War Against Internet Rip-off?

Internet users may have noticed that my novel, Twin Vendetta, is listed for sale by scores of bookstores and other retailers, implying that they have an association with me, the author, William N. Edwards. I've had limited associations with only a few of these sellers. Nearly all have listed copies of Twin Vendetta for sale as new, used, and collectable. Though "new" and "used" are well known words, "collectable" is not and I will provide you an explanation in my closing remarks.

I had an association with Barnes and Noble who bought 12 copies of Twin Vendetta from me between September 2003 and January 2007. I didn't hear from them again until May 15, 2009 when they ordered one copy. I sent a copy of Twin Vendetta immediately, along with invoices exactly as they requested. I was curious. After not hearing from them for over two years, why were they ordering only one copy? I thought about calling them, but decided against it when I discovered what was happening to my website:

"www.twinvendetta.com" (www.miracleofedsa.com). Instead of getting only my website, I found Barnes & Nobel, among scores of other sales organizations, all selling copies of my novel under an Internet listing of, Twin Vendetta. They offered three new and 14 used copies for sale, showing the Brodart Company as the publisher. Milrose Publications, my self-publishing company, is the sole publisher of Twin Vendetta. I did have a limited association with the Brodart Company as a distributor in 2003, but have not heard from them in many years.

I continued my research of the Internet listing, Twin Vendetta, discovering that Amazon.com was announcing it had eight new, 22 used and two collectable copies of my novel, Twin Vendetta for sale. Amazon purchased two copies in 2003 when it was first published, but I have had no contact from them since. They also had listings of my novel for Japan and UK.

Of seven other internet sellers of my novel, I have never had an association with Kilima.com listing eight new, 22 used and two collectable copies for sale. And I have never had an association with alibris, nor any of its bookstores, which lists 21 copies available at prices ranging from $1.99 to $25.00. Nor have I ever had an association with biblion.co. uk which lists two used copies and three collectables at $12.00 and $24.00 respectively. Finally, I have never had an association with Bookmarc's, Powell's, ANTIQBook, nor Borders, all listing copies of my novel for sale. There are more listings, but this should be enough to show you what these supposedly reputable organizations are doing.

Of those selling, Twin Vendetta, on the internet, many are using information from my website as though they have direct contact with me (Milrose Publication) and specific authorization to use that material. Perhaps Barnes and Noble still has some authority, though questionable, to use the information from my website, because they received the copy of Twin Vendetta ordered nine months ago. They still have not paid for it, so how can Barnes and Noble argue legitimately that they bought it.

How did all these Internet sellers get so many copies of Twin Vendetta? In some respects I'm at fault for not taking precautionary measures. A reputable literary agent, representing me, the author, sent 180 copies of Twin Vendetta to book reviewers in 2003 and 2004, but received no response. I was shocked by the lack of response because of the sterling reputation of the agent. I still don't understand it. Anyway, I've accepted the fact that some of those reviewers may have sold my novel to these internet sellers rather than giving them to local libraries, the procedure usually followed by honorable book reviewers, And that explains why so many new copies are for sale on the internet. I accept responsibility for failing to mark them," NOT FOR SALE," and not specifically requesting they be donated to libraries when those "reviewers" were finished with them.

Now let me explain, "collectable," as I understand it, and the specific reason for my war with these internet sellers. Collectable copies of Twin Vendetta have the inscription, "To my fellow veteran," followed by my signature. How did this happen? In March of 2007, I sent 286 copies of Twin Vendetta to 31 VA Hospitals across the United States and 44 copies to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC (along with a much larger number of my earlier novel, "The Miracle of EDSA") informing these administrators that these books were to be given to military veteran patients. I wrote the above inscription and signed every copy. I realize that some veterans may have sold their books to the retailers who are using the internet to re-sell them, but think it is more likely that someone on hospital administrators' staff is responsible. I have requested the Inspector General of the Veterans Administration look into the matter, but have not yet received an answer. Perhaps Washington Post editors can persuade them to take up the challenge. We'll see what happens when I send these editors the same information I sent the Inspector General. That, however, doesn't relieve the internet sellers of their responsibility in realizing they have bought property that was given to VA hospital veteran patients, but may have been stolen and sold to them by staff members of VA hospital administrators.

My friends tell me that all these listings on the internet have made me a celebrity and that the producers of, "Dancing With the Stars," may contact me to be a contestant. I was a good dancer at one time, and would have put up a formidable challenge to other competitors. Now, however, I have trouble with my knees and couldn't possibly offer much competition. I'm not an egomaniac, so I don't expect an offer. But who knows?

Anyway, I think internet users prefer some of the things these sellers offer. Okay, I recognize that, but I'm willing to take them on with an offer they can't meet. I'll provide you a new copy of Twin Vendetta, featuring a two or three line inscription of your choice and my signature, if you deal directly with me at billedwards21@sbcglobal.net. How about that for a birthday gift to your ???