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| Photo by: Karen Bursey, Edmonton, Alberta |
I've been told that if one person downloads it, and likes it, he might tell his friends, and THEY will buy it. And so on. You know what I think will happen? I think they'll download it for free, and then they'll tell their friends where to download free books. And so on.
When I worked as a meat manager, I constantly had to deal with shoplifters. We could never catch them all. It was a full time job. The more shoplifting that happened, the more thieves came in...we developed a reputation for being an easy target. What did these people do with our expensive steaks and roasts, the ones clearly tagged with the 'Champions Family Foods' logo? They sold them on the street. Should I call that 'free advertising?'
We GIVE e-books out. We spend hundreds of dollars on 'swag'. We do our own advertising and marketing, thank you. We don't need any help from people who distribute our work illegally.
You've read my rants about piracy before, but I've been pirated AGAIN. Over 460 copies of Thoeba went out without payment. This was after I saw this post from an author I know from Facebook. If you think I'm pissed, wait until you read this. *language warning* With her expressed permission, I give you Gracen Miller...
One pirate site…
Rockin' the Heart downloaded 1,325 times (and it just released the end of Jan 2014).
Taboo Kisses downloaded 2,219 times.
The Road to Hell series (that's ALL 3 books) downloaded 2175times.
For you selfish bastards who think this doesn't amount to much in cash, let me break it down for you.
Rockin' the Heart pirated downloads would've netted $3,312.50 in sales.
Taboo Kisses pirated downloads would've netted $5,547.50 in sales.
The Road to Hell series pirated downloads would've netted $3,632.25 in sales.
That's a GRAND TOTAL of LOST sales in the amount of $12,492.25!!!
FUCK YOU VERY MUCH YOU PIRATE THIEVES! Yes…every single one of you who downloaded a free ebook off of a pirate site—mobilism, torrent, etc. NOT Amazon, Nook, etc.—YOU ARE THIEVES!! Why don't you take a $12,492.25 pay cut…and that's just ONE pirate site. I'm so angry ATM. I'm honestly at that point where I'm about ready to say fuck it and quit writing. I didn't even make $600 off of the entire Road to Hell series in 2013, but the pirates happily stole $3Grand from me off one site for the series!
I'm livid for her, and all of us. There's been talk about putting a halt to giving out free ebooks for contests. It feels like we can't trust anyone. Some of us want to give up, myself included. What's the point of spending all the time and money to promote our work if we get nothing out of it but grief and anguish? Would you?
Sad day indeed, Donna. I wish these "thieving" people could be caught and answerable to the law. Suzanne
ReplyDeleteMe too, Suzanne, me too :( So depressing.
DeleteI hope this never deters you from being the creative lady you are! Your books have brought many hours of entertainment to your fans. Thanks. Don't let the thievery dilute your passion for the written word.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna cry! Thank you so much <3 Piracy seems so rampant...I get so discouraged. Thanks. :)
DeleteYou are more then welcome. I know that piracy is out if control but know that there are many of us who consider it a privilege to support the written word crafted.by hard working authors. We appreciate the hours and anguish you pour into your craft.
DeleteThank you sooo much <3 I needed this.
DeleteThere are no words to describe these people. Contrary to what many think, writing is not easy. It takes hard work and commitment. Pirates need to get a real job and stop sucking the blood of others.
ReplyDeleteI know, right? It's beyond my comprehension. I still haven't really figured out 'why'. I think they figure that no one suffers, or that they're 'sticking it to the man'. Can't these people THINK? Or even empathize on some level?
DeleteWe have already lost so much due to the pirating. If we start losing all our authors we will soon have nothing left. I appreciate all you do Donna, as well as the other authors out there. Please keep doing what you do, I would miss you way too much!
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Kj <3 Writers like me appreciate you too <3 Thanks for everything.
DeleteDonna I agree with KJ Partridge. Keep doing what you love and don't let those bastards get you down. We would all miss you and your wonderful stories. I am sure there are many more ready to be told.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin <3 I know you've always had my back. I'm so grateful for your support.
DeleteMy books have been pirated as well. It really irks me that people would go to such lengths to "save" a buck or two. At one point, I wanted to remove my books from Amazon, but I knew that the pirate site would still win. That is why I keep writing and I hope that you will too, Donna.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Brianna. Its so FRUSTRATING and depressing. But you're right. Why should we stop doing what we love over a few setbacks? There's gotta be a better way, and I think eventually we'll find it. In the meantime, we keep on, writing on.
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