Hey. I'm married to the author of Rainbird. I found this post through google, and talked about it with my wife yesterday.

Frankly, we've got mixed feelings about this--on the one hand, it's flattering, because you obviously felt it was good enough to share with others, but on the other hand...well, it's sales and reviews that we're not getting. And since my wife is just starting out in self-publishing, she needs those. I mean, if she were an established author with tens of thousands of sales, even a hundred people reading her work for free wouldn't mean much--but since her sales are still in the double digits, every one counts. And, incidentally, if she can't make enough selling her books to even make back the cost of having a cover made, she's likely to stop publishing entirely. Since you clearly enjoyed her work, I hope you agree that that would not be a good thing.

Now, we could file a DMCA takedown notice, but really, I don't think that would accomplish anything other than annoying you (and even that, probably not). Instead, we'd appreciate it if anyone who reads Rainbird would review it--on Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and/or Goodreads--and at least consider buying their own copy (or one of her short story collections, which are only $0.99 each). The more reviews her works get, the more attention they will get from other customers--and thus (hopefully) more sales, enabling her to keep publishing.

Thanks.

[hmorphone]

I can commit to this. I volunteer to do the Mobilism review, mind you it will be honest, and to encourage other forum members to support her and spread the word.
This is already occurring in a different fashion with another book "Infinity Squad" on this forum as we speak.
Perhaps these are the beginnings of some great collaborations between authors and readers.
I commend ya'll for your willingness to think outside the box and take risks.

I did the coolest thing yesterday... I shared a book by handing over my hardback copy!
With this in mind, I can say that while I don't agree with ebooks many issues I do respect people's wishes. So I will not download this book. I will not read it, and I certainly won't be able to talk about it. This also means that when the next book comes out I will have no desire to buy it when I go to the bookstore.

I always wondered if authors get irritated that their books are at the library. Its the same to me.

hmorphone: Thanks. From our perspective, reviews do two things--first, and most obviously, they let other readers know what is and what is not worth their time reading; but secondly, they let the author know what they're doing right and what they need to work on. So, yes, honest reviews are appreciated.

Michalus: Congrats on learning to share. But your (implicit) comparison of this site to you handing someone a book, or your local library letting you borrow books for free, is a bit off the mark. By its very nature, your hardback copy can only be shared with one person at a time; that's extremely limited reach, and if your friend decides they like the book enough to own it, they need to go and buy their own copy. Your library serves a larger group of people, but it's still limited by the physical copies they have and by geographic area; also, even if no library patron ever bought a personal copy of a book they loved, the library has to periodically replace books that get too worn out--and more popular books will have to be replaced more often.

This site, however, is global, and everyone who downloads from here has the full book for as long as they want. There's no incentive for them to buy a copy of their own, since they already have one. (Also, incidentally, most large publishing houses charge libraries a lot of money for ebooks; certainly more than the initial sale my wife got for the copy which ended up here.)

My point is, whether you're borrowing a book from a friend or from the library, there's incentive for you to buy your own copy if you really like it (you need to give your friend/the library their copy back sooner or later). That's money the author receives as payment for their hard work in producing something for you to enjoy, which in turn is an incentive for them to produce more stuff for you to enjoy. But that breaks down when an e-book is given away for free; you can download it, and you have it forever, so there's no incentive for you to buy your own copy. And since you don't pay, there's no incentive for the author to publish more works for you to enjoy.

[squawksarah]

Displaced: Some authors and popular music groups have made their names by releasing their stuff on-line and that would NEVER have happened if they'd attempted to get famous (and have big subsequent sales) in the more orthodox paths.

I guess what it comes down to is: Is the product worth buying? If yes then the free internet route will probably work. If no then the product should not be put out for sale on the basis that it is professional and worthy of payment.

Someone would be forgiven for thinking that if an author were good enough to publish an author would be able to find a publisher and would not have to pay for it themselves. The internet is a great way to publish books by wanna-be authors who can't convince a publisher to take a chance with them. Not everyone is going to be JK Rowling but there are so many people out there with a good story in them, and so few publishers.

On this forum we have a lot of apps released by wanna-be programmers and much of those apps are unprofessional and not worthy of the cost. Books and their authors are very different as an app can be used over and over but once we've read a book that's it.

So I agree with you that anyone reading this book should put up a review. That's how the internet fame-game works. I also feel that it would be unfair to write a poor review in a public space. One person's opinion is just that. And what makes a great novel for one person won't do the same for the next. So I urge anyone going to read this book and then review it to be kind, be fair and make your words words of encouragement.

[hmorphone]

It seems there is a bit more than usual riding on this book review.
I have copied Displaced's original statement to the Book Review section under Wish List (using it as a "request" to review) and made the official "I volunteer" to do the review.
I am most of the way through Replay now and will take care of this next.
Even if I dislike the book I intend to bring forth any reasons I note that it may still be a worthwhile book for others to read (and purchase and/or review.)
I find that, to me, books are like women.
Most have at least one or two wonderful qualities all their own.
It just takes a keen eye to note what they are.
Displaced, if you can, please take any defensiveness others express to you with a grain of salt.
I've fallen victim to it myself at times in conversations with authors.
I am still optomistic that we can bring more exposure, and purchases, to your wife's book than it would otherwise have.

Looking forward to reading it -
Hmorphone

Squawksarah, hmorphone,

Sorry if I came across too strongly in my response to Michalus; his snarky post rubbed me the wrong way (and, I'll confess, I'm not a morning person).

I know that many artists have decided that sharing their work freely works well. Rabia has posted some of her stories for free on her website, and has also released one of her short Stories for free on Smashwords. (It's also available on Amazon, but they insisted on her giving it a price, claiming that they'd price-match it down...but they haven't yet.) I've also suggested recording some of her works and posting them on Podiobooks, but we haven't done that to date.

To Squawksarah's other points...we are both very confident in the quality of Rainbird (and the other works she has already put out, as well as the ones which are in the pipe). Rabia has gotten other short stories published previously; the problem with that route is the length of time that a story languishes before readers get it--often publishers won't decide for six to twelve months, and then it can take easily another six months before the actual publication. And that's assuming you sell it to the first publisher you query. Self-publishing lets Rabia cut through all of that; once she feels the work is ready, she's able to get it available within a week or so.

Self-publishing is a new venture for my wife, and she's still feeling her way through it. As I posted in my original comment on this thread, it was a bit of a surprise to find that someone had gone through the work to post her novella here, and we're hopeful that it will be a positive experience for us. But since it's new, there's some trepidation as well; I hope you can understand (and forgive) our mixed feelings.

-D.

I downloaded this because it looked like something different and possibly interesting, and I thought it would be good to add to my "might read if I have time" list. I hadn't seen the author post and additional comments until after downloading it, and as a result I've moved the book to my "definitely read... or at least give it a shot" list.

I'm glad not only that the book was written and published, but that you allowed it to remain posted. I admire you for that decision. I think it's smart and the right thing to do also. I would probably have never heard of, or seen this book had it not been posted here.

If your wife is like most artists (and I do think authors are artists), then she has to write. She might not have to publish, but writing is a gift and talent that she probably will do no matter what. Like a musician will make music because he has no choice... he isn't a musician if he doesn't. Talent has to express itself. Your wife is only an author if she writes. I hope she continues. I also hope her book is good and she is successful at it he craft.

I can promise you that I'll give her book the chance it might never have gotten otherwise. For what it's worth, it got that chance directly due to this website.
And just so you know, if I really like a book that I download and read, I generally want the hardcopy for my collection. I don't the there is such a thing as having too many books.

I also really like audiobooks. I just bought another from audible yesterday, (Cast in Peril by Michelle Sagara, book 8 in her Elantra series) and that was a direct result of a download from this website. I had never heard her or her books before either. I do believe in supporting authors for their work, and if its good, I will buy a copy. By the way, the cover looks really cool.

Tell your wife she had my thanks for writing the book, and thank you for writing in to defend her work. I admire you both.

Marty