A few weeks ago I posted my views on Digital Piracy. I then posted it around the net, engaging authors in discussions with the hope of trying to reduce stress for my fellow indies.

There were mixed responses.

This thread on Goodreads shows one extreme: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/17798481-dealing-with-book-piracy?comment=145391619#comment_145391619

The author stopped just short of blatantly accusing me of practising pirating myself. Besides a certain lack on understanding about how piracy actually works, she is absolutely convinced that she knows better than me what goes inside my head.

Not a position I normally argue with.

It’s sad, because all this frothing-at-the-mouth and equating digital files-haring to Grand Theft Auto is actually hindering from finding a good solution. Until those rabid opponents realise that an author gets about the same compensation as they got from used book sales and library loans, this attitude just creates an antagonism to any new model that might be of benefit.

Thankfully they are only one end of the spectrum. On the other are a lot of reasonable people. In a lively discussion in one of the better Facebook authors group, another author has vented her frustration. Read all the comments yourself: https://www.facebook.com/groups/239793746052181/permalink/1078053408892873/.

You’ll note that quite a few indie authors recognise that this battle will not be won by shouting louder, but by rethinking our approach to digital file-sharing, and engaging potential readers more – even if there’s no immediate sale. It’s just a different sales model, no different that any other in the online age.

A few had also adopted my blurb for their book (I’m so proud!), and one particular blogger has also posted about it. Go read – the end of the post made me snort my coffee out laughing: https://morgansmithauthor.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/on-book-piracy/