There are alternatives to Amazon

I'm sure by now everyone is quite aware of the "battle" that raged over the weekend between Macmillan and Amazon as Macmillan asserted it's right to protect the pricing of its ebooks. I think secretly a lot of other publishers were delighted to see one of their own stand up to Amazon.

I have to admit that I also applauded Macmillan's stand. Even though it could mean that authors might get less royalties on e-book sales in the sort term, something seemed wrong with the principle that authors' books were being used merely as loss leaders for sales of a company's device. Call me wary of large monopolies who try to dictate terms to an entire industry. Particularly, when that industry is one in which I play a part, financially and as an advocate for my authors.

But what a huge price Macmillan is having to play for it stance! But of course, it's not only Macmillan, it's really all of its authors and even those readers of Macmillan authors who typically buy through Amazon. While it appears that Macmillan and Amazon have reached an agreement or are about to, many (most) of the buy-buttons for Macmillan books still remain inactive.

One of my authors, Gail Dayton, who writes for Tor is caught in this power struggle, as are all of her readers and fans of her latest steampunk romance, Heart's Blood, released in December.

While it's true you can buy new copies of her book through Amazon's third party program, why not buy elsewhere? Why give Amazon your businessat all? Vote with your pocketbooks as to whether you approve of Amazon's negotiating tactics, by checking out Gail's and other books at such sites as bn.com, booksamillion.com, powells.com and indiebound.com.

There are alternatives to Amazon.