Skip to main content

When Writers Compete With Themselves

       Hey, everyone, and particularly those writers that read the blog. I had occasion yesterday to do a search of my own name and discovered that certain places on the web were offering my books as a free and paid download. Places that I didn't know existed.
     For instance, one return on the search was for "The Centaur Series" on megashares.com. Another return on the search was from an outfit called filestube. Another search return comes from firstload.com.
    To get to the actual web pages on some of these I guess you have to be signed in to a user account. On one of these sites, I clicked a box that stated 'report abuse'. I then read through a long statement of legalese designed to scare away complainers.
      I found it interesting that on one of the search results, it was specifically mentioned that it was a kindle edition. Fascinating. So, do they buy one ebook off Amazon and upload it to one of these sites, selling it and keeping the profits? Or post the books for free, then use them as a scam, a come-on to steal user data? The threats on the legalese statement are designed to make you wary of filing a complaint without a lawyer, knowing a certain percentage of folks don't have the money for a lawyer, so they go on their merry way.
    I read Mark Coker's posts, over on the Smashwords site, and I've heard him mention things of this nature, but it was an eye opener when I saw it with my name. In a very real way, it appears that I am competing...with myself.
   The bottom line of this story for those of you who write: do a search for yourself, you may find surprises.
    I'm CE Wills, and my books are really available in a lot of places.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Biscuit

    Hey, everyone. What a relief that Christmas is over, huh? I don't think it was meant to be the way it is.     I started thinking about the so-called good 'ole days today. My wife says that at her house, they would take a left-over biscuit and shine their shoes before church. I one-upped her by saying, "Oh, yeah? I ate the biscuit when everyone got finished with it. And I was grateful for it." Truly, though, you can and people did, shine their shoes with a biscuit. Hey, they were greasy little buggers.     Speaking of greasy little buggers, I remember when everyone had wells and were very conservative about water, particularly those of us who had to crank a handle up and down to get a bucket of water. There was no daily bath. (No showers in those days, mate.) About twice a week we took a bath and here's the recipe: The oldest kid took a bath first, then the next oldest etc. You can see why younger siblings hated the older. Bathing in the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cake Is Better Than Swords

Hey, everyone. On Thanksgiving, we had a get-together here at The Author's Green Retreat. One lady brought a cake which I wanted to show you. It had the look of a Roman Coliseum about it. Inside it was just as decadent...and fun, as ancient Rome. When I cut it open, homemade marshmallow cream began to ooze out in several spots, running over the chocolate cake and peanut butter icing. It is best served warm so the cream is fluid. Very tasty. The same lady, and her children, are people who have played a lot of Skyrim. They gave me some pointers on the game because I am having problems with it. They taught me how to fast travel, and a ton of other things, but the main thing was the armor and clothing problem. This is a little embarrassing, but let me explain. Okay. For several weeks when I played, I would enter towns and everyone I met would comment on my nakedness. I would select a tunic and shoes, whatever, go back around people and they would say something about it. I guess I w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fishdom,the Smart Cover and the Natural Blond

      Hey, everyone. I have played several different games lately. Mighty Mouse has gone 'free' and I've played it a little. It's okay. You fly through the air and punch bad guys, mines dropped by Oil Can Harry's plane, and try to avoid hitting anything unless you are pushing a button that gives you super speed. There are a lot of levels but they get harder, fast, and that takes some of the fun away. Still, for free, I can't complain. Also, Polly Purebred is fairly attractive, for a mouse. I wonder if she is a natural blond? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.      Fishdom Harvest HD is an older game that we've had for a while. This is a fun, relaxing game that has you swapping tiles so that you can complete levels and advance. As this happens, you earn in-game cash and decorate your fish tank with fish, plants and equipment. I like it a lot.      I understand that Shadowgun is now coming out with a version that is o...
Post a Comment
Read more