Tag: Amazon

Why I Would Fail As An Amazonian, And Other Predictable Misfortunes

September 4, 2015

I recently tolerated, er, celebrated my 56th birthday. Going by the usual retirement schedule, I have about ten years left in the workforce, give or take a year. I feel ready to take one last shot at a career change, or at least modification. Here in Seattle, it’s inevitable to think of Microsoft, Starbucks, or … More Why I Would Fail As An Amazonian, And Other Predictable Misfortunes

Why Ursula K. Le Guin’s speech was misguided and wrong.

December 12, 2014

Ursula K. Le Guin’s November 19 speech at the National Book Awards in New York struck a nerve. My nerve. In six minutes, after accepting the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the grande dame of American science fiction and fantasy lambasted her own publishers who charge libraries “six or seven times the price … More Why Ursula K. Le Guin’s speech was misguided and wrong.

Hachette may have won the battle, but Amazon will win the war

November 14, 2014

Amazon and Hachette kissed, made up, and walked into the sunset hand-in-hand after their ten-month dispute over ebook pricing. That’s what the spin doctors want you to think when you read the statements issued by each company yesterday and the followup press reports, but it’s impossible to believe that the fires of resentment and future … More Hachette may have won the battle, but Amazon will win the war

I am an author, and Authors United does not speak for me.

September 16, 2014

Authors United has pulled a boner. The group of writers who’ve published through Hachette, which is in an ongoing contract dispute with Amazon, sent a letter this week to Amazon’s board of directors demanding it “put an end to the sanctioning of books.” In this case, “sanction” is meant as “discipline” in the way an … More I am an author, and Authors United does not speak for me.