Monday, January 17, 2011

Slacking, writing and dying fairies

Sorry I've been a bit slack on the blogging front this past week, but I have a good excuse. OK, it's not that good. I've been busy doing ENTANGLED-related stuff and even busier working on book 3. Book 3 is turning out to be... interesting. I've no idea where it's going, but I'm just running with it and trying not to look over my shoulder.

Oh, I've also been busy sending emails to my publisher. Emails with the links to the various (and worryingly numerous) sites that are offering my book for illegal download. My feelings on the matter are pretty simple, and very similar to those of the bloody brilliant Lilith St. Crow, who blogged about it here. Warning: there are loads of F-bombs in that post, but I think each one has earned its place. So, please, if you like books and you want writers to keep writing books for you to enjoy, don't download illegally. Also, every time you download a book illegally, a fairy dies a horribly excruciating death.

I'm off down to London for the ENTANGLED launch party in a couple of days. Lots of my favourite people in the same room, wine AND cupcakes?! Bring it on.

10 comments:

  1. I hope you have a fabulous time in London. Illegal downloads is nasty :( but unfortunately there are people out there who don't care and in this digital age I don't see how it can be stopped. Whoever comes up with a way to stop this piratng will be a very rich person! Personally, I'll carry on buying and be happy in the knowledge that I will be saving a fairy's life :)

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  2. The illegal downloads thing really gets my goat. Saundra Mitchell also did an article about it and set out how dangerous it is for writers - http://saundramitchell.com/blog/?p=4258 - a very real, very shocking bit of eloquent writing.

    Am so excited about seeing you later this week. Hope Book 3 goes well!

    L x

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  3. The Slowest Bookworm- Thank you for doing your bit to keep the fairies alive!

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  4. Liz- That Saundra Mitchell post is excellent. Food for thought for those naughty fairy-killers, definitely.

    Can't wait to see you on Thurs! x

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  5. Have you seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6vgkDbMcZc

    Very disappointed in Charlie. Like I pointed out in the comments, you may not have stolen a physical copy of the book/song/film you illegally download - but what you HAVE done is steal the income from an author or artist. It's like reaching straight into our wallets and taking the money out. Just because it's easy, that doesn't make it right.

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  6. Zoe- I have seen that - had forgotten all about it. Very disappointing, I agree. Sigh.

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  7. Man, illegal downloading sucks. How are they doing this? Does someone sit down and type up your book just so they can let others download it or something. Shows how much I know about this stuff. But seriously, people can borrow books for free from the library so they should get off their butts and do it.

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  8. Just want to wish you good luck with the book launch. I am a friend of your Aunt Julia.

    Cheers, Moira

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  9. Becky- Too right. Libraries are the perfect solution.

    Moira- Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. The fact that books can be borrowed for free from a library will not be lost on many of those who seek to justify illegal downloads. I am sure that they would argue that not paying to read the book in either case makes them just the same.

    What they are failing to appreciate however, is that thanks to PLR (Public Lending Right), authors do get paid when their books are borrowed and this forms an important income stream for many writers.

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