I’m not going to spend as much time with you as usual today. The Matilija Press and SPAWN offices are buzzing with activity this morning as I strive to meet deadlines with my clients and the SPAWN Market Update and the SPAWN Catalog of Member Books and Services. We’re also preparing a statement on behalf of SPAWN with regard to the Amazon/BookSurge situation. In between it all, I’ll take my daily walk and my youngest daughter and I are taking my mother out to breakfast. (It’s too lovely out to stay inside all day.)
In the meantime, I want you to become informed about what is happening (or might happen) with Amazon and I urge you to take a stand. Read the articles, comments, etc. that Angela and Richard Hoy have collected at their site, follow the links they provide to Publishers Weekly and Wall Street Journal articles, for example, to determine how this might affect you. As far as I know, Amazon has not released a statement, but everyone else in the industry has. I’m still waiting for Amazon’s statement so that we, here at SPAWN, can comment on fact rather than the many suppositions out there. However, if the rumors are true, it’s best that Amazon and BookSurge are cut off at the pass and our friend, Angela Hoy is leading the charge.
Terms like “monopoly†and “anti-trust†are flying throughout the publishing kingdom. The State Attorney General’s office is apparently interested in becoming involved. This is, perhaps, as big as the decision years ago to make books returnable for booksellers. That decision has affected authors for years and the outcome of this issue will, too. Make it your business to become informed.
Here’s Amazon/BookSurge General—the Hoys’ “Clearing House of Information” regarding recent developments in the Amazon/BookSurge situation. http://www.writersweekly.com/amazon.php
I’d like to know your thoughts, fears, plan of action. PLFry620@yahoo.com