From: Cassie Wilson <cassiewilson>
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 21:59:26 -0400

The post below simply fills me with real anger and indignation for the writers involved. Why can't publishers figure out how this happens and stop it? Not only is the writer being cheated, but libraries and anyone buying the book are having to pay for those advance reading copies that went to someone else who did not use them as intended.

And I, as a librarian, give my previewed copies of books to children, so giving them to libraries doesn't seem so bad as long as they are not put on shelves as final products.

Cassie Wilson

melyons at adelphia.net wrote:

> Courage is called for after publication, too, especially when a writer sees used copies of her new book available on Amazon even before the first review has appeared. It happened to me just this morning. Seventeen used copies of my latest book are available, with nary a review in sight.
>
>Those who want to encourage writers might consider giving review copies away to children (not libraries) instead of selling them as used books. This would be a treat for kids who don't own many--or any--books. It also supports unsalaried, un-tenured, un-health-insuranced writers who pay their full social security and work without sick leave, professional leave, or vacation days.
>
>For more on Amazon's controversial and harmful used book policy, see the Author's Guild of New York web site.
>
>Thanks for letting me vent,
>Mary
>
>Mary E. Lyons
>www.lyonsdenbooks.com
>
>
>
Received on Mon 17 Oct 2005 08:59:26 PM CDT