I’ve been a professional writer for many years now. I have seen sales go up and down, some sales being from fully read books being returned, but this has become a big problem in the indie writing community. Finally, something is getting done, a petition that can be signed to address the policy asking for its change has been started.

As writers, we understand that our work may not be liked, it’s part of the business. We also understand if an ebook is read some then the reader wants to return, but this is for readers fully reading a work, asking for their money back. The policy needs to be changed so 100% read books cannot be returned.

This is already a policy for other companies, games, movies, etc., but not for digital books. Books are plagiarized and even stolen so often that many writers have given up writing entirely, leaving series unfinished, books never released, and leaving fans confused about where their favorite authors have gone.

I AM NOT saying that every book read to 100% and then is returned is stolen by the reader, but it is suspicious activity, especially on books that are new releases. I stopped doing raffles and giveaways of my work after seeing my work stolen after releases. I love what I do, write, and from the comments on the petition, I can see other writers love writing as well.

Authors pay out of pocket for a lot of services. From formatting to covers, marketing and ads, and so much just to get a book released and the word spread often dealing with long periods without ever seeing any actual take home after paying for everything that has cost them just to release the work. This is also a problem for small/indie publishers who back a book.

This is similar to something Audible, owned by Amazon, did by allowing listened to works be returned at the writer’s cost. It’s hard-earned money stolen from our pockets.

Sign here

I DID NOT start this petition, but it already has my support!