From: Amy Tsaykel <amycook75>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:55:29 -0700 (PDT)

As a writer, publicist, and former bookseller, I just want to point out a more positive way of looking at this:

Publishers set a budget for review copies that
(correct me if I'm wrong, fellow pub people) is UNRELATED to the author's royalties. So the books being sold on Amazon are not cutting into author royalties. If anything, they are helping spread the word about your book--and the bargain price only helps that buzz get started.

The books are supposed to go to reviewers and others who can promote the book. But of course a reviewer--almost always one of your fellow struggling writers, by the way--gets dozens of books a week. It's hard to expect that he/she will find time to donate them, though I'm sure some do!

I used to work at a used bookstore where reviewers would bring in stacks upon stacks of promo copies for sale. And I didn't blame them one bit!

Amy Tsaykel Creative & Editorial Services San Francisco, CA

www.aeditorial.com
Received on Mon 17 Oct 2005 06:55:29 PM CDT