Sara Hardy Writes

I discovered by pure chance that my two biographies, published by Allen & Unwin in 2005 and 2008, are being offered up as 'free to download' for no charge whatsoever in the name of ... learning? Both books have received approx 9,000 views and 5,000 downloads. Imagine if I got a dollar, or even a pathetic 10 cents for each download! These books are still available to purchase in the normal manner. These illegal free downloads screw the author, the publisher and the bookseller. There is a form on the website to fill in if the book is in copyright and therefore not permitted to be distributed. I, and Allen & Unwin have submitted requests for the books to be taken down, we've done this several times - but to no avail. No response, no action. And it's not just minnow authors like me, there are current big fish names in the mix - their books made available by these thieving sharks. I'm so furious about it, yet am powerless. It's happened to me before, on a di...