But I Digress | Guilt by Amazon Association

I dare say everyone will be talking about the J. K. Rowling reveal today—I certainly will in Wednesday's edition of the British Genre Fiction Focus—but I wanted to take this time to talk about a topic that didn't quite make it into the column.

In a recent blog post for The Bookseller, you see, Keith Smith had a bit of a righteous rant about how certain authors—including Joanne Harris, Julia Donaldson, Alison Weir, Ian Rankin, Kate Morton and Patrick Ness—seemed to back Amazon and various other chain retailers despite having vouchsafed their support for smaller stores. For instance his:

“As someone who owns two independent bookshops I feel angry that these authors, unthinkingly or by design, have chosen to support Amazon, W H Smith or Waterstones without giving a fig for independent bookshops. Many of these are authors who, when asked, will say they couldn’t imagine life without their local bookshop. But words need to be matched by deeds if they are to make a difference.”

In principle, I agree with this part of Smith’s argument entirely—and so, it seems, do many of the authors he specifically took to task.

But Smith draws a hard line later in the originating article that I can’t quite get behind, by insisting that “the Booksellers Association should contact all authors immediately and ask them to stop supporting Amazon directly.”

Which strikes me, at least, as rather tyrannical. And a number of authors responded to Smith’s comments in kind. Alison Weir, for one:

“Linking to Amazon does not mean that I do not support independents. [...] The fact remains that publishers can shift large quantities of books through Amazon, W H Smith, Waterstones and the supermarkets, which are their main clients. Amazon also pays authors on their associates programme fees based on the number of books sold. Authors do have a living to make and Amazon can provide a great source of income which, sadly, independent book shops could not possibly meet. I understand the concerns of independent booksellers, and I think that there is a case to be made for Amazon to pay corporation tax, so that there would be fairer parity between its prices and those which independents with overheads have to charge. But accusing authors like me [...] of not 'giving a fig' for independents is not only ignorant but untrue; I think my deeds over the years give substance to my words."

Here’s Diana Kimpton, co-creator of the Pony-mad Princess picture books, speaking by way of The Bookseller again:

“I sympathise with small independent bookshops struggling through a recession, but authors are struggling too. Only a few get the high advances mentioned in the press. The rest earn much less, and many don't even get the equivalent of the minimum wage. As a result, the fact that the Amazon Associate scheme pays commission on sales resulting from links is very important. Because I have to split the royalty on my picture books with the illustrator, I actually earn more from the Amazon commission on a sale than I do from the publisher.”

Ultimately, I think Smith’s anger is a mite misplaced. Though it’s certainly the case that authors should be squarely behind independent booksellers, let’s face it: these days, most books are bought from the bigger names in the business, and to simply sever a supplementary source of income because Amazon and its ilk are, you know, completely evil, seems... well, selfish.

Let me be clear here. I sympathise with the plight of independent booksellers, but to ask for authors to support said stores solely goes against the real issue here: our right to choose where and from whom we buy our books. Why deny readers that? That they’re buying literature to begin with is, I think, the most important thing.

In one respect, then, Keith Smith is spot-on: authors should be seen to support choice.

But so should he, surely.

Incrementally More Indie

Just wanted to promote a comment I made addressing the many responses to the question I put to you all in Riddle Me This, Readers: Links and the Like a few days ago.

"Since posting this article, I've signed on the dotted line to join forces with the affiliate schemes offered by IndieBound and The Book Depository. IndieBound haven't yet got back to me to confirm my application, but the news as regards The Book Depository - certainly the overwhelming recommendation from those of you concerned enough to stop by and offer your opinions - is better. Starting today, each review will also feature links to The Book Depository. And just as soon as IndieBound get in touch, I'll wrap in links to that resource as well.

"I'll still be linking to Amazon UK and Amazon US as per usual - for all that their behaviour has offended many, they're still the choice of the vast majority - but all told, it's been something of a win for the little guys. Here's hoping the support of TSS helps even out the market some. I've got some crinkly shirts in my cupboard, but it ever anything need ironing out..."

Honestly, I don't quite know how I'd managed to overlook The Book Depository in all the time I've been ordering books online.

Anyway, though it means I'll have to spend another few minutes linking that store in addition to the Amazons and IndieBound (just as soon as they get back to me), I'm pleased, I think, to welcome a few alternative buying choices into the fold. If it's as important to you as it was to Kathleen not to be supporting the corporate monolith with your pounds and dollars, The Book Depository should - for the foreseeable - see to your needs perfectly. Besides which, more choice is always a fine thing.

Riddle Me This, Readers: Links and the Like

A few days ago I received an email from a reader asking if I might consider... well, let's have it from the horse's mouth. Hope you don't mind, Kathleen!

"I have always found the links to Amazon very helpful for purposes of adding books you review that intrigue me to my wishlist. However, I’ve decided to stop using Amazon.

"Back when I started buying from Amazon it was new and a bit of an upstart. Internet shopping in general was new. It felt like a good thing to support back then. Now Amazon is the biggest bookseller in the country. It does things like remove the GLBT tag from books, remove MacMillan’s books over e-book pricing disputes and now it is demanding that publishers lock into three-year contracts and guarantee that no other competitor will get lower prices or better terms on e-books. It all just leaves a bad taste in my mouth and makes me more determined than ever to support local bookstores or buy directly from authors whenever I can.

"Including a link to the books on IndieBound.com in your reviews would give your US readers an alternative to Amazon and would help support local booksellers across the United States."

Some of you may have found a similar email in your inbox, in fact - Kathleen did say she'd sent her message to all the book bloggers she follows.

In any event, after giving the matter some thought, I think she makes a fair point, and I mean to do exactly as she suggests just as soon as the reviews I've posted the various reviews I already have queued up for the next few weeks. Here's hoping all the other bloggery sorts I've had the pleasure of meeting since The Speculative Scotsman launched in January follow suit.

Certainly I'm only too happy to help support authors and brick and mortar bookstores. I'd much rather my money was lining the pockets of those people who were directly involved in the creation of the products I take such enjoyment from - writers and publishers - than some monolithic monopoly gets richer still off of my hard-earned.

Now let it be said, I've never been a great supporter of Amazon, even before all the e-book fuss. For me, Amazon has been, virtually from day one, a convenience; nothing more. Someone gifted me a Prime membership and the prices for books old and new have always been very reasonable, so sure, I've bought from them often in recent years, but I've never felt good about it. In fact, every time I've seen a local bookstore shutter its doors for the last time, I've felt positively awful about the fact I've patronised the terrible Amazon machine rather than help out the friendly human alternative.

And then came the Macmillan kerfuffle. Which, suffice it to say, rather rubbed me up the wrong way - and I know I'm not alone in that. So it's been on my mind to do something about the links I include in each of the book reviews I post here on TSS. I'm not going to go so far as to remove them, but from here on out, expect links to IndieBound alongside every URL leading to Amazon in the UK or the States.

But that's not quite that, because I love the idea behind IndieBound, and given the UK and particularly the Scottish focus of this site, I'd be overjoyed to be able to include one other link with each review: a link to some British or European alternative to IndieBound, which I'm given to understand operates only in the US.

What shall it be?

Ultimately, you see, all these links are for you, readers, and for the locals amongst you, if you've got a favourite place to buy your books online, you need to fill me in, and quick smart. Waterstones is the closest thing I have to an idea, but there's got to be something better... right?

So. I'm opening up the floor for suggestions. Make your pitch. I'm all ears.