Saturday, November 16, 2013

Book Thieves with Georgeann Swiger

Today I'm delighted to introduce you to YA author Georgeann Swiger. Her debut paranormal romance, ADORNED, has just hit the shelves. But today's conversation isn't about angels, it's about thieves.

Over to Georgeann...

Book piracy is a growing menace to authors and publishers. However, I’ve discovered something just as disturbing--bloggers putting a positive spin on book piracy. These bloggers claim there are many “gray” areas with this issue. Yet, the gray areas they mention are only gray to the people benefiting from this practice. As an author, I don’t see anything gray about it. Book piracy is as clear as the waters of the Caribbean.

It’s NOT stealing.” The bloggers who preach this line of thinking really wave around their muskets over this. Yeah, so technically, according to laws in the U.S., it’s infringement. However, to the author who spends months or years writing a novel, then spends months editing, and then spends many more months promoting the book, piracy sure feels like stealing. It’s funny how a lot of spending is done by the authors and publishers, but these takers feel entitled to get something for nothing. In my view, book piracy is the same as shoplifting. These people lurk around cyberspace and sneaking intellectual property on to their computers without paying for it the same way a shoplifter goes into a bookstore, sneaks a book into his coat and leaves.
Book piracy is good for authors.” Some bloggers toss around this wet mop like they’re swabbing the starboard side of the boat. “But dear author,” they say. “This gets your book to the masses so you can be discovered. Once readers know how great you are, they’ll be happy to pay for your book.” Well guess what, bestselling authors have their books pirated every day. According to this line of reasoning, readers should be purchasing popular novels, not getting them from some hacker.
Sometimes ebooks are just too expensive”. W-w-what?! Let me put this into perspective. I’d love to have a yacht, but it costs too much. Is that a good enough reason for me to go out and hijack one off the open waters? If I can’t afford something, I don’t buy it. Period. Here’s a thought. If you don’t have the cash for a $3.99 ebook, start saving. And if you feel $9.99 is too much to pay, use the library or wait until the price comes down.

Just because you put a positive spin on something doesn’t make it right. Bloggers touting the positives of book piracy need to get their heads out of the fog. Book piracy is wrong. Bloggers who defend book piracy need to stop rocking the boat. All they’re doing is help sink authors while throwing a lifeline to a bunch of thieves.   

What are your thoughts on book piracy?

Georgeann Swiger earned her degree in journalism from West Virginia University, and then spent five years as an anchor/reporter at WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, WV. After having children, she left television news to be a stay at home mom. During that time, she discovered creative writing was more fun than writing about real life tragedy. Imagining interesting characters and having them come to life on the page is now her passion. When she’s not writing, she works as a substitute teacher. She lives in Reedsville, West Virginia with her husband, two kids, a beagle dog and a temperamental cat who tries to rule the house.

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When seventeen-year-old Anya finds out she’s actually an angel being trained to protect humanity, she discovers that becoming an angel has nothing to do with wings and haloes. For Anya, becoming an angel has to do with death—her death.
Micah, the angelic soldier ordered to protect her until she transitions from human to angel, promises her death will be a glorious experience as long as she follows his rules. But getting Anya through this life and to the next isn’t as simple as Micah expects. His job becomes even more difficult after he unwittingly performs a miracle that exposes Anya’s hidden angelic light.
With her secret out, Hell’s legions begin targeting her. Unfortunately, Hell’s minions are the least of Micah’s worries. He’s more concerned about the forbidden human emotions he’s developed toward Anya. Even more troubling, is she seems to love him too. And giving in to those feelings, could mean dire consequences for them both.

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1 comment:

  1. Great post, Georgeann. I think this applies to music and movies too. I've heard the same this sprouted as reasons as justification in pirating other forms of entertainment. It's just wrong.

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