David Streitfeld at New York Times wrote:
Every fall, Mr. Bezos, the founder of Amazon, hosts Campfire, a literary weekend in Santa Fe, N.M. Dozens of well-known novelists have attended, but they do not talk about the abundance of high-end clothing and other gifts, the lavish meals, the discussion under the desert stars by Neil Armstrong or the private planes that ferried some home.
The man who sells half the books in America seemed to want nothing more each year than for everyone to have a good time. All he asked in return was silence.
For four years, the bargain held. But the fifth Campfire, which writers say is taking place this weekend, is a little different. Amazonโs acrimonious battle with Hachette, the fourth-largest publisher, is fracturing the secrecy and sapping some of the good will.
There’s a huge problem with the book industry if the only effective way of revenge against monopolistic behavior by your retail partner is not coming to the store owner’s dinner party. But, i guess we already know that.