Randy Eberle's Blog: News from the Asylum - Posts Tagged "hatchette"
News from the Asylum: The Battle Rages On...
Early this morning, I received an email from Amazon Books Team, as I'm sure most of you did (especially if you're an author), urging me to write to the CEO of Hatchette.
I'm sure this was in response to the appalling and overly biased article published earlier this week in the NYT. In fact, the article was so one-sided that one of the Times' own reporters commented on the piece, citing how ashamed he was of its publication.
As far as the email I received this morning, I for one am happy to oblige and have already submitted my email to Hatchette. However, I've noticed some dissent among other Amazon authors upon having received the same email. One of them (whom I won't name) went so far as to post on Twitter today: "Dear Amazon, fight your own fucking battles".
This worries me a bit. While I feel the intention of Amazon Book Team's email was to give our voices an opportunity to be heard, I fear that some authors who were either on the fence or perhaps even taking Amazon's side might elect to switch teams. I hope this doesn't happen. Hatchette's underhanded dealings and questionable ethics in this dispute are unforgivable.
I personally think that Amazon should just forfeit any deals with Hatchette altogether and refuse to sell Hatchette titles. It wouldn't hurt Amazon's bottom line all that much (there are 4 other Publishing Houses in the Top 5), but you can bet your ass that it'll hurt Hatchette. The last I heard, Amazon sales make up for nearly 40% of Hatchette's revenue, in spite of the negotiations stand-still. Let's see how long Hatchette remains in the Top 5 when Amazon refuses to sell their books entirely. The only downside I see to this is the hit Hatchette authors would take, but at the same time, if I really wanted a book by such an author, I would be more than happy to head to my nearest independent bookstore and pick up a copy. In the meantime, Edan Lepucki's California is the last Hatchette title I have purchased, and I don't plan to pick up any more titles until the dispute is solved one way or the other.
Now that my rant is over, I do have some GOOD news! Earlier this week, I published my debut horror novel, Gemini and at the time of this posting, it's currently holding steady at #9 in Occult Horror on Amazon! You can purchase your copy by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.
Until next week, try to stay sane out there...
Randy Eberle
Hollybrook Inmate #313118
Gemini, by Randy Eberle
I'm sure this was in response to the appalling and overly biased article published earlier this week in the NYT. In fact, the article was so one-sided that one of the Times' own reporters commented on the piece, citing how ashamed he was of its publication.
As far as the email I received this morning, I for one am happy to oblige and have already submitted my email to Hatchette. However, I've noticed some dissent among other Amazon authors upon having received the same email. One of them (whom I won't name) went so far as to post on Twitter today: "Dear Amazon, fight your own fucking battles".
This worries me a bit. While I feel the intention of Amazon Book Team's email was to give our voices an opportunity to be heard, I fear that some authors who were either on the fence or perhaps even taking Amazon's side might elect to switch teams. I hope this doesn't happen. Hatchette's underhanded dealings and questionable ethics in this dispute are unforgivable.
I personally think that Amazon should just forfeit any deals with Hatchette altogether and refuse to sell Hatchette titles. It wouldn't hurt Amazon's bottom line all that much (there are 4 other Publishing Houses in the Top 5), but you can bet your ass that it'll hurt Hatchette. The last I heard, Amazon sales make up for nearly 40% of Hatchette's revenue, in spite of the negotiations stand-still. Let's see how long Hatchette remains in the Top 5 when Amazon refuses to sell their books entirely. The only downside I see to this is the hit Hatchette authors would take, but at the same time, if I really wanted a book by such an author, I would be more than happy to head to my nearest independent bookstore and pick up a copy. In the meantime, Edan Lepucki's California is the last Hatchette title I have purchased, and I don't plan to pick up any more titles until the dispute is solved one way or the other.
Now that my rant is over, I do have some GOOD news! Earlier this week, I published my debut horror novel, Gemini and at the time of this posting, it's currently holding steady at #9 in Occult Horror on Amazon! You can purchase your copy by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.
Until next week, try to stay sane out there...
Randy Eberle
Hollybrook Inmate #313118
Gemini, by Randy Eberle
News from the Asylum
Discussion and posts on anything from reviews of Dark Fiction (literary, movies, or television)to the publishing industry. Maybe even the occasional rant or two...
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