From Author #1
Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is for book reviewers to stop comparing novels to television programs and films instead of making literary comparisons; to stop reviewing novels as if they had been written by the main characters; to stop giving away crucial plot points in reviews; and to stop making assumptions confusing the novel's sensibility with the author's own world view.
All I want for Christmas, Santa -- I'm not done yet -- is for reviewers of nonfiction to stop writing falsely erudite essays based on the book at hand witout giving the book any credit for the reviewer's possession of this information; to stop writing reviews based entirely on a prior conviction about the subject of the book which may be a barely-cncealed axe to grind; and to stop assuming that the cleverest way to review a nonfiction book is to discover that the author has an agenda which is the fatal flaw of the book. All I want for Christmas is for all book reviewers to write fair and thoughtful reviews, not sniping, self-aggrandizing, stylistic showing-off reviews.
If this is too much to ask for, Santa, could I have
these things just for MY book which comes out next summer?
From Author #2
Dear Santa:
For my non-denominational Christmas present, I would like Amazon to stop selling used books in competition with new books -- at least for the first six months of a book's life. This issue has been covered repeatedly in THE NEW YORK TIMES because the Authors Guild has repeatedly asked Jeff Bezos, Amazon owner, to refrain from this practice. He has repeatedly refused to change the policy. Amazon doesn't care whether the policy is bad for publishers or for authors.
The evidence indicates he is as happy to sell diapers as books.
Amazon encourages book buyers to sell their used books on the top of every book page. The economics are simple. Amazon gets a cut of every used book sold (percentage + partial shipping + transaction fee per book--this adds up!) ; the seller gets his share -- and the author and the publisher get nothing. A book of mine is being sold on Amazon now for ONE PENNY (Amazon gets transaction fee + partial shipping; seller gets almost nothing. I get exactly nothing.) The book business works because people buy books. Publishers recoup their investments; authors receive royalties. If the bookstore itself is in the business of discouraging buyers from buying books from publishers, authors lose in the short -term and the long-term.
Sincerely,
A Book Author
From Author #3
Dear Santa,
This year for the holidaze I would appreciate it if you could explain to authors that whining, sniping and snarking in public is both childish and embarressing.
While you're at it could you also explain how bragging about your advance, productivity, popularity, reviews, talent, hardcover vs paperback, contracts and/or status on the bestseller lists or award lists is unattractive.
I'm not saying a healhty dose of ego is bad or that authors shouldn't be proud of their achievements - but the way this is now taken for entertiament on the internet in blogs, writers forums and listservs is not serving the community well.
Thank's Santa. I hope you plan on delivering a lot of books this year!
An Author
Recent Comments