Pixel-Stained Technopeasants

[chipotle]

Hmm. How to explain International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day? The easiest way is just to shamelessly quote from the Boing Boing article I linked to:

Jo Walton (author of the incredible, haunting novel Farthing, which you should read right now, but not if you plan on getting any sleep for the next week) has declared April 23 to be “International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day” (a reference to Howard Hendrix’s now-infamous webscabs rant) to be celebrated by authors giving away a “professional quality work” on their websites.

(As further explanation to the link-averse, Hendrix, the vice-president of the Science Fiction Writers of America, railed against SFWA members—all professional authors—who “post their creations on the net for free,” because they are “undercutting those of us who aren’t giving it away for free and are trying to get publishers to pay a better wage for our hard work.” I’m really not sure whether it was more insulting to people who post work online or to actual union organizers.)

Well, not only have I not read Farthing, I don’t qualify as an SFWA professional. But screw all that—I’m participating anyway. See, I’ve been chewing for about a year on whether releasing a story or two from Why Coyotes Howl might stir up more sales and just generally be, you know, more visible. This is a good opportunity to find out.

So, on April 23rd, I’ll be making “Why Coyotes Howl” (the title story) available online in its entirety for free.

Comments

Why Coyotes Howl

[vulpesrex.livejournal.com]

Having actually BOUGHT a copy of "Why Coyotes Howl", I can enthusiastically endorse the entire collection. So does Fred Patten, who I believe submitted a review to ANTHRO! on-line magazine.

Of course, in your case, it is possible to have your cake AND eat it, too - by pointing out to prospective readers who may be curious about your skill and storytelling ability, just where they can read "A Gift of Fire, A Gift of Blood" - and where new readers can be introduced to one of the more interesting characters in Furry Literature, namely Revar, the vampire bat.

That way, you aren't compelled to give away any part of the Howl Collection.

[(Anonymous)]

I have always put my work on my website. But, maybe I should make this day a day where I bring up the new website and announce it to the world. Lots of stories. :)

Yeah, yeah that's the ticket. Create the new page.

Re: Why Coyotes Howl

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd like to put up something new rather than something that's been online for quite some time -- I suspect saying "it's already out there" isn't quite in the spirit of the day. :)

Assuming Claw & Quill ever exists again as more than "this will be cool when it's finished" I'll likely be moving "A Gift of Fire" and the other Belfry stories to it, in slightly cleaned-up form (i.e., the way I did with the stories in "Coyotes.") I used to think doing that would preclude selling the stories in printed form but I don't think that's the case any longer, particularly if I can come up with something neat that's exclusive to the book form.

[ben-mouse.livejournal.com]

I suppose this tact is very much like that used by some music artists, who put one song from a new album up on the web somewhere. They hope you'll like the song enough to buy the album.

I say go for it! It also adds to good web content!

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

I think it's a pretty cool idea. And having the book myself, I'm confident that any number of the stories within can "sell" the book. Adding value like this is how successful entrepreneurship works.