There are so many ways authors make money for other people these days – piracy, for example, and, as Susan Hill wrote last week, adding value to old books by getting authors to sign masses of them at public events. Let me introduce you to another one I see more and more– the rip-off of promotional copies meant for reviewers but <a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAVID-HEWSON-DEATH-SEVILLE-PRESS-RELEASE-/170552248341#ht_500wt_1156" target="_blank">diverted straight away to eBay</a> for a quick buck.

<a href="http://davidhewson.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/capture1.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6035" title="Capture" src="http://davidhewson.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/capture1.png?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="137" /></a>Here’s a less-than-shining example that’s just popped up. You will see the charming gentleman responsible boasts that the item is unread and also gives the wrong publication date (November 5). Quite why the press release accompanying the book is supposed to add value to it I’ve no idea. But just for the record you will save yourself just 25p by buying this ripped-off copy from him instead of Amazon, and I guess the price difference will be pretty much the same elsewhere.

The gentleman concerned gives his name, address and email in the eBay listing so I don’t feel bad about giving it here either. He is a Mr David Howard of Banstead, Surrey, a stranger to me. I have just penned him this email…

<!--more-->Dear Mr Howard

I am the author whose book, <em>Death in Seville</em>, you are selling on ebay. A promotional copy, provided for review supposedly to someone who reviews books for some legitimate media source, not for resale, and released on Nov 5 by the way, not Nov 12 as you claim.

Why are you trying to make money in this way? How did you get hold of this copy? Do you not realise that by trying to make pin money out of promotional material you're depriving a publisher and an author of legitimate income? It's not stealing, not quite, and it's just one sale. But some people do this habitually so it does add up all round. More than anything though it's a shabby, unethical practice. I was a journalist once and got free books. I simply passed on the ones I didn't want to friends. It never occurred to me to try to make money out of books given in good faith for another purpose.

I have passed on your details to my publisher and asked them to investigate. Selling promo copies in this way is pretty sad and disgusting. Publishers and authors send out these copies trusting they will be used for a legitimate purpose, not simply resold immediately (you boast it is unread) to make someone who's no right to have them a quick buck. I will also be blogging about this and mentioning you by name, since you put this very clearly on your eBay sale.

Are you really this desperate for an illicit £2.99 at someone else's expense?

David Hewson