Aaaaaargh. A word about filesharing. Sorry to have to say this. Really. Sorrier than you can know.

I need to say a little something about ePiracy. That is when a file of my novels is uploaded somewhere where it can be downloaded for free by anyone. That’s not legal.

Is it going to bother me if your mom wants to read your books, or you love it and want to share it with your sister or your best friend? Of course not. I don’t share the intellectual property of my friends without 1) their consent, or 2) paying for the privilege, but I give paperback books away routinely to charities and loan books. But after I’ve done that, one other person will have it and I will not have it anymore. See the difference?

I’m not an ogre. But am I going to try to stop someone from making my book available for free to thousands of people, some of whom might have actually purchased it? Yes. I am. Because that’s not cricket. That’s taking a good thing way too far, and makes it hard for me to make a living at writing.

I love my fans. I love people who want to read the books I write, and I want to reach as many as possible, but I also want to put my kids through college, and hope someday to live off money I’ve earned, not money that the taxpayer has to fork over because I don’t have any.

It’s simple courtesy, and I expect it. I respectfully request that people pay me for my work.

Thanks a bunch, Love you, Mwah!

~ZAM~