It’s apparently a common issue for many Indie authors or ebook authors in general now. And I’ve just discovered both my books on a couple of torrent sites. Part of me is flattered that people think my books are good enough to go to this trouble for and the other part of me is just pissed off. My first book is already free pretty much everywhere on the internet. My second is all of $3.00 US which for a full length novel is damn cheap. I’ve reported the links to the site owners and whether or not they do anything remains to be seen but I am going to say this.
The Arrival took 18 months of my life to write. Most of the characters are based on people I genuinely know and adore in real life. It took an IMMENSE amount of work to create the world, Gar’nyse, and an immense amount of work to get the story to where I wanted it.
Awakening was 12 intense months of work. Again an enormous amount of my free time because being an ebook author doesn’t pay well, not in the beginning that’s for sure! Hell, if I get on the top 100 on Amazon and stay there for a year or so, maybe then I’ll be able to quit my 9-5 job and take up writing full time. But until then, I’m a full time receptionist who’s working her arse off in her free time, moonlighting as a novelist.
I began writing The Arrival because I LOVE the story, not because I expect to be a millionaire (hence buying lotto this week ;p), but at the same time I don’t open myself up to ridicule from readers/reviewers just for the hell of it. I published The Arrival because I thought others might enjoy it, and then I made it free because I wanted people to have an obligation free way of seeing whether or not they enjoy it. Charging for Awakening is a way for readers to essentially say they enjoy my story that much that they’re willing to pay a fee (however small) for my hard work. And I am grateful for every single purchase. Because it means that person is a fan of the story and essentially me and mine. Unless you know me, or meet me, most of you won’t realize how very personal this story is to me. Yes the setting is fantastical but the ideas and characters behind it are based on reality a fair whack of the time.
Please do the right thing by hard working indie authors such as myself, and take the time to purchase our works. You wouldn’t steal from me in the street, why do it online?
Take care all!
Nic
The Arrival, available for free right here on this blog!
Awakening on Amazon or UK Amazon or in Epub format right here on my blog (the bright yellow buttons on left!)
Hear! Hear!
Sorry about the piracy – so many thoughtless internet people out there! 🙁
Take care
x
I hear you–piracy is just dirty business. I remember reading an article by an indie author who had been downloaded illegally so many times that, had those books been purchased, she would have been on the NYT bestseller list. The person or people who wrote the book (or made the film or produced the music) deserves compensation for their hard work!
I'm so sorry this has happened to you. For what it's worth, I will always buy from Amazon following links on an author's website.
I'll buy one of your books, Nicole. Indie writers need to stick together!
Thanks Donna, that's really sweet of you 🙂 The silly thing about it all is that I often give away copies of it to fans, because they've gone to the effort to get in touch and tell me that they love it. Which makes them a genuine fan in my mind 🙂 It's the sneaking/stealing people that really do annoy me, how can you say you love something if you stole it? Just silly.
Hi Nicole, I must agree with you in regards to the problems of piracy. I firmly believe in people receiving reward for effort. I am not an author or musician however I appreciate the efforts that have been expelled in the production of the works. Not only has a great deal effort been used, but time and creativity as well. Then there's the fact you have decided to share your work with us for OUR enjoyment. If an author,musician or artist is willing to gift their work to someone great. However this should be the decision of the person who has created and owns the work. People should be willing to show their appreciation by compensation in the form of payment to those who are so willing to supply our forms of entertainment. Let's be honest here, piracy is as you say stealing.I prefer to enjoy my entertainment with a clear conscious.
Regards, Colleen