Links and thoughts...
First, I have a minor update on the Personal Demons release. We're still hoping the Amazon listing will be updated soon--presumably the books are in their warehouse, just not yet unpacked, which is leading to the delay. We're also expecting it in bookstores shortly. I will post more updates as I get them.
Second, I'm showing up all over the internets, baby. Shannon reviews the book at The Good, the Bad, and the Unread here.
Mark Henry licks my boots like the man-whore he is here.
Fantasy Debut talks the book up here
And I'll be doing some interviews in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for them (I'll link them when they go up, of course)--at Fangs Fur & Fey, at Alchemuse on livejournal, at Jill Myles' blog. CORRECTION: There will be an interview with me tomorrow, along with a contest, at Urban Fantasy Land, not alchemuse's livejournal. Sorry!
I'm also doing a couple of promo-y things next month, which I'll have more news on as the time gets closer.
And, wow, I'm legitimate now, because I've been Klausnered. (Harriet Klausner is Amazon's top reviewer--she reviews a, um, suspiciously high number of books every day, and--well, Google her if you're interested. I'm just amused.)
Funny that my Amazon reviews went live at the same time as a huge controversy has sprung up over Amazon reviews elsewhere. You can read the whole story (and hundreds of comments) on Dear Author here and more here. Settle in for a few hours--it really is worth it for sheer "holy fuck I can't believe this shit"ness.
In a nutshell? A particular writer, of whom I've never heard before, who also functions as publisher for an epub I heard of once, looked at the site, and decided it was the sort of place from which to run, decided to go after a reader for daring to have her own opinion about a book. This is disgusting behavior. This is shocking, revolting behavior, and--you'll see what I mean, if you read it all--criminal behavior.
I honestly don't even know what to say in the face of all this. Of course, Ann Rice and Patricia Cornwell have both exhibited some of this sort of behavior in the past, but Ann Rice and Patricia Cornwell, for all their sins, are actually best-selling writers of whom people have heard. It doesn't excuse it, but it does make it feel less like that crazy woman you work with who's always talking about how everyone is out to get her has suddenly decided you're the one who left the invisible poop on her lawn.
Very scary indeed. Even scarier is that some authors who've spoken out in that thread have now found people messing with their Amazon reviews. It's like some tiny, invisible KGB made up of five or six people, who wander Amazon spreading darkness in their wake.
If I'm not here on Monday...you'll know they GOT me. *looks around nervously*
12 comments:
One poster on that thread called them a "fembot death squad" in humourous exaggeration.
Seems more accurate than funny.
Unfortunately there are people of that ilk everywhere. The best we can do is let our goodness shine in the face of literary evil. -V95
Damn, I wish you rbook was here! My BIL and his girlfriend, who is a voracious reader, loves urban fantasy, and is always on the lookout for new authors, showed up for a surprise weekend visit last night.
As for the other:
I bought her first Zebra historical because for a while, a couple years ago, it seemed like every time I turned around I saw her name...and I'd just met a woman with the same name who used to write series romance (under a pen name) back in the 70s. Fun coincidence. It wasn't a bad book, better than some debuts I'd seen. But I remember telling my CP as we discussed it that I thought there was something a bit off about the author...something came through to me in the book. She thought I was being silly because of all my jokes about my similarly named friend.
I got the same feeling reading the second book. So strongly that I decided I wouldn't buy the third when it came out and sent the pair I had to my friend.
Now you all think I'm nuts.....
Lol I saw that too, Bernita. Crazy, isn't it? Why would someone go so insane over an expressed opinion? Over Amazon reviews which, while they're nice to have, aren't exactly a big deal? Very distressing.
Ah, V95...we lift our lamps. :-)
Yes, Seeley. I think you're nuts. But then I've thought that for a while, so... lol. I know, I wish my book was there too. You can always order it direct from Juno, of course, but I don't know how long it takes to ship.
It's like Dane Cook said: always keep chocolate or pencils or something on hand to give the weird people in the office, so when they come through with guns they'll remember your offering and won't shoot you. I say trash the book, but call the author the sexiest thing you've ever seen. They'll be confused and won't take any action.
Cool on the reviews. I sold one of your books through my contest. Bernita Harris requested "Personal Demons" for her prize and I've already ordered it. Hope it will be shipped soon.
Lol Robyn, that's a pretty good idea! I'm actually going to do another post on this Monday, because it's made me worry about my contest.
Aaaw, thanks Charles and Bernita!! You guys are so awesome! Yes, hopefully it will be shipped soon...groan.
Just unpack the 'long knives', D, you can handle them. :)
Let me also point out dear Stacia that Patricia Cornwell and Ann Rice never threatened the reviewer, including supposedly using a PI to get their home address and number and also publicly threatening the reviewer's children.
Wow, that's crazy stuff! I may never review a book in public again!
The Klausner woman reads and reviews 2 to 6 books a day? Amazing speed reader. I'm assuming multiple personalities!
The other thing? I'll have to go lurk and read all about it.
I'm waiting for Amazon to ship my copy. I ordered it the first day pre-orders were up.
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