DHAKA: Author Jaime Clarke’s new novel “Vernon Downs” requested his reader to buy “Vernon Downs” straight from the publisher and not from Amazon.

In a Web site aptly named pleasedontbuymybookonamazon.com, Clarke lays out his call to support independent publishing and push back against the aggressive cost-cutting tactics of Amazon that, he says, are great for consumers but detrimental to the livelihood of independent publishing.

Clarke -- who also published the novel “We’re So Famous,” is co-owner of an independent bookstore in Boston called Newtonville Books.

Clarke has written: “As a bookstore owner, I see small presses come and go -- they usually publish a book or two and then fold after running out of money. For many small publishers like Roundabout, Amazon accounts for a large portion of sales, but the publisher realizes very little of the purchase price owing to Amazon’s discounting policies.”

Clarke also said: “’Vernon Downs’ is published by Roundabout Press, from which readers can preorder the book online. Any royalties on sales received from preordering the book now from Roundabout will go directly to the publisher. In addition, anyone who buys the book from Roundabout can get it shipped to them in December but Amazon can’t start selling the book until next April as ‘Vernon Downs’ has gone through the publishing process to get an official bar code.

Despite the fact that independent bookstores have been making a steady comeback as small businesses rebound in the strengthening economy, three independent East Coast bookstores have filed suit against Amazon and major publishers in an attempt to level the playing field.

President Barack Obama even got pulled into the debate after New England Independent Booksellers Association Director Steve Fischer late last month condemned the president for visiting an Amazon warehouse in the wake of the Apple e-book decision.

Source: cnet
BDST: 1150 HRS, SEP 30, 2013
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