I'm a published writer!!!!
So, for those of you who know what the hell I am on about: Amazon uber failed this weekend with their stripping of many (grand total more than 57,000 books) sales ranks of various books.
My letter to the editor of the tbt* was published thusly in today's edition (04-14-09):
Amazon decides to turn into a literature Nazi
Being a merchant of the written
word and a conduit for knowledge
and news in the local area, it will no
doubt distress you that Amazon.com,
a previously wonderful source of multiple
media wares, has taken it upon
itself to strip many gay, lesbian and
erotic books from its digital shelves in
a travesty of quiet censorship. Much
like an over-reactive parent ripping
books from the shelves of a local
bookstore, Amazon has started making
many books difficult to find.
While I understand that this is
their right as a business, I think it is
a foolhardy- no - downright stupid
thing to do.
Several friends/acquaintances of
mine are all a-Twitter about this matter.
In fact, the ever-fabulous Twitter
site is how this matter came to my attention.
While perusing today’s posts,
I noticed a few distressing comments
of a writer friend of mine. And then
a few more, much like the warning
drops before a rainstorm.
Amazon released this delightful
blurb to an author friend of mine in
regards to the disappearance of his
book: “In consideration of our entire
customer base, we exclude ‘adult’ material
from appearing in some searches
and best seller lists. Since these lists
are generated using sales ranks, adult
materials must also be excluded from
that feature.”
I am sorry, but this sort of specific
censorship, since they are only deranking
books of a gay, lesbian, bisexual
or transgender or erotic nature,
is utterly unacceptable. If you are
going to be a literature Nazi, be a wellrounded
one or the actual observant
members of the community shall sit
up and take notice.
Now, that is not to say that one cannot
find anything on Amazon.com,
but it is much harder.
Renee Boyar, Brandon
Yay for me! ^_^
My letter to the editor of the tbt* was published thusly in today's edition (04-14-09):
Amazon decides to turn into a literature Nazi
Being a merchant of the written
word and a conduit for knowledge
and news in the local area, it will no
doubt distress you that Amazon.com,
a previously wonderful source of multiple
media wares, has taken it upon
itself to strip many gay, lesbian and
erotic books from its digital shelves in
a travesty of quiet censorship. Much
like an over-reactive parent ripping
books from the shelves of a local
bookstore, Amazon has started making
many books difficult to find.
While I understand that this is
their right as a business, I think it is
a foolhardy- no - downright stupid
thing to do.
Several friends/acquaintances of
mine are all a-Twitter about this matter.
In fact, the ever-fabulous Twitter
site is how this matter came to my attention.
While perusing today’s posts,
I noticed a few distressing comments
of a writer friend of mine. And then
a few more, much like the warning
drops before a rainstorm.
Amazon released this delightful
blurb to an author friend of mine in
regards to the disappearance of his
book: “In consideration of our entire
customer base, we exclude ‘adult’ material
from appearing in some searches
and best seller lists. Since these lists
are generated using sales ranks, adult
materials must also be excluded from
that feature.”
I am sorry, but this sort of specific
censorship, since they are only deranking
books of a gay, lesbian, bisexual
or transgender or erotic nature,
is utterly unacceptable. If you are
going to be a literature Nazi, be a wellrounded
one or the actual observant
members of the community shall sit
up and take notice.
Now, that is not to say that one cannot
find anything on Amazon.com,
but it is much harder.
Renee Boyar, Brandon
Yay for me! ^_^