tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post7172612368778279323..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Is it fair to share? By Cally Phillips Katherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-90437767006650976292013-02-05T16:26:51.209+00:002013-02-05T16:26:51.209+00:00Not even for the chocolate...?! With you on the Fa...Not even for the chocolate...?! With you on the Fairtrade, though - happy February.Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-76897569081998405372013-02-05T07:45:27.266+00:002013-02-05T07:45:27.266+00:00No Kidding Reb. Haven't celebrated Xmas in 30 ...No Kidding Reb. Haven't celebrated Xmas in 30 years or more. No need. CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-8105431113231462532013-02-04T22:16:05.924+00:002013-02-04T22:16:05.924+00:00Terrific. But you were only kidding, right, about ...Terrific. But you were only kidding, right, about not liking Christmas? Otherwise, I'll have to dedicate my next Xmas thriller to you--April Yule. :)glitter noirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11728649916344336118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-1960644984393114832013-02-04T12:30:27.561+00:002013-02-04T12:30:27.561+00:00If we can have plenty of Fair Trade Chocolate, I&#...If we can have plenty of Fair Trade Chocolate, I'm coming.Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-59593412232583660512013-02-04T12:00:44.229+00:002013-02-04T12:00:44.229+00:00Ah, wonderful stuff. I was having a conversation a...Ah, wonderful stuff. I was having a conversation at the weekend that came up serendipitously on Facebook when people were discussing Kindles and paper books, and I noticed in my ticker that someone had said "but what about the trees" which drew me in, pointing out the rather dire carbon footprint associated with ereaders, but then into making the more specific point of why the publishing industry refuses in any way to get involved in larger ethical debates - food has long led the way (as it has done in championing local and independent - not always successfully I'm often pointing out - local produce stores often pay their staff lower than living wage and offer very poor terms, taking advantage of all the exemptions from working conditions legislation available to them - but nonetheless doing a valuable job in talking), and even the loathesome fashion industry that loves to pump pre-teens full of body dysmorphia is starting to take a stance both on the sourcing of products (or not sourcing) from sweat shops, on using sustainable materials, even, slowly, on the models it uses. Yet the publishing industry remains stony silent other than the occasional comment about ereaders and carbon (which comes from consumers not the industry). It seems to me that as self-publishers we have the freedom to be leading the way on this. And yet... I am part of many communities that are involved with ebooks and yet whenever I so much as mention that reasons for not using Amazon might be **** all to do with whether Kdp select will up your post-giveaway sales and everything to do with their shameful tax record, the response ranges from the electronic equivalent of an awkward, anxious, for goodness' sake shut up look across the room to a straightforward slapdown - it's all, I'm told, about the visibility of our books as authors and the lack of alternative to Amazon. Now, I'll confess completely to my hypocrisy - I've only just gotten around to unpublishing my ebooks on Amazon. On the other hand, back in 2010 when I started eight cuts gallery press I refused to asign our books ISBNs, specifically so they could not be sold on Amazon. Back then as well I was told I was crackers, that I was doing a gross disservice to my authors (all of whom were with me on it). I would never say everyone should put ethics before economics - though I would encourage it (whilst recognising that my ethics and theirs may well vary considerably). But I do think the assumption that because we make culture the primary good that should be in our minds is our own benefit is very strange, esepcially as in this context "we" will usually be speaking from positions of privilege in many ways. Everything we do is political; everything we do has a position in relation to ethics. That we "need" a "living" affects these two statements not one jot. Thanks for raising the subject, Cally.Dan Hollowayhttp://danholloway.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-11502252412856449442013-02-04T11:46:34.316+00:002013-02-04T11:46:34.316+00:00And Dennis, thanks. That takes sales to 5 this mon...And Dennis, thanks. That takes sales to 5 this month. Only 45 to go to reach target 50! <br />CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-77819242737089594612013-02-04T11:45:56.498+00:002013-02-04T11:45:56.498+00:00Which makes you pretty old Jan? Oh, not the same y...Which makes you pretty old Jan? Oh, not the same year? Means it's Feb 8th and you will become an integral part of my 50 days of celebration. As will Dickens. And Brecht. The dates are fair stacking up. I feel a list coming on. CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-63422078836181068632013-02-04T11:40:04.414+00:002013-02-04T11:40:04.414+00:00same from me with knobs on, cally. you're a wo...same from me with knobs on, cally. you're a wondrous wee wumman and a canny one, clearly. st valentine, birthday and wedding anniversary all in one. mony a mickle maks a muckle, hen. my only birthday claim to fame is that it's the day after charles dickens (who also comes from portsmouth) and two days before bertolt brecht. i'll raise a virtual glass to you, and expect one back. love n busses frae the deep south.Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-38093129216355881382013-02-04T11:30:27.136+00:002013-02-04T11:30:27.136+00:00Lovely post, Cally. Had me laughing and thinking ...Lovely post, Cally. Had me laughing and thinking in equal measure. I've just bought Fair Trade Fiction after reading the 'Look Inside' bit, which was great. And I'll engage with the festival too. Only 50? Get some service in, Cally, as we used to say in the RAF,Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.com