...instead of the greedy, evil-dragon BIG PUBLISHERS...

Wouldn't it be outrageously fun to become a fire dragon shapeshifter?

Late night yowls, my bold and brave Big Cats... another lovely weather day on the tame prairie... and the Kougaress can't help wishing 'life' reflected this loveliness... oh, and she had a lovely spot of purple bird poop on her stepping stone, because the mulberries are beginning to ripen.
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Authoress news and mews ~

Yep, more penning done on the Kougar's WIP ~ Her Midnight Stardust Cowboys ~ and, she's so hoping it continues!
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...instead of the greedy, evil-dragon BIG PUBLISHERS...

Once again, Kittens, Harlequin has been revealed for what those at top of the pyramid are, profit whores who basically enslave most of their authors. As the Kougar commented on, author, Pat Cunningham's blog at TITLE MAGIC... she's known about Harlequin's beyond-disgusting predatory business practices since the mid 1980s. More came to light during the mid 1990s, and this Big Cat even wrote an editor's letter about Harlequin's stupid, bad and immoral business practices, which was published by the RWR ~ Romance Writer's Report.

Sadly, as well, the Big Boy NY publishers, in general, are massively cheating their authors out of their ebook royalties [you can find the story/info at the Passive Guy's blog]. When this problem was originally brought to light and the author's agents were told... well, what happened? "Oh, everything is okay, we'll handle it. You just keep writing, sweetie." Oh yeah, the agents handled it all right. They, except for a few good agents, simply colluded with the NY publishers for a cut of the action, and left their author clients out in the *we cheated you* cold. Nice, huh?

Readers, we writers WANT to write books for you. It's our heart. It's our soul. We enjoy when you enjoy. But we're up against the giant ravenous corporate beasts with nothing more than our pens/cyber pens, our smarts and our wits. Even those of us who have chosen to publish with small epub/print companies, or Indie publish, are affected adversely by this crony corporatism.

Why? Because THEY [using mafia tactics] own book distribution across the country, and usually foreign rights. THEY own the big media/ad exposure for authors and their books, for the most part. THEY force horrific contracts on most [not the star authors usually] writers that nobody in their right mind would ever sign... except, we've been trained to believe this is the way it is... this is the best deal we're gonna get... it's our ticket to author stardom and enough money to live on -- that is, if only we go along to get along and don't complain. Oh, and there's the prestige of being an author with the Big NY publishers.

Yeah, right. Some writers like the prestige perk. Well, that's a nice feeling and all, but if it doesn't translate into actual royalties, *fair* royalties, for all an author's very hard work... gosh, this Big Cat doesn't give one good damn. Prestige is not a very filling meal.

Readers, when you purchase a book/romance book from Harlequin, or a BIg NY publisher, you're not paying the author most of what you've just paid. No, the author only receives a tiny fraction, a pittance of the purchase price in most cases. Volume of sales these days 'does not' translate into a living wage for most authors. And, really, it never did. Not for *most* authors.

Obviously, there needs to be a business model which serves everyone, the authors and readers first, then the publisher support team, cover art, editing, etc. And, if you think Indie publishing at Amazon and B&N is the answer. Think again. Since profit is their bottom line, or will be in the future, once 'the' competition is eliminated -- that's when exploitation and the over-lord control of authors is likely to become the name of the game. Once again.

The more good smaller publishers there are, really, the better for authors and readers. The more 'fair' competition there is, the better for authors and readers. And, the more readers purchase from the good smaller publishers, and buy Indie books -- instead of the greedy, evil-dragon BIG PUBLISHERS -- the better off we'll all be. As people, as a world. Think about it.
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Big Cat by-the-numbers ~

2:22 am... 5:55 pm... 10:10 pm... wow, is the paranormal coming out of the closet during these times...
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BIG CAT OBSERVATION & COMMENT ~

Lots of air traffic yesterday... and a supersonic jet flew directly overhead and low, a rumble that trembled the house, then a short whoosh-whine of sound... later, more air traffic and the tame prairie is NOT a high traffic area... yeah, tell this Big Cat something isn't going on as far as a hidden war/conflict on our soil...
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The most powerful weapon is the human soul on fire.

~ Have a magickal month of May ~

~ MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH ~

And, May you live the dreams of your heart, not in interesting times...

'Paranormal coming out of the closet' kisses from the Kougar...