There are going to be a lot of these going up, I guess.
So there is a big drama (was) a big drama going around twitter & blogland on Monday-I couldn’t stop to blog about it then because I was tttthhhiiissss close to finishing up my book and I still have to edit it, and edit the RS book, but anyway.
I haven’t had a blog rant in a week or two. Let’s have at it.
There are a number of authors who want to demand how readers buy books. This crap happens every so often.
The latest, though, was interesting. It included steps on how a reader should buy an author’s book. Steps.
Format. When. How. Where.
Up front disclaimer…I have no issue if an author wants to offer an incentive to get readers to buy during the week of release. I do those sometimes. Week of release sales do count.
Now, there is a right way to do this, and oh, crap, that couldn’t be more wrong way. Beating people over the head and demanding that in order to enter, they have to buy X amount of copies? Wrong way. Yes. I’ve seen this. Hopefully, just offering a giveaway is an okay way to do it. But there’s a difference, for me, between trying to entice people to buy at a certain people…and laying out politely worded demands.
Certain things are …well. Crass.
Implying that if a reader really, really loves me, she should
a) only buy print
b) only buy from indies
c) if indies aren’t an option, then she must go to certain chain in order to punish this chain… (don’t ask me to explain this logic, because I can’t)
Okay. I’m boggled. You know what I want from readers? That’s easy…
If you’re getting my books through legit channels? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
If you’re talking about them…? Thank you so much!
It doesn’t matter if it’s print, ebook, library…and, yes, I’m fine with used bookstores, because I know a lot of people, if you like what you’ve read, you’ll go out and snatch up every single book you can find new. (No, not everybody, but I’ve gotten enough readers through UBS to know this happens…they can’t be discounted. UBS can totally hook readers.)
Now all the blah, blah, blah about buying multiple copies? Buying only in a certain format? Whatever.
People get very uptight about hitting the lists. Does it matter? Yes. It does. To an author, it matters a lot. It’s not just a matter of pride, but it’s a way of proving to your publisher that they can count on you. You’re worth the time, the money, the effort they put into you. It does matter.
Do I want to hit the big lists? Yes. I keep working, I keep trying, I keep hoping. But I refuse to bash my readers over their heads to do it. If (no, when) I do it, it’s going to be because you all put me there and I’m going to show my appreciation through saying thank you…not making endless demands.
And although I haven’t hit the big ones yet, I still want to say thank you. You readers who buy my books, who check my stuff out through libraries, you readers who blog about my stuff, tweet about my stuff, you rock. You are amazing. Thank you.
Thank you for not being the author who tries to get their readers to not only buy your books, but to buy them in a certain format. I freely admit that though I have an eReader, I’m still on the fence on what format I like best. I like both equally, and I use my eReader to read new-to-me-authors, but I also like the feel of browsing a bookstore (used, chain or indie) and finding something new too.
However, being that my husband is now stationed in Japan, there isn’t exactly a local BN for me to go to on Tuesdays (when most books release). I’m an avid enough reader that if I love an author, I will buy the book on release day. I now have to rely more on buying eBook than “real” book, only because if I preorder a book online, it’s still going to take a week or two for it to reach me — and I like to read the book ASAP, especially if it’s something I’ve been waiting a year for.
I don’t think it should matter what format a reader is reading an author’s books, as long as the book was acquired legally and is being enjoyed, I think that outta be enough.
/hops off soapbox.
As a long time fan and person who eagerly awaits your new book releases to buy when they come out in print I can only say Thank You for all the many hours of enjoyment I have gotten reading your work… I do pre-order books from many authors who have series I keep up with, am sorry that hurts on the ratings game when the numbers come out for these authors but the books are cheaper on my pocketbook well before release date and not so much by the time they come out on the book seller stands… I cannot imagine not having a book to read so again Thank You for all the hard work you do to keep us in reading material that is not only worth waiting for but worth taking the time to share with others so they can enjoy your books too!
As an author I don’t feel right telling a reader what they should buy. It is their money and they can buy whatever format they want. I am just amazed what people will do and demand..Wow…It means a lot to me that someone took time to go and buy my book with hard earned cash and I honestly don’t care what format they buy, if ebook or print..I just thank them that they did buy it…
I am a voracious reader. I can’t afford to buy every book I want. I do shop sales, discounts and used. If an author offers an incentive and it’s a book that was already on the top of my list, I will try to work around my book budget to participate. A couple of authors have turned me off completely with their odd “demands”. If I can help an author by purchasing a certain way and I was going to purchase anyway, I will do my best to help out. What gets me is that a sale is a sale. So why are the rules so convoluted? Why does format or retailer matter? I sure hope that the rules catch up with how readers and authors are connecting! Thanks for not being one of those crazy, demanding authors!
Yes yes yes! You know I recommended a lot of books in my tenure at Borders. You and the author in question were both “go to” recommendations for me. Knowing how many people picked up books I recommended and even more, came back and thanked me and picked up more by that author…seeing the push toward indies when I’ve worked for author I believed in an when my experience with the local indies is that they’re rather slice off a finger than admit to reading anything along the lines of your work, or UF, it was really really insulting.
You’re right, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Ignoring that not all indies are genre -friendly, and big box booksellers are book lovers too, and that some people just prefer ebooks (and occasionally depend on them because of disabilities and geo restrictions) is a really stupid way to go about it. As long as someone has gotten my book legally little else matters.
And Thank you Shiloh!
It shouldn’t matter to an author how a reader gets her books, as long as it’s legal. I love print books, but I also have a Kindle, and I appreciate how many books I can get for free (whether for a limited time or not) or inexpensively. If an e-book is the same price as a print copy, I’m as likely to buy the print copy. I also get many books from the library, since I can’t afford to buy EVERY book I want to read. Authors in general: just be happy your books are being read (legally).
One of my favorite books of yours is Missing – one of my top ten favorites and I am NOT shy about telling people that in my bookstore – I have not unfortunately read your Hunter series because I am one of those OCD people who have to HAVE TO read them in order and from what I understand some are no longer in print???
Anyway, just wanted to say, you haven’t disappointed me yet (well the hero in No Longer Mine – hated him – but it was still a great story empathized with the heroine) you can tell your publisher that I will always buy and recommend your books to people (even if I haven’t read the hunter series . . . . . yet. I am still collecting two more to go then I’ll have me a marathon ;-))))))))))))
as for authors like those mentioned above, I will STOP buying their books and get them at the library!!!!!