I know someone will argue that a black market of hard drives is much easier than entire libraries but like … there’s a reason why they MEMORIZED the book in F 451. (But I know they haven’t read it.)
A lot of people discoursing on the internet clearly never lived through the devastation of programs or computers crashing before the invention of auto-save. I’ve been buying things I love in hard copy for years because I can see where we’re heading and I have lived through arbitrary forces (a CD game or a magnet or one singular popup while using dial-up) wiping away every digital thing I hold dear
Canceling a book contract is not an infringement on freedom of speech. It is a business decision. The author is more than able to sell the series to another publisher. IMO, other stuff must have been going on with author S. because the publisher canceled the entire series. That is not a light decision.
I think it's good to know why an author is considered problematic, think about what that means to you, and decide from there how much you do or don't support them (reading their work, posting about it, etc). It's very true that having an iffy opinion on something is very different to actual abuse, but then again if the iffy opinion is about something close to your heart, you might give it more weight. Everyone should have the freedom to decide that for themselves. Everyone else should have the freedom to draw conclusions about others from what they openly read or support. Having our own opinions on either side is the key.
In my (humble) opinion, boycotting Amazon is not going to impact Amazon because the everyday person isn't joining this boycott. It hurts Indie Authors who publish only through KDP & use KU. And anyone who thinks "so what" is behaving badly towards Indie Authors.
I've made the suggestion to some Indie Authors that they look into following Elisabeth Wheatley's model of selling for their ebooks and audiobooks. She sells direct and then you download through bookfunnel. You can still read on your Kindle.
Unfortunately, it costs a lot to get that system set up and you have to spend a lot in advertising to get people there, plus spend a lot of time building and maintaining it. I can't even afford to record audiobooks in the first place, so selling through my own site is currently out of reach for me.
Selling direct is all well and good but there's one major problem. Discoverability (and user familiarity but that's not as big a hurdle). In order to sell direct you not only have to have a strong newsletter of readers who are willing to and can afford to buy direct you also have to funnel money into ads because otherwise your books will be sitting all pretty on your site without any eyes on them.
And ads in this current climate where Meta suppresses anything different and charges you a pretty penny for it is not ideal. Plus isn't Meta one of the companies we're meant to be boycotting for their support of the current administration? So what options are left if you exclude Meta? TikTok that's also probably been secretly bought by a nasty billionaire? Google (isn't that another of those companies we're meant to be boycotting?) it's a shit-show out there and no one has any answers. Especially readers who know fuck-all about the publishing side of this industry
I do buy from other places when can. We have a lovely little Bookshop locally that I use for gift books. I also support (too many) Kickstarter projects and other Special Editions that aren't Big Box made.
As a reader of romance, I subscribe to KU. Before that, I was loyal to BN, had a Nook app, and was buying books individually. I really do love having that monthly subscription and being able to download 20 books at a time. For one price. HOWEVER, as a newbie indie romance author, I don’t plan to put my future books on any of the platforms; I’m just going to sell direct to readers from an author site or my author ‘stack. I’ve read too many author posts about Amazon cancelling/banning/removing books, holding payments, etc. Doesn’t seem worth it.
“But my understanding of the First Amendment is that it protects you from the government arresting you from speaking out against it, not that people can’t get mad at you for saying gross stuff.”
ohmygod THANK YOU. Finally someone who understands this 😭 (crying emoji)
I also appreciate you speaking a little to what self-published and indie authors experience on Kindle. I definitely think any sort of boycott needs to be a collaborative decision between readers AND writers
Like, I think some (many?) authors might be willing to move to another platform IF enough readers were really serious about it, however, I have a sinking feeling that’s not true for so many reasons…
I subscribed for a month and got one (maybe two? I don’t think so) piece of paid content. It’s fine to have boundaries, of course, but you’re the one asking people to pay for exclusive content and not following through.
Hi Sarah! If you view my first paid post, I explicitly said that I am hoping to have at least one exclusive post a month. This was included before the paywall line so I could be transparent.
I completely understand if you don’t want to pay for it at that rate, that’s your choice and your money, but please don’t say I’m not following through when I am.
As an indie author, I am very tired. My books aren't even in KU, but just seeing the ways some readers talk is exhausting.
“And like, if you think your harddrives and wifi are safe under that regime, you are not smart.” made me laugh out out loud 😂😂😂😂
I know someone will argue that a black market of hard drives is much easier than entire libraries but like … there’s a reason why they MEMORIZED the book in F 451. (But I know they haven’t read it.)
Also, it’s possible to locally archive things you buy without pirating or redistributing them.
A lot of people discoursing on the internet clearly never lived through the devastation of programs or computers crashing before the invention of auto-save. I’ve been buying things I love in hard copy for years because I can see where we’re heading and I have lived through arbitrary forces (a CD game or a magnet or one singular popup while using dial-up) wiping away every digital thing I hold dear
Canceling a book contract is not an infringement on freedom of speech. It is a business decision. The author is more than able to sell the series to another publisher. IMO, other stuff must have been going on with author S. because the publisher canceled the entire series. That is not a light decision.
Right??? To be a fly on that wall 👀👀
I think it's good to know why an author is considered problematic, think about what that means to you, and decide from there how much you do or don't support them (reading their work, posting about it, etc). It's very true that having an iffy opinion on something is very different to actual abuse, but then again if the iffy opinion is about something close to your heart, you might give it more weight. Everyone should have the freedom to decide that for themselves. Everyone else should have the freedom to draw conclusions about others from what they openly read or support. Having our own opinions on either side is the key.
I agree!
Apparently a new problematic author list is going around again. Sigh.
Good for you for setting boundaries!!
Thank you I do not enjoy it but my therapist and doctors would be proud of me 😂😂😂
Google form would be an easy way to get it to you 🫶🏼
In my (humble) opinion, boycotting Amazon is not going to impact Amazon because the everyday person isn't joining this boycott. It hurts Indie Authors who publish only through KDP & use KU. And anyone who thinks "so what" is behaving badly towards Indie Authors.
<.02>
This! KDP is such a tiny part of Amazon's actual profit and such a large part of so many authors' livelihoods.
I've made the suggestion to some Indie Authors that they look into following Elisabeth Wheatley's model of selling for their ebooks and audiobooks. She sells direct and then you download through bookfunnel. You can still read on your Kindle.
Unfortunately, it costs a lot to get that system set up and you have to spend a lot in advertising to get people there, plus spend a lot of time building and maintaining it. I can't even afford to record audiobooks in the first place, so selling through my own site is currently out of reach for me.
I understand. I'm not even to my first draft! But I'm in awe of Elisabeth's business model. And she records her own audiobooks.
Selling direct is all well and good but there's one major problem. Discoverability (and user familiarity but that's not as big a hurdle). In order to sell direct you not only have to have a strong newsletter of readers who are willing to and can afford to buy direct you also have to funnel money into ads because otherwise your books will be sitting all pretty on your site without any eyes on them.
And ads in this current climate where Meta suppresses anything different and charges you a pretty penny for it is not ideal. Plus isn't Meta one of the companies we're meant to be boycotting for their support of the current administration? So what options are left if you exclude Meta? TikTok that's also probably been secretly bought by a nasty billionaire? Google (isn't that another of those companies we're meant to be boycotting?) it's a shit-show out there and no one has any answers. Especially readers who know fuck-all about the publishing side of this industry
Which is why I think boycotting Amazon in the first place is ridiculous.
Also, it’s possible to prioritize buying from other places when you can, but still buy indies from Amazon when that’s the only option.
I do buy from other places when can. We have a lovely little Bookshop locally that I use for gift books. I also support (too many) Kickstarter projects and other Special Editions that aren't Big Box made.
As a reader of romance, I subscribe to KU. Before that, I was loyal to BN, had a Nook app, and was buying books individually. I really do love having that monthly subscription and being able to download 20 books at a time. For one price. HOWEVER, as a newbie indie romance author, I don’t plan to put my future books on any of the platforms; I’m just going to sell direct to readers from an author site or my author ‘stack. I’ve read too many author posts about Amazon cancelling/banning/removing books, holding payments, etc. Doesn’t seem worth it.
“But my understanding of the First Amendment is that it protects you from the government arresting you from speaking out against it, not that people can’t get mad at you for saying gross stuff.”
ohmygod THANK YOU. Finally someone who understands this 😭 (crying emoji)
I also appreciate you speaking a little to what self-published and indie authors experience on Kindle. I definitely think any sort of boycott needs to be a collaborative decision between readers AND writers
Like, I think some (many?) authors might be willing to move to another platform IF enough readers were really serious about it, however, I have a sinking feeling that’s not true for so many reasons…
10. WOOF!!!!
I subscribed for a month and got one (maybe two? I don’t think so) piece of paid content. It’s fine to have boundaries, of course, but you’re the one asking people to pay for exclusive content and not following through.
Hi Sarah! If you view my first paid post, I explicitly said that I am hoping to have at least one exclusive post a month. This was included before the paywall line so I could be transparent.
I completely understand if you don’t want to pay for it at that rate, that’s your choice and your money, but please don’t say I’m not following through when I am.