A number of you nice people have e-mailed about a hatchet job someone just wrote about one of my books. I have not read that review, and to repeat for the ten thousandth time, I don't read reviews. The laundry, you know, it's just overwhelming. Gain and Oxy-Clean are my life these days.
Seriously, I'm flattered that you all would get so indignant on my behalf. Please don't think I'm so fragile that I'm going to boo-hoo the minute someone says something unpleasant. If that were the case, the death threats alone would have polished me off weeks ago.
I don't know the reviewer in question, and I rather doubt it was anything personal, but even if it was, it's only an opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinion -- and that's all they're entitled to. When you're published, make this your mantra.
If it makes you feel better, according to my editor that particular book has been on the BookScan bestseller list for seven straight weeks. This at probably the most competitive time of year for new releases, too. That's what really counts with the publishers: the numbers, not the hatchet jobs.
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You, my friend, are a class act.
ReplyDeleteTide works better -- Consumer Reports this month confirmed it for me but I knew it already. They surprised me, though. I use the liquid and they say the powder is better. Best deal was the Kirkland brand at Costco, of all things. I'll stick with Tide, but the Powder? What about phosphates and polution? I'm torn.
ReplyDeleteReviews. What can you do? ::Shrug::
*applauds*
ReplyDeleteIt's always seemed to me that an author can't afford to get miffed over a review. Readers and reviewers are going to have their opinions. Not everyone's going to like your book... and I have to agree with what Bill said above. ;)
Please give a link to the review - I could do with a laugh. A bad review of one of your works has got to be funny!
ReplyDeleteYou rock, woman! And I will try my damnedest to have the same attitude as you if I'm ever fortunate enough to get published.
ReplyDeleteI know of one writer who takes even tepid reviews, which also say really nice things about her books, really personally. If the reviewer has one tiny thing to say about the book that isn't a compliment, she'll post it on her blog and boohoo for DAYS.
But she's very used to excellent reviews (which she deserves), which she also posts on her blog. Maybe it's the perfectionist coming out. I just found it a bit of a turn off. Seems a bit desperate.
This brings up another point. I love her books but not her personality so much. Do you guys ever let a writer's personality keep you from buying their books?
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ReplyDeleteTrace, just FYI, your comment double-posted, so I deleted one.
ReplyDeleteGeorgia wrote: You, my friend, are a class act.
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks.
Ferfelabat wrote: I'll stick with Tide, but the Powder? What about phosphates and polution? I'm torn.
Tide is better cleaning-wise, but it gives me contact dermatitis, so I'm stuck with Gain.
Bill wrote: If you ain't getting slammed, you ain't trying hard enough.
Trying's never been the problem. :)
Nonny wrote: *applauds*
*bows*
Nicola wrote: Please give a link to the review - I could do with a laugh. A bad review of one of your works has got to be funny!
If I do that the reviewer might get some hostile e-mails, for which I'll naturally be blamed, so I'd rather not.
Trace wrote: This brings up another point. I love her books but not her personality so much. Do you guys ever let a writer's personality keep you from buying their books?
If the author is a racist or a bigot, I won't buy any of their books. Otherwise, their personality doesn't factor into my purchasing decisions.
A writer's personality doesn't keep me from buying books. I might stop reading a blog but not stop buying the books if they are on my autobuy/really have to get that one-list. Though if they are not on my priority list, they'll end up on the "maybe if I ever have some spare money" one, and that can mean I don't buy the books in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe positive version of this has happened a few times recently: if someone comes across as a personality I like in a blog, I'll have a look at their books even if I've never heard the author's name before.
Political statements can throw an author out of my priority list, though. And I don't mean personal remarks on a blog like, "Im going to vote for (insert nutcase of choice) because ...." That's fine with me, everyone is entitled to like nutcases. ;) But if an author makes a statement in an interview/newspaper etc. in the way of, "people should vote for (insert nutcase of choice) because ..." (s)he's off. It happens a lot in Germany. Sorry, but I don't think an author should give his/her name for election propaganda and any other party-related political stuff. General issues like, "I'm worried by the increasing disinterest of young people in the election", are a different matter.
Verification word for this one: dyqwtey - an alien dwarf from planet Dokwt? Some of those letter combinations are a hoot. :)
Ooops, sorry about that!
ReplyDeleteTide is awesome, and the powder does work better but it destroys your septic and they say there are no phosphates. If you have sewer you're in like Flynn.
ReplyDeleteIf they made Tide liquid in the concentrate I would buy it.
I was reading The Sugar Solution (Prevention) and they had a page in there about Dove Dark being good for you because it has the highest amount of flavanols and that it reduces cholesterol. So anyway, I thought of you.