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| Amazon-Hachette fight deepens as authors take sides | Amazon-Hachette fight deepens as authors take sides |
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| In one corner stands the old guard: established, prize-winning, bestselling writers such as Stephen King and Donna Tartt. On the other, the new: the hottest names in self-publishing, from Hugh Howey to Barry Eisler. As the battle between Amazon and Hachette widens, hundreds of authors are stepping into the ring, putting their names to rival petitions in support of the duelling combatants. | In one corner stands the old guard: established, prize-winning, bestselling writers such as Stephen King and Donna Tartt. On the other, the new: the hottest names in self-publishing, from Hugh Howey to Barry Eisler. As the battle between Amazon and Hachette widens, hundreds of authors are stepping into the ring, putting their names to rival petitions in support of the duelling combatants. |
| This unprecedented public split follows the ongoing negotiations between Hachette, one of the world's largest publishers, and Amazon, one of the world's largest online retailers, who have come to blows over new terms for the sale of books. Their negotiations became public knowledge after Amazon began raising estimated delivery times for what Hachette claims are thousands of its titles. Amazon said earlier this week that its stance was "in the long-term interest of our customers"; Hachette has said that it is looking for "terms that value appropriately for the years ahead the author's unique role in creating books, and the publisher's role in editing, marketing, and distributing them". | This unprecedented public split follows the ongoing negotiations between Hachette, one of the world's largest publishers, and Amazon, one of the world's largest online retailers, who have come to blows over new terms for the sale of books. Their negotiations became public knowledge after Amazon began raising estimated delivery times for what Hachette claims are thousands of its titles. Amazon said earlier this week that its stance was "in the long-term interest of our customers"; Hachette has said that it is looking for "terms that value appropriately for the years ahead the author's unique role in creating books, and the publisher's role in editing, marketing, and distributing them". |
| When the bestselling writer Douglas Preston began circulating an open letter criticising Amazon's actions, he quickly garnered support from more than 100 names, including Tartt, King, Paul Auster, James Patterson, Clive Cussler, John Grisham, Anita Shreve and Philip Pullman. | |
| Speaking to the Guardian, Pullman explained he had added his name because he was against "any one party in a complex web of mutual benefit and dependency, such as a market, acquiring a disproportionate amount of power". | |
| "It's clear that some parties (in this case, those who buy books) have benefited from the lower prices that Amazon makes available," he said. 'It's also clear that other parties (such as authors and independent booksellers) are suffering. In the long run, this won't be sustainable; a whole ecology, as I've called it, might die because of the forced starvation of part of it." | |
| According to Pullman this is simply the normal functioning of a market "operating as markets do without regulation". | |
| "Amazon doesn't care a bit about the ecology of the book trade, or that of literature, to take a slightly different perspective," he added. "If the book trade dies, or if literature withers and decays, Amazon can move on without a pause to sell underpants and kitchen tiles and cameras and everything else. | |
| "Someone at Amazon (and this means Jeff Bezos, no doubt) needs to step back a little from the relentless hunt for profit at whatever cost to think about the social and cultural environment in which Amazon operates. Let's hope he listens." | |
| But self-published authors responded to Preston's open letter on Thursday with their own petition, which now boasts over 3,000 signatures. | |
| Launched by Howey – author of the hit dystopian novel Wool – and others including the bestselling thriller writers JA Konrath and Barry Eisler – the letter urges readers not to boycott Amazon, arguing that the online giant has liberated authors and readers alike from the clutches of "New York Publishing". | Launched by Howey – author of the hit dystopian novel Wool – and others including the bestselling thriller writers JA Konrath and Barry Eisler – the letter urges readers not to boycott Amazon, arguing that the online giant has liberated authors and readers alike from the clutches of "New York Publishing". |
| "Major publishers like Hachette have a long history of treating authors and readers poorly," the petition states. "Amazon, on the other hand, has built its reputation on valuing authors and readers dearly. The two companies didn't simultaneously change directions overnight." | "Major publishers like Hachette have a long history of treating authors and readers poorly," the petition states. "Amazon, on the other hand, has built its reputation on valuing authors and readers dearly. The two companies didn't simultaneously change directions overnight." |
| "Amazon has done more to liberate readers and writers than any other entity since Johannes Gutenberg refined the movable type printing press", the petition continues, adding that "Amazon is growing overall readership while liberating the voices of countless writers, adding to the diversity of literature". | "Amazon has done more to liberate readers and writers than any other entity since Johannes Gutenberg refined the movable type printing press", the petition continues, adding that "Amazon is growing overall readership while liberating the voices of countless writers, adding to the diversity of literature". |
| "A large percentage of the ebooks sold on Amazon are from independent authors. You have validated our decision to write and to publish. Don't let the wealthiest of writers convince you to turn away," the authors write. | "A large percentage of the ebooks sold on Amazon are from independent authors. You have validated our decision to write and to publish. Don't let the wealthiest of writers convince you to turn away," the authors write. |
| Adding that "Amazon didn't ask us to write this letter, or sign it. Amazon isn't aware that we're doing this", the writers urge their readers to "support the company that supports readers and authors", saying that "all the complaints about Amazon should be directed at Hachette. It is Hachette who wants to charge you more while paying their authors less." | Adding that "Amazon didn't ask us to write this letter, or sign it. Amazon isn't aware that we're doing this", the writers urge their readers to "support the company that supports readers and authors", saying that "all the complaints about Amazon should be directed at Hachette. It is Hachette who wants to charge you more while paying their authors less." |
| Preston's letter, meanwhile, whose supporters also include Harold Evans, Tracy Chevalier, Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt, Barbara Kingsolver, Anita Shreve, Sara Paretsky, George Saunders and Antony Beevor, asks readers to email Amazon's chief executive Jeff Bezos in an attempt to change his mind about the negotiations. | Preston's letter, meanwhile, whose supporters also include Harold Evans, Tracy Chevalier, Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt, Barbara Kingsolver, Anita Shreve, Sara Paretsky, George Saunders and Antony Beevor, asks readers to email Amazon's chief executive Jeff Bezos in an attempt to change his mind about the negotiations. |
| "Without taking sides on the contractual dispute between Hachette and Amazon, we encourage Amazon in the strongest possible terms to stop harming the livelihood of the authors on whom it has built its business. None of us, neither readers nor authors, benefit when books are taken hostage," it says. "We feel strongly that no bookseller should block the sale of books or otherwise prevent or discourage customers from ordering or receiving the books they want. It is not right for Amazon to single out a group of authors, who are not involved in the dispute, for selective retaliation. Moreover, by inconveniencing and misleading its own customers with unfair pricing and delayed delivery, Amazon is contradicting its own written promise to be 'Earth's most customer- centric company'." | "Without taking sides on the contractual dispute between Hachette and Amazon, we encourage Amazon in the strongest possible terms to stop harming the livelihood of the authors on whom it has built its business. None of us, neither readers nor authors, benefit when books are taken hostage," it says. "We feel strongly that no bookseller should block the sale of books or otherwise prevent or discourage customers from ordering or receiving the books they want. It is not right for Amazon to single out a group of authors, who are not involved in the dispute, for selective retaliation. Moreover, by inconveniencing and misleading its own customers with unfair pricing and delayed delivery, Amazon is contradicting its own written promise to be 'Earth's most customer- centric company'." |
| Preston told the Guardian that he believes the group of authors "can have an effect". "We're not against Amazon, just its negotiating tactics," he said. "You can be against the war and still be a loyal citizen. We hope this can be resolved in an amicable way as between friends. We do not want to do down the long, hard road with Amazon on this issue." | Preston told the Guardian that he believes the group of authors "can have an effect". "We're not against Amazon, just its negotiating tactics," he said. "You can be against the war and still be a loyal citizen. We hope this can be resolved in an amicable way as between friends. We do not want to do down the long, hard road with Amazon on this issue." |
| Preston said the authors who have signed "probably represent over a billion books sold", and that he had "never seen so many writers get so involved. And the emails are hitting my inbox faster than I can open them." | Preston said the authors who have signed "probably represent over a billion books sold", and that he had "never seen so many writers get so involved. And the emails are hitting my inbox faster than I can open them." |
| Chevalier, whose novels include Girl With a Pearl Earring, said she decided to sign Preston's missive because "Amazon and customers are not the only players in this game. Publishers and authors are too, and it's time we authors voiced how we feel about Amazon's shenanigans." | Chevalier, whose novels include Girl With a Pearl Earring, said she decided to sign Preston's missive because "Amazon and customers are not the only players in this game. Publishers and authors are too, and it's time we authors voiced how we feel about Amazon's shenanigans." |