Is my book being ripped off?

[sandlperez]

Hi. My name is Sylvia Perez. I'm author of "To Save the Humans." It has come to my attention that I have only sold 2 copies of this title through the iBookstore--nothing in print or EPUB--and I have found that many people have somehow been reading it. This really confuses me. I made a fanpage on Facebook just out of curiosity and put an ad out just to see if anyone would recognize the book. In 2 weeks of running this little experiment I have 200+ fans. I have spoken to some about the book and find they really like it, which is totally awesome, but I'm wondering if perhaps my work is being sold or given away without my consent. I know that in this day and age anything is available or can be made available for "free." I am not pointing fingers, but it would help if there was an available list of all the vendors that are selling my books. I put blood, sweat, and tears--so to speak--in my work. I have 3 novels published through LULU. I'm working on a fourth. I don't want to be scared away from the company. Please, enlighten me. Thank you.

[Maggie]

Create a revision of your epub (file for iBookstore and Nook), and enable DRM--Digital Rights Management. It adds 25 cents to your price, but it might assuage your concern.

[sandlperez]

Thank you. I checked that off on all my books when I went for EPUB.

[Maggie]

Lulu is not passing around your books for free as they too want to earn a profit from sales, so either people are sharing their reading device or they are just saying they read it. Look at it this way; it's free publicity.

[sandlperez]

I am not pointing fingers. I know that I don't know the whole story. I know that it may be possible that seller's just haven't reported. I just want a list of places that are selling so that I may conduct my own investigation. Thanks again for replying. I appreciate any input. I can't even think straight with this.

[Peter May · Accepted solution]

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sandlperez wrote:

 I have spoken to some about the book and find they really like it 

Remember that it can take some for sales to show up on on your Lulu account.

Did they say anything about the contents that proves they read it? Author contacts you and asks if you like their book and the chances are they'll say - 'Yeah! Loved it' rather than say they haven't read it. Ask which bit they liked best. If you're really concerned say you have had reports that some bits have been corrupted and ask if they could quote the first line of the second paragraph of chapter xxx - make sure its not in the free sample.

but it would help if there was an available list of all the vendors that are selling my books.

If they sell your book then in time you'll get a sale shown on your account.

Lots of places around the world are listing your book -- because it has an ISBN - and you can see them if you Google the title and your name. Listing the book for sale and actually selling it are of course not the same thing.

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[sandlperez]

Thanks Peter. I have already listed the ones on google. On that same note, I would like to mention that there is an app for the iPhone that scans barcodes. I have been able to find a few other websites with that. If there is no official list, I guess I'll stop bugging for another year and see what happens. Lots to write in the meantime.  

[kevinlomas]

Did you say it's also available in print? Perhaps they read the Preview then.