Amazon pretends we don't exist
Alex Skutt, publisher at McBooks Press, sent out an email today to say that Amazon has “abruptly removed all McBooks Press Kindle e-book editions from its website.” He continues:
Our distributor, Independent Publishers Group, refused to bow to Amazon.com’s demands that Amazon receive higher discounts on both “physical” books and e-books than any of its competitors.
We hope that a fair agreement will soon be reached between the parties, but until then, please remind your readers that your physical books and e-books are available at local independent bookshops, www.BarnesandNoble.com, www.indiebound.org, iTunes, Kobo, and elsewhere. Your e-books are not currently available in Kindle editions.
Amazon.com now wields monopolistic power in the American booktrade, and it is abusing that power. This afternoon I called the New York and Washington offices of Senator Charles Schumer (Dem.-NY) to alert him to this situation.
I admit I have a dog in this fight. McBooks is my publisher. They’re good folks and don’t deserve to get strong-armed by Amazon.
I stopped using Amazon a while back because their not paying sales tax gives them an unfair advantage over books-and-mortar bookstores. Primarily that means Barnes & Noble, but there are still some independents around. Please patronize them whenever possible.
Remember, buying local helps your neighbors—which might put them in a position to help you someday.
And, as Alex points out, the Matty Graves books and e-books are available at local independent bookshops, www.BarnesandNoble.com, www.indiebound.org, iTunes, Kobo, and elsewhere.
You can even get them through interlibrary loan if you’re a cheapskate. Or—and here’s an idea!—from me. I’ll sign it and maybe even draw in it for you.
