Dear Reader

There are going to be a lot of these going up, I guess.

So there is a big drama (was) a big drama going around twitter & blogland on Monday-I couldn't stop to blog about it then because I was tttthhhiiissss close to finishing up my book and I still have to edit it, and edit the RS book, but anyway.

I haven't had a blog rant in a week or two.  Let's have at it.

There are a number of authors who want to demand how readers buy books.  This crap happens every so often.

The latest, though, was interesting.  It included steps on how a reader should buy an author's book.  Steps.

Format.  When.  How. Where.

Up front disclaimer…I have no issue if an author wants to offer an incentive to get readers to buy during the week of release.  I do those sometimes.  Week of release sales do count.

Now, there is a right way to do this, and oh, crap, that couldn't be more wrong way.  Beating people over the head and demanding that in order to enter, they have to buy X amount of copies?  Wrong way.  Yes.  I've seen this.   Hopefully, just offering a giveaway is an okay way to do it.  But there's a difference, for me, between trying to entice people to buy at a certain people…and laying out politely worded demands.

Certain things are …well. Crass.

Implying that if a reader really, really loves me, she should

a) only buy print

b) only buy from indies

c) if indies aren't an option, then she must go to certain chain in order to punish this chain… (don't ask me to explain this logic, because I can't)

Okay.  I'm boggled.  You know what I want from readers?  That's easy…

If you're getting my books through legit channels?  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

If you're talking about them…?  Thank you so much!

It doesn't matter if it's print, ebook, library…and, yes, I'm fine with used bookstores, because I know a lot of people, if you like what you've read, you'll go out and snatch up every single book you can find new. (No, not everybody, but I've gotten enough readers through UBS to know this happens…they can't be discounted.  UBS can totally hook readers.)

Now all the blah, blah, blah about buying multiple copies? Buying only in a certain format? Whatever.

People get very uptight about hitting the lists.  Does it matter?  Yes.  It does.  To an author, it matters a lot.  It's not just a matter of pride, but it's a way of proving to your publisher that they can count on you.  You're worth the time, the money, the effort they put into you.  It does matter.

Do I want to hit the big lists?  Yes.  I keep working, I keep trying, I keep hoping.  But I refuse to bash my readers over their heads to do it.  If (no, when) I do it, it's going to be because you all put me there and I'm going to show my appreciation through saying thank you…not making endless demands.

And although I haven't hit the big ones yet, I still want to say thank you.  You readers who buy my books, who check my stuff out through libraries, you readers who blog about my stuff, tweet about my stuff, you rock.  You are amazing.  Thank you.