hemry was genuinely concerned about geographic restrictions and was going to have a chat with his agent.

Proves that the publishers or ebook stores are causing the issue in the main and not the authors.

AnemicOak · 07-25-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

Proves that the publishers or ebook stores are causing the issue in the main and not the authors.

Might be true to some extent, but its the authors and their agents who usually want to be able to sell rights to various regions. If they want to sell those rights a publisher in this day and age is going to expect digital rights to be part of the package.

sabredog · 07-25-2010, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Might be true to some extent, but its the authors and their agents who usually want to be able to sell rights to various regions. If they want to sell those rights a publisher in this day and age is going to expect digital rights to be part of the package.

Still makes the publishers the issue then doesn't it?

It still makes it ridiculous that a dead tree copy can be purchased almost in any region whilst an ebook copy cannot.

It was refreshing to know that John Hemry, who publishes through Penguin, has indicated he will discuss this with his agent. Who knows, it may amount to something.

Michael McCollum decided to go outside the agency 5 and self publish his books.

It is though, refreshing that a lot of authors are happy to help out the readers of their books if there is an issue beyond that readers control. Full marks to Joe Haldeman for his actions and care.

AnemicOak · 07-25-2010, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabredog

Still makes the publishers the issue then doesn't it?

Well, there's nothing stopping an author/agent from including worldwide rights when they first sell the book to the initial publisher. They withhold them wanting to get the most they can out of additional rights contracts. A publisher would be stupid to overlook rights for a format that could very well be huge in coming years.

Quote:

It still makes it ridiculous that a dead tree copy can be purchased almost in any region whilst an ebook copy cannot.

I agree for the most part, but it's much more complicated than just blaming the pubs and retailers.

In a way ebooks are victims of their own success. Until a couple years ago when the UK pubs and a few others started really getting into ebooks geo restrictions weren't anything like what folks have to deal with now.

sabredog · 07-25-2010, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

I agree for the most part, but it's much more complicated than just blaming the pubs and retailers..

Very true, but this issue must start with the publishers actually re-thinking their anachronistic distribution model. The onus is really on them to make the change.

They (publishers) are sure to know where the pressure is coming from. Amazon's ebook sales successes would be the biggest thorn in their side.

I would expect as time goes on more pressure from authors AND agents along with ebook sellers/buyers will force the publishers to change.

One can only hope.

starrigger · 07-26-2010, 02:35 AM

Joe Haldeman is one of the nicest guys in all of science fiction, as well as a great writer. And his wife Gay is a gem. I'm not a bit surprised that they took care of you that way.

I'd start with The Forever War and go from there.

HarryT · 07-26-2010, 03:30 AM

What a nice thing to do.

Freeshadow · 07-26-2010, 10:02 PM

damn cool of them

07-25-2010, 09:53 PM	#1
ficbot Wizard Posts: 2,409 Karma: 4132096 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App	Very impressed with author Joe Haldeman I had purchased Joe Haldeman's ebook from Fictionwise awhile back and it is one of the dozen or so I have that was caught in Fictionwise's post-agency black hole where you can't download them again. I have most of these problem books in HTML and while I would like to redownload them once more now that I know a better way to liberate them, I at least have HTML versions. Somehow, Joe's book did not get backed up properly though and I lost even that much. I wanted to check something in the book and look at it again but could not find it on my backup drive. I was disappointed to contemplate paying twice by having to buy it again elsewhere, but Fictionwise would not let me download it again. So I decided to email the author directly and see if he had an e-copy he could send me. I took a screenshot of my computer while I was logged into Fictionwise with his book showing in my library with a download link. I then emailed this proof of purchase to him (his email address was on his website which I found after 2 seconds with Google) along with an explanation. The next day, I got a reply but the email was blank so I wrote again and suggested one of us might be having computer difficulties but I would still really love to hear from him. I got an email back later that very day from his wife! She said he WAS having computer problems but wanted me to be taken care of so she was sending this from her own computer. She sent me an MS word document with his manuscript for the book, and also offered to send me an autographed paperback! That is customer service, right there. No excuses, no 'sorry but there is nothing we can do about this as it's the publisher/agent/whomever's fault.' No canned form letter. Just a real author out there trying to help his customer. I will remember this.

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07-25-2010, 10:44 PM	#2
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	awesome! (and he is a great author!)

07-25-2010, 10:47 PM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	If you were to recommend one book to start with from this author what would it be?

07-25-2010, 10:48 PM	#4
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	That is real class.

07-25-2010, 11:03 PM	#5
luqmaninbmore Da'i Posts: 1,144 Karma: 1217499 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Toshiba Thrive, Kobo Touch, Kindle 1, Aluratek Libre, T-Mobile Comet	the Forever war.

07-25-2010, 11:05 PM	#6
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Very nice! Wow.

07-25-2010, 11:07 PM	#7
MaggieScratch Has got to the black veil Posts: 542 Karma: 2144168 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Well played, sir.

07-25-2010, 11:10 PM	#8
sabredog Geographically Restricted Posts: 2,629 Karma: 14933353 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Device: Sony PRS-T3, Kindle Voyage, iPad Air2, Nexus7v2	Great stuff! I have had similar experiences with Michael McCollum, John Hemry (Jack Campbell) and Steven Lake. The outcomes of which were all good. John Hemry was genuinely concerned about geographic restrictions and was going to have a chat with his agent. Proves that the publishers or ebook stores are causing the issue in the main and not the authors.

07-26-2010, 02:35 AM	#13
starrigger Jeffrey A. Carver Posts: 1,355 Karma: 1107383 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Massachusetts, USA Device: Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus, Droid phone, Nook HD+	Joe Haldeman is one of the nicest guys in all of science fiction, as well as a great writer. And his wife Gay is a gem. I'm not a bit surprised that they took care of you that way. I'd start with The Forever War and go from there.

07-26-2010, 03:30 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What a nice thing to do.

07-26-2010, 10:02 PM	#15
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,814 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	damn cool of them

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