We’re all so familiar, aren’t we? A little family or clan… as incestuous as the historical English monarchy.
Not that the current Prince Harry doesn’t have a great butt, he does. Hey, as far as I’m concerned he can play strip pool all he wants. I blame his bodyguards for not confiscating all the cell phones. Idiots.
Henry When He Loved Anne Boleyn Pre-Head Chopping
As the spare he can afford to take on the role of playboy, just like his namesake - Harry Tudor… Henry VIII, who was not the original heir to the throne. His brother, Arthur, was the heir, but alas, he died young and so the golden boy of Europe, the cutie pie, the fun-loving Harry, got stuck with the job. Look what happened to him. Went from beloved golden boy to royal wife head-chopper-off-er.
Let that be a lesson to you!
But I digress. My point is this - Henry VIII married his cousins. Yes he did indeed-ily do-dily. Every one of his wives was a relative, some more distant than others. Most of the royal families of Europe are/were the products of inbreeding. Which is why they have so many weird-ass diseases (recessive genes).
But I have another point, a more to the point, point. We authors are a small incestuous clan. No, we don’t all know each other nor do we all talk to each other all the time. But just as we are incestuous, so are book bloggers - and there has been some overlap. Not so nice overlap.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
Bloggers want free books. Authors want reviews and promo. Quid pro quo? You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours? Doesn’t always work that way, does it. A statement, not a question.
I respect and appreciate my fans. Period. I write for my fans and for myself. Period. I’ve become close friends with some reviewers and bloggers and while I may send them books as gifts, I don’t expect or demand a review in return.
I’ve come to the conclusion we, authors and reviewers/book bloggers, would be better off if we maintained a reasonable and respectful distance from each other. This incestuous relationship is not healthy - brings out the those nasty recessive traits in both parties.
And I won’t even get into the chicken and the egg argument, as in who started it. That’s a mine field for damn sure.
I’m not telling anyone what to do. Remember, I hate giving advice, although I will remind you to eat your veggies and get plenty of fresh air (be on guard for yellow jackets).
But I think there’s something to be said for ye olde author holed up in a quaint dusty garret, minding her own business, keeping things on the down-low, and simply writing.
I miss the mystique. I miss the romance.
Wife Head Chopping Henry VIII
We’re all too… too… ewwww… married or something - and when you’re so enmeshed divorce is messy. Just ask good King Harry. Messy.
You may have a point and if you looked at my recent review of WRATH by Kirkus MacGowan you’ll notice that I do declare it was a free copy. I should also point out though I never requested the advance copy but felt quite honoured that he chose to send me it. He also did say in the accompanying email that I wasn’t to feel obligated to actually write a review but it was his way of saying thanks for critiquing his first book.
It may well have been his subtle psychologists way of actually getting me to review it, but then there was the chance that it was a complete bomber and I wouldn’t like it. As it happened I liked it immensely. I am reading another purchased book by an author on Twitter at the moment and I pushed it from the kindle that I was reading it. He has already said, after looking at what I have been reading, that if I review it he isn’t expecting a good review, as based on my reading from my blogs, ‘it wont be your cup of tea’
I think some authors, mainly publish house authors do keep there distance, but not all, Julian Stockwin, C J Box are two that spring to mind who interact with me, but I don’t think it would ever cross their mind to offer a free book, especially an advance copy, to a fan on Twitter. I have no problem with that, none at all, and I really don’t mind either, I am quite happy and content to wait and pay like everyone else.
Ishbel has lots of free books on her tablet with kindle, but buys other books, 99% of the 100 or so books on my kindle are purchased…..
As for the Royals, yes they were always good at shagging their cousins and sticking two fingers up at us peasants as we were/are taxed into the ground to pay for their celebrity life style and bodyguards who didn’t strip search the revellers, and yet numpties still revere them as they produced more and more retarded idiots, not many author groups doing that though!
I keep my distance, sometimes maybe too much.
I love giving away books to readers and reviewers (when they ask). I don’t go looking for reviewers and would never assume they’d write a review if given a book.
Go Harry!
I agree about the mystique thing. Stephen King doesn’t have a Twitter account, and he never will. He’s too busy writing.
And he could give a sh*t about what reviewers say.
The waters have gotten very, very murky between authors and reviewers. Since I’m both, God help me, I appear to be sinking in a quagmire of murky water.
HELP ME!!!!!!!!
I think I might need a life jacket. Or maybe it’s time to retire. I’m tired of the drama and subterfuge.
I’ve tried to stay out of the murk myself. I’d much rather be writing than on social media or even blogging (which has become a big of a chore for me!). Though lately I’ve been having fun on Facebook, but it’s probably writer avoidance behavior! Note to self - less time on-line, more writing!
Couldn’t agree with you more, Julia. I keep my distance also. I have no expectations of any reviewer/bloggers and would hope they have no expectations of me except to write an enjoyable book. I sometimes give free copies of my books to readers in contests, or just because I feel like showing my appreciation for a nice email or something or the other. In doing so, I still have no expectation, well except that they’ll like the book. End of story. In this writing world, distance can be a very good.
Does that mean we’re breaking up? I prefer books from publicists, online galley services and such.
And, if a writer is a friend or I am on their street team I state it up front.
I submitted two books to two established review sites (one book to each site) about six months ago. Never heard another word. Frankly, I don’t have the time to chase around from review site to review site, waving my hand like a first grader shouting out, “Me! Me!”. Whenever I stumble across reviews written by readers, I’m always surprised and amazed. (And occasionally not in a GOOD way, such as the one star review I received for the cover art-one I had no control over-from someone who had not read the book.)
Such reviews do nothing to encourage me, at all, so I try to stay away.
As for Harry…he’s an adult. If he chooses to behave like an irresponsible teenybopper, that’s his business. Why is it his bodyguards responsibility to be his Mommy? If he’s doing something he doesn’t want photographed, perhaps he’d better do it behind closed doors…locked ones.
Something you might want to read… http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/business/book-reviewers-for-hire-meet-a-demand-for-online-raves.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Maybe it is because I come to the reading/reviewing/blogging world through the aperture of science fiction, but I don’t really miss the mystique, mostly because in science fiction at least, there has always been a close association between authors, fans, and critics. In many cases, the critics and the authors are drawn from the same pool - the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has regular review columns by Charles de Lint, Elizabeth Hand, and other authors. People have felt free to criticize science fiction authors about even the silliest of things like the fans famously chanting “the Ringworld is unstable” at the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention.
When I was younger I deified my favorite authors to a certain extent. But I have found that more familiarity with many of my favorite authors has made their work resonate better for me in more cases than it has made it worse. I think what we are seeing in many place now are authors with the unreasonable expectation that everyone will like their work. We don’t really expect that in any other venue - musical tastes vary, movie tastes vary, and so on - so I am always mystified that people think that their book will get love from all quarters.
For the record, I have written some reviews that are critical of the cover art on a book, but I always make sure to also point out that the author usually has little or no input into the cover art. I think that’s fair.
About time I got over here to respond. Hi Aaron! I don’t believe in deifying anyone. In fact my level on nondeification is pretty high. However, I do think authors would be wise to stay out of the dramatic fray and just write. There is so much snark in the blogosphere - we need to NOT respond.
I’m always happy to send out books because I want my books read - but if a friend or an online acquaintance chooses to review a book, I don’t expect a quid pro quo. I expect an honest review. After all, you are reviewing the book for your readers, not for me. And I think for some reviewers honesty is very difficult if he or she has a personal relationship the author.
The thing about sci fi is this - readers feel a kinship or a sort of ownership of the fantasy world - a deep connection with the author and the characters the author creates. It’s good and bad. Good because it gets readers invested in the stories. Bad because it’s all a fantasy and some readers go to extremes.
Sci fi is a world unto itself - a world I appreciate.
And believe me, as an author I very much appreciate it when a blogger understand that unless the book is self-pubbed we have zero control over the cover. I have been dinged to high heaven over some of my covers. It’s not my fault!
Anny - I hate the concept of reviews/reviewers for hire. So dishonest. And I agree - a one-star for your cover? Unnecessary. Ah, the reason Harry’s bodyguards need to take more of an interest in his doings is because they are hired with British tax-payer dollars!
Steph - You are a friend, first and foremost. Not breaking up! I’m talking about the drama in the blogosphere - which you stay out of. You do your thing and mind your business. And you always tell your readers about your relationship with an author. My post is most definitely not directed at you and reviewers/bloggers like you.
Yes, Delilah - I feel the same way. And I love giving books in appreciation. No expectations. However, I do think in some big blogging circles dissing authors is all the rage, therefore it’s better to stay out of it.
Yeah, Casey - you love your FB! But I don’t get to see it anymore! I did close my FB account. Too much going on, too distracting. Yes, we do need to stay out of the muck.
I love your reviews, Penny. You manage to be funny without ripping an author to shreds. But I do think it’s hard to keep one foot in both worlds. Occasionally I’ll give a book rec, but I don’t review for the most part. I’ll make an exception for Lawrence Block.
Amber, when we all start out we send those ARCs like crazy. I stopped worrying about it a couple years ago and I’m much happier. If I happen to come across a review of one of my books… cool!
Love your take on the Royals, Tom! They always have stuck it to the peasants! I love your reviews. The way I see it, you write reviews because you like to, not because somebody makes you or because you are going out of your way to get freebies. And therefore you can be honest. Besides, I can’t imagine you ever saying you love a book when you don’t or you hate a book you actually enjoyed just to be mean to an author you don’t like.