I am a Worried Reader.
For once, this post isn't about reading, but about writers and what is happening to them. I am greatly concerned about it, and hopefully, this will spark some deep thinking on our parts.
I have large respect for writers and what they do. I don't care if you write trashy romances or terrifying horror stories. Maybe you've written a book that I gave 5 stars, 2 stars or even 1 star to. That is a subjective opinion of a work itself and not of its author. Having been in the position I'm in, I can see much farther as a reader than I used to. Being a writer has opened my eyes, and what I'm seeing in the overall industry makes me scared for both existing authors and any new authors that may come along.
For instance, Harlequin, which has never been super great to its authors, has now decided to send out an email, an EMAIL trying to make a legal contract amendment and change the royalty system for ebooks. How insulting. "This is what we're going to do now, with your royalties, if you don't like it, you have to email us back by this date." How is that legal at ALL?? Leaving it to the authors to try and research what the changes mean, if they're actually beneficial, and if they want to keep their current conditions. Harlequin gives, by FAR, the lowest royalties on ebooks. Just ask Courtney Milan.
You can read what she says about HQN HERE.
Another great blogger, former lawyer, gives his take HERE.
Then we have Random House, who just decided they were going to change the author's royalty rates without so much as a by-your-leave. They didn't consult a contract or attempt to contact an author. It is a gross violation of author's rights.
Another great post on the subject by Passive Guy HERE.
But this is just the icing on the cake!! We have books not being published under contract, stuck in limbo for YEARS, and the publishing company doesn't seem to care at all. One of the worst stories I've read yet, and you'll find it HERE.
And here is another publishing company taking books they don't even have the RIGHTS to, and putting them up as ebooks on the web, to make money off of. Oh, yes, and NEVER paying the authors involved one single penny. Read about that example HERE.
It is disquieting and alarming. I am in a happy position myself, being self-published, that I haven't had to deal with this personally, as a writer. But as a reader I am appalled. Let's take a quick look at some of our favorite books and see who the publishers of these books are:
HQN, is the publisher of some pretty famous YA fantasy books under a subsidiary, HQN teen.
The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa
The Girl in the Iron Corset by Kady Cross
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Random House Children's books publishes a TON of my favorites.
Trickster's Series by Tamora Pierce
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares
His Dark Instruments series by Philip Pullman
These are just a few of the examples. Now, let me be clear, I have NO IDEA what kind of royalties these authors pull in, but it sounded, from the information given, as though these were across the board cuts. And even if they aren't, what if the changes DO start to affect the authors listed? Two of the selections on Random House are on my list of all time favorite YA fiction!
We love these authors and their writing. We want them to continue to write for us and to be happy doing so. And it is only fair that they get the percentages and respect they deserve!! You would be surprised how many books an author has to sell, based on the royalties they get, before they earn enough to make a living. Many of them have other jobs, but continue to write because they love it. Some of them (Piers Anthony, Jennifer Crusie) have mentioned feeling discouraged, unappreciated, and without inspiration because of what they are asked to produce again and again by the big money making machine that is the publishing industry.
For the situation to be getting so much worse, it makes me fear for them. I love reading books and I deeply appreciate the authors who write those books. We, as their readers, need to be taking our concerns to the publishing companies! We need to tell them that we won't stand for poor treatment of our authors. Publishing companies will go where the money is. If we make it clear that we won't buy their products if they continue to treat their authors so poorly, then maybe they will listen up, and do something about it.
*Quick ROW update- Aeris: 69,342
I have large respect for writers and what they do. I don't care if you write trashy romances or terrifying horror stories. Maybe you've written a book that I gave 5 stars, 2 stars or even 1 star to. That is a subjective opinion of a work itself and not of its author. Having been in the position I'm in, I can see much farther as a reader than I used to. Being a writer has opened my eyes, and what I'm seeing in the overall industry makes me scared for both existing authors and any new authors that may come along.
For instance, Harlequin, which has never been super great to its authors, has now decided to send out an email, an EMAIL trying to make a legal contract amendment and change the royalty system for ebooks. How insulting. "This is what we're going to do now, with your royalties, if you don't like it, you have to email us back by this date." How is that legal at ALL?? Leaving it to the authors to try and research what the changes mean, if they're actually beneficial, and if they want to keep their current conditions. Harlequin gives, by FAR, the lowest royalties on ebooks. Just ask Courtney Milan.
You can read what she says about HQN HERE.
Another great blogger, former lawyer, gives his take HERE.
Then we have Random House, who just decided they were going to change the author's royalty rates without so much as a by-your-leave. They didn't consult a contract or attempt to contact an author. It is a gross violation of author's rights.
Another great post on the subject by Passive Guy HERE.
But this is just the icing on the cake!! We have books not being published under contract, stuck in limbo for YEARS, and the publishing company doesn't seem to care at all. One of the worst stories I've read yet, and you'll find it HERE.
And here is another publishing company taking books they don't even have the RIGHTS to, and putting them up as ebooks on the web, to make money off of. Oh, yes, and NEVER paying the authors involved one single penny. Read about that example HERE.
It is disquieting and alarming. I am in a happy position myself, being self-published, that I haven't had to deal with this personally, as a writer. But as a reader I am appalled. Let's take a quick look at some of our favorite books and see who the publishers of these books are:
HQN, is the publisher of some pretty famous YA fantasy books under a subsidiary, HQN teen.
The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa
The Girl in the Iron Corset by Kady Cross
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter
Random House Children's books publishes a TON of my favorites.
Trickster's Series by Tamora Pierce
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series by Ann Brashares
His Dark Instruments series by Philip Pullman
These are just a few of the examples. Now, let me be clear, I have NO IDEA what kind of royalties these authors pull in, but it sounded, from the information given, as though these were across the board cuts. And even if they aren't, what if the changes DO start to affect the authors listed? Two of the selections on Random House are on my list of all time favorite YA fiction!
We love these authors and their writing. We want them to continue to write for us and to be happy doing so. And it is only fair that they get the percentages and respect they deserve!! You would be surprised how many books an author has to sell, based on the royalties they get, before they earn enough to make a living. Many of them have other jobs, but continue to write because they love it. Some of them (Piers Anthony, Jennifer Crusie) have mentioned feeling discouraged, unappreciated, and without inspiration because of what they are asked to produce again and again by the big money making machine that is the publishing industry.
For the situation to be getting so much worse, it makes me fear for them. I love reading books and I deeply appreciate the authors who write those books. We, as their readers, need to be taking our concerns to the publishing companies! We need to tell them that we won't stand for poor treatment of our authors. Publishing companies will go where the money is. If we make it clear that we won't buy their products if they continue to treat their authors so poorly, then maybe they will listen up, and do something about it.
*Quick ROW update- Aeris: 69,342
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I forgot to say, as usual, your blog is quite educational!!
It is heartbreaking for me to read these stories, especially Ian Tregillis. He did exactly what most of us want to do, he sold a series, to a huge publisher: Macmillan. Yet what has been done to him is just SHOCKING. This should not be happening.
This is a really depressing post. It must have been hard to write. I think we forget, as readers, that our favorite authors live anywhere but in our imaginations. We forget they're people with needs like paying the bills. We figure if we buy their books, all is right with the world.
I'm going to be honest, this just sucks. That Bitter Seeds guy was definitely the saddest story, because he thought he'd finally made it, only to have the rug pulled right out from underneath him.
This makes me sick to my stomach. I've never been a big HQN reader, although I've picked up a few of their teen books. But I have read a TON of random house books!! I think I'm going to have to send them an outraged email. Shameful.