Meyer giving it away for free

Oshodisa · Mar 31, 2010

First off - I haven't seen this elsewhere, but if I have missed it I do apologise (and mods, please do what you feel appropriate -move/delete etc)

Secondly - I couldn't resist a inuendo title!

I've just read this link - S Meyer is giving away a novella (based in the Twilight world) online as a thank you to her fans;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8596162.stm

Whats everyones thoughts on this?

shaldna · Mar 31, 2010

Yeah, I saw that on the news earlier and I still have the urge to punch someone. When will this woman and her abuse of the english language just go away.

Cyia · Mar 31, 2010

It goes on sale first. And those sales, in part, go to the American Red Cross. (Something like $1/copy sold. Considering how many copies Breaking Dawn sold its first day, and the novella's considerably lower prince, that's a pretty good donation by any standard.

No matter what you think of her writing, Meyer deserves some credit for helping out a great cause.

Calla Lily · Mar 31, 2010

Cyia said:
It goes on sale first. And those sales, in part, go to the American Red Cross. (Something like $1/copy sold. Considering how many copies Breaking Dawn sold its first day, and the novella's considerably lower prince, that's a pretty good donation by any standard.

No matter what you think of her writing, Meyer deserves some credit for helping out a great cause.

This.

Kitty27 · Mar 31, 2010

Go,Smeyer!

She's donating to a good cause and I have no doubt that her fans will come through.

shaldna · Mar 31, 2010

I wonder how much she'll make out of it.

anyway, my personal opinions on her writing aside, I get the feeling that there's some desperate capitisation at work. I just checked her website (my eyes and brain hurt) and I noticed several things.

There's alot of re-releasing of books. Special box sets, reissue of a three year old book (the host - with special 'bonus chapter') etc. And now a supporting novella.

No new material though. It really seems like someone is dragging as much out of the books and their fanbase as possible. Of course a fan is going to buy a reissued book if it contains additional material.

So here's a question, not just related to Meyer, when does it become too much?

By that I mean, when does the promotion and pushing and capitising on something start to overtake any merit the project had in the first place? When does it stop being a book and start becoming a cash cow?

ChristineR · Mar 31, 2010

Rowling did something similar with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and a book about Quidditch (whose title escapes me). I don't see why Meyer shouldn't do this. Kudos to her, and kudos to the fans who can afford to buy it at the donation price instead of reading it for free.

Phaeal · Mar 31, 2010

shaldna said:
By that I mean, when does the promotion and pushing and capitising on something start to overtake any merit the project had in the first place? When does it stop being a book and start becoming a cash cow?

Never. It just becomes a book that's also a cash cow. Not surprisingly, the publishing industry will milk its cows until there's no market for the resulting dairy products.

Makes sense to me. Staying with the metaphor, nobody's using cattle prods to make the fans buy. All they have to do to stop the flow is keep their money in their wallets. Just like the rest of us.

BenPanced · Mar 31, 2010

ChristineR said:
Rowling did something similar with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and a book about Quidditch (whose title escapes me). I don't see why Meyer shouldn't do this. Kudos to her, and kudos to the fans who can afford to buy it at the donation price instead of reading it for free.

And Tales of Beedle The Bard, and its special edition reproduction of the handmade, handbound book with metal covers and jewels on the binding ($200.00 with less than 1000 created). Didn't see anybody complaining she's exploiting her fans with that, especially when she's a patron of a multiple sclerosis charity.

Wayne K · Mar 31, 2010

I'd love to see one successful person give "all" the proceeds to charity instead of this $1 per sale crap.

The other thing I wonder about, is why she couldn't find a charity in the UK

Terie · Mar 31, 2010

Wayne K said:
The other thing I wonder about, is why she couldn't find a charity in the UK

One dollar from each book purchased in the US will be donated to the American Red Cross while anyone who reads the story online will be asked to donate to the charity.

(bolding mine)

Why exactly would you expect her to have money from the US sales go to a UK charity?

icerose · Mar 31, 2010

Wayne K said:
I'd love to see one successful person give "all" the proceeds to charity instead of this $1 per sale crap.

The other thing I wonder about, is why she couldn't find a charity in the UK

Because this is Meyers not Rowling. Meyers is a US citizen. Seems kind of weird she would send donations to another country for giggles.

shaldna · Mar 31, 2010

Wayne K said:
I'd love to see one successful person give "all" the proceeds to charity instead of this $1 per sale crap.

Rowling gave ALL the proceeds from her comic relief books to the charity.

aadams73 · Mar 31, 2010

shaldna said:
anyway, my personal opinions on her writing aside, I get the feeling that there's some desperate capitisation at work. I just checked her website (my eyes and brain hurt) and I noticed several things.

By that I mean, when does the promotion and pushing and capitising on something start to overtake any merit the project had in the first place? When does it stop being a book and start becoming a cash cow?

OH MY GOD! She's trying to make money off her own work?

This is an abomination! Quick, let's call someone! Oh, the horror!

Wayne K · Mar 31, 2010

I thought she was a citizen of the UK guys calm down. Wasn't that obvious, or do ya just need someone to snark at today.

Wayne K · Mar 31, 2010

shaldna said:
Rowling gave ALL the proceeds from her comic relief books to the charity.

This, I respect

shaldna · Mar 31, 2010

Wayne K said:
This, I respect

Me too.

Wayne K · Mar 31, 2010

People should consider how they would want someone to respond to them in a situation before being sarcastic and snotty. So with that goodbye, beat the shit out of me if you want, I want nothing to do with this fucking place today.

shaldna · Mar 31, 2010

Oh Wayne don't leave me here alone.

charlotte49ers · Mar 31, 2010

I think it's really nice!

Jamesaritchie · Mar 31, 2010

shaldna said:
I wonder how much she'll make out of it.

anyway, my personal opinions on her writing aside, I get the feeling that there's some desperate capitisation at work. I just checked her website (my eyes and brain hurt) and I noticed several things.

There's alot of re-releasing of books. Special box sets, reissue of a three year old book (the host - with special 'bonus chapter') etc. And now a supporting novella.

No new material though. It really seems like someone is dragging as much out of the books and their fanbase as possible. Of course a fan is going to buy a reissued book if it contains additional material.

So here's a question, not just related to Meyer, when does it become too much?

By that I mean, when does the promotion and pushing and capitising on something start to overtake any merit the project had in the first place? When does it stop being a book and start becoming a cash cow?

It becomes too much when the publisher stops making a profit. All books are milk (cash) cows. Some just produce more milk (cash) than others.

Libbie · Mar 31, 2010

shaldna said:
Yeah, I saw that on the news earlier and I still have the urge to punch someone. When will this woman and her abuse of the english language just go away.

I do not entirely disagree with your sentiment.

That being said, good on her for being in touch with her fans and showing them some appreciation.

Chris P · Mar 31, 2010

shaldna said:
It really seems like someone is dragging as much out of the books and their fanbase as possible. Of course a fan is going to buy a reissued book if it contains additional material.

So here's a question, not just related to Meyer, when does it become too much?

By that I mean, when does the promotion and pushing and capitising on something start to overtake any merit the project had in the first place? When does it stop being a book and start becoming a cash cow?

Again, it's the art versus business situation. Anyone with the success Meyer has had is going to become part of the money machine. That's how a lot of people, including the author, make a lot of money.

When does it overtake the merit of the project? Never. I still enjoy the Star Wars movies although I nearly broke my parents' bank account making them buy me every toy, poster, book, or record even remotely related to the films. My opinion of Twilight the book series hasn't changed in response to the hubbub. What the ubiquity of Twilight does (just as Star Wars did in the 70s and 80s) is burn people out. I'd be interested in reading the novella.

Libbie · Mar 31, 2010

aadams73 said:
OH MY GOD! She's trying to make money off her own work?

This is an abomination! Quick, let's call someone! Oh, the horror!

And this I FULLY agree with. I may not like her writing, but I would never begrudge a fellow author the right to earn money from her work.

I think it's unnecessarily generous of her to a) offer the novella for free and b) donate $1.00 to the Red Cross for all U.S. sales. She doesn't HAVE to do that at all, and she is virtually guaranteed to sell bazillions of copies of this novella.

Libbie · Mar 31, 2010

Wayne K said:
I thought she was a citizen of the UK guys calm down. Wasn't that obvious, or do ya just need someone to snark at today.

She lives a short ferry ride and a half-hour drive from me. Her house is really quite gorgeous and it must have a lovely view, considering where it sits. The entire Peninsula has gone all Twilight-bonkers. There are Twilight stores in every small town on the road from Seattle and Tacoma to Forks. It must be a little surreal, I'd think, to live in an area that is turning itself into a merchandising machine for your books. I'd actually like to meet Ms. Meyer some day and pick her brain about how that experience has effected (and affected) her.

Meyer giving it away for free

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