You know, sometimes words just fail me. But then someone else comes along and has the perfect ones.
Okay, let’s just get to the story. Right!
So, once upon a time, I used to sell lots of ebooks online, but then Amazon offered a bit of chump change an ethical bribe monetary incentives for indie authors to become wholly dependent on exclusive to Amazon. Only three months at a time. Which, frankly, doesn’t amount to much.
Meanwhile, Amazon was acquiring other companies and products like mad. Like something unseen before. At that point, I was astonished that no other indie author I spoke with could see a problem with this. Well, there’s a big problem, folks.
Becoming dependent on Amazon means you’re no longer indie. Plain and simple.
And if they decide to simply kick you off KDP, well … you’ll have to pivot or be resilient or something.
Or maybe just not give a damn.
And now for the (heart)-breaking news! Courtesy of The Washington Pist.
This is so awesome heart-breaking, I simply must quote it. This comes from a letter written by Jeff Bozos, former CEO and current board member of Amazon, Inc. And also owner of The Washington Post, which used to be a real newspaper.
I’m writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages.
We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets. We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.
There was a time when a newspaper, especially one that was a local monopoly, might have seen it as a service to bring to the reader’s doorstep every morning a broad-based opinion section that sought to cover all views. Today, the internet does that job.
[Note the shift in tone here from completely absurd to nonsequiter/Newspeak.]
I am of America and for America, and proud to be so. Our country did not get here by being typical. And a big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.
Ah, yes, who wants broad-based opinions, which can only confuse and bemuse those who read them?
And any opinions that are contrary to Trump’s or Mr. Bozo’s or any of their richest and/or dumbest friends are, of course, to be discouraged.
Objective journalism and informed opinion? We have the internet for that. Particularly from X Twitter, Facebook, and Untruth/Truth/Pomegranates Social and other billionaires’ platforms. This is especially wonderful, since Mr. Bozo’s company also owns a substantial percentage of the internet. Isn’t that awesome?
Funny how he mentions the word “monopoly.” Hmm … kettle calling pot! 🙂
But let none of this concern you. And please keep ignoring me.
PS: I think you missed a couple of points, Mr. Bathos!
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
— George Orwell
“A still tongue makes a happy life.” 🙂
— Patrick McGoohan is The Prisoner
PPS: Sorry I misspelled your name, Mr. Bay-zos! But you have some great big balls nerve to speak of “minimizing coercion”! Ask anyone who’s done business with your company.
And speaking of coercion. 🙂
PPPS: You do realize you can’t own an ebook bought from Amazon or any other retailer, right? You’re only a renter/borrower.
Which is why you should buy direct from the author when you can. Then you own the file. The book is yours!
I remember like yesterday when Amazon pulled this book from distribution because they didn’t own the distribution rights. 🙂
Ironic? I know, right? 🙂
PPPPS: Buy me a coffee? 🙂
Shame? Are you kidding me? R.O.F.L.
And thank you again, Gene! 🙂
And OMG … we’re all beggin’ for spare change these days, aren’t we? 🙂
But thank you for these!
Here’s the real threat to ‘personal liberties and free markets’
Take a Wild Guess Who Bezos Met With After Washington Post Change
If I stick this in ChatGPT, will it explode?
I’ll be back. 🙂
