I’ve been very excited this week about the Spanish version of Sucks to Be Me being released (Ser yo un asco). It’s my first book and my first translation and even in a language that I can (kind of) read. That’ll never happen again! You only get one first book and one feeling of “wow, other people can read my book in another language now! I’ve gone global!”
So I was doing what all authors do — searching for mentions of the book. And I found one on Twitter via http://twitter.com/librosintinta I was very excited until I clicked through and realized that what they had posted was not a review, but a download to a pirated translated version of my book. They do have a disclaimer up stating they will take any links down if requested (and I’m planning on doing that today and have already notified my agent and publishers — and the site they linked to has already taken the file down after my agent requested it, so if you came here looking for a free download of the book, you hopefully won’t find it…but please read on and find out why you shouldn’t be downloading “free” books anyway…), but…
This sucks.
Strangely enough, I had read a post earlier this week from Will Wheaton (remember him? He played that kid on Star Trek and now he writes books and other stuff) about just this topic. Someone had posted a pirated copy of his latest audio book for free download on the web and the post was his open letter to the guy who did it. He says it pretty well, but I’d like to add some additional thoughts.
First off, I completely understand why some people download books (and other stuff) for free. When I was growing up, we were dirt poor. And I’m not exaggerating. If I wanted to read a book I had to go to the library or save up my lunch money (i.e. forego eating; which I often did…reading is probably the reason I was so skinny back then). If downloadable books had been an option then, who knows. I might have done it, not realizing how many people I was hurting.
Because downloading unauthorized copies of books does hurt people. All of those 300 or so people that downloaded the copy of my book before we got the link taken down? You’ve stolen directly from me. And not just me, but a bunch of other people too. Sure, publishers are companies and it’s easy to think about stealing from a faceless corporation. But those corporations are made up of people — editors, publicists, art designers, copy editors and many, many more. You’re stealing from each one of them.
And before you say, “Pfffft, authors make tons of money. They can afford getting stiffed on my copy of the book.” let me explain something else. Most authors do NOT make tons of money. You want to know how much I make off of each book? Approximately a dollar. And that’s the hardback. I get more like 40 cents off of each paperback. Yes, you read that right. Think about how many copies I would need to sell before I become anywhere near rich (not to mention I only get paid quarterly). And then add in taxes and health care and all of those things…I literally could not afford to write if my husband didn’t have a decent job (and was supportive of my career — thank you, Tony). So when you steal a book from me, it does hurt. And compound that with each person who steals and add it up and it really hurts.
You might also bring up the cost of books as justification. I have a couple of things to say about that too. One, prices rise when things are stolen because the publisher has to make up the loss somehow. The more is stolen, the more prices will rise over the long term. Two, you have alternatives. You don’t have to steal to read a book. You can borrow a copy from the library. You can borrow a copy from a friend. You can actually *buy* the book and support the author so they can continue to write more books.
I choose to believe that people (especially teens) who download a pirated copy of a book don’t realize that they are stealing from and hurting other people. They are just thinking about the immediate I want to read that book (and really, I’m glad they do!) and not the consequences of their actions. I could be cynical and say they’re just a bunch of thieves who don’t care about others, but I don’t want to think that about any of my readers. I don’t. You’re who I write for.
Please pass this on. If it makes one person think before downloading something illegally, then I’ll be happy.
Thanks for this post! It has been RTed on Twitter. I think often when people think of authors and money they think of people like Stephen King or of things like J.K. Rowling’s rags to riches story. Not that it is right to steal from those authors either, but it makes it easier to justify to yourself. We need to be reminded that not all authors, not even all the good and recognized ones (like you =) ) have made a fortune off of their work and that it is *your* work and your livlihood.
Thanks! And thanks for passing it on. I really do understand since I can imagine myself as I was when I was a teenager. I might have done the same thing. It’s just painful now when you’ve spent literally months and years on something, to then have someone steal it.
I know. And it hurts even more knowing that there are so many of us out there *like me* who spend hundreds of their baby sitting money on buying these books meanwhile there are others out there who see FREE and immeadiately get it. Everyone thinks every author out there has boatloads of money because of movies and things like James Patterson, and JK Rowling. When in reality they really dont have that much money from any of those things. Authors like James Patterson and JK Rowling earned all that money from several books and hard work put into effor through out years. JK Rowling really didnt start making money until Harry Potter was put into the US. Meanwhile James Patterson only does because all he has so many books that have been turned into so many different things and into so many different languages. I think it will stop happening so often if people broaden their horizions with books and realize not all authors are as well know which means they dont make a ton of money.
Exactly, Ari, thanks! I think people would be really surprised at some of the authors who still have “day jobs” — very successful authors! Unless you’re either wildly successful (which most of us aren’t; most of us are very happy that we’re selling enough books that publishers will publish our next ones) or you’re able to write (and get published) multiple books a year, you just plain can’t support yourself on writing alone.
And besides the time it takes to write, we also put a lot of our own money into promoting our books. If we’re lucky our publishers also help promote our work, but we have to promote our books as well. I think my first two royalty checks actually went directly into promotional stuff like ads and t-shirts and fangs and books to give away and what-not.
I write only to apologize for the damage caused by the publication of your book. One person sent it me one week ago because it was published on several blogs and it got on mine. I’m sorry if I have troubled you, the post was deleted. We hang the books because in my country is very difficult to get it, do not consider for publication of books, we are not taken into account. Again I apologize for the inconvenience caused, if anything I can do to compensate I’m at your disposal.
I write this apology sincerely, I really regret what happened.
María del Carmen
María — Thank you for stopping by and for apologizing. I appreciate it!
I will pass this message on. I have actually made my friends and myself, start buying books all together and stop borrowing from the library because we want more books! I will blog about this to get the message out there and completely agree with your points.