I was most annoyed by the Macmillan/Amazon debacle last week and vowed to stop using Amazon. I'm about to go to Harbour Bookshop to buy the Christopher Reid book (can't really afford it, but will sacrifice all coffees and lunches out this week)as my library copy is due back, but even other online outfits like the 'BookDepository' would be better than Amazon. I also cannot imagine buying a Kindle. I like to own books; I like their physical feel; I even like scribbling in them (and photocopying the odd bit to show a friend); I certainly could not cope with the idea that 'Big Brother' Amazon could delete a text from my Kindle memory, or that I cannot add rude comments to a page as I'm reading. I think Amazon does need taking down a peg or two, but unless more people speak out - especially to advertise other second-hand and 'special deal' sources - then not much will happen.
I don't know enough about the workings of the publishing industry, but as so many of the smaller and more specialist companies seem to be sinking I'm loathe to be sweepingly negative, I don't want any more disappearing. What are the alternatives? Suggestions please. Self-publishing makes me think of Parliament before MPs' expenses were introduced, when all the ones without money could not take part.
I do feel for authors stuggling to make a living, but I've never thought of writing as a source of income (more an illness or obsession) and have been ridiculously delighted when anyone has paid me anything - but then I would not want to be taken advantage of. Maybe the likes of JK Rowling and Dan Brown should subsidise struggling authors?
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