I chat to a close friend every night on the phone and every time I have to blog I always say 'Cyn, what should I blog on.' She said (because it's hit so close to home for me these past few weeks), 'Tiff, blog on the pirating of your debut book.'
I said NO WAY - because I don't think I can be civilized about it. Screw that, why should I be civilized about someone/ANYONE stealing MY work?
I told my friend this is pretty much how a blog on pirating would go (are you ready? I swear LOTS, and I'm an honest woman, so I won't hold back - not that I normally do):
Dear Pirates and Whore-ders of free things - because let's face it, it's free so you think you need it, and you think it's okay for you to steal it, because it's already there and others are stealing it, too:
Fuck You!
Yup, you read that right. And I'm not ashamed to say it again. Fuck You! I don't believe in ladylike words. I believe in saying exactly how you feel. And right now, I really HATE pirates.
I tried very hard to ignore my google alerts that gave me a link and everything to my very own pirated book. I tried putting off clicking on those links telling myself I really didn't want to know if my book was being stolen. I was even so naive as to tell myself it wouldn't affect my bottom line (sales on print books).
I always knew at some point in my career my book would be pirated. I knew it. It's sad that that is just the state of how things are. It's almost like it's an accepted norm. Well you know what, going to your local clothing store and taking something off the rack and shoving it in your purse is not okay. Hell, going into your local bookstore and stuffing a book in your bag without paying for it is NOT OKAY! It's STEALING.
So what makes anyone think they can download books off the net for free?
Readers, I want you to spread the word right here, right now: You know all your favorite authors? You know the ones that aren't NYT sellers or USA Today sellers (hell even the ones that are) well, by downloading those 'free' books online (even if it's not you but someone you know), pirates are systematically destroying writers careers, our art, and our livelihoods. Downloading free books is a sale our publisher never sees and therefore we are worth less to them in the long run. All pirates succeed at by downloading free books is ensuring that many mid-list authors do not see another contract.
I'm currently working toward a second contract. This is a big deal and a scary deal in publishing. They say it's harder to land your second contract more than your first - and I worked HARD to get my first contract. And I'm working HARDER to get my second.
I'm going to be very VERY frank readers and writers so it's easy to understand (and remember I'm one author) the damage pirates wreck is to thousands upon thousands.
My first book had a 30K print run. That's actually not too bad in this ebook savvy world (right now). HOWEVER, in the forth month of that book being out (January) There were a total of three websites with free downloads of my books (yes, sites I initially avoided because I said I didn't want to know after the first one I found one month after The Surrender of a Lady released--which at the time had less than 4 thousand illegally downloaded books).
Each link had more than 10 thousand books downloaded when I clicked on them earlier this month. That is thirty thousand books I did not sell. That I will not make money on. That I cannot support my family with, that hurts me when I want my next book contract because I can't sell through the stock I have because people would rather steal from me.
Here's a real life picture. I work TWO full time jobs (yes one is my writing career). I do this to support my family and because I love writing. I have two small children that I support with these paychecks--do you know how expensive it is to live in Toronto? And to raise a family here?
Step back readers and think about your favorite authors. Writing is their livelihoods, too. If you know someone stealing books, tell them why it's not okay. Tell them that they are destroying someone's life. Tell them that they won't be able to read their favorite authors if they don't stand up for them and say no to pirates.
I feel impotent with this. I have a wonderful publisher with a wonderful legal department that tells these illegal persons to take down the free downloads - and it works for a day or two, but there is always someone else there to post it again. It's almost impossible to keep up with the sending out of take down notices.
So here is my letter to the pirates and readers of this blog:
Pirates, I hope you enjoy the one finger salute I'm giving you in my mind every time I think of what you are stealing and everyone you are hurting. And because this is my blog and I can say exactly what I feel Fuck You!
And for my readers, I truly love you and the support you've shown me as a debut author. It's a tough business, and I love it in my own crazy way, and I love that you support your favorite (or even new) authors. Continue to do so, and tell people: friends, family, colleagues, whathaveyou, that stealing books is wrong. It's ILLEGAL and it is literally taking food from a baby's mouth!
Rant done. And no, I'm not sorry in the least that I stated my true feelings on this topic. It's been tough facing the reality of my illegal download numbers compared to that of my actual print numbers and my smaller weekly sell-through numbers.
61 comments:
You go girl. I think that it sucks that you have to work full time just so you are able to write. I never realized that book pirating was such a big thing until I read another blog last week where the author is facing the possiblility of not being republished because her sales are not there but people are downloading her book in droves. I personally don't do this and I think that it sucks that it hurts the authors that I like to read. Pirating sucks ass!!
Danielle, First, you are an awesome person - Pirating does suck ass! Second, it's very sad that a lot of authors won't get subsequent contracts because of of those few assholes who think it's okay to rip authors off. I think at this point because pirating is so bad that the key to stopping it is education. Spreading the word that pirating disables authors.
Tiffany, this post is most excellent and eloquent. You said it lady, Fuck You to the pirates. You know how I feel, since I'm pretty much in the same boat. Makes me sick everytime I see a new site that has my books on them, FOR FREE.
All right, off to have some coffee and write...cause that's what I do
Juliana, you said it sister! What scares the living daylights out of me is that my illegal download numbers now exceed the number of actual print books in existence. :( It gives me a big sad!
Tiff, I'm sorry that you're having to deal with this SHIT and the damage that it's doing to you and your family. Thank you for making me aware of this disturbing and harmful problem, and I will spread the word. STEALING IS WRONG, no matter the object.
I had no idea about the pirating of books. Call me "naive," or maybe I'm just set in my ways. Also, I've been out of the reading loop for some time, but being on medical leave has the advantage of opening up time for my favorite hobby. :)
I'm new to ebooks because I received my NOOK this past Christmas, and I'm still not completely SOLD on ebooks. I enjoy looking at the beautiful covers of books and the cozy comfort zone of holding an actual book by a favorite author in my hands. An ebook can't compare.
Misty! I'm actually excited about getting an ebook reader (don't know when, but I plan to eventually get one). I'll miss the pretty covers, but I won't have to store physical copies of thousands of books anymore, which is totally awesome.
Pirates suck ass! That is for sure. And I think the recent increase in pirated books might have something to do with all the ebook readers that were given out as gifts over the holidays. I hope people wake up and realize the damage they are doing before it's to late!
And get better! I had no idea you were on medical leave!
And Misty . . . Thank you for passing on the word!
Misty, hope you are recovering beautifully!
Tiff, tell it like it is. Every single morning I have illegal download sites for my books in my Google alerts. Sometimes I don't even bother sending the links to my publisher.
You feel like you're swimming against a strong tide that will eventually drown you. When there are so many legal ways to get free books, from Amazon, from some publishers, I just can't see adding more illegally that you might not ever read anyhow--and I know that's exactly what happens. People stock up, using one excuse or another.
I'm published in trade, therefore "too expensive." You know, you'd spend $10 on an hour and a half movie (more with a drink and popcorn, plus gas to get there,paying your babysitter,etc.) that you'd have to repay to see again. At least if you buy a book--and if you shop around you can find it deeply discounted off the $14 cover price-- it will take you more than an hour and a half to read, and you can reread and loan it or sell it. Pretty good value. Buy 2 magazines to throw away or 1 book to keep? Easy answer for me.
Entertainment dollars are short everywhere in this tough economy, but theft is no way to get around fairness. Theft killed the music industry, now is working against publishing. Heaven help us all.
Yes, it did hurt the music industry, big time! But right now, and because it's happened in the music industry in higher numbers than it has in publishing (until recently, I'm sure) more is being done to protect music than is being done to protect intellectual property of authors. I'm hoping a big stand happens soon, or those who are just trying to keep afloat will drown in that coming tide.
Tiffany, I am so with you ALL the way. Pirating is wrong on so many levels. If there was some way people could access where 'pirates' work and steal their paycheques, how would they feel??????
They have no idea that they are doing exactly that to authors.
Mary, you are so right! I think thieves feel entitled because they might think books are too much to pay for when they can unlock the DRM on the digital books and give them to anyone who wants a copy. They are all a bunch of fuckers in my book -- pirates.
Tiffany, you know I’m with you on this. I HATE the pirating. I can’t believe how rampant it has gotten too, and nobody seems to realize the kind of damage they are doing to the authors they love by downloading books without paying for them. Even yesterday at work someone was asking me about ereaders and where they would go to get free books if they bought one, and I went on a rant about how an ereader was not a gateway to free books. SPREAD THE WORD any way you can.
There is a bill before the US congress right now that addresses this issue. It will give law enforcement more of a bite in taking down these sites. The problem is, that many of the sites are out of the US and Canada. But think of the music industry....they didn't go after the prirating sites, they went after those who downloaded illegally the music. Wasn't one lady's fine over a $1,000,000? That's needs to happen here, tracking down someone who is illegally downloading copyrighted material and charging them with a crime.
Tiffany, you said this brilliantly--accurately--and with a lot less FUCK YOU'S than I would have used. I'm in the same situation as you--a debut author trying to land another contract. My books were posted on pirating sites in less than 2 weeks of their release!
There is one scumbag site (well, they're all scumbag sites, actually) that has the audacity to have a fan page on Facebook! They talk about how cool it is to steal. [Heck, it's just like borrowing from the library. Right? HELL NO! IT'S NOT! Unless you walk into a library, photocopy the entire book, give copies to all your friends who then turn around and photocopy it multiple times and give it to all their friends, who photocopy it multiple times....and so on!!] The material is copyrighted. You don't have the right to copy--which is what you're doing when you download the pirated book! It *is* STEALING AND ILLEGAL.
To authors: If you know the pirating sites your books are on, search them out on Facebook and hit "Report this page". As I mentioned, there is one particular site on Facebook that I have been trying to get deleted. At the very least they shouldn't be allowed to form a group on FB where they call themselves a "family" and hang out at!! Facebook deletes pages all the time. But have done NOTHING to remove this particular page. Getting them off Facebook is a small thing, but at least it's something.
Spreading the word about pirating--I'm going to be passing along the link to your wonderful blog, Tiffany---having our publishers' legal departments do their thing, and having these pirating sites deleted on networking sites like Facebook, *might* start to turn the tide on this out of control situation.
To those who steal---get your sense of entitlement in check. You're hurting the very authors you claim to enjoy. Consider the damage you're doing. I don't steal from you and your family. Please, don't steal from me and my family.
*takes a deep breath* Rant over.
Thanks again for your awesome post, Tiffany.
I am really sorry that that happened and is happening to you. That sucks actually. Pirating is awful! Please accept my support in any way I can. Fellow author, Sonia Rumzi.
Tiff, you know I'm with you on this all the way. F you to the pirates! It bothers me so much that your book was downloaded illegally so many times--that's money that could have gone into your pocket. Grr. F you, Pirates!
Tiffany -
Way to go girl! Great post and I totally agree. I'm a reader of your books and I love to read. I wish people would realize the damage they are doing not only to the authors but the publishers and local book store outlets.
It says a lot (of bad things) about today's society and not just it's youth. Hello - where are the parents out there who are suppose to be teaching their children ethics! Where are the teachers, schools, ministers, priest, etc. What has happened to the way people think?
I'll keep on buying your books at a store and hope you hang in there and realize how much your readers do love you and support you.
What an appalling situation. I'm so sorry anyone has to deal with this.
I really hope it will change, sooner rather than later. What about all the lost tax revenue? It seems that would be a good motivator to go after these folks.
I remember a Novelists Inc. post on this within the past year, and one of the authors there contacted the advertisers of the pirate sites. Most of them didn't even realize their ads were there because it was a package deal, but once they knew, they withdrew them.
I wish people would get up in arms about this as much as they did over that magazine that lifted articles off the internet. That was a huge firestorm, and I'm sure that magazine wasn't making anywhere near the money that pirated book sites are.
I hope progress can be as swift as all the technological changes. :)
Tiff, you tell those pirates where to shove it! I'll chime in with a big FUCK YOU on behalf of all authors out there!
Lying and stealing are two things are really despise---my kids know where I stand on this. I would never download free books, when I know how it hurts authors who bust their asses to make a living. Like you said, is it okay to go into a store and steal merchandise? Hell no!
Count on me to spread the word...PIRATING IS STEALING! And as far as the swearing goes, you are more than entitled! Works for me.
Kris, yes, spread the word! I get so mad every time I think of seeing those download numbers of my book. I can't imagine what the numbers are for books that have been out longer than mine!
I had the same think, Kris, someone at work told me she always gets her books for free. I RANTED like a MAD WOMAN! I think I scared her a little. But by God, I hope she thinks about what she is doing the next time she goes to download something illegally.
Anna, I had heard about that (on the RWA loop, maybe)! I hope they go after the people downloading the books illegally, that should make people think twice. I think in order to do that, the really big authors out there need to stand on a united front for this matter! Enough is totally enough. Those rat bastard pirates!
Lila, it's beyond frustrating. BEYOND! It's depressing, too. But I try not to let me spirts go down too much. And send me that facebook info via email... I'll report the bastards!
Sonia, the best way for us to support each other is to spread the word and explain to people why it is wrong and make them understand that they are stealing!
Ely :X!
And i find it hilarious that your iPad is either censoring you, or you are choosing only to say f you! Love you!
Jeanne, Thank you so much for the kind words. And yes, I think people aren't learning the basics in ethics. WTH is wrong with them? do unto others as you want done onto you.
Donna, That's interesting, targetting the advertisers so they know they are participating in and paying for the operation of illegal sites. I just pray for tougher laws. And soon!
Gannon, I've taught my kids the importance of not stealing and lying among other things. My kids know that even telling a white lie can have reprecussions and hurt peoples feelings and make people not trust you. Don't all parents teach their kids this? If now, they the fuck not?! Thank you for spreading the word!
I love this blog.
Very true. A lot of these pirates would feel awful about tasting the grapes at the supermarket to check their freshness but don't see how downloading a "free" book like this is stealing.
I think you're right. This is an education issue. I do hope that the same thing that happened to pirated music happens to pirating books. Ebook readers are awesome, but if this is how people will behave, I wouldn't blame publishers from keeping their books off ebook platforms. People ranted and raved when publishers set ebook prices higher but they almost have to be, to offset the losses that pirated ebooks produce. The publishers are losing money, too, after all.
F U Pirates!!
Fantastic blog Tiff. I get pissed off about this very same subject. Unfortunately you can't rationalize with thieves and pirates. They don't give a shit about what pirating does to writers or how you provide for your family. If they did they would stop.
Readers need to be more educated. I've had an acquaintance get her books off pirated sites stating things like, "Well she's a new author (or new author to me) and I may not like the book (or some shit like that) and I don't want to spend my hard earned money" and I'm like "so it's okay to steal from the author? What if you end up liking the book? Do you then go to a legitimate site to buy the book honestly?" Yeah no of course not. What galls me is she isn't the only one that has that way of thinking. It's the same when someone DOES buy a book legally but then forwards it to all their friends thinking it's the same as lending a book. Yeah NO. A BiG FUCKING NO. You can't believe the number of friends and acquaintances I've had to educate about why this is so wrong. I do the same thing when I hear folks downloading illegal movies and music. All that drives me apeshit.
I'm so sorry that so many think it's a right to steal yours and other authors books but I'll keep educating others on why pirating is so bad.
So many have said exactly my response. You couldn't have said it better and it hurts me to know you've lost so much revenue to SNEAK-THIEVES. I Jumped up and down in B&N when I saw your book on the shelf, grabbed it, held it to me and chattered inanely to the nearest person how excited I was to BUY this book. I felt honored to put money forth and pay for your work! That's how I feel about all the authors I follow! I don't go out and look for ways to download their books for free unless they themselves are advertising it. Even then, if I have a copy, I don't bother, that's for someone else in my opinion.
I did not know Book Piracy was so completely rampant and had no idea that your book had been stolen over 30,000 times. I'm terribly angered by this and will definitely spread the word.
Aza
Marnee,
You say it! F U Pirates!
Jacqui, You know, I'm not bothered by people sharing books, or sharing an ecopy (e-lending that is going on) if it's between friends. Because more oft than not, that borrower (if they love the book) will go out and buy a copy of the next one! I call those word of mouth. When I lend books to friends that they love, I just stop mid-series and force them to go buy the books themselves :)
denagray, that is so sweet! Thank you! And you are right, few readers who really love certain authors rarely go out of their way to get free books when they can buy them (unless it's promo, I've downloaded the shorts on Larissa Ione's site that you can't buy). When I've received ARC's (Advanced Readers Copies) and it's from an author I love, I always go out and buy the book once it's released.
Well said Tiff!
Of course there is no defense for pirating but perhaps the cloud may have a silver lining.
1)I imagine that few of the pirates would have bought the book if it wasn't available to download free.
2)In order for sales to take off, you have to become well known. This presumably occurs through word of mouth and the more who read the book, legally or illegally, the better known you become.
3)Lexi Revellion, a new British author, published on Amazon Kindle and had few sales initially. She then reduced the price and sold 10000 in a couple of months. (http://lexirevellian.blogspot.com/).
I'm one of the 10 thousand!
The point is that by reducing the price, Amazon will promote you for a while, and many readers will take a chance on a new unknown author if the price is right.
I looked for your book on Kindle and it aint there!
You know that I love you Tiff, but I'm still waiting to find an e-version of 'surrender' down-loadable to the UK.
Tiff, I am so sorry that this has happened to you. Unfortunately, this seems to be the way of the world these days and the thieves (yes, they are thieves) have very little remorse. I went back to work in a department store a few months ago and I've been shocked by the amount of shoplifting that goes on. People of all ages who have no remorse whatsoever. It's appalling!
I knew there was pirating of books but had no idea that it was so pervasive. It sickens me.
Q: I had no idea my book wasn't available for kindle in the UK! I have no answers for you on that front, but I will ask my publisher. And even though a book might not be available (or a movie or music) it's still not all right for customers to steal it as a means to getting their hands on something.
PJ! Thanks for stopping by. And I think pirating is getting exponentially worse for a lot of authors.
Let's start off on where we both agree: pirating books is wrong.
Here's where we'll disagree: piracy is wrong, but it's not always that cut and dry. What of the reader who wants to read your work but can't purchase it legally because your publishing contract doesn't extend to her country? What of the disabled reader who wants to read your books but cannot read them in paper form due to their disability and it's not available in any other format apart from paper? What of the reader in another country where your book is equivalent to anywhere from a day's to a week's worth of wages, but someone offered to print an illegal copy for her so she took it? What of the reader who bought your book legally but ripped it illegally to share with her friends because she loved it that much and wanted to share your work?
I guess that's a hearty fuck you to them too, huh?
Cordially yours,
A disgruntled supporter
Anonymous:
What of the reader who wants to read your work but can't purchase it legally because your publishing contract doesn't extend to her country?
My publisher has world rights, they should send a message to them and ask when it will be available in their country.
What of the disabled reader who wants to read your books but cannot read them in paper form due to their disability and it's not available in any other format apart from paper?
You know, I've never checked if it's available in other formats, I assumed it was. Still, they can't steal it, they need to ask the publisher or me (I will try to find out the answer) where they can purchase the format they need.
What of the reader in another country where your book is equivalent to anywhere from a day's to a week's worth of wages, but someone offered to print an illegal copy for her so she took it?
If it's not cheaper in those countries, I'm sorry, I don't set the price. They should email the publisher and voice their concerns. If enough people do, then maybe their voice will be heard. It's still stealing. And in some of those poorer nations, tell me, what is the punishment for stealing?
What of the reader who bought your book legally but ripped it illegally to share with her friends because she loved it that much and wanted to share your work?
So long as it didn't extend beyond the friends, I wouldn't so much care. I share physical books with friends (not ebooks).
Hope that answers all your questions.
Dear Anonymous:
My heart goes out to all of the various hard-luck cases you outline. However, your tragic fable begs the question: how exactly does this litany of woe entitle these people to take someone else's work for free? How is theft the appropriate response? Why should the artist bear the cost for the lack of availability of their work in some format? How is that the right thing to do, as opposed to, say, letting the publishers know there is an untapped market? How is it the artist's responsibility to shoulder the burden for anyone else's poverty, outside of the taxes he or she pays? What is is that entitles the protagonists in your rather saccharine and simplistic moral fairy-tale to transfer their suffering on to someone (anyone) else? Piracy is simply wrong -- it absolutely is that simple. It doesn't really matter what sort of insipid appeal to emotion you try to conjure up; at the end of the day, the author is not responsible (morally, ethically or legally) to your pathetic attempt at conjured poster-children. People have it tough all over, including, often, the authors who are being stolen from.
Sincerely,
Anonymous
I'll say it again for you--FUCK THEM! And allow me to express my sorrow that this happened to you.
For the record, I purchased Surrender of a Lady and just today purchased Seduction of His Wife--both ebooks off amazon at full price because I love you THAT MUCH. (as opposed to a discounted price at walmart) I am reading Seduction of His Wife, practically simultaneously as I write this, and I am loving it.
And one more for kicks...FUCK YOU, pirating pirates!
xo
Tiffany:
My publisher has world rights, they should send a message to them and ask when it will be available in their country.
And if the answer is never? Or the ever-popular publisher non-answer such as "We'll certainly be keeping an eye on demand because international readers are important to us" that is basically a polite way of saying never? World rights doesn't mean it will be published worldwide, it just means they have the right to publish it anywhere they want. And if your publisher chooses not to, what other legal option does the reader have? And since the reader in question is incapable of legally purchasing the book, how does her pirating your book affect your royalties?
You know, I've never checked if it's available in other formats, I assumed it was. Still, they can't steal it, they need to ask the publisher or me (I will try to find out the answer) where they can purchase the format they need.
The same questions arise. What if it won't be made available in that format? Would you suggest they just not read your book? Once again, just because the publisher has the right to do it doesn't mean they'll exercise that right -- bottom line and all that. The disabled have had a hell of an uphill climb in trying to get alternate formats made for them, and it's still an ongoing battle in the publishing industry. I must admit that I also find it baffling that you seem to think your publisher has alternate formats available at their warehouse. Because no, they do not. They're often an afterthought, if they're thought about at all.
If it's not cheaper in those countries, I'm sorry, I don't set the price.
Fair point.
They should email the publisher and voice their concerns. If enough people do, then maybe their voice will be heard. It's still stealing. And in some of those poorer nations, tell me, what is the punishment for stealing?
Stealing is stealing, and of course anyone caught stealing will be punished according to that country's laws. That's the risk they take when they decide to pirate. But to assume that it's as simple as a group of people saying "hey, we want this book at a more affordable price so that we can buy it" and a publisher to respond with a sincere "I'll get right on that" is naive at best, not when dealing with those economies at that scale.
So long as it didn't extend beyond the friends, I wouldn't so much care. I share physical books with friends (not ebooks).
So...fans can pirate the e-book but not pirates? What happened to piracy is wrong? I'll put forth the argument that a legally-bought-illegally-ripped copy made by a fan, backed with her enthusiastic recommendation, will travel in much wider circles than a random torrent of a book on a random website.
We can keep hashing this out, but as much as we agree on the core principle, I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the nuances and exceptions. Piracy is a complex issue, and nowhere near as simple as it has been portrayed here. And as wrong as I personally think it is, I've come to the conclusion that there are circumstances in which I would look the other way because there's a bigger issue than the piracy itself.
Cordially yours,
The disgruntled anon you responded to
Cordially yours,
Dear Scathing Anonymous,
How lovely of you to trot out the argument that everyone has it rough on an equal level! Think of how it would have galvanized the feminist movement if the men had just said "everybody has it rough, bitches, so deal with being property" or if the rich said "truffles are available at the store" to the poor. Everyone suffers equally in your world, and oh, how I'd love to live there. Since everyone has it rough, the world should get along on that level and agree never to pirate again! Rainbows!
All sarcasm aside, I said that I agree that piracy is wrong. I just don't think it's as cut and dry as that because there are other issues that complicate the legal purchase of books, and I wanted to highlight what I thought were good reasons that would compel people to pirate ebooks.
Uncordially yours,
Original anonymous
"And if the answer is never?
...
And since the reader in question is incapable of legally purchasing the book, how does her pirating your book affect your royalties? "
The issue you're struggling with here is "relevance". Let's say the answer is, in fact, never. Connect the dots for me: how exactly does this legitimize the theft? How, precisely, does the lack of a legal option license a crime again? Are we talking about stealing a crust of bread to feed a starving family? No, we're talking about a book. If you have no legal avenue to acquire it, well, too bad. You're still trading heavily on a transparent argument from emotion.
"The same questions arise. What if it won't be made available in that format?
...
Because no, they do not. They're often an afterthought, if they're thought about at all."
Again, your sense of justice appears to be curiously asymmetrically applied. The lack of an accessible format is Ms. Clare's problem how, exactly? And is theft really the only remedy? More absurdity. More hand-wringing, emotionally-charged drivel. What about all of the cute puppies in the world without access to these books? Hmm? You're trying to legitimize a crime by making a specious connection to a valid issue: accessibility. And of course, anyone who would argue against such unfortunate people must be a monster, no? Utter garbage. By what right do you summarily decide that this is the author's problem? That the author should suffer?
"Stealing is stealing, and of course anyone caught stealing will be punished according to that country's laws.
...is naive at best, not when dealing with those economies at that scale."
So, until then, you're happy to tell the author to just suck it up? You seem to feel comfortable deciding that the author is the right and just target, the bottom line that get's crapped on. Who's being naive now? You're failing at adding nuance to the issue -- you're engaged in contradictory argumentation: stealing is wrong, oh, but it's oh so complicated and you simply must understand... Understand what? What is your argument that Ms. Clare is the one who should bear the burden of all of these monstrous inequities you list?
"We can keep hashing this out, but as much as we agree on the core principle, I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the nuances and exceptions. Piracy is a complex issue, and nowhere near as simple as it has been portrayed here. And as wrong as I personally think it is, I've come to the conclusion that there are circumstances in which I would look the other way because there's a bigger issue than the piracy itself."
You have articulated no nuances, nor isolated any relevant exceptions. You're playing musical chairs with social injustice and somehow, for you, the appropriate odd-person out is the artist. It's a manifestly absurd position to take.
I don't know who Anon #2 is, but GAWD I LOVE YOU!!
Tiffany, I've ranted about this in a number of places. I've calculated on the low end, that over the past 6 years I've lost about $30K with all my eBooks. It's frustrating, because contracts ARE a major issue. Traditional publishers have not yet found a balance between the print run and the potential eBook sell rate.
Personally, I think a group of us should get together and hire a hacker to create a virus that we embedded in a pirate copy we upload on these sites. It would wipe out their book collection and show a Jolly Roger on the screen that says Steal from an Author Get Fucked by the Author.
Maybe it would scare enough people away from the site, and like the pirates who upload a book somewhere else, we could do the same with a virus copy. Surely there's a hacker somewhere who wants the challenge of being able to put pirate sites out of biz!
There will always be piracy, but it's the fricking self-entitlement issue that pisses me off.
I tell my readers I know my books are expensive. If you can't afford them, ask your library to stock them, or wait until they go at bargain prizes on Amazon. I've pointed out that my upcoming trade is avail for almost half off. I point out wherever I can how a reader can find my books as cheaply as possible.
As for International, I sympathize, but as Anon 2 says, I can't help the situation even though I wish I could. But no amount of "I can't get it" justifies stealing.
I got into writing because I love it, but I also wanted to write for a living. I wanted a paycheck in the form of royalties. I sure as hell didn't choose to write for free.
I applaud your post Tiffany but I'm concerned for your book now because there's a cost to this to this rant. Since this has been linked to a bigger circle, you've just made yourself a pirating target :( I know you had to get it off your chest, but I can't help but wonder if this was the right way to do it for your sake. Your post is all correct, but the pirates who didn't pay attention to you are probably paying more attention now :( It breaks my heart because you're so talented, but unintentionally, you may have just cost yourself more sales. Some of them will make it a point to pirate your books now, even if they don't like romance at all.
The world sucks.
That is thirty thousand books I did not sell.
In reality, this probably isn't true. It assumes that everyone who downloaded a copy would have bought a copy had a pirated copy not been available. That's spotty logic at best.
I would venture to say, there's a fair amount of people who download books that they would otherwise NOT pay for. Maybe they would have gotten the book from the library, or a book trading site, but maybe they wouldn't have taken a chance on the book at all.
I'm not saying piracy should be embraced by authors - I fully understand why it wouldn't. But if someone downloads a pirated copy of a book that they wouldn't have bought otherwise, loves it, goes out and recs it everywhere s/he goes, that person is doing more for the author than the person who reads the back cover while at Borders, decides it costs too much, walks out of the store and promptly forgets s/he was ever interested in the book. Or the person who buys the book at Borders, gets 50 pages into it and decides the book is horrible and trashes the author to all of his/her friends.
Despite how much authors insist that it is, it's not as black and white as a blanket fuck you.
My publisher has world rights, they should send a message to them and ask when it will be available in their country.
As an eBook buyer from New Zealand I was frustrated with geographical restrictions. Now I just don't care. I have a list of 110+ eBooks that I have not been able to buy since last April due to geographical restrictions. While I have been able to borrow some of them from my local library, not all are available.
While I don't (and won't) try to find a pirated copy I also don't bother contacting publishers anymore as it was also far too frustrating. There is only a certain amount of time I will now spend trying to find a site that is will to take my money for a legal sale. I'm not interested in forcing a publisher or author to take my money. If they no longer want the sale or my money, fine with me. Either way it is a lost sale from me and I end up losing interest in the author.
The Surrender of a Lady is not available for me to purchase as an eBook. It might possibly be available for me to borrow from my local library so I may borrow it at some stage but the burning desire to buy the eBook has well passed.
Prior to April 2010 75% of my purchases would be from the major NY publishers, now it is probably around 35%. Thank goodness for Samhain, Carina Press, Loose ID etc. I'm more than happy to spend the majority of my book buying budget with them now.
I think what Disgruntled Anon was trying to determine (rather badly) was whether you're after readers or after royalties from book purchases because in today's publishing industry, they are not necessarily one and the same anymore. I was able to parse it because I just had the same depressing argument with my agent.
If you're after readers, as horrible as it must be to swallow, the recommendation seems to be to accept that illegal downloads and thefts will happen, that the publisher has put safeguards to minimize it, and then move on. If the reader who pirated an ebook likes your work, there's a chance that the reader will legally purchase more of your work in the future, or will recommend your work to his/her friends, who will also have a higher chance of buying it legally. I don't know if I can agree with that approach, but it does seem to be less stressful overall. Studies also show that in general, people are happy to pay for things that they like; what they don't like is paying for an unknown risk, which is what all books are really, no matter who recommends them. I can sort of understand that perspective even as I disagree with it.
If you're after royalties, then the vigilant approach that you're doing on your blog about piracy seems to be the way to go. As you've no doubt already experienced, it must be exhausting. You also have to fight human nature's inherent laziness and endless rationalizations for doing bad things that don't visibly hurt anyone they know. It's tilting at windmills basically.
I still don't know what my approach will be when my book is released.
Anonymous because I don't want my book to be targeted by pirates in the future
Cyrstal,
That's great to read that you are enjoying my books! Happy reading.
overall to the comments: I'm always amazed that the fuck you is called an irrational argument and unprofessional. Had I said, Pirates you suck, no one would have batted an eye. I'm quite calm in my post, actually.
Monica,
I agree with you. Completely. I used to work for a software developer that used to have a lock/key feature whereas, when the CDROMs were pirated the program would automatically scramble itself. It worked on a layer. So hackers would think they could get past the first layer only to come up against. It was effective.
Jessica, My second book--which released yesterday--was uploaded to a well known website yesterday first thing in the morning. All authors are targeted, whether they post/rant/scream about it or not.
ShellBell,
I feel for you on the geographical restrictions. There are many shows I cannot watch because I'm in Canada. Books I cannot get as well.
The internet/ebook world is growing so fast that I think (I HOPE) That publishers will find away to deal with sales on an international level soon.
Third (or is it fourth?) Anon:
No it's not as black and white as a blanket fuck you. This goes for any art form.
Sampling the work by stealing it is still unacceptable. I am pretty sure that with most ebooks, you can read the first three chapters of the book before you buy it. So why not utilize that option? Three chapters is enough to decide whether or not you want to buy the book.
I can't go to the local wine store and sample the bottle of wine I like before buying it. So what do I do if I hate it? Steal it? Return it opened?
Fellow Author:
The sad matter of the truth is that you will still be pirated. It's part of being published. And I'm amazed by all the people who say we should get used to it. I won't ever get used it.
Lots of people can't afford a car, yet if they steal one, no matter how badly they need it... they go to jail.
Lots of people are homeless, yet if they break in somewhere to get out of the cold, they go to jail.
Lots of people go hungry, along with their kids, but if they steal food, and get caught....well.
Sorry. Food and shelter are far more important than books. But they can't legitimize stealing those enough to escape the consequences, although I could understand THAT.
The anonymous arguing otherwise... the points you are trying to argue are issues that are all too often out of the author's control, price, availability in other countries, format, etc.
Yet you, like many others, feel the author should bear that burden. And we end up having to, and those who don't sell through, don't sell well enough-those authors are the ones who don't get contracts renewed.
It happens-I know of four fairly popular midlist authors that were wicked popular with pirates-and no, I'm not listing them because that is their business concern.
I've even seen pirates chatting about a couple of these authors, wondering when the next book is coming out. There won't be 'next books' because they didn't get new contracts.
Why? Nobody exactly knows, but a likely factor is flat sales.
Had some of those pirates purchased? Sales wouldn't have been so flat.
So there's a burden pirates get to carry. Forget the excuses and the rationalizations. Theft is theft and wrong is wrong.
Eventually publishing will catch up to the digital age-it moves slow, but it's a massive industry and nothing big can move fast. It's almost even a law of nature.
Once publishing catches up and they figure out a way to offer ebooks across the globe without causing problems with the foreign publishing arms they have in foreign countries, access to works will greatly improve.
And even once that happens, once DRM disappears and every is an ideal environment...theft will still happen because there are always people who want to take something for nothing, always those who'd rather steal, and always those who'd rather rationalize things away rather than just openly admit it's wrong, and just stop doing it.
If you wish to try and rationalize further...go ahead, but I stated my piece...I probably won't be back to read any more.
Tiffany... you rock.
Tiffany, I just wanted to add a "you rock" and give a hearty "Amen, sister" to Shiloh.
And...it's your blog. You can use whatever four-letter word you want to and I know you will. Which is why I have a crush on your right now. :-) The point is this: authors have the right to say what we feel. If readers who pirate are offended, who cares? They clearly don't give a shit about offending us or they wouldn't pirate our books, no matter their justification.
And to all those people who say they only pirate because they can't get the books any other way...I'll believe that when they start sending checks to the publisher and/or author to make up for the lost royalty. And not having the money doesn't justify anything. That's just common sense.
"In reality, this probably isn't true. It assumes that everyone who downloaded a copy would have bought a copy had a pirated copy not been available. That's spotty logic at best."
Not as spotty as claiming it's okay to steal if you weren't going to buy it anyway. By that reasoning, a dine-and-dash at a fancy restaurant isn't really so bad, is it? I mean, I can't afford it and hey, they don't have proper wheel-chair access or a gluten-free option.
"I would venture to say, there's a fair amount of people who download books that they would otherwise NOT pay for. Maybe they would have gotten the book from the library, or a book trading site, but maybe they wouldn't have taken a chance on the book at all. "
That's an utterly irrelevant point. I imagine that I would eat at many more restaurants than I otherwise would if I could scoot out without paying the tab. What does this prove? How does this advance your thesis in the slightest?
"I'm not saying piracy should be embraced by authors - I fully understand why it wouldn't."
No, you really don't. You keep making this claim, but then you undermine it with every attempt you make at constructing an argument.
"But if someone downloads a pirated copy of a book that they wouldn't have bought otherwise, loves it, goes out and recs it everywhere s/he goes, that person is doing more for the author than the person who reads the back cover while at Borders, decides it costs too much, walks out of the store and promptly forgets s/he was ever interested in the book. Or the person who buys the book at Borders, gets 50 pages into it and decides the book is horrible and trashes the author to all of his/her friends."
Utter absurd drivel. If I recommend that lovely restaurant I ripped off to all of my friends, how does that help the restaurant? If I couldn't afford it, what are the odds that they could? And why would they? If I have the secret to ducking out for free, why wouldn't I share that with my friends too? Word of mouth recommendation doesn't help much if it comes with a free copy of the book. Moreover, the negative scenario you offer about a person who bought the book not liking applies equally to someone who stole the book. Your arguments are extremely poor.
"Despite how much authors insist that it is, it's not as black and white as a blanket fuck you."
Thus far, you haven't provided anything even vaguely resembling an argument to support that position, not remotely. It is absolutely that black and white: if you steal from someone, the very least they owe you is a nice big "Fuck you!".
Another point in your parade of self-refuting pseudoarguments: if the book is not available in an accessible format, what precisely is your hypothetical handicapped person stealing? If there is something relevant to steal, there is something to buy.
I missed this one before:
"Dear Scathing Anonymous,
How lovely of you to trot out the argument that everyone has it rough on an equal level! Think of how it would have galvanized the feminist movement if the men had just said "everybody has it rough, bitches, so deal with being property" or if the rich said "truffles are available at the store" to the poor. Everyone suffers equally in your world, and oh, how I'd love to live there. Since everyone has it rough, the world should get along on that level and agree never to pirate again! Rainbows!"
Wow. This is your rebuttal? Really? For someone claiming to inject nuance into a discussion, you do seem to like sledgehammer-sized red herrings. Let's review, shall we? Please explain how you're equating theft with the feminist movement. What logic underlies this rather clumsy analogy of yours? Do you know any form of argumentation other than fallacious appeals to emotion? Also, did you bother to read what I wrote? And if so, did it trigger your moral or intellectual gag-reflex even a little to mischaracterize it so grossly as you have above? Did I say everyone suffers equally? No. I pointed out that you have a looooooong way to go to connect a given individual's inability to afford a book with a legitimization of their theft of said book. I'm still waiting for you to connect those dots, O Nuanced One.
"All sarcasm aside, I said that I agree that piracy is wrong."
You always preface your justifications of piracy with this statement. Look, you can say you don't believe in vampires over and over, but if you refuse to go out at night, wear a crucifix on a garland of garlic, carry wooden stakes and a mallet and constantly check to see if people have reflections in mirrors, the claim starts to ring a little hollow. It is clear to me that you most certainly do not believe piracy is wrong.
"I just don't think it's as cut and dry as that because there are other issues that complicate the legal purchase of books, and I wanted to highlight what I thought were good reasons that would compel people to pirate ebooks."
Right. As I said -- piracy is wrong except... Well, no. Except nothing. You're not adding nuance, you're not making much of a case at all. Yes, there are people who cannot access the book. Yes, there are people who cannot afford the book. Yes, there are people for whom the format of the book is such that it is difficult (if not impossible) to enjoy. Those are your premises and all are accepted. What is missing is that teensy weensy little thing called an argument -- that logical framework that connects those premises to your conclusion that piracy is okay in those circumstances.
"Uncordially yours,
Original anonymous"
Your lack of cordiality will become interesting as opposed to amusing (that's 'laughing at' amusing, by the way, not 'laughing with', just in case there was any doubt) when you are able to do something more than juvenile hand-wringing.
Obnoxiously yours,
Underwhelmed anonymous
Ah, thanks for the warning re the swearing. I've been online for a long time and I've heard the same arguments about piracy repeat x 1000 from several other authors before you arrived. You're not adding anything "new" to discussion. Be different. Offer up some solutions rather than piling on.
I think authors make the wrong assumption that every download means someone is actually READING your work. What data do you have to support that? I download free Kindle books all the time but I doubt I'll ever read them.
I understand that being an author doesn't mean you can't have strong opinions but if you're selling your book to me, I think some discretion and professionalism is somewhat required in this business, no? I think so. You may not agree and I might not be seeing your at your best. This is all relative no matter what business you're in if you're selling your wares to consumers. Okay, now you can tell me to go fuck myself. --Keishon, reader, consumer
Tiffany, I'm a tad confused by a few allusions to authors not receiving royalties from ebooks. Is this the case? :/
Hi Crystal. We receive royalties from ebook from reputable sellers. Not from illegal bootleggers.
Keishon, I'm totally not saying FU if you don't download illegal content. And I did offer a solution. Word of mouth. I thought that was pretty clear in my post. I'm sorry if you didn't get that out of the post.
"Ah, thanks for the warning re the swearing. I've been online for a long time and I've heard the same arguments about piracy repeat x 1000 from several other authors before you arrived. You're not adding anything "new" to discussion. Be different. Offer up some solutions rather than piling on."
Is this the whole "if you've got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all" bit? What if Ms. Clare doesn't have any solutions? What if she just wants to vent her frustration? Should she poll the internet first? Really? Personally, I don't have a problem with her rant and I appreciate a more candid view of her than some canned statement.
"I think authors make the wrong assumption that every download means someone is actually READING your work. What data do you have to support that? I download free Kindle books all the time but I doubt I'll ever read them."
Is that meant to be relevant? Is it okay for me to steal, say, bags of cookies if I don't actually eat them? What point are you trying to make here?
"I understand that being an author doesn't mean you can't have strong opinions but if you're selling your book to me, I think some discretion and professionalism is somewhat required in this business, no?"
What do you want from an author's blog? What are you looking for? Do you really want just another marketing channel? Another sales pitch? Yet one more venue for commercial persuasion? Or do you enjoy access to the people who write the books you read? A chance, perhaps, to get to know them, to understand them, to relate to them? I'm not sure where the aversion to someone speaking their mind comes from.
"I think so. You may not agree and I might not be seeing your at your best. This is all relative no matter what business you're in if you're selling your wares to consumers."
It's pretty sad when absolutely every human interaction has to be viewed and justified in a commercial context.
I so understand. I used to be a pirate until I read an article about how detrimental it was the author. I immediately deleted all of the illegal books I had and began to buy all the ones I could remember enjoying. Sometimes I miss the pirating but I'm happy to know I'm doing the right thing now. Keep on telling people how much pirating sucks and you reach some of them. I know it worked with me.
Most recent anonymous.
Thank you for sharing. I'm happy to know you are supporting your favorite authors.
It means your made of the good stuff. And you are truly a good person deep down, so I applaud you.
Tiffany, I hear ya, sista...and I'm with ya. Piracy blows big fat chunks.
And I'm just chiming in on the international readers can't get the book question. There's a fabulous fabulous place on the Internet called Book Depository...and they have FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING! Which is fabulous! And FREE! And we've already established that pirates love free things! And look! You can buy The Surrender of a Lady! and have it shipped! FREE! TO YOUR HOUSE!
If that isn't 21st C. Wizardry, I don't know what is.
Thanks, Sarah! I totally should have mentioned it! I put buy links up on my website for The Book Depository, for all my books.
@Sarah McLean
I'm not sure about other international readers but I'm after the book in digital format, not print. I only buy eBooks and have done so for several years. If I wanted a print copy of the book then I would have absolutely no problem whatsoever getting this book in New Zealand. It is annoying when the eBook version is not available for me to purchase even though the print copy is. I used to get frustrated but now I just cross that author off my 'to buy' list.
Post a Comment