Rusty Blackwood — top-ranking romantic fiction author on Google — states…

For my second entry — I may be sparse in entries but I’m persistent in intention — I would like to say a few words on behalf of myself — yes — but all other Indie authors out there whose fight for acknowledgment,  and exposure in their prospective genres is a never ending battle. And not only acknowledgment and exposure, but respect and legitimate sale of their work. Now, I realize that once someone kindly purchases your book you no longer have any say as to what they do with it. It becomes their property. Every author knows this, understands it, and accepts it. However, people often buy a book and then share it on, thinking they are doing a favor for their friends who might be interested in reading it. Now they might possibly be genuine in their desire to read a piece of written work, and the friend lending said piece might be doing so with regard to doing what any good friend would do, and that is spare their friend the cost of purchase. As I say, acts on both parts of the lender and recipient may be carried out with no ill-intention planned, or in the very least, intended by any way or means of monetary depravity to the author of said work. But this goes on more than one realizes, regardless of the intention.

Now, I have a question for those who partake in this act. Can the cost  for a paperback, or an e-book, be that great that only one person out of an entire group can afford their own? And does the work, talent, and time which goes into writing a book, not count for anything in the end but a round of sharing by those who do not respect what is involved enough to purchase their own copy? Maybe everyone has the idea that all writers are paid a phenomenal amount of money, therefore do not require the royalty, or profit from a single book? Not every writer is published by a standard House with a huge advance up front and then continued royalty with each sale. A lot choose not to go that route, simply because they wish to hang onto their rights and direction of their work without the demand it be signed away in return for a contract.

But regardless of the route taken, the writer should be acknowledged and compensated for their labor, just like anyone else would be in any job. Yet we’re not, and the problem of sharing by readers continues. And on top of this, the recipient of the book cannot even write a simple review, a few words as to whether they liked it, or didn’t, or if they would recommend it to someone else who might even be intending to purchase a copy, which would be some form of compensation, but nothing! Nothing is said, nor does the practice cease — if anything it increases. Angry you might say? Possibly ticked? YES!! This is why I wanted to write about this topic, for I feel it is something that is in need of a bright spotlight.

Those of us who self-publish our work — Indie authors — are dependent on the individual sale of every book we publish. If a plummer fixes your broken pipes which may have burst in the recent cold that we had experienced earlier this week, he is paid for that. He expects to be paid for his labor, and he is compensated for it. This relates to any form of service rendered. Why then, cannot the same practice be applied to books?

My latest romantic fiction is now available on NOOK at Barnes & Noble, and also on Smashwords for all electronic readers, and I was pleasantly surprised to read an interesting message written by Smashwords that appears on the electronic copyright page.  I feel like slapping them on the back, giving them two thumbs up, and screaming THANK YOU!! I wish all areas of the Arts carried this for every artist in their prospective field. Now, hopefully people will heed the message, and if they cannot, then they do not need to bother ordering. One might say my message here might be cutting my own throat. Then again how can I do that when the public does it for me? I would be very interested in hearing COMMENTS on this topic by anyone wishing to do so. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

Maybe if we, the writers and authors, spoke up a little more than we might possibly find our sales and compensation starting to grow. My word, that would be wonderful, indeed!

Please take this link to the above mention Copyright page for verification, and I thank you.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/sample/read/2940045501675

Rusty

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