Hot Takes...

And opinions that might not be well received by some.

I'm not sure what happened to 2024, but there's been an upsurge of things in the bookish world that I never thought would be okay. Things that some people think are small but have MASSIVE impacts on everyone who deals with books. Instead of doing a series on all things bad, I just want to share my opinions on these few specific topics.

Will I offend some people? Sure. Probably. But if these opinions are offensive to you, then we can't be friends and best to know that now.

PIRATING BOOKS

Yeah. This is a thing. I know. I'm dumbfounded that I have to say "Hey. Don't steal books!" but... well...

"HEY! DON'T STEAL BOOKS!"

There's been a huge amount of discourse over on IG and Threads specifically about the uptick in authors' books being pirated. One person had lady balls big enough to write and publish the statement that she thinks books should be free and will continue to pirate copies and offer them to other readers. She's, you know, serving the people. A modern day Robin Hood of the Literary World.

Boo-boo. Honey chile. No ma'am.

Piracy is bad. It's why those guys are ALWAYS dressed in black and ALWAYS look scary in the movies. We're taught from a very young age that the pirates are not good people. They STEAL.

I don't traditionally publish so I won't speak to that aspect but I am an indie author. And let me tell you. If you pirate one of my books, I'm basically done as an author.

"Why's that, Rosie?"

Great question, I would love to tell you.

I am an indie author who works exclusively with Amazon. For good or for not, whether you're a Bezos buddy or boycotter, that's the route I am currently taking. Might change in the future or I might always have my books there. Why did I choose Kindle?

Because it was the least stressful, most convenient path for a super small (think I'm doing this solo) indie author. I don't have promoters. I don't have artists or agencies to help back me. We as a family live on my husband's income, which means that there's not really a ton of money to go handing out to various sellers. Also, ISBNs (those barcodes on books) have to be purchased separately for each version of a single book. It adds up. It all adds up. So yes. I'm exclusive to Amazon & Kindle. This means my books are available in KU, which I know a lot of people use. Not everyone, I get that. But a lot of readers do.

Did you read the big word in there? EXCLUSIVE!

So, if you pirate my book and offer it somewhere else... it's no longer exclusive. I didn't do that. I'm abiding by my CONTRACT with Amazon. You voided it.

Guess what happens when the Zon finds out my books aren't exclusive anymore.

That's right. They take them down. They take any money I would have made that month and basically ban me from selling there again.

Those readers who want to finish a series? Can't. Because you stole my book(s).

The Audible projects I have in the pipeline? Kilt. Doneso. Not possible. Which means anyone who needs accessibility options to read my books is screwed too.

So, you Robin Hoods of Books... think about that. You're not helping anyone. Not really. You're killing someone's dream.

"Books should be free"? Guess what. They are. Libraries exist. They have everything there. And if they don't, you can reach out to them and they can reach out and WAH-BAM! More books!

Libby and Hoopla. Kobo/ Kobo Plus are great options too.

I mentioned in a Threads comment that I've been the BROKE college kid. Literally living on my $5.15/hr minimum wage jobs; I worked 2-3 at a time while going to college, living with my younger sisters who weren't always able to help financially. You think I could afford new books? NO!!! I was going to used book stores all the time! Asking for books for every gift-giving holiday. Borrowing from libraries (school and local).

Then I got older. I got a big-girl job as an Intramural Director in Texas. And had even less money. I found ways to read then.

Then, I got even older. I met my now husband. We had a kid (and then a second three years later). He was an apprentice service tech and I worked in the billing dept of a dental office. We didn't have a ton of money PLUS I was paying towards St. Loans. Think there were dollar bills flying around? NO! This is when I found KU and was like "Ok. I can spend $9.99/mo and read so many books!" Every month I'd double check with him and he'd tell me "we can't afford for you not to have this!" So we found the Ten bucks a month.

Yes, the price has gone up, but there are options now. Usually I gift myself a 1- or 2-year membership so I basically get a few months free. I bulk buy Audible credits to save when I want more audiobooks. Or I add a ton to my wishlist --both audio and digital/print-- and then get emails when they go on sale!

I've been a broke kid. I've been a broke adult. I'm a super small indie author who still loves to read more than any other hobby or hyper-fixation I might have going on. And yet, I've never resorted to stealing books. Libraries nowadays have even removed the penalties for late returns!

So please, stop stealing our work and saying it's a public service.

AI + ChatGPT

I know AI is potentially a great tool. I know there are so many ways it could be utilized for good. But right now? Right now there are people claiming to be authors who are having SOFTWARE write their stories. Design their covers.

Hell yeah it'd be real easy to publish more books and therefore bring in more money every month if I didn't have to sit down and actually write them! Do you know how frustrating it is to spend 3 hours sitting at a desk and see the total number of words only go up by like 1500 sometimes?

Do you know how tedious it is to work a cover? Adjust and readjust so the spine is perfect? Your name/title is centered based on the book's thickness but then also matches the eBook cover? Because the sizing for those are VERY different.

Do you know what it feels like when the characters pull a detour that wrecks the entire story, sending you into massive rewrites? Gawd, that's rough.

But at the end of the day, my characters are mine. They are the people I had in my head and their stories were the ones I created.

Using AI or ChatGPT for the purpose of churning out books? I can't call you an author for that. I can't say you created art when you used AI.

This topic has actually made me resist things like AI Scheduling software that might make me more productive. Honestly. Hand to heart. I won't use Motion or anything similar because I just see the havoc those services are taking on my bookish world.

ARC Readers & Listeners

Look. I love a good book. I love a good FREE book. I'm not above feeling that sense of giddiness when I see the email saying "You were chosen for this ARC!" FUGH Yeah! Thank you!

The issue is what I've seen a lot lately. As an author... and as a reader.

As an author

I've had so many people or companies reach out. "I love your work!" "This story sounds incredible!" "I can't wait to see what happens."

And then it's followed up with "I'd love to read your book! Send me a copy at XX@happytime dot com and for $50 I'll share a single review. For $100 I'll share a review and graphic." So on and so on. You get the point.

*** Please note: this is about people who reach out TO ME and then request money. I've reached out to a few content creators and bookstagrammers. Some have said they have a fee, which I understand. I reached out to you. You didn't approach me and then demand money. Maybe I'm bass-ackwards. shrug

I started ARC reading about eleven years ago. I had a tiny baby. I was recently let go from a toxic job so money was even tighter. And then... then Kelly Jamieson came into my life. She opened up a Street Team and I was allowed to join. Not long after that, Tawna Fenske opened her own Street Team and I was allowed there too. I've ARC read for those two incredibly talented and kind women for over a decade. I've taken time off when the Zon decided I was no longer allowed to leave reviews (no reason was given and I know I didn't break any rules.) When I reached out, they totally understood. When IG, Bookbub, Booksprout, & even Goodreads became bigger platforms to leave reviews, I reached back out and asked if I could start inquiring for ARCs again, knowing I still can't review on the Zon. Both of them said ABSOLUTELY!

When I'm busy, I don't request many ARCs. Now that I write, I request even less. I have like 4 authors I actively ARC read for (TOPS!!) and another 2-3 that I will submit requests for. I don't always get an advanced copy, but that's part of it. I'm never up in arms about it.

And I sure as shit have never reached out asking for MONEY to ARC read!

Seriously! WHAT THE FUGH?!? No. Thank you and goodnight.

Want to know what else gets my goat? The stories, reels, or videos of authors breaking down because they've received demands for a PHYSICAL book.

What? No! Not cool! Do you have any idea about the expenses we incur NATURALLY with writing? It's thousands of dollars a year... on the CHEAP end! I've never sent a physical book that wasn't paid for and I still have massive expenses.

It takes some massive ego to require or request a physical book unless an author has reached out and offered to send one. So if you approach me in any way saying you'll read my book for a fee, I'm gonna NOPE right out of that conversation.

Some call it rude. I say I'd be a helluva lot more rude if I stayed in it so...

Look. Shoot your shot. But don't be pissy if you're Dikembe Mutombo'd (Not in My House!)

As a Reader

I get it that things and times have changed. What used to work won't necessarily work now. But the options are there, making it more feasible for even more readers to discover this super cool thing of ARC reading. You feel like a GD Rockstar when that early copy hits your inbox. You develop relationships with some authors. I know that I consider Victoria Denault a legit friend. And Jennifer Sucevic knows my name (which, honestly still blows my mind and makes me want to weep like a ten year old girl front row at a T-Swift concert.)

So when I see things like authors are demanding 5 star reviews, I get icky. When I See that they want only the "top-tier" accounts, I get mad. When I see that they're requiring NDAs or contracts, it blows my mind.

I definitely don't want my books getting out in the world illegally (see above). But as an ARC reader, you have a respect, trust, and understanding with the author. I've never left a rating/review I wouldn't give in person. Want to know why I leave 5 stars so much? Because I read for authors whose works I've loved in the past. Makes it real easy to love the next one and the next one.

Have I read books that weren't good? Yep. Happens. Not every book is for me, nor should they be.

But when that happens, I simply reach out and say "Hey. This wasn't my jam. I'll wait to share my review." OR I simply remove myself from their ARC team. I've done that too. Once was because the work was INCREDIBLE but was getting darker and darker; past my point of comfort. Did that make the work bad? Hell no! It was great. Beautifully written; so much so that I was in too deep in the story! But instead of being uncomfortable, I just said "It's too dark for me." And they understood because they had grown and changed in the years as an author. It wasn't a bad thing-I'm still friends with that author!

The other was because the topics were just not for me. The stories were too long for me to enjoy them. They didn't have the themes or elements I want in my stories that I read. So I just reached out and opted out of future books. No disrespect, no animosity.

Both authors are doing incredibly well and I love that for them. I just can't ARC read and commit time like I used to.

Never, not once, has an author reached out with DEMANDS. They've given me enough time to post reviews, shared graphics or images to help make our own. Verbiage or tropes or general ideas to make the process easier. Sure. All of that. But never have I personally encountered an author who set unrealistic expectations. Maybe my ADD spidey-sense has led me away from jackwad authors? Not sure. But I love the people I read for!

To wrap it up...

Look. You can do what you want. Say what you want. Act how you want. But there are consequences to every decision you make. Even the indecisions (because those are also decisions...)

I knew writing this post could have me lose a few followers. Some people will say I don't get the times. That they have a business to run too. Yada yada yada.

I still chose to write it.

Because, at the end of the day I think stealing is wrong. I think lying is wrong. and I think bullies are total jackwads.

To paraphrase Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream:

If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended...

Go pound sand.

No? Not exactly? Shoot.

Anyways! Have a great day and

Happy Reading!