[jakonrath]

I'm late to this party, but I've found the thread interesting and want to add my two cents.

I've done a good amount of file sharing. Over the years, probably at least a terabyte of stuff. I'm on a few private torrent trackers that are invite-only. I've used file lockers. I've got a lot of music, movies, games, programs, and books for free.

I've also bought a lot of movies, music, games, programs, and books. A whole lot. Last count, I had over 5000 books, close to 10,000 videos and games, a whole bunch of legally obtained music. All originals.

File sharing has lead to me discovering things that I then go on to buy. I like originals on my shelf.

In some cases, file sharing is the only way to get media that is rare or out of print. It is astonishing how much stuff has never been released digitally. Stuff I'd gladly pay for, but no one will take my money because no one is selling it, except maybe on eBay for ridiculous amounts.

It's my belief that, in many cases, if I could acquire an original of something quickly, easily, and for a decent price, I'd buy it rather than steal it.

Oh, and also, I'm a bestselling author.

Just joined Mobilism, and searched for the names I write under, J.A. Konrath, Jack Kilborn, and Joe Kimball, and found a lot of links to my ebooks for free.

I'm fine with that. In fact, if I could ask a favor, I need more people to read Timecaster and Timecaster Supersymmetry by Joe Kimball. These are sci-fi action thrillers with a lot of humor and sex, and they haven't found their audience yet. Please read them any way you can, and if you'd be so kind post reviews on sites like Amazon.com, Goodreads, and BN.com. Spread the word.

I've blogged about piracy before, http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/05/piracy-again.html and even done my own experiments http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/05/s ... ebook.html. In my experience, piracy doesn't hurt sales, and in fact can help an artist sell more copies.

Now I can't say that also applies to Adobe or M$, but then my ebooks are reasonably priced at $2.99 each, not $399.99. I make my work available and obtainable as easily, quickly, and cheaply as possible. I insist that none of my ebooks have DRM (the ebook that I control--some are still controlled by my publishers). And I still managed to make a good living, even though I'm being pirated like crazy. I've even been known to seed Demonoid torrents of my own work.

Information wants to be free. But that doesn't mean artists will stop getting paid. File sharing is just another distribution channel, like libraries, bookstores, and Amazon. I don't think it is any different than recording a song off the radio, burning a CD for your buddy, lending a book to your mom, renting a movie from Netflix, or watching TV.

That's what the author of the English Monster doesn't understand. Pirates aren't preventing him from earning a living. His publisher is preventing him from earning a living, by charging $9.99 for an ebook download. That's insane. Why should a download be more than a paper copy?

Anyway, just thought I'd chime in as someone who is cool with file sharing, and still manages to get paid. Please read and discuss my Timecaster books--they need your help.

Joe Konrath


viewtopic.php?f=1147&t=313662

[Spookiegal]

Wow, what an honor to have an author of your caliber on this website. I have a quesiton for you in return. When I find an author whose work I like and want to support, if I have obtained an item at no cost, how can we make it right financially? I wish there was a no questions asked type of place where we could pay authors.

Many of us struggle with our own moral issues in this type of activity, but some read so much it is too costly to keep up the pace and many rationalize it by thinking of it as a library.

I can't guarantee you I will read the books you requested, because I do not read books with any sort of explicit sex. I will be posting a ratings question in the forum, as I am against any additional regulation on books, ut want to way to know to avoid this other than guessing by book covers.

I feel the same way about the pricing on ebooks, as the cost being equated to a paperback's cost is ridiculous. Thank you for recognizing that, and I will be checking out your work regardless.

This is why I love authors like you. You actually understand the depth of digital sharing. It's not theft. There have been people who HAND WROTE their favorite books and kept them, after they returned the original book to where it came from! And it's not like stealing a book from a library! (Which in a sense, I am also not against, but do not condone because the library 9 times out of ten can afford a new copy.) People can STILL get the book/movie/song/what else. It's not like once its downloaded, its gone forever! People do buy stuff!

If I wasn't in the rut I am in now, with doctors bills, barely affording ramen to feed both me and my fiancee, trying very hard to keep bills, rent and what not paid up, I would buy the books I love. It's even harder now that I have been injured, I can't work and I have to START the process of getting better, with no way to pay it. I am THANKFUL for Authors like you. People who actually know what piracy can do, and can't do.

Thank you sir.

Hey, new to this board and this discussion. As an aspiring novelist, I find what you've said very useful. Will read the books you've suggested and spread the word.

I personally use Mobilism as a filter. I download stuff from here that I would never by a hardcopy of. But on the other side I have found some really awsome authors in genres I wouldnt normally buy, and will now be purchasing their work on a going forward basis.

I'm also in agreement that a lot of books are at this point overpriced. The price differential between Canada and the US had hrdcovers hitting $40+ dollars for a while. Thanks god for the currency valuation change, but it took over two years for the publishers to catch up. The price differential in other areas of the world is worse, and buying power there is much lower.

[decay1973]

Really interesting discussion!

I'm a writer myself, and I'm a sharer too. I don't have much of a problem with pirating. What I've found recently, though, is that I do have a problem with hoarding. I read this article recently which really hit the nail on the head:

http://www.cultofmac.com/188297/why-i-s%20...%20ing-music/

Also, a few minutes ago, I was contacted by someone asking me to remove a post because she was the author of a book I'd helped spread. I duly contacted a moderator, we complied, and I told her what I'd done and wished her luck in her career, mentioning that I envied her position as a writer popular enough to be so widely pirated.

We ended up striking up a friendship of sorts, and I'm hoping she can come here to the Social Club and maybe share her insights on what it's like to be on the other side, just like some of you have already done...

[D.W. Jackson]

just donno

[Matthew Souden]

As a very new writer, I questioned myself on whether I should allow my book to be "pirated" or not. The conclusion I came to is that my book was written because I love writing. It will be read by people that love reading. Bringing money into this taints the entire experience. So I will be releasing my eBook version on Amazon in a few days but at the same time I will be releasing it here for free and if people then enjoy my book enough that they feel that they should pay for it then they can go and buy the eBook at a few dollars ( around $4 US ) or they can buy the paperback ( currently available on Amazon )which is $8 US before postage. I put my paperback this low because the postage can be truly horrifying depending on where you live.

In the end, I would rather make no money and be widely read and enjoyed, rather then make lots of money but only be read by those in a position to afford it. Reading should not be a luxury based on your income or lack of, words and stories are a gift and the sooner we as writers get off this whole "I have to get paid" rant and back to "I write because I love too" philosophy, the happier both writer and reader will be and the better and more pure the story will be. We must write what we want to write, and what sings to our souls, not what we think will sell the best.

My eBook will be released on the 16th of March both here and on Amazon. If anyone wants to help host that you can let me know

http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Self-Dest ... +paperback

[cadcam]

I agree with the above responder by saying Wow, what an honor to have you be a part of this.

I admit, I would not have bought your other books, unless I found one of your other books first online.

Thank you Mr. Konrath and please continue your outstanding work.

hey from Venezuela is very hard to buy book for the situacion Politics and with have control of or money, if this dont exit i be fan of multible indy autor, i want say thank all those auto that permit publish they book in this site ( especial thank to D.W. Jackson for permit read his book) sorry for my english

Hi
I use the mobilism to find new authors. If I really like them, then I buy the hardcover version for my bookshelf. Call me old fashioned, but nothing is like the feeling of a hardcover book. I can't afford to chance buying any new author when you are paying for hardcover.

[sethyn]

I know this discussion is a little old, but I'd like to toss my support in here. I'm an indie author and I've made a few bucks doing it at this point, so I guess I have a horse in this race. I've always viewed "pirating" in the same arena as a library...and every library I've ever visited allows you to take a book/CD/movie home and enjoy it for free.

That being said I won't lie and say that when I saw my own books on here my kneejerk reaction was annoyance. After I removed my hypocrite hat though, I realized and every new person that gets the chance to read my stuff is another opportunity to find a fan.

If you folks liked them, head over to Amazon or Goodreads and leave a little review love though. I'm not a part of the "five star review underground", so my books tend to languish in obscurity under the mighty weight of dinosaur porn.

My Books

Anyway, thanks for those who shared the books and perhaps recommended them to friends and whatnot. I appreciate it.

[BadCatt]

wow I have read some of your books Mr Konrath, loved them!!

[Weelee]

I am impressed with the Authors in this thread...love your attitude and also love some of the books written by the above

I purchase what I love...so I can read it again and again...but bin any eBook copy I've read and decided is not worth reading again

Thank you for making such wonderful material available to us: "the bibliophiles "

[Literati]

Agree with all those in here. I've been pirated WAY more than I've sold (I may actually have been offended otherwise lol) but I also realize that fighting the internet and how things are as it relates to "piracy", is simply tilting at windmills. I posted my own book here and on TPB and figure including a link to Smashwords/Amazon for reviews will help out, even if no one pays for it. If not one way, then another I suppose.