For a book to be successful, you need reviews.
Here’s the thing. Avid readers, those that build relationships with authors and with other readers, who become voices to be heard, are suddenly prevented by Amazon to leave reviews. The same is true of blogs, just about the only promo opportunity left open to writers that don’t have the backing of their big-buck publishers. Why? Because Amazon seeks to avoid bias.
Well, Amazon. You’ve gone cuckoo.
The fact that I’ve become a fan of a particular author now makes me unqualified to review the book? If I like an author, I will write to them to let them know how much I enjoyed their book, perhaps to ask for an autographed copy. Does that communication make me biased?
Well, duh, Amazon. In books, music, TV and movies, you bet your ass I’m biased. I tend to enjoy music by the same bands, movies by the same director or featuring the same actor. And yes, once I’ve found an author I like, I become–by definition–biased.
And you know what? I like shopping and selling at Amazon. I am biased toward you. But by your standards, my biased opinion is irrelevant.
Seriously, none of this makes sense. You would think a large company would appreciate loyal customers. Loyal customers like shopping at Amazon and reliably buy their favorite authors’ books, then recommend both to friends.
And you frown on this why, exactly?
You’re a business, sometimes you even pay your taxes, looking after the bottom line. Hmm. Why would you punish customers for their loyalty?
Well, allow me some (moderately) wild speculation.
Loyalty is good for business, but loyal readers are an authors’ army. If you want to exert your dominance over authors, life would be easier if you could do this without that army. Your new policy encourages writers to keep their readers at a distance, and encourages readers not to engage with authors if they want their opinions to be heard.
I can’t see any immediate benefit, but I assume you have a plan. You’ve already flexed your muscle in front of big publishers and come to an arrangement; you are currently pushing the smaller presses out of business. I suspect putting pressure on authors who self-publish is next.
The last thing you want is an army of loyal fans signing petitions and causing a stink.
That said, I will continue shopping at Amazon. Once you control all supply, from those who publish to those who make music, and set your own prices, no doubt we, the customers, will pay dearly. Until then, I’ll enjoy a bargain just like the next person.
U.N. Owen
(This is U.N. Owen’s second guest post. Hope you enjoyed.)
