I’m upset. Really upset. On behalf of my lovely friend-in-ink, the magnificent Mandy Baggot, who kept us all entertained in her recent Hot Holidays! spot, but also on my own behalf and that of all writers.
Two of Mandy’s books have appeared for free on a website. She writes about her anger i. Her blog: http://m.mandybaggot.com/site/mobile?dm_path=%2Fapps%2Fblog%2Fshow%2F42462497%2Dwant%2Dthe%2Dshirt%2Doff%2Dmy%2Dback%2D&fw_sig_access_token=8dbb6877fcde32eda245c3d2c1088e550cab50d1&fw_sig_url=http://www.mandybaggot.com/&fw_sig=726460ae4e6deb28cd254b257f43a699&fw_sig_premium=1&fw_sig_site=37499586&fw_sig_tier=1&fw_sig_is_admin=0&fw_sig_locale=en-US&fw_sig_social=1&fw_sig_permission_level=0&fw_sig_session_key=7bf9238779f23994937fc8511cd437e8419d65f2581d3b8ae2c81177194f43c6-37499586&fw_sig_potential_abuse=1&fw_sig_time=1404815608275&fw_sig_permissions=none&fw_sig_api_key=522b0eedffc137c934fc7268582d53a1&fb_sig_network=fw#1211
I totally empathise with her. People think that writers live the life of Riley, sitting at home Ll day, knocking out a couple of thousand words and then laughing all the way to the banks, whilst sipping champagne and signing the million pound film rights of our latest book. OH THAT IT WERE SO!! And even if it were, why would that give people the right to STEAL our work.
Only another writer knows the blood, sweat and tears that go into writing a book. Many writers also write articles or even copy for brochures, pamphlets and interview scripts. Many are totally exploited by websites such as Elance, where writers are invited to bid for work and the job usually goes to the lowest bidder, who is prepared to produce twenty thousands words for fifty US dollars. The Internet, so wonderful in so many ways, has a lot to answer for sometimes.I, like Mandy, offer my books free on Kindle for a limited period as a promotion. I have one such promotion this coming Saturday, 12th July, when HOLIDAY READS will be free for a day. But that is because I have CHOSEN to do so.
I, none of us, expect people to steal our work when we are generous and it’s not as if our books cost a fortune in the first place!
Shame on the website, Masszip, and shame on anyone who’s downloaded books from it! GRRRR!!
