tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post5983464966566842410..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: So, You Want Me to Buy Your Book. Are You Kidding?L.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-83294524426022933072011-05-29T17:40:30.288-07:002011-05-29T17:40:30.288-07:00Shalanna, thanks for your thoughts. You are defini...Shalanna, thanks for your thoughts. You are definitely not anonymous! <br /><br />It sounds like you have been used in the past and feel unappreciated. I hope you soon find that those narcissistic individuals you've been involved with, finally become the exceptions to the rule. <br /><br />Life is also too short not to risk again. Not to put yourself out there and get a huge return for doing so. Yeah, maybe you chose the wrong people to help before, but not choosing anyone ever again only lets them win.<br /><br />Thank you for taking the time and sharing some things we should all be aware of.<br /><br />Hugs.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-76799713568457263322011-05-28T20:50:35.016-07:002011-05-28T20:50:35.016-07:00A lot of people get an Attitude about the Great Un...A lot of people get an Attitude about the Great Unwashed Unpublished. Doesn't matter if your skills are good or not--they assume they are not, and that you are an irritant. They scrape you off their shoe like a wad of chewed bubble gum. You are as nothing to them. It's endemic.<br /><br />Now, let's look at someone who does a good job with fans. Micky Dolenz is far more "famous" and well-known (and loved) than most of these Big-Time Authors. Does he treat fans poorly? On the contrary. He acted as though he had nothing else on his mind but autographing our CDs for us . . . he welcomed fans into his recording studio . . . he has a Facebook presence that is friendly. Now, I ask you--if someone who would be justified in rebuffing fans can be that nice, why can't authors?<br /><br />Unfortunately, I find this attitude endemic, even among people whose works I commented upon before they got their big breaks. Suddenly the person who told them what to do to make their manuscripts better is no good. Isn't that interesting? "No sale" on the register here. Life's too short.<br /><br />For some reason, the system says I will be listed as "anonymous." Once again . . . I'm nobody. Are you nobody, too?<br />--Shalanna Collins<br /><br />May 28, 2011 8:48 PM<br />A lot of people get an Attitude about the Great Unwashed Unpublished. Doesn't matter if your skills are good or not--they assume they are not, and that you are an irritant. They scrape you off their shoe like a wad of chewed bubble gum. You are as nothing to them. It's endemic.<br /><br />Now, let's look at someone who does a good job with fans. Micky Dolenz is far more "famous" and well-known (and loved) than most of these Big-Time Authors. Does he treat fans poorly? On the contrary. He acted as though he had nothing else on his mind but autographing our CDs for us . . . he welcomed fans into his recording studio . . . he has a Facebook presence that is friendly. Now, I ask you--if someone who would be justified in rebuffing fans can be that nice, why can't authors?<br /><br />Unfortunately, I find this attitude endemic, even among people whose works I commented upon before they got their big breaks. Suddenly the person who told them what to do to make their manuscripts better is no good. Isn't that interesting? "No sale" on the register here. Life's too short.<br /><br />For some reason, the system says I will be listed as "anonymous." Once again . . . I'm nobody. Are you nobody, too?<br />--Shalanna Collins<br /><br />Comment as: Select profile... Google AccountLiveJournalWordPressTypePadAIMOpenID Name/URLAnonymous Edit Settings – Sign outAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-22015638039863807212011-05-22T08:37:06.791-07:002011-05-22T08:37:06.791-07:00Not only could have made friends, she could have m...Not only could have made friends, she could have made some sales.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-19761453961574789862011-05-22T07:58:52.655-07:002011-05-22T07:58:52.655-07:00Writers are too wonderful a bunch to waste time on...Writers are too wonderful a bunch to waste time on petty competition. It's not about ranking, it's about sharing. What a loss for that author, Peg! She could've made friends with you and Kelly.Jenny Milchmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04410805792044518458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-50068112175706895932011-05-20T18:45:43.659-07:002011-05-20T18:45:43.659-07:00{{hugs}} back, Peg :D{{hugs}} back, Peg :DNissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043154807861670942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-53947937102562181592011-05-20T15:35:55.332-07:002011-05-20T15:35:55.332-07:00From your lips, Nissie. From your lips.
{{hugs}}From your lips, Nissie. From your lips.<br /><br />{{hugs}}Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-32022857417836145302011-05-20T15:13:50.228-07:002011-05-20T15:13:50.228-07:00Drew and Peg, fortunately, I haven't seen a lo...Drew and Peg, fortunately, I haven't seen a lot of that. Most authors seem very appreciative of a line or two telling them you enjoyed their work. I'm sure when one reaches a certain level of success (authors,actors,musicians), they're bombarded with messages and can become a little overwhelmed. It still doesn't excuse slapping down the people who support what you do, IMHO.<br />The ones like y'all who respect and appreciate your readers will never have a problem selling your books.Nissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043154807861670942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-27242947743212193172011-05-20T14:13:59.468-07:002011-05-20T14:13:59.468-07:00I agree with Peg, Nissie. I'm amazed that an a...I agree with Peg, Nissie. I'm amazed that an author would have that kind of attitude toward people who buy her books. Success has obviously spoiled her to the point of arrogance. I'm grateful and amazed that people find me among the giant sea of authors today and feel like I can't thank them enough when they do. I mean that. They don't owe me a thing, but I sure as hell owe them for my success. The least I can do is give them my respect.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-59981168110014923082011-05-20T13:53:56.224-07:002011-05-20T13:53:56.224-07:00Drew, people are really feeling threatened. We bot...Drew, people are really feeling threatened. We both noticed it at LCC. Change is scary. Old attitudes die hard, but they're dying.<br /><br />Nissie, I love what you're saying here. My gosh, when I'm published, and when someone takes the time to find me? Zowsters. Musicians and actors seem to understand that the reason they can afford to do the thing they love is because of people who support their efforts. Maybe the solitary life of writing causes some to lose their social skills. (And why do I have this little niggling thing in my brain that I experienced the same words from an author . . . huh.)Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-70794612261723909362011-05-20T13:32:59.431-07:002011-05-20T13:32:59.431-07:00I don't know why this kind of behavior still s...I don't know why this kind of behavior still surprises me, but it does. I discovered a new author not too long ago. I liked their page on FB because I liked their books and I was looking forward to reading more. Then, the author posted something like, "To my many fans: Please do not contact me through FB, Twitter or email. If you want to read more of my books, you're all going to have to leave me alone and let me write them." Guess what? I don't want to read any more of their books and I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. I'd never contacted this particular author before and I definitely won't now. <br />Not sure if this comment really fits here, but it's what came to mind. :)Nissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11043154807861670942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-13652091537833385672011-05-20T09:53:59.105-07:002011-05-20T09:53:59.105-07:00I had a similar experience with another author. As...I had a similar experience with another author. As soon as I mentioned that I was an indie, her whole attitude shifted and she went into the deep freeze. I didn't like it, and I don't understand it. Nobody is better than anyone else--maybe more fortunate in some ways, but that's where grateful comes in, not arrogant or dismissive. I love meeting other writers almost as much as I love to write-- I don't much care with whom they publish or even if they're published at all. Like you said, it's like breathing. There's so much we, as writers, have to give to one another. It's a shame, really, because she doesn't know what she's missing.ANDREW E. KAUFMANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08835920472268730244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-626135427135105592011-05-20T08:22:50.954-07:002011-05-20T08:22:50.954-07:00L.J. and Jodie, you're right. She is the excep...L.J. and Jodie, you're right. She is the exception—at least in my experience. What's that old marketing advice? Happy customers will tell a couple of people, but unhappy customers will tell ten times that amount. And with the Internet, multiply that again and again.<br /><br />One reader at a time. I like that.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-91107967445841720672011-05-20T07:58:53.008-07:002011-05-20T07:58:53.008-07:00Great post, Peg! What LJ said - and let's hope...Great post, Peg! What LJ said - and let's hope this author's attitude is the exception! And I'd say in this case, it was definitely her loss, as from speaking to you on a number of occasions, I know you're a very intelligent person with a great personality and all kinds of interesting things to say! Which is why she was drawn into your conversation in the first place.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-73015555333328009862011-05-20T07:05:03.236-07:002011-05-20T07:05:03.236-07:00Most writers have to build their readership one bo...Most writers have to build their readership one book and one reader at a time. I certainly have. Treating any potential reader with anything less than courtesy is both rude and foolish. So it still surprises me to hear stories like this. I'm glad she's the exception though.L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com