By Dennis Abrams

Author Douglas Preston “instigated” a letter to Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos

The Bookseller reports that Authors United, the group of authors who signed a letter calling on Amazon to resolve its long-running dispute with Hachette, has said that it is “developing a long-term strategy.”

Members of Authors United include such well-known writers as Paul Auster, David Baldacci, Tracy Chevalier, Lee Child, Jeffrey Deaver, Mark Haddon, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, James Patterson, Philip Pullman and Donna Tartt.

Earlier this month, writers affected by the dispute signed a letter “instigated” by Douglas Preston, which asked “loyal readers” to email Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, and call on him to change his mind.

Preston has written to the original signers of the letter, letting them know that a full-page advertisement will soon be published in the New York Times, paid for by around a dozen authors, which will include the letter and names of the signers.

According to The Bookseller, Preston also wrote, “This struggle with Amazon may go on for a while. Our group, which we call Authors United, is developing a long-term strategy in case our effort here is not effective. I will be in touch with you about that.”

“Together,” he added, “our group comprises many of the finest writers in the English language, with billions of books sold, and we include journalists and authors in every field and genre imaginable and from all levels of success. I would particularly note that many debut authors have courageously signed this letter. Amazon’s recent attempt to dismiss us as a bunch of rich, bestselling authors trying only to protect our income is not going to work.

“We have many loyal and committed readers. They listen when we speak. That represents power; perhaps even enough power to face down one of the world’s largest corporations.”