Link Salad, and Stealing
I was up at 6 this morning (don’t ask) and haven’t slowed down since. So, my brain is tired and you get link salad instead of coherence. It’s barely noon and I can’t wait to crawl back into bed tonight. I was not made for mornings, guys. I just wasn’t.
So, link salad!
* A great NYT article on female desire. (Hat tip to Violet Blue.)
* Falconesse with the math behind Harlequin’s vanity press: how many books you’d have to sell to break even, hidden costs, and the like. Recommended reading for anyone who wants to self-publish, vanity publish, or get published.
* Patrick Stewart (yes, THAT Patrick Stewart, my favorite shiny-headed captain) on domestic violence. This hit home for me, hard.
* Monica Valentinelli on Too Much Free.
On another note: the latest Jill Kismet, Flesh Circus, is just out a few days ago, and I ran across a torrenting site this morning where people were putting up requests to have it torrented. Guys, I’m glad you like the books. Really, I am. I’m thrilled.
But stealing from me, by torrenting my work, makes it harder for me to make a living writing those stories you love. That means less stories for you. Cut it out.
I mean, I can always find another job. One I might not love as much, true, but I can always find another one. It’s the readers who will miss out on the stories they love–yes, even those readers who trumpet that they SHOULD get the books for free, for a variety of woolly-headed inaccurate reasons that boil down to cheapness and entitlement. I like what Mike Briggs has to say about this–he goes through and destroys those arguments one by one.
It’s frustrating to me that the book is just out and already several someones are looking to steal it. Human nature being what it is, I’m not surprised. I’m just…frustrated. And disappointed.
Over and out.
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Tags: linkspam!, Oh Holy No..., shooting from the hip, the internets they know everything, we are not amused
December 1st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
As a reader, I don’t understand the mentality of downloading your favorite author’s books. I mean, don’t get me wrong- I am poor- as in dirt poor right now. However, if you constantly steal the works- and they constantly lose the money- they will STOP constantly writing. And that just sucks. I could use better words- but that one just fits the situation better. For a book by my favorite authors, I would rather wait to read it and shell out the 15 or 20 bucks for the hardcover than steal it.
And, as a school librarian, there is another way to read free books if you genuinely can’t afford them: A LIBRARY.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pm
=pets shiny new copy of _Flesh Circus_=
Only took me 3 books store to find it, but it’s *mine!!!
December 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Um, hi!
Imagine my level of fangirl squee when I clicked on your blog today and saw a link to my own. There’s a big ol’ happydance on my side of the keyboard right now. I’m glad the post was useful!
I’m sorry to hear there are people out there looking to torrent Flesh Circus. I know it’s only one purchase in the scheme of things, and doesn’t make up for the torrenters, but it’s on my list of books to pick up this week — I get to show my support for an author I like and an a local independent bookstore at the same time.
Thank you so much — for writing such great books, and for advocating for other writers!
December 1st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I’m sitting on my hands at the moment, not getting a copy of the book, just so that my husband will get me something I like for Solstice (He’s clueless as to what to get me much of the time, so any help is welcomed).
People that Torrent a book just turn my stomach. I know there are free e-book sites out there, and I have found that reading a book on line, no matter how good is lacking something very elemental to me – holding it in my hands. I enjoy feeling the paper under my fingers, tracing over the ink of the printed words, and studying a cover from every angle.
My bookshelf is packed full to bursting with various types of books and authors, but I still love the fact that they are actual books. Something I can touch and hold while gaining simple pleasures or knowledge.
Now the 21st just needs to hurry up and get here. BB Lili, as always.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I’m sorry about the book stealing thing!
You know, that casual kind of breaking of copyrights is something I simply don’t understand. I’ve had people come into the library complaining – COMPLAINING! – that our DVDs are copy protected. WTF?? Of course they are, idiots! (And not by us, I’d like to add.)
Why don’t people realise that there is work that’s gone into creating books, or movies, or music, and that people need to be compensated for the time and effort? Why do people think that once something’s printed, it’s free for the taking and doing with it whatever you want?
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:17 am
Another reason to love Patrick Stewart. I really apprecited his heart felt column. Thanks for pointing the way.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
How desperate do you have to be to torrent a paperback book available from just about any bookstore? Some people just don’t learn.
December 2nd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
How do you feel about libraries?
I don’t torrent, but I do use my local library a lot.
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Libraries = All that is good and wholesome.
Torrenting = Bad.
That about sums it up.
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I really don’t get people who torrent or download torrented books. It’s the author’s work and it’s right that the author gets paid for it, as any other people get paid for any other work.
The more torrented copies downloaded, the less the real book sells: this not only means lower sales, but lower ranking of the book in, say, the NYT bestseller list, or others like that. Aside from the economical repercussions of this, I’m usually happy when I see authors I like making high sales, because that means their work is appreciated and valued and it shows.
Asking for torrented copies is everything BUT showing your appreciation for the author’s work. It’s not their right to have free copies of them, as much as it’s not in their right to, say, travel for free on airplanes. It’s just bull***t they say to cover the fact that they’re greedy.
To this people I say: call me old-minded, or stupid, or whatever, but I’ll keep on paying for the books I like and support the authors that write them, thank you very much.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
I love the name Lilith. I like your site, and I practice witchcraft alone. Live in U.S. Small minded town named Gadsden. In a small minded State, Alabama. Just love that name. I like the story behind it, as well.
December 6th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
i’ve spent a lot of money on your books, probably more than i have on almost any other author because i can get most others at my local libaray. i love libraries, but i anmm completely willing to pay for what i want. it’s the way the world works and i think it’s a little odd that people find it normal to get things all free. like this, your blog, which i usually dash for the computer to check if there is snything new,m though this is a horribly written sentence. but…
i just read teh orticle by patrick stewart and was torn between crying and vomiting. a really well written article and something that’s especially intense for anyone who’s ever been torn between that guilty hatered (because society screams at us that we should love our fathers no matter what) and the equally sickening fearful gut-wrenching love/hate/awe/fear. and then the alcohol fumes. blech. some things are constant in all situations like these
December 7th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I love the fact that your books are released as ebooks. I buy books from fictionwise.com and read them on an ipod touch (and a Palm PDA before that). This means (legal) instant gratification as soon as the book is released. In my mind, that availability removes even further the excuse to pirate your work.
I am more than happy to support your efforts as they give me many hours of enjoyment.
December 9th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I hate that people are trying to rip off your work. Unless it is a legal giveaway by the publisher, I would never download a book for free. I want all of my favorite authors to be able to support themselves with their writing so that they can produce more of the stories that bring me so much enjoyment.
I loved Flesh Circus – can’t wait for the next one. I’m lucky enough to have a Kindle so I didn’t have to wait at all to get it. I had pre-purchased it and as soon as I turned on the wireless on release date, there it was, waiting for me – a great way to start the day.
December 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
hi,
I love your books, and I read them in ebook, but I don’t understand why you can get the normal bookversion of Flesh Circus in Belgium but not the ebook…
What’s the point of geographical restrictions -is there one?- if you can buy the normal bookversion from Amazon for example? Is it coming or should I just buy the bookversion ?
So Jennifer I’m jealous :p I’d like to be able to pre-purchase, instead of waiting until midnight to download it