I’m a little peed off; something’s irking me. That something, or someone, is John Connolly.
I’ve been following a tête-à-tête between Neil Gaiman, Author extraordinaire, and John Connolly, obvious douchbag.
After recommending the book of an author friend for the low cost of 99c, the following exchange took place…
John Connolly ? @jconnollybooks
Seriously? Is this what we’re reduced to: broadcasting how little a book can be bought for on Amazon?
Neil Gaiman ? @neilhimself
I was telling people to read @JSCarroll long before kindles, and hope I’ll be doing it when they are a memory. No shame.
John Connolly ? @jconnollybooks
Not having a go at you, but 99c doesn’t represent either the true value/ worth of the book. It’s a bad precedent.
Neil Gaiman ? @neilhimself
You aren’t selling a book. You’re selling an author. I also like 2ndhand bookshops & friends lending books free.
John Connolly ? @jconnollybooks
Agree on 2nd hand books and lending, but not sure the companies selling books for 99c care about books OR authors.
Neil Gaiman ? @neilhimself
would you stop high st bookstores doing 3 for 1 specials? It’s an inducement to try something new.
I don’t think knobhead/John Connolly has replied yet, but I’ll be keeping track…
My thoughts on this are: I love books. I really really love books. More so, I love ebooks. I’d much prefer to read an ebook on my iPad than a physical book. One of the things I also love it that I can discover new author’s much cheaper than I would if I were in a bookstore. I’ve always found, when standing in a bookshop, deciding whether to spend $14.00 on a book from an author I’ve never heard of, there’s a voice inside my head whispers, “Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to risk spending all that money on a book that might not be good? Surely it’s better to buy the book of someone you know, someone you’ve read before? Stephen King? Koontz maybe?” And so, I do just that.
Mr. Connolly, jumping all over someone for recommending a book, is just rude and quite frankly stupid. Neil was spot on when he said that you’re not selling a book, you’re selling an author. It’s Publishing 101! A publisher wants to sell the author. They want the author to succeed, because they know if he/she does, then future books will be easier to sell, and thus the cost of production and marketing the book becomes lower.
Ironically, I’ve been in a number of bookstores and stood in the “C” section, where many times I’ve thought I’ll buy one of Connolly’s books. Now, he’s got no chance… ever!
I don’t buy books of conceited, arrogant, dickheads who are more concerned with making money than what their readers (or potential reader) want.
