BookBrunch - Authors demand Amazon's patronage

Both sides are right

The two positions that understand the matter best are that of Michael Pietsch, CEO of Hachette, when he says that "This dispute started because Amazon is seeking a lot more profit and even more market share, at the expense of authors, bricks and mortar bookstores, and ourselves", and Sue-Ellen Welfonder, who wrote, in defence of Amazon, "In traditional publishing, a few will always thrive, but a large number of writers, those on the dread midlist, have to learn how to paddle hard to stay afloat. Indie publishing (and Amazon) offers new writers never-before opportunities and gives midlisters a wonderful chance to re-invent themselves, making it possible to have the kind of control and power over our work that was unthinkable just a short while ago." They are both right, but Pietsch should not expect anything else when dealing with a retailer, any retailer. Welfonder clearly understands the market and works hard to make herself heard.