I’m seeing a lot of posts about book piracy and authors begging people to buy books, and it’s so wild to me but also unsurprising because people feel very entitled to not only books but an author’s time and thoughts (working book events is a trip people will be like “I don’t have a book to get signed I just want to talk to them can’t you let me?”).

I don’t understand where it comes from? I understand money being tight, but then you have to pick and chose. If you can’t afford a book, you don’t get to own it! Or if you can’t afford a book or ticket for a signing/talk, you don’t get to go!

ALSO THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED WAY TO READ FREE BOOKS (at least in the U.S.). THE LIBRARY. GET IT FROM THE LIBRARY. It’s not the same as buying it to support the author, but if enough people request a book/put it on hold, the library might get more copies, and that supports the author at least SOME.

But also just. We live in a money-driven world. If you like something, if you LOVE something, and you want to see it continue, you have to support it. WITH MONEY. For books, authors only make money if you buy their book. Generally even book talks and events are unpaid. (When, for example, an author comes to BN for a signing, their publisher isn’t paying them. BN isn’t paying them. We might buy them a coffee. That’s it. Their pay for the night comes from how many books get sold.) SUPPORT THINGS YOU LIKE. JUST DO IT.