ePiracy Rant

I need to let off a little steam today.

Prior to my Mirabelle books getting published, I hadn't paid much attention to the whole piracy thing. It's something I'm pretty much helpless to do anything about, so why get all worked up over the issue, right?

My first two books haven't been released in ebook format, and I'm honestly glad for that. It means I don't have to worry about them getting passed around for nothing. I've spotted my NASCAR books several times on a few piracy sites, have requested they be taken down, and the sites have thankfully complied relatively quickly. Still, one of my NASCAR books had been downloaded close to 300 times before I became aware it was out there.

What's got me all worked up now is something that happened this past week.

I was searching through a couple of well-known piracy sites for my books and low and behold what did I find? Someone actually put out a request for my Mirabelle books. A REQUEST for a free download. I couldn't believe it. All I could do was seethe as I monitored the site, waiting to see what would happen.

Sure enough, someone uploaded my first two Mirabelle's last Saturday. I sent emails to have them taken down. AS I was following up to see if the site complied (which is hasn't, by the way) someone uploaded my third Mirabelle book. THEN COMES A BABY won't even be on book shelves until December and it's already being pirated.

Since Saturday, my three new books have been pirated 50 times. Any guesses what that number will be in a week?

One of the things that amazes me the most is that these people have no shame. Stealing ebooks isn't considered a dirty little secret. They do it in plain view. Then they have the balls enough to talk right on the same sites about who their favorite authors are and why they enjoy the stories.

Guess what guys, keep it up and your favorite authors won't be able to afford writing any longer. Eventually, you'll have nothing to read worth stealing.

I think the most frustrating thing about this is that my hands are tied. I can't do anything about it.

A few books back, I told my agent that I'd like to keep the erights to my books because I wasn't happy with the royalty rate. She said she thought it was a mistake. I'm not convinced. If I understand my royalty statements that came last week, I've made a total of about $140 from ebook sales. That's gross. Right off the top, 15% goes to my agent. I'm not sure that's worth giving the erobbers something for absolutely nothing.

There's this perception out there that writers--all writers--are rolling in the dough. My husband's coworkers and clients are always asking him when he's going to retire. I'd like to set the record straight. I work fulltime at this and my twenty-year-old daughter makes more per hour nannying a couple of kids than I do writing. I could make about as much as a clerk at a supermarket and at least then I would have benefits. I know because I paid my way through college working in a grocery store.

The only reason I can afford to do this right now is because my husband is being patient. He's supporting our family while I try to get this business--and yes, it is a business--up and running. And if it doesn't start at least jogging soon, I will have to quit writing.

I understand not being able to afford buying books. Trust me, I've been there. But just because a person doesn't have the money, doesn't entitle her to steal. That's what piracy is ... stealing.

There's this thing called a library, folks. They're free, legal and support writers by buying their books.

I truly believe that a lot of the people who read these pirated books have no real understanding of the ramifications of their actions. When Napster first came out, my husband and I downloaded some songs, until it hit me one day. I related it to book publishing and we stopped. Right away, I went out and bought a bunch of CDs of artists I'd ripped off.

So do your favorite authors a favor and educate your friends, family, and coworkers. Please spread the word that the majority of authors work very hard and are paid very little. Every time you download a pirated book you're not just taking from some big corporation with deep pockets. You're not sticking it to the man. You're sticking it to an author.

ePiracy, in every form--movies, books, music--hurts real, hard-working people.

One thing I'd like to clarify. Borrowing actual books between friends isn't at issue here, at least not if someone initially bought that book new. That's not stealing. It's sharing. I think it's great to share books you love with others. Books eventually wear out. They can't be read and reread indefinitely. Ebooks, on the other hand, go on and on and on.

So to everyone out there who buys their favorite authors books or borrows them from a library or a friend, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for your support!

Helen