I subscribe to Google Alerts, which informs me if it finds anything new online that contains my name. Yesterday I had an alert that somebody writing on an online forum was asking where they could download ‘The Porn Detective’ for free. They received a reply from the administrator informing them of several sites where, for a two dollar registration fee, they can download anything that takes their fancy for no cost.
Now my book is not wildly expensive. It is priced at $1.50 because eventually I hope to make a living out of my writing (yes, I’ve taken my happy pill, that’s why I’m so optimistic). However, a livelihood seems very far away if people are able to download all my work for free without my permission. For that particular book I sweated blood and tears, and it riles me no end to find out that people are setting up sites, buying my books, and then making a living from MY work, charging who knows how many others a registration fee to download as many of my books as they like for nothing.
Is there no way to stop this piracy? The person who wanted to know where to get ‘The Porn Detective’ free actually paid more in registration fees than the book cost in the first place! Grrrrr!!!!!
Stevie Turner 
Sometimes it appears that people are never happy until they’ve found out how to get ‘summat for nowt.’
Your book is already TOO CHEAP at $1.50 in my opinion. For someone to want to avoid paying that measly sum…
It is a sad indictment of our times that there is, frankly, too much product out there (not just written works, but films (or “films”), music etc) and people are so desperate to be writers, and film makers and musicians that they seem happy enough to give their stuff away. Occasionally, some of this stuff might not even be dross. Once the general human race sniffs a bargain it’s like a stampede! If someone isn’t prepared to pay market price for my book, then that’s their problem. I don’t expect the RSC to charge 75p entrance just because it would suit me. And if I can’t afford to go to the opera, then I can’t afford to go to the opera. Right now I can’t afford a world cruise. That’s just life. But a quid for a book? Come on!
Isn’t there somewhere where these kinds of complaints can be raised, Pirate Bay style?
Maybe you should just get on the forum?
“Thank you for your query on how to steal my bike. Can you tell me when you are out of your house so I can pass by and take a loaf of bread and a tin of beans?”
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If self-published books are set at too high a price, then they won’t sell. Apart from Amazon my books are also on a well-known American self-publishing website. I have received a reply to my enquiry that apparently this site does ‘Not apply DRM to the books it carries, as it can be broken anyway with the right know-how’. They are obviously encouraging piracy! Very soon my books will be taken over by a small publisher and will be on sale for more than $1.50. Maybe I’ll be able to afford some beans on toast then……
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It’s theft pure and simple.
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