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domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init
action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /srv/users/sandra/apps/sandra/public/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114Earlier this month, OceanofPDF, a website that offered free e-book downloads without permission from publishers or authors, ceased operations<\/a>.<\/p>\n This business model — if you can call it that — is out-and-out thievery. This site was giving away your books without your permission.<\/p>\n The OceanofPDF takedown\u00a0is a win for authors who weren’t being paid for their intellectual property.<\/p>\n But it’s a loss for readers who didn’t want to pay for books.<\/p>\n “Damn It all to hell!! When I finally find a reliable eBook site it get’s (sic) taken down. Why me?” complained noobplayer2031 on Reddit.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m devasted,” reported keljar1.<\/p>\n I’m not losing sleep over the fact that\u00a0noobplayer2031,\u00a0keljar1, and other thieves are enduring emotional distress because they can’t download your e-books for free anymore.<\/p>\n But I also realize that this is yet another example of an attitude of entitlement. We increasingly expect to receive something for nothing. You’ll find this sense of entitlement nearly everywhere, and authors aren’t immune.<\/p>\n I’m reminded of this when I read the messages authors provide when unsubscribing from my free weekly e-mail newsletter. Once in awhile, someone says it’s because she doesn’t like receiving occasional emails that announce a program I’m introducing or that pass along a sale price on a trusted colleague’s training.<\/p>\n When there’s an opportunity to do so, I explain that creating all of the free how-to information you’ll find on this site takes a significant amount of time and money. Those occasional promotional emails help make it possible for me to provide in-depth, useful content on this blog. That seems fair, doesn’t it?<\/p>\n You’ve probably heard the expression, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”<\/p>\n We’re all experienced and mature enough to understand that concept. And yet, I see people complain about limits on “free” opportunities.<\/p>\n Here are just a few examples of what’s out there in the Complaints Department.<\/p>\n Goodreads now charges for book giveaways<\/strong><\/p>\n The outrage was significant when Goodreads started charging for its previously free book giveaway program in January<\/a>. “How dare they?!” was a common response.<\/p>\n Yes, how dare a business that offers a free platform for millions of book lovers charge a fee for a service that authors find valuable!<\/p>\n There’s another way of looking at this.<\/p>\n Goodreads gives readers a free place to discover and discuss our books. The site offers many ways for authors to get visibility for their books without paying a cent. It might be more productive to learn how to make the most of those options<\/a> rather than getting upset about paying for optional services.<\/p>\nPoor noobplayer2031<\/h2>\n
“Free” often has strings attached<\/h2>\n