RE: https://wandering.shop/@cstross/117450071591623123
This happens: grifters build a copy of a book, slap a *40% OFF* medallion on the cover, then list it for sale under a name that looks like the author, but with a unicode homograph replacing a letter. This is close enough to show up in bookstore searches, so a bunch of readers get sucked in the 40% OFF label and give money to a crook.
As soon as my publisher tells Amazon or Apple or whoever they yank it off sale, but by then it's too late.
@tbortels Amazon *doesn't* allow it. What happens is the grifter builds a copy of the book, slaps a *40% OFF* medallion on the cover, then lists it for sale under a nane that looks like "Charles Stross" with a unicode homograph in place of one of the letters. This is close enough to show up in online search, so a bunch of readers then get suckered by the 40% OFF label and give money to a crook.
As soon as my publisher tells Amazon they yank it off sale, but by then it's too late.
This happens.
#WritersCoffeeClub – 16th Oct. How do you feel about people reading your works without buying a personal copy?
Long-standing publishing lore is, there are roughly four readers per book sold. This includes library loans, second-hand sales, and friends borrowing books. This is normal.
I don't get mad at warez sites (most downloads go unread, most readers wouldn't have bought one), but I *DO* get enraged by pirates who re-list and sell my ebooks on amazon (they're stealing income from authors).
