As I’ve written before, one of the hazards for Indy authors who self publish is piracy. You write a story, put it up for free online, and then it mysteriously appears for sale on the Kindle Marketplace. This has happened several times with my novels – and it’s just happened again. My story “Push Hands” is currently available on Amazon for the princely sum of $3.25, and I’ve no idea how it got there. I cried foul on the comments section, which is how I got the last lot of pirated material taken down, but Amazon doesn’t always approve of such unconstructive criticism, and I may have to approach their legal department directly. Again.
There’s not much we can can do about online piracy, other than remain vigilant and challenge it on sight. If you’re an Indy, the first time this happens you’ll find it upsetting, even a little creepy that someone out there is impersonating you, but I think we have to accept it more as an occupational hazard and not get too hung up about it. The main concern here is for our readership, and to make sure no one ends up paying for work they think is coming from us, when it isn’t. So if you find your work for sale on the Kindle Marketplace, and you didn’t put it there, keep your head, spare your expletives and speak to Amazon. There is a process, and it works. Amazon will take it down.
If you’re a reader and you’ve paid money on the Kindle Marketplace for anything I’ve written, then I’m sorry but it’s been pirated and I urge you contact Amazon, who should refund you. All my work is available for free on Feedbooks. I do not self-publish on the Kindle Marketplace.
If you are the pirate, I’ve nothing really constructive to say to you, other than you’re courting some seriously heavy Karma, my friend, and you really need to mend your ways before it catches up with you.
I am the real Michael Graeme and you’ll find the real, unadulterated, unpirated, totally original, and absolutely free version of my story “Push Hands” here:
The Rivendale Review 
It seems writers have been batting piracy in many forms for a long time. I went to a workshop last weekend and learned of Ray Bradbury’s persistent struggles with the publishing industry.
As an aspiring author looking to publish my first book, I’m really undecided about the best route to make it available. I suppose I’ll have to do a good bit of investigating when the time comes.
Hi Tony, thanks.
Yes, the piracy issue isn’t one I anticipated. I should add I don’t think it’s that the pirates think my stuff is worth it. They use a scatter-gun approach, pirating thousands of books and relying on statistics to yield a few hits. I thought it was only writers of “erotica” who were vulnerable though – the pirates banking on the genuine authors being too embarassed to cry foul and reclaim the work as their own.
There’s certainly a world of difference between writing and publishing – each requiring very different qualities, though both requiring oodles of staying power. I’m sure whatever route you decide, things will work out.