Recently an author linked to a site that enables people who call themselves book lovers to thieve from me and other authors by illegally downloading ebooks by the tens of thousands. These people know what they’re doing is wrong and I’ve read page after page of whining about how authors should LOVE It that they steal from us because they buy our books later on.
First of all - no I don’t love it. I hate it and you’re a thief and a liar and I don’t believe you buy the books in some mythical later. You steal them today. You scramble titles and author names to avoid detection and you do it in screen after screen. You don’t put your email or personal info up because YOU KNOW IT’S WRONG.
Here’s the thing - I’m not going to apologize for wanting you to pay for my books. If I wanted you to have the book for free, I’d give it to you through the dozens of free book contests I do yearly or I’d do free story installments at my website or my newsletter. I write books because I love to write, but it’s my profession. I don’t walk into your home and steal your belongings and I don’t see why you think you should be able to do the same. If you create bagels or cupcakes or shoes and you put them up for sale, I’m pretty sure you’d be miffed if they were stolen.
I look around and see the nastiest kids ever. Horrible manners, they can’t share and you know what? I know why. I see their moms and dads on these boards hooting about “whiny authors” but I’d bet they’d have a stroke if I walked up to their table in a restaurant and took their bottle of wine and said, “oh hey, I can’t afford it right now but I’ll totally buy you a bottle later on.”
If you’re going to steal - just own up to it instead of being a coward on top of stealing from me. Just say, “I don’t plan to pay for these books, I never plan to and I don’t care about you. I’m a hypocrite and I plan to use my three thousand dollar computer in the dorm room my parents are paying for to steal as much as I can.” Just own it. You’d still be a POS but at least you’d be honest about it.
Stealing a loaf of bread when you’re starving is one thing, stealing an ebook while drinking a six dollar cup of coffee is another.
Good post, Lauren. You’ve said exactly what I feel. It’s true I love writing, but I work really hard and the hours are long for not much return. All writers work hard and we don’t deserve this crap.
by Shelley Munro March 19th, 2008 at 1:56 amWHOA! I’d LOVE to see this site! Talk about pissing me off and putting me in instant letter writing mode where I wanna tell the world that this person is a damned thief! Rrrooaaarrrr!
I work hard to write books. What the hell makes people think they’re entitled to my work for free? Even if I made alot of money (which I don’t) I’m in this for two reasons - 1) enjoy writing, and 2) I expect to get paid for the work I was contracted to deliver.
Even JK Rowling, a frickin’ billionaire, expects to get royalties on her Harry Potter books. Why should all authors get royalties.
I’d love to see this person walk into B&N, snatch a book off the shelf and walk out the door with it. Go ahead. Try it! Then call us from jail and tell us how it went.
One things for sure - I wont’ be bailing their sorry butts out!
by TJ March 20th, 2008 at 11:14 am