Authors United, the authors group formed by author Douglas Preston in 2014 to support writers caught in the e-book discount dispute between Amazon and Hachette Book Group, is being disbanded. In a letter to supporters, Preston observed that while “it was never my intention to run the organization forever,” he kept it going even after the HBG-Amazon standoff was resolved to address other industry issues. While Preston said he would not continue to head the organization he urged AU writers “to throw their support behind the Authors Guild either by joining or making a contribution.”
In asking authors to support the guild, Preston observed that it is “the only organization out there with the resources, experience and energy to fight for authors’ rights—and to defend the literary culture of our country.”
In a statement, Authors Guild president Roxana Robinson, said the guild appreciated Preston’s efforts in forming a group that stood up for authors’ rights. “We welcome the writers who made up Authors United,” Robinson continued. “We share their goals, and we’ll continue our fight until we see the changes needed to ensure that authors can continue to produce the books that contribute so richly to our culture and our democracy.”
