The Two Faces of Destruction: No Amazon-printed Books & No Self-Published Authors

"Take What You Can - Give Nothing Back"

― Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean

I had gotten myself into a spot of hot water speaking on the radio a few years ago, saying that the big-box-bookstores (I did NOT name names) who make it difficult for indie-authors, or local authors, or up-and-coming writers or poets, follow the pirate's philosophy:

"Take what you can - give nothing back."

(I was unofficially barred from a specific big-box-bookstore's one location for

years because of this comment; the ban lifting only once management rolled over).

This "business model" will carry, market, sell, and draw upon the "cream of the crop," (the Stephen Kings, George R.R. Martins, Dan Browns, etc.) - the safe-sales - but gatekeep smaller, local, or independent authors. At its surface level it may not seem predatory, but it actually is. If you are not supporting or feeding an industry at its grassroots level, you are ultimately undermining it at best, or stealing from it at worst. Everybody began as an unknown author at some point. And if neophytes are dissuaded from joining an industry, that industry is doomed.

This business philosophy takes and doesn't give.

In a conversation about an upcoming event, a phenomena has been brought to my attention. It doesn't matter the locations or storefronts in question. But suffice it to say, they are both independent bookstores... which surprised me.

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No Amazon-printed Books

In one case, the particular bookshop in question will not place local author's books that are printed via Amazon on their floor. (Amazon-printed books are simple to identify - there's an additional final page at the back of the book with a barcode and small 8-point text reading, "Manufactured by Amazon.ca") ...it's also just as easy to remove this last page delicately with an X-acto knife....

I understand the potential threat Amazon can be for independent bookstores, at least in principal. "Let's do our best against the big-bad-Amazon," is the rallying cry. "Let's not give Jeff Bezos any more money!" I get it. And there is some degree of truth there. But I also believe, on the bookstore's management's behalf, there's a degree of ignorance as well. Amazon isn't all bad.

Using Amazon's print-service allows independent authors to order and print incredibly small quantities of books (even a single copy), at affordable prices, and at a price-point where they can still turn a profit. For those new authors who simply can't afford to place an order of 50, 100, or 500 more copies at a time, this is a very realistic and viable option. In some cases the only option. And I can't emphasize that enough: in some cases the only option.

To ban Amazon-printed books from your bookshelves is to castrate

a significant portion of the up-and-coming literary landscape.

Although I believe done with good intentions, it is ultimately a variation of the pirate's philosophy. Because - although they mean well - they're not supporting the grassroots level of the industry. Which is essentially burning a portion of the industry's entrance level.

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No Self-published Authors

The other case was a local independent bookstore whose management recently changed their policy: They won't carry independent, self-published authors.

I can understand, in some cases, why. Admittedly, there is a wide spectrum of indie-authors out there: from absolute trash, garbage, poor manufacturing, and terrible printing and binding... all the way to, essentially, professional-grade level in all categories. You really don't always know what you're getting....but, isn't that the nature of retail? It's bad enough that traditional publishers play gatekeepers, but to add retail into this equation?

The irony is this; Hypothetically, one of Broken Keys Publishing's authors could have their book carried at this location because this author would be a legitimately published author. Yet myself, could not have one of my personal books carried at this location. (Because technically I am a self-published author). This is reminiscent of the catch-22 of The Canada Council of the Arts' grants! (See The Wrong Business Model). (Is this irony or hypocrisy? Or just plain ignorance?)

Irony aside, this policy simply prohibits self-published authors. Full stop. Plain and simple.

The message, whether deliberate or not, is plain as the nose on your face: Get published through traditional publishers. Historically, traditional publishers do not know good literature from poor, and this policy does nothing to address the Gatekeeper effect or Golden Star dilemma. And it too is a variation of the pirate's philosophy. Once again, putting obstacles and barriers in place of up-and-coming writers, poets, and authors.

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Thoughts and Conclusions

Within the past few post-pandemic years, there has been a shift. We are statistically seeing The Return of the Indie-Bookshop (see The Wild West of Publishing), and, in light of Indigo's Trials and Tribulations, we are also seeing Indigo change and adapt in more favourable ways towards independent, self-published authors - because they see the drift towards smaller, independent bookstores.

Let's not kid ourselves. These two new policies or business models will not help independent bookstores, their reputations, local authors, writing communities, or the writing-publishing industry. It will only cause harm.

The literary landscape in the Nation's Capital and surrounding regions are changing.

Where do you find yourself?

Food for thought.

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