I know links aren’t the greatest content, but Thursdays are the day I tend to drag the most and there’s been a lot of great conversations going on out there this week.
I’m delaying the publication of this because 1) I don’t want it to be a rant and 2) I don’t want it to be used as fuel against the person in question because they know by now that they stuck their foot in their mouth.
So what to writers owe readers? Their best work. (And if that’s not enough readers, ie sales, will tell you.) Civil treatment if the writer has a public online presence, or if the writer and reader meet face to face. That’s it.
What do readers owe writers? Honest transactions–if you like the author, you buy the book new, used, print or digital. Or you borrow it from someone who has purchased it legally, like a friend, relative or the library. Don’t distribute the writer’s work illegally, or claim it as your own. If you meet the author online or in person, be civil.
Across the board: No threats, no uncalled for insults (particularly of their children or loved ones who have no responsibility for the author’s work), no unprovoked personal attacks. (Why did I put “unprovoked” up there? Because some author behavior–when made public by the author–does deserve criticism–which is not the same thing as personal attacks. An author sharing a lot of information about their sex life, for example, does indicate to the public that the author’s sex life is something that’s okay to discuss.)
Do authors have the right to demand special needs be met for contests? Absolutely. If you want to enter that contest you have to do so as the prize giver instructs. That’s true everywhere. Do authors have the right to “reward” people who buy their books certain ways, or put up good reviews for them, sure. I mean, there’s a point where it gets dishonest and manipulative, but they have the right to do it.
Do authors have the right to dictate how and when and where readers can buy their books? Well yes and no. They do have the right to decide where to submit their work (small press distribution is different from mass market distribution). And to inform fans that if they want their sales to count toward getting the author on the Best seller’s lists it needs to be bought a certain way. Keyword INFORM.
This quote, however, I find terribly disturbing.
One more time people: now..cough..FRAKKING LISTEN. I’ve said it 1000 times in the past 2 wks, ONLINE sales DON’T COUNT. Don’t help me at all”
“As it’s not supposed to be released until March 2nd, you probably have plenty of time to cancel the order and buy it in a bookstore. Seriously, people, Amazon is the *death* of new release rankings. It’s where they go to be brutally butchered.”
“I want a picture of the receipt sent to me with the date of that week and I’ll have to figure out a way that you and only you get this. Because if you guys share and screw me out of my numbers/ranking/48 cents, it doesn’t help my career in the slightest. Online doesn’t count. It has to be a real bookstore with real people in it…not in the Matrix. NYT doesn’t count online sales.”
As a reader this kind of thing is insulting. Nowhere does it say “for this contest” or “to help me get on the best seller list”. This, I think, is at the least the mistake the author made.
The bold sentence (bolding mine) is particularly disturbing to me. I spend hundreds, into the thousands of dollars a year on books. And I go even further and spend thousands of hours a year reading, reviewing, publishing my reviews on many online reader sites, talking to people about books, recommending books I like, talking about the books I’m excited for. I even have releases marked on my calendar so I can help the authors I love in a timely fashion. I started BookLove to start a discussion with the world about books, why I love them, why I hate them, and why others should too. I do this because I love stories, I love books, and I love the people who work hard to bring them to me.
If all I get from an author is a constant slew of “buy this book” or worse, this sort of selfishness (and some even go so far as to insult their readers) it makes me feel like I’ve wasted my money, my time and my attention completely on a pit of ego.
I recognize that’s it’s very easy to take things wrong online, but that’s why we need to be careful how we say things. A lot of things could have been done to change these words from how I took them, into what they were probably meant to be, an author’s frustrated attempts to explain to fans how to help her make the bestsellers list. But fans have no responsibility to help you make the bestseller list. If they chose to jump through these hoops, they should be applauded, and the people who don’t jump should NOT be punished, or insulted or berated because they didn’t know, or couldn’t (or even just chose not to) play by these rules.
If you want to disqualify them from the contest, fine. But there is nothing about a contest in the quote above, so of course readers are going to get upset at being treated like that author’s lapdogs or piggy banks or whatever.
ALL sales count. All of them. Every sale is one more person who bought your work. It’s one more tick toward your advance or royalty, it’s one more READER who has opened themselves to your story. And every single sale should be valued and celebrated, even if it doesn’t qualify for a contest, or get you on the lists.
..suck. No really, I’ve always thought so. Sting submissions are when a person or persons submits a purposefully fake submission in order to prove some point. The most famous is Atlanta Nights, a purposefully horrid, repetitive and nonsensical novel submitted to PublishAmerica to prove they’d publish any work sent to them. You’ve probably also heard about someone submitting a classic novel, critically acclaimed to “prove publishers suck”. (Okay, so maybe the suck is me paraphrasing, but that’s still the point.)
So what’s the problem? It all comes down to why you did it. Let’s break it down.
Case 1: Atlanta Nights
Why: Did it to prove PublishAmerica accepts everything.
The Problem: We already knew that. I mean, yeah in a way it’s funny, and you called them on their crap, and it’s become a legend in the online writing world. But now everyone else wants to do it at the drop of the hat. Also, we already knew PublishAmerica was like that. It’s like the local cops witnessing a guy standing on the street, dealing drugs on surveillance cameras for weeks, then setting up a sting with the sole purpose of catching him. You don’t need the sting. It’s a waste of effort.
Case 2: Disgruntled writer (or MFA student) send in Pride and Prejudice or another classic, even award winning novel published at least twenty years ago to a mess of agents to prove agents don’t know good literature anymore.
Why: There’s no pussyfooting around it, this comes off as a “They don’t see my genius so I’m going to prove they wouldn’t know good literature if it bit them on the ass”.
The Problem: There are so many and there is no way to tell which one the submission got rejected for.
1. In all the reports of this sort of thing published the “writer” sent out a huge mess of queries. NO details are ever given if they followed guidelines, or even bothered to query agents who handle the genre of book they were submitting.
2. Also, they don’t publish their query letter, so if it sucked they never even got their foot in the door.
3. Also, editors and agents don’t waste time with BS like this. They aren’t going to initiate a potential fight with a querier by pointing out their book is already published. They’ll just form reject it and hope the author figures it out on their own. Just because they didn’t say they regocnized it doesn’t mean they did.
4. Also agents and editors deal with “tricks” like this all the time. The old hair in the manuscript trick, the “turn a page upside down so you know they read it” trick, the textured/odd colored/scented paper to grab attention tricks, the print it and bind it so they know what it would look like as a finished book trick, the include a head shot trick, the slide the unasked for manuscript under the bathroom stall door trick…you get it. Every agent has been through these things and they know the best thing to do is to minimize the experience. If you don’t give the author a way to argue back, don’t argue back, don’t even acknowledge their idiocy then they get bored and wander off to fight some new windmills.
5. Readers want different books now. The kind of stories, the kind of topics, the kind of characters, even the form and language what is being published NOW is not the same as what was being published THEN. This doesn’t make the classic less good, it makes it not appropriate in the current publishing market, and you know what, LOTS of great books aren’t getting published because they aren’t right for the current publishing market.
Case #3: Sting submission to Harlequin/Dellarte
Why: Do it to see whether Harlequin is funneling people to Dellarte (Harlequin’s VERY expensive “self publishing” branch)
The Problem: Again, multiples.
1. You have no way of knowing whether the editors were in on the Dellarte decision or not. If they weren’t (which is very likely) you’ll be basing your information on a barely-related source, punishing someone who was likely horrified by the move not to mention wasting their time.
2. There are plenty of people who submit to Harlequin every day. Ask them to share their rejections with you.
3. Oh wait, there are communities, like you know, that massive, literate, very verbal romance community, that are already doing this.
4. Also see my reason for Case #2 because they apply, particularly the ones about editors knowing writers tricks and not responding to them to prevent drama.
5. Because this whole proposition is not about helping anyone, or stopping anything. It’s about the drama of Dellarte having died down and a bunch of people, who are not bad people and who don’t have bad intentions, wanting to kick it up (maybe to get a more satisfying conclusion than RWA’s backing down). It’s about Atlanta Nights being idolized and cool and you wanting to be a part of it.
Like arguing with editors, agents and reviewers this is an instance where the people doing sting submissions cannot escape the perception that they’re just bitter and wasting their time trying to prove point that doesn’t need to be proven. I just don’t see the point in wasting your time and the editor’s time just to say “Haha I’m right!”
A shot of my daughter’s bouquet from her 6th birthday just about covers perfect. Here’s few more. picking the one to be my popinjay was hard. Make sure to click on them to check them out full sized too.
Enter to win a Nook! Help me spread the word about my upcoming release, BROKEN-due out 3.2.2010. You can get your name entered for a drawing for a Nook, the new ebook reader from Barnes and Noble. You can also enter by preordering the book online or buying the book during release week-during…not before. For the no purchase option, please see below.
Read on for details…
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Read More
Shattered
Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He’s tempted by her beauty—but he knows from experience that anyone desperate enough to live in his building is damaged goods. Besides, he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.
Desperate
Sara Davis is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She’s not an abused wife, and she’s not a criminal. But she does have a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can’t risk telling him the secrets she’s hiding. There’s just too much at stake.
Driven to desire…
But Quinn must get closer to Sara when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and he discovers that there is something more complex and dangerous to her than he thought. Now, both Quinn and Sara will have to expose their true feelings—as well as their fragile hearts—if they hope their love will survive…
EXCERPT
He opened the door—
And stopped dead in his tracks as somebody all but fell into his arms. Somebody…a woman. And not Theresa.
He caught her just above her elbows, automatically steadying her.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice soft and low.
Then she lifted her face and Quinn found himself gazing into the biggest, brownest eyes he’d ever seen in his life. Feeling a little dazed, he studied her face while she stammered out another apology.
Quinn barely heard it.
He was too busy staring at her mouth. A very pretty mouth, a cupid’s bow mouth slicked with deep, vibrant red. Under his hands, he could feel silken smooth skin and unable to resist, he stroked a thumb along her inner arm.
Her skin was soft, soft and warm. He was also pretty sure she had the creamiest, most flawless skin imaginable. Her shoulder-length hair was a shade caught between blonde and brown, nondescript, but for some reason, he found himself thinking about tangling his fingers in that hair and holding her head still while he kissed that red-slicked mouth.
A second prize will also be given away-will include books, probably a GC and other assorted goodies.
No purchase option:
You can get ONE entry sending a postcard WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND MAILING ADDRESS to Shiloh Walker PO BOX 976 Jeff, IN 47131. Post cards must be received by 3/2/10 in order to be entered into the drawing and this is limited to one postcard/entry per household.
Yes, you can enter using all three options- buy or preorder, blogging and postcard entry.
Added 2/22/10-You can mail your preorder entry via postal mail, if you choose, marking out sensitive data. Send to above addy.
Yes, this contest is open to those outside the country-however, I realize the Nook may not be ideal for international winners, and should an international winner be drawn, I do have another alternative in mind-however, that alternative will only be offered in the event an international winner is drawn.
I reserve the right to delete suspicious entries.
Do NOT post this contest to sweepstakes or contest sites. In the event this happens, I reserve the right to end the contest without drawing a winner and without giving away the prize.
By entering any of my contests, you attest that you are eighteen, or the age of majority in your place of residence.
It is your responsibility to check back and see if you’ve won. The winner’s name will be announced either the week BROKEN releases or the week following around mid-March to allow the mailed receipts time to arrive.
At the end of the month, one lucky winner will get the complete Kim Paffenroth zombie miscellany collection:
SHROUD magazine #5 with my story, “Buddha in the Box” (signed or personalized)
THIN THEM OUT – chapbook co-authored with Julia and RJ Sevin (signed by all three of us)
ORPHEUS AND THE PEARL – original edition (signed or personalized)
If you go here (Quirk’s webpage) and post that my review sent you there we (that is you too!) will be entered to win one of 50 Quirk Classic Prize Packs (worth over $100), which include:
An advance copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Audio Books of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
A password redeemable online for sample audio chapters of Dawn of the Dreadfuls
An awesome Dawn of the Dreadfuls Poster
A Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Journal
A box set of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Postcards
Naomi Clark’s new book, Silver Kiss (Lesbian!! Werewolves!!) is out and she’s been doing a ton of give aways through her twitter feed.
There’s been a great deal of buzz about Rachel Ward’s debut Young Adult novel, Num8ers. And to celebrate this release, I have 3 hardcover copies to give away!
In order to have your chance to win, leave a comment here why you would like a copy. How would you deal if you were unfortuate enough to have Jem’s ability and knew the date of a person’s death?
You have until Friday, March 19th to enter and only open to US Residents.
To celebrate the release of Demon Possessed, we are having the lovely Stacia Kane over for an interactive Q&A and a chance to win her books! We have TWO sets of Megan Chase books (Personal Demons, Demon Inside, and Demon Possessed) up for grabs. Entry is easy and simple, per usual – just leave a comment here asking Stacia a question (about her series, her writing process, her favorite demons, etc). The contest is open to all, and will run until Saturday, March 6th at 11:59PM (PST). Good luck, and let the questions begin.
After much consideration I’ve decided to split BookLove into two. All reviews of adult books will continue to appear at BookLove. My reviews of kid books, as well as kids’ reviews of kids books, will appear at the new site Kid Tails which remain PG rated so that if kids surf onto the review site they won’t find Coraline reviewed side by side with a paranormal erotica novel.
Kid Tails is also open to submissions (unpaid) of reviews from kids and grown ups alike (especially from teachers and librarian and classes who want to talk about their favorite books). Here’s the dish:
Kid Tails is a book journal site for kids and kid books! By focusing only on kids and kids books we can keep our site clean and kid friendly.
We are looking for YOUR opinion about books. We accept reviews from all ages (including grown ups), from students, parents, teachers, librarians and whole classes!
We will try to post a new review every Monday (and increase our rate as we get more reviews). You can email reviews to ZombieMichele@gmail.com Please include your name & age (for children’s reviews), name (for adult review), the site the review first appeared on (if the review is a reprint), or your teacher’s name and class (if it’s a class review).
All books reviewed should be for Young Adult audiences or younger. We would like at least two to three lines for a review telling us what the book is about, whether you liked it or not and what the best part was (also please tell us if this book has a theme, like Christmas, or spring, or vampires). Adults are welcome to add comments about the appropriateness of the book for young audiences and how well it could be integrated into teaching plans or parent-child reading sessions.
We will also post reviews of books we have already reviewed (because this will give different opinions or show grown ups which books kids like the best).
Questions and comments can be sent to ZombieMichele@gmail.com.
Ideas are everywhere. Think of yourself as surrounded by a giant wiffle ball. The inspiration is just the ideas that fall through the holes to you. The more you’re out there reading, searching out art, listening to music, the more you’ll catch.
2. I have a great idea for a book. Can I tell you, will you write it so we can share the profits?
No. Ideas are the easy part. The hard part is the hours, days, weeks, months and even years it takes of work sitting with words in our head like this massive pile of puzzle pieces–most of the pieces won’t even fit right–and trying to make a lovely picture out of it. Writing, even when inspired and flowing, isn’t easy.
Plus if it’s YOUR idea you should also make it YOUR story. It’ll mean more that way.
3. Could you write me into your next book?
Why? I mean I never take a person directly from life and put them into my books. I might take aspects of them–an outfit of theirs, their job, their name, a look they give me–but the simple truth is that most people aren’t characters. Besides, people die in my books. A lot of people die, in a lot of different ways. I write speculative fiction, and dark spec fic at that. I don’t even stick to the rules of physics, or reality (love the paranormals), or legal rules, so why would I stick to the “rules” of personality required to get a real person’s personality right and try not to offend them as well? It’s just too much when the ego (in the psychological sense, not the term used as an insult) of a person is involved as well.
4. You know what would have been awesome? If [character from last book] had done [this thing] instead of [that thing] and…
No, and you know what, that book is already published in a final, fixed form. Keywords: Final. and Fixed.
5. Will you read my novel?
If it is not contracted or already published then, no. I’m sorry, I have a rather full schedule and just don’t have time anymore.
6. Will you refer me to your agent/editor/writer friend I idolize?
Probably not. I don’t have an agent at this time, but even if I did the same rules would apply for them as from editors, writers and question #5. I can’t recommend you to a publishing professional unless I’ve read your work first, and again, I just have too many obligations at this time.
7. Can I borrow some money? Because all writers are rich….
Ahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha! *wheeze, inhale*Hahahahahahahahahahaha! *tears* Oh, you’re a funny person.
8. I want to be a writer, what do I need to do?
Write. Now write a good story. Now write a story good enough to be published. How do you know if it’s that good? Read. A lot. See what’s being published in more than one genre and take those books apart to see what makes them successful. Does your novel have that? If not, keep trying. If you think so not it’s time to research writing as a business. There are great places for that (like the SFWA website, Miss Snark’s archives, and the Absolute Write Water Cooler). So once you have a story and the business info, make a plan. Follow it. Be flexible enough to evaluate whether your plan is working and tweek it when needed.
Meanwhile get a “real job” or marry rich so you can have the freedom to follow your dream instead of being crushed by the daily grind of life, bills and everything.
