I firmly believe that I have the coolest, spiffiest readers ever. I’ve met plenty of you and I’m going to meet many more when I go on tour this week, and I am seriously excited because you guys are SO RAD. That’s why I was a bit surprised to receive this email this morning:
On Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 6:19 AM, [NAME REDACTED] wrote:
I bought the first two of your books on Audible.
Unfortunately, you or your publisher have decided to remove them from sale in Australia, and I can no longer give you money for your books. If you’re ever wondering why people are copying your work instead of paying for it, maybe you should consider it’s because you won’t sell it. Here’s to the pirates.
Cheers,
[NAME REDACTED]
Wow.
The first line implies that he likes my books. He didn’t buy just one, but two. Very kind of him! But then it all goes pear-shaped. By the end he’s illegally downloading my work and suggesting that I’m to blame somehow. And he kinda taunts me, right? “Here’s to the pirates.” Daaaaaang! He might as well have added, “Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!”
I like people and tend to smile at them a lot, so I’m not sure what I did to deserve that.
Perhaps the fundamental issue is a lack of understanding of how the industry works. Maybe I can help out with some info to clear up some misconceptions…? Yay! Teachable moment! Here goes:
Authors have no control over how, when, or where our books are sold, and we don’t control the price either. It’s a combination of supply and demand, various corporate policies, and international copyright law. My Astounding Author Powerz give me no say over that stuff: I can only decide what’s between page one and the end. One of my favorite authors and human beings, Cherie Priest, wrote an excellent post about what authors control. Turns out we don’t control any of the things that annoy people so much that they start stealing. So, yeah. Hope that helps, random dude from Australia. Peace.
A somewhat related side note: I’m well aware that there are a ton of issues regarding DRM protection on e-books, and for the record, I don’t like it either and I think it should go away. I applaud Baen and now Tor for selling their entire catalog DRM-free. (And that illustrates supply and demand, by the way: enough people demanded DRM-free books to convince Tor to change their policy. Support both Baen and Tor and watch the other publishers follow suit. It took Tor four years to decide, but they made that decision based on lots of sales data. The others will do the same.) Though I can’t say for certain, author input on Baen and Tor corporate policy regarding DRM was probably not a decisive factor. It’s always, always sales.
Anyway, enough about vexing sales issues and back to my spiffy readers! I’m going to be visiting Dallas, Lexington, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chapel Hill, and Washington D.C. in the next week (see my previous post if you missed it), and if you’re able to come by and say hi, I’d be so pleased to visit with you! And thank you so much for reading!
Minor nitpick. Authors *who are signed with big publishing houses* have no control over distribution. There are plenty of people who self-publish ebooks, and if they don’t have control over distribution then who does?
There’s a British author whose works I enjoy, and who I’ve had to “massage” Amazon in order to purchase his stuff since his books aren’t published in the US (the first 4 books are available in the US; the 5-7th books still haven’t been “translated”. Must be a lot of work getting rid of all those extra ‘u’s?)
It sucks that I have to jump through the hoops I do to get the new books, and it sucks even more that many people wouldn’t think of it and/or know how to. I certainly don’t blame the British author, and your Australian fan’s anger at you is clearly misdirected due to his own ignorance of the process. Don’t take it personally.
It’s a shitty situation, and there’s really not much you, as an individual reader/consumer, can do. I understand that publishers are still, in most cases, a necessary evil. There are some great indie books out there that really suffer from a lack of editing. That said, I can’t wait for the age of disintermediation to hit the publishing industry like it has the music industry. Down with the middle man!
Wish more readers understood the limited control authors have over so many areas surrounding their works.
Since Audible was brought up, I’m curious if the reader pronounced the Celtic stuff correctly or not. I’d like to listen to your first book, but am leery since Gail Carriger mentioned the reader incorrectly pronounced a major character’s name in her first book (not the rest, thankfully).
Hope to be at your signing with Jaye on Thursday.
Kevin: I totally understand both sides of this story. I think you are missing the point of the reader’s rant and taking it too personally.
To people under a certain age, pirating is as natural as breathing. It’s often easier, with less steps, to get a pirated audiobook than it is to buy one, especially when you choose to listen to it on a non-approved device.
This generation of piraters hears again and again (and in Australia this is a hot political topic right now) how evil they are for pirating instead of buying.
The letter writer likes your books, and chose to pay for them instead of stealing them. He felt he was doing the right thing. Then, the very people (publishers) that are berating his generation for stealing and not buying, makes it IMPOSSIBLE for him to buy them. So, he’s back to stealing.
I imagine he felt like it was a slap in the face, and it made him a little angry.
Now, I totally get that you don’t want anyone stealing the books you worked so hard on. I think the common enemy here, to you and the letter writer, is your publisher that removed the audiobooks from the Australian market.
The letter writer should have addressed his comments to you publisher, but who is that? What’s their email? Yours is easily available, and if he pushes your buttons, maybe you’ll push back, up the chain to your publisher.
Anyway, love the books, got them all on the Kindle (now THERES a platform that’s easier than pirating).
I think He meant that He was also going to Taunt you another time, if you did not go away.. LOL>.. Well that is sad. You do not have any control over the publishing thang….
Tell him that You blow your nose at him and wave your private parts at his aunties…
Nah!!!
Just let it go… he’s a dweeb.
You should stop by Wichita, KS. You have a bunch of dedicated readers here and I have a couple of gallons of very good mead that’s aged and ready to drink.
Email him back with your publishers details and tell him to rant in the right place lol…
If more of those unhappy with not being able to purchase your books let the publishers know of their displeasure perhaps they might do something about it….
Why the hate on for elderberries? Apparently you have never had elderberry wine.
I’m more surprised people don’t know about The Book Depository. It’s a site that will ship any book they have anywhere in the world, free shipping. Caveat is that they have the book. So this [REDACTED DUDE] could order them:
HAMMERED: http://www.bookdepository.com/Hammered-Iron-Druid-Chronicles-Three-Kevin-Hearne/9780345522481
TRICKED: http://www.bookdepository.com/Tricked-Kevin-Hearne/9780345533623
For those of you who have a difficult time getting books, I highly recommend BD.
Firstly think your a great author with an amazing series that i found after reading “The Dresden Files” I have every iron druid book that is out at the moment.
Secondly, I understand people who pirate, everyone has at some point. but if you truly enjoy a book, tv show, or song, you should also support the author. Shows for example get canceled all the time, but if people would purchase dvds or watch during normal scheduling on cable then it would help the shows to stay on.
The same thing goes with books. People who enjoy your work should show that by giving money to the cause (continuing production of a great series).
Anyway i’m just trying to stress the fact that the more people pirating their favorite work, the more likely it is that it will be canceled. Way to go idiots.
I love your work, and i hope to hear many more stories about Atticus and Oberon. Also i love how fast your books are released. Keep up the awesome work!
Oh, he was looking at audiobooks….
Well, they have them, too… but not TRICKED. Here’s HAMMERED: http://www.bookdepository.com/Hammered-Kevin-Hearne/9781441870124
Glad you are a fan of monty python and the holy grail ! But seriously i think you are terrific and i adore your books ! I cant get all the way to d.c. To meetcha so try to get just a little closer to nyc soon . I must meet you and get all my books signed !!! P.s. write faster . Lol
Geekd: Thanks for the reply; I do understand the issues there. I simply have no power to change what the publishers decide to do and not do. And frankly, even if I gave out the email address of everyone at Random House, it wouldn’t help. Here is what changes corporate minds: sales. If Tor enjoys sustained growth in electronic sales due to going DRM-free, you can bet the other publishers will take notice. All the crazy, annoying stuff they do is about preserving their bottom line, and once they see that it’s financially safe to go DRM-free, they will.
Blaming and punishing the author for publishing issues (sorry, “self-publishers” are only publishers if they personally deliver each and every copy of the work) is reminiscent of blaming the airline for bad weather at your destination.
“Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries!”
I see what you did there. :-)
Anyone who knows that quote can’t be nearly as bad as your taunter (tauntor?) claims. :-)
I like your books too, though I also suffer from the whims of publishers when it comes to availability down here in Australia.
If as you say, the publisher only cares about sales, then show them the email to demonstrate that they have lost this and future sales.
You could also point out the stupidity of the situation where I can get a physical book mailed to me for free from the UK for cheaper than I can buy a digital copy.
I don’t know how many books you signed up for with your publisher, but you could always switch publishers if possible. I have to say that I didn’t come across your books in a way that a publisher influenced in the slightest, so I am honestly not sure what they actually do for you that is useful.
Hello Kevin
1. Fact: People will pirate no matter what.
2. Fact: Some readers will be unhappy no matter what.
3. Sad Fact: Not enough people understand Monty Python references.
4. Fact.: You are a great writter and very sensitive to your readers which is appreciated by us all.
Oh Kevin,
You missed a classic Atticus moment when you signed off to Australian dude: “Hope that helps, random dude from Australia. Peace.” I was totally expecting, “Hope that helps, random dude from Australia and may harmony find you.”
Keep up the good work and get your little ol’self to Salt Lake City one of these days, will ya?
Well…. if it makes you feel any better, I have copies of both the audio AND the paper copy. Except for Hammered because I won a CD copy in one of your spiffy contents. Indeed, that is why I went ahead and purchased the audio versions of all the other books. After you said that it helps the author to pre-order, I always pre-order as well. ;-D Doing what I can here!
David McCall you said it so well, I will just say Ditto!
Many thanks, David and CJ and Chris.
Chris Miller: I’ll be in Utah October 5-6 at a conference. Please see my previous tour post, it’s in there. :)
I get this argument a lot from asshats, who use stuff like this to justify their BS. Oh, Mr. Author, it’s your fault I have to steak books, because I can’t get them otherwise. Really? I know for a fact there’s a dozen websites where you could order import copies of your books for Australia. He didn’t call the publisher, he didn’t rant at them, no he decided to rag on you for it. I bet he’s lying his ass off. I’m willing to wager he didn’t even really buy your books. He’s the kind of guy who’d steal from an unlocked car and tell the car owner he deserved it because his doors were unlocked. Fuck him and his small,small little mind. I’ll buy you a beer when you get to Charlotte ,just to make up for his asshatness.
I notice you aren’t coming to Pittsburgh on your book tour! That’s it, I will now pirate all your works, you empty headed animal food trough wiper.
Can’t wait for Trapped!
He could always try actually reading the books himself. Just a thought. I live in Australia and have been able to buy all the IDC books in a bookshop. No issue there at all.
I definitely understand both sides. I know the same thing happened with people who wanted to buy game of thrones digitally. People wanted to pay for it, they tried in many different stores, but couldn’t get it so they ended up pirating it. I also now many of those people paid for it once it was available because they liked it.
I’ve got all the Iron Druid books on audible and got my friend to buy all of them on his nook. Awesome book series.
Hey, great post, Kevin! I know authors just want to connect with readers and make readers happy, and it can feel so disheartening to get this kind of letter. Thanks for putting that information out there. Here’s to a future where readers worldwide get access to the books they want and writers get what they need to keep writing awesome books like yours!!
Im looking forward to your Dallas book signing!
Come to the west coast at some point! Judging from your Facebook, the most interesting man in the world isn’t an actor in beer commercials, it’s Kevin Hearne!
I personally hate e-readers, because there is just nothing like a book(hardcover,trade or paperback) in your hands, but after lugging my haul of 50 lbs. of books(some i brought to have signed, some i bought there) to SDCC last year, there is a reason for it. I just wished hard-copies of books would come with a e-reader version with purchase. I just hate even imagining the thought of buying my books again, even at (slightly) reduced rates.
Ok, I feel really stupid but I honestly had no idea of what goes on in getting books published, what authors have control over.. so I really learned something on here. I have to confess I didn’t actually buy your all books, my daughter did and we had to mail them back and forth to each other so does the cost of shipping count? (smiles) However, I did buy your latest and sent it to her. She does have an e-reader but unfortunately I do not. Yet. And I’m on the fence in getting one as I too love holding a book in my hands. Although it is a pain to travel with the extra weigh..so probably will give in eventually & buy one. I love your wit and style of writing and have recommended your books to my sons, friends and family members. Hoping you’ll never end your Druid series, he’s the BEST.
Well, I’m sending a fart in his general direction! On another note, to cheer you up, I work at an indie bookstore and I turn people on to your series all the time. Just yesterday I sold Hounded to a regular customer who was looking for something new and fun– she stopped back by the boosktore an hour later to thank me, say she was on p.40 and already hooked…
I was lucky enough to buy the first three books on Audible before they removed them from sale in Australia. I can still download them from my Audible library, but when I click on the series they say they are not available. Hopefully Tricked will eventually turn up for sale here.
Wow Kevin. Sometimes I don’t understand people at all, but Geekd is right – young people today feel an entitlement and piratng is part of it. They go to conventions and fan writers and voice actors and then pirate their work and don’t undersand why some industries are struggling. I can understand his/her disappointment at your audio books not being avilable, but isn’t the book itself available? It is a very enjoyable read once you figure out how to pronounce the names! I personally enjoyed your series so much that I have all 4 books autographed in print, on my Kindle to enjoy anywhere and the audible version that I have listened to twice. DMR-free would be nice, but I don’t see it in the near future. Don’t let this get you down, your fans love you and are very devoted. Look at this as an opportunity to enlighten those who didn’t undersand how “the system” works.
With regards my fellow Australian – the only thing I condemn about him is his turning to piracy – I totally don’t agree with that. We can all do it, but it’s morally and ethically wrong. I’ve exhausted every avenue to get hold of Tricked on audiobook format – and can’t because I live in Australia. I’ve even emailed your representatives to ask them because Audible are so SUCKFUL in the most major of ways. I myself bought the last three books of yours on Audible.com and NOW when I click on THEM in my audible library I get told their not available in my country so I’m not allowed to see them… Oh please… and to all those patronising people that have replied and said “oh I wish more people could understand how hard things are for writers blah blah blah” – please, get over yourself – we the readers and in this case the “listener” have feelings too – and are passionate about what we like and wave big flags and champion authors we love and crave their work – well that’s what I’m like when I enjoy an author and their work.
No, I’ve given up on Tricked as an audiobook – and Kevin – I’m sorry you’re the meat in the sandwich I truly am – you don’t get to say what the book executives do with your work. I truly am sorry about that. But just as you have no control over them I have no control over my disappointment and despair at my money not being good enough to buy your audiobook in this country. No – I’m not going to “steal” it off a pirate site, nor fake my credit card address (how do people even DO that?). No, I’m just going to take the umpires decision on it and accept that my journey with Atticus and Oberon stops at book three.