Bitchin' Blog Posts
Disappearing Reviews for Fearless Fourteen on BN.com
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | May 24, 2008 | Saturday at 11:45 am | 74 CommentsA friendly person from an online book group emailed me with some ire, though not directed at us (always nice!). Seems she’s teed off because earlier last week, the fourteenth installment of the Stephanie Plum series, which hits stores 17 June, had a three-star ranking on BN.com, with a large portion of the 29 individuals who read an advance copy discussing how disappointed they are in the latest Plum installment.
But as of Friday, there are 11 ratings, all of them four to five stars, with more than a few from people who slapped that puppy with a fiver merely to indicate how excited they are that the book is coming out, omg, wow!!!11! According to the person who contacted me, there were 30 reviews up on Tuesday 20 May. Wednesday 21 May there were 9. 2 more glowing reviews have been added since. 1 negative review was posted on Thursday 22 May and removed on Friday 23 May. Scroll through the reviews posted and look at the dates. They’re a jumbled mess, in no order whatsoever. Never seen that before.
BN.com is one of the few places where you can review a book online prior to its release date. Amazon.com’s listing for the book indicates a five-star rating as well, but there are no reviews of the book listed on the book’s page on Amazon. (Where are those stars coming from anyway?)
However, there is a customer discussion that is less than impressed with the book, which echoes discussions on Shelfari and on Powell’s.
Can I just say I am so absurdly amused by the “How can you hate this book you are a moronnnnnn!” shreiking that comes along like a sidecar of idiocy in threads like those? It’s like the creature opposite of the squeeing fangirl: the shrieking fangirl. How dare you dislike her favorite author! Fangirl powers, activate - form SHREIKING HARPY BANSHEE!
Which is why my eyebrow is raised at the email from the bookclub miss. On Monday, there were 29 comments. Today: only 11, all of them five stars, or four.
Google Cache powers, activate!
If I Google “Fearless fourteen boring” there are several results, including one that quotes Evanovich’s “Meet the Author” page, and one that references the following phrase: “Like many fans, I was willing to overlook that boring, poorly written book…”
Take a look. (note: popup window! Oh noes!)
If I Google that specific phrase, which appears to be a review quote for Fearless Fourteen, an identical excerpt shows up in the Google info but is nowhere to be found on the BN.com page.
Additional Google-fu provided by Jane revealed a negative review from “Tired” in the Google cache, but the active link for that page does not show the review.
There are several review texts that appear in the cache but not in the current BN page.
The hardcover isn’t the only page with disappearing reviews, either. The CD version also has a then/now version discrepancy revealed courtesy of The Cache of Google. Here’s the cache version showing 12 reviews, and here’s the current version of the page , which shows 11. Note the top review on the cached page - it’s no longer on the site, though I don’t see any options to remove your own reviews once they’ve been posted.
Obviously, it’s in BN’s best interest to have higher ranking books for sales purposes, but who gets to say which books have the negative and low-starred reviews removed prior to a book’s release? Who has that kind of power? The publisher? The author? BN.com? Based on what criteria are bad reviews removed from people who appear to have actually read the book, while reviews from people who are merely slapping the fiver out of anticipation are left active? And why is it some authors have negatives removed while other authors with not quite the same sales powers have to fight and beg to have spoiler reviews removed? What, in short, is up with that?
Filed: The Link-O-Lator
Tagged: janet evanovich, bn.com, amazon
Maered said on 05.24.08 at 01:00 PM • [link]
I am so sick and tired of jacka*ses who mess with reviews. Why? What the hell do these little minions get out of it? More butt-licking from the author?
OK- we don’t know who had these reviews deleted but these people need to get a life. I’m so disappointed that I can’t trust customer reviews on amazon and now, bn. It’s a disgrace.
Liz in Australia said on 05.24.08 at 01:49 PM • [link]
I trust SBTB and Dear Author at the moment.
Who else is worth reading for trustworthy and honest reviews?
Diana Hunter said on 05.24.08 at 03:27 PM • [link]
I get both good and bad reviews, although don’t have the sort of fanbase that regularly writes reviews on sites like Amazon and B&N;. Maybe I’d feel differently if I did, but I’m afraid writers and readers need thicker skins when it comes to discussing the books they love (and the books they love to hate). NO book is going to appeal to everyone, no AUTHOR is going to appeal to everyone. That’s the way of the world (thank goodness), so suck it up and deal with it.
Like I said, I might think otherwise if people dissed my novels on a regular basis, but I really hope I wouldn’t. And yes, I realize that by saying all this, I’m inviting snark reviews as well as fangirl/boy ones. Maybe I ought to go grow that tougher skin…:)
CJ England said on 05.24.08 at 03:57 PM • [link]
Sounds to me like those nasty “gremlins” that were messing with Amazon, have now moved on to B&N;. What happened? Did they run out of bad reviews to eat?
*snerk*
Throwmearope said on 05.24.08 at 04:23 PM • [link]
This has been going on a long, long time. The last review I posted on Amazon was for Metro Girl 4 years ago. Gave it a 3 and kinda suggested that a number 1 bestselling (OMIGOD) NYT author could have written a better book.
Within 5 mins, kid you not, the rabid fans had been alerted and 17 glowing, oh you gotta love NASCAR and wrestling if you’re a fan of JE had been posted.
Needless to say, haven’t posted a review to Ammie since. And now am boycotting them for the Reba deal.
But I suspect that BN and Amazon go along with the crapola to sell more books.
Jennifer Armintrout said on 05.24.08 at 04:34 PM • [link]
Wow. Not that I trust other people’s opinions of books, anyway, but that’s just slimy. Why don’t they remove some of the bad reviews from my books?
Kristin said on 05.24.08 at 05:03 PM • [link]
Why even bother having reviews any more? I would rather not have them, if it’s coming to this…manipulated reviews. There’s no point to it. They tell you nothing. They are useless to the consumer, and eventually (as we are seeing in these comments) only creating disgusted and annoyed readers. I am sure neither BN or Amazon want to annoy customers. Do they?
Netflix has a great review system. It’s so accurate, I’m often disturbed by how closely my own reaction matches the overall reaction of the Netflix audience. The other great thing about Netflix is that they will show you other movie viewers who have rated movies similar to your own ratings…and I can really rely on what these people think of a film before I rent it since we have similar tastes.
I wish Amazon would let you do that….a true ratings system that would HELP. It wouldn’t have to be a written review, just stars. And you couldn’t remove anyone’s opinion in the star system. That would be so darn helpful!
Maybe leave the written reviews section for actual book reviewers of some kind…Romantic Times reviews, for example. Or other trusted sources for decent reviews.
Personally, I wouldn’t believe high ratings and reviews for a book that hasn’t even been released. It would be obvious these are friends or rabid fans just making crap up. Which, in the long run, doesn’t help sales, I don’t think.
Flo said on 05.24.08 at 05:08 PM • [link]
What’s shitty is that it’s clear favoritism. Why not just say “OK we’ll take away ALL bad reviews before release dates” or “We won’t remove ANY suck it up mofo!”
What bothers me is these are reviews BEFORE the book is released. Unless they are professional reviewers or people who specifically get an ARC for the purpose of reviewing… then shut up! Don’t give away the damn book for the rest of us and let us make up our own minds.
It’s not like JE is supposed to be deep prose. She’s lovely fluffy pool side reading material. That’s it.
Alpha Lyra said on 05.24.08 at 05:32 PM • [link]
This is really depressing. I depend a great deal on amazon reviews in deciding what books to buy. But if I can’t trust those reviews, what use are they? It sounds like someone needs to set up an independent site for user reviews of books. One that’s not also involved in selling books and thus motivated to make the books sound better than they really are.
Becky said on 05.24.08 at 05:52 PM • [link]
It’s not in Amazon or BN’s best interest to have low reviews. As a subscription service, Netflix makes their money whether you watch a particular movie or not. Amazon and BN only make money if you buy a book. In the case of Jane Q. Author, not that many people know of her, so a bad review won’t discourage that many sales. But for a big author, lots of people go looking and many more people are likely to be discouraged from buying the book. They could lose a lot of sales. So they torpedo those reviews.
They either need to block all pre-release reviews or find a way to limit reviews to those who’ve read an ARC. Maybe a code on the inside cover of the ARC that has to be given before the review can be posted?
Rachel R. said on 05.24.08 at 07:21 PM • [link]
I’m guessing (just a guess) that the publisher complained about the negative reviews; B&N;doesn’t remove reviews based solely on negativity (you should see some of the whining they get about that), but if it’s a big book and the pub date hasn’t hit yet, I can see them bowing to publisher pressure to remove the negative reviews.
The reason, by the way, that they don’t generally remove reviews (past pub-date) based solely on negativity is that they feel it gives more credibility to the customer reviews in general (same reason negative reviews from PW, Library Journal, and Kirkus stay on the pages).
Since this was mentioned above…if you’re an author and find a review that gives away spoilers for your book, or that you feel attacks you personally, contact your publisher and have them submit the request to have the review removed. (It’s difficult to verify someone’s identity over the internet—and yes, there have been cases of people writing to B&N;impersonating authors—so B&N;prefers to receive communication from publishers, whom they know, rather than authors, whom they don’t know.)
(I’m not hiding behind the word “they”, incidentally; I don’t deal with customer reviews at B&N;. But I used to, some years back, so I’m familiar with their general policies.)
Kristin said on 05.24.08 at 07:37 PM • [link]
Becky, then why have reviews at all? Why is Amazon subjecting itself to the ratings system, if their plan is to torpedo any and all reviews that are considered ‘poor’ or ‘bad’? I would think they’d have better things to do with their time. Plus, they sell SO many books, would they really want to be that deceiving to their buying public with any and all ‘big’ authors with bad reviews?
As for my Netflix comparison, I understand that it is a flawed…I guess what I wanted to say is that I’d rather have a system like theirs which would truly be helpful to the consumer. No, Netflix doesn’t have as much of a vested interest in how often a movie is rented…however, they do sell used DVDs, and lower rated ones probably do not sell as well…right? So there is an interest there. Maybe not as great, but there is one.
There is no way in hell all readers of a book will be 100% happy or give 4’s and 5’s. And consumers are not stupid. These sorts of manipulated reviews are not helping the author. It makes me very suspicious when I don’t see at least one or two negative reviews of a book…I won’t trust that a book is good when it has all high reviews. Because that is just not realistic.
I wish there was a way to fix this, because honest reviews and a variety of them are so helpful.
Anna said on 05.24.08 at 09:21 PM • [link]
B&N;, Amazon, etc. are under pressure from big publishers.
On the one hand, Amazon is promoting the customer reviews as an information source for buyers, to provide various reader’s angles on the reading experience.
Yet Amazon’s goal is to sell books (how they make a profit), so they share the same interest as publisher/author.
What do you do when a top branded author (such as Evanovich) jumps the shark, and the editors and publisher missed on it, and now they’ve printed a gazillion copies for sale?
The publisher has spent a good deal of time and money pre-marketing the book (and the Evanovich brand). Now the brand is at risk, due to disappointing pre-market feedback (from those who have read the ARC) on her latest book.
They know how quickly a cherished brand can turn to toast (Cassie Edwards, for example) in the internet age. Word spreads at the speed of light.
The publishing industry, like the music industry, is in the midst of paradigm-shift change. Amazon is part of that change, but until they vertically integrate to take over upstream publishing (as they are starting to do by acquiring Booksurge) they have to dance to the old guard publisher’s tune.
My guess is that Amazon doesn’t like having to do this . . . it will come back to bite them.
Anna said on 05.24.08 at 09:38 PM • [link]
I just finished reading through the reviews at Powell’s, and I’m getting a seriously creepy feeling.
Did Evanovich (the real Evanovich) write this book? Or was it a ghost written book with the publisher using the Evanovich brand to sell it?
I’m asking this because a number of reviewers mention that it isn’t Janet’s “voice”, and that many parts are simply recycled from her earlier works.
Very odd indeed.
Stephanie said on 05.24.08 at 09:59 PM • [link]
I was thinking that they were taken off because they actually reviewed the book while the others were (sigh) just excitement, but since BN.com allows that then I just don’t see why. I know publisher’s pay to have books placed upfront at Barnes & Noble, I wonder if they could also pay them to delete bad early reviews? They may have assumed people just wouldn’t notice. No matter what, deleting reviews for any other purpose then them being spam/inappropriate is pretty fuc- messed up. They can do whatever they want with their business, but if it gets out that they removed less than stellar reviews, trust in the company will only drop and hurt them. Not the smartest move in the current economy…
Mercedesclk350 said on 05.24.08 at 10:02 PM • [link]
I leaning toward that the last two books have been written by a ghostwriter. If the “real” Evanovich wrote the last two books, then her muse has up and quit because that muse no longer has the love for the characters that was so obvious in the earlier books.
When reading a very favorite author’s newest book and you find yourself constantly saying, “What the????” as you read, something is wrong.
Very, very, wrong.
Rachel R. said on 05.24.08 at 10:16 PM • [link]
No, they do not. Publishers make requests, which B&N;might or might not agree to. This time, it appears they agreed to comply with the request.
C.J said on 05.24.08 at 11:49 PM • [link]
I hate to say this but it is not just Amazon and BN.com.
I recently reviewed a book for Romantic Times Mag and gave the book three stars when I sent my review to the editor. When I read the printed review in the magazine somehow it was given 4. Now I’m jaded and take everything with a grain of salt
Geena said on 05.25.08 at 12:27 AM • [link]
Actually, there are reviews on Amazon, and one person who posted something negative got *pounced*
and geez:
Yeah, who cares if JE is lifting whole scenes from previous books and adding them to the current one? She’s done it before, so neener neener *rolls eyes*
MS Jones said on 05.25.08 at 01:19 AM • [link]
This is why I don’t buy books unless they’ve been recommended by teh Bitches or teh Ja(y)nes.
Alpha Lyra said on 05.25.08 at 02:53 AM • [link]
I guess I don’t understand why amazon (or bn) has to cater to publishers by yanking undesirable reviews. What’s the publisher going to do: refuse to sell through them? Is there something else going on that I’m not aware of?
While I totally understand that amazon wants books to be reviewed positively, so more people buy them, I think if they take the long view, they’ll realize it’s more important to have customer trust than to gain a few short-term sales. A major reason I buy from amazon is that I go there to check out the reviews, and as long as I’m there, might as well buy the book from them. I even feel slightly indebted to them for providing the reviews—enough that I’d feel guilty if I checked out the reviews on amazon and then went somewhere else to buy the book.
If I decide their reviews can’t be trusted, then I’ll end up going somewhere else for reviews, and then there’s no reason for me to buy the book specifically from amazon.
Virginia said on 05.25.08 at 03:05 AM • [link]
Actually, I rarely care what anyone says about a book, if I like it I read it - the only thing that it might deter me from is paying $25 for the hardcover. I usually get my books used.
However, I do review books on Amazon and the History Book Club (I am an historian) and I see lots of negatives on both. What bothers me about the negatives is that so often the reviewers admit that they haven’t read the book.
I’ve seen negatives on DVD’s not because someone has watched it but because it wasn’t closed captioned and the person didn’t want to buy it without, so they gave it a negative. I would like to see the negatives like that deleted - it is so unfair. However, a system that is just stars is useless, I want to know why a person liked or did not like something - but I do have a mind of my own and if I am interested I will read or watch it and make up my own mind.
Annmarie said on 05.25.08 at 05:11 AM • [link]
I am a book reviewer. I receive ARCs from publishers, publicists and authors. No one has ever pressured me to write a ‘glowing’ review. I HAVE seen the reviews that were posted on Amazon (on my behalf) rated ‘not helpful’ if I disagreed with the fan girls.
Part of me understands. *I* am fan girl squirrely over certain authors. Will I give them a glowing review if they write a stink bomb? No. But I can understand fan girl hysteria.
(I went mute went I got Nora Roberts to autograph a book for me at a book signing. Big eyed mute girl was in a daze for… well days.)
I think a savvy shopper can tell the bullshit reviews versus the honest reviews. Due to personal tastes, an honest review still might not match your take on a book. C’est la vie!
I do think BN should have left up those reviews. If they were written by advance readers, thats what they were supposed to do. Read it, review it, post the review.
Peter Durward Harris said on 05.25.08 at 11:13 AM • [link]
Although I’m not into romance fiction, I’ve been following the controversy surrounding book reviews on Amazon ever since the Highland Press scandal became big news a few weeks ago. You may have seen my posts on the subject on Dear Author.
On the issue of reviews being posted before the official release date, I received a very revealing response from Amazon UK after I protested about one particular CD having 11 pre-release reviews. Here’s what I wrote
Amazon UK responded thus
Except for the third and fourth paragraphs, this is a standard canned response that Amazon could have sent to anybody with any complaint about reviews. But those two paragraphs show that they think it’s OK to review a CD based on seeing the same singer in concert. I assume they therefore think it’s OK to review a DVD based on seeing a movie on TV or in the cinema.
Peter Durward Harris said on 05.25.08 at 11:28 AM • [link]
In my previous post, I cut off the part of the letter containing those bogus reviews. Here they are
I think those reviews prove that you can’t review a CD you’ve never heard, just based on a performance in concert.
Nora Roberts said on 05.25.08 at 12:29 PM • [link]
I’d say I’m a fairly powerful author with a pretty powerful publisher. I don’t check out the reviews on Amazon (or B&N;) often, but did just now to see what was what re this topic.
I have several negative or luke-warm reviews mixed with 4 and 5 star ones on my latest book. I’m reasonably certain I could take a quick look at any number of my books on these sites and find the same.
So, it seems to me, if removing negatives was publisher-driven, I wouldn’t have those 2 and 3 star reviews. If it was site-driven (want to sell those best-sellers) I wouldn’t have them. They’d all go bye-bye.
As to how I deal with negative reviews, I keep my big-girl panties on. And mostly, I don’t go cruising over to Amazon or B&N;to read reviews anyhow.
Annmarie said on 05.25.08 at 01:41 PM • [link]
So many people, so few pair of Big Girl Panties. The world would be a better place if we all had a pair.
NancyG said on 05.25.08 at 04:47 PM • [link]
When I look at reviews online, it’s usually pretty clear when fangirls are swarming, and it’s normally a turn-off for me. I am inclined to move on to another author.
In other news: I wish Nora Roberts would do something crass and/or despicable, so I wouldn’t feel so guilty about not reading romance novels.
Dang her. Dang her to heck for being such a class act, big-girl panties and all.
Virginia said on 05.25.08 at 05:12 PM • [link]
When I do look at reviews, it’s rarely before I buy the book - but it’s after I’ve read it to see if other people got out of the book the same thing I did. When I write a review, it is never really critical because fiction is so highly subjective. However, I am critical when I review non-fiction.
And Nora, I prostrate myself at your feet, you are the Queen of Romantic Suspense. I wouldn’t want you to think I was prostrating myself to see if your big-girl panties were on. If any author took these reviews seriously, they would never be able to write. Repeat book sales are the best yardstick. Hail to the Queen!
Cat Marsters said on 05.25.08 at 05:30 PM • [link]
*gets on soapbox*
Noes, Virginia! What has the author done to you that you’re depriving her of income? Authors get nothing—zip, zilch, nada—for used books, and since most authors barely make enough to live on (I barely make enough for my cat to live on), every second hand book sold is taking away living income. If you really don’t like paying full price, wait for the paperback or get a library book—libraries pay a small sum to the author on books borrowed (at least they do in the UK; I assume other countries have similar arrangements).
*gets off soapbox*
I’ve personally thought the Plum books have been running out of steam a little lately, but not badly enough that I won’t be buying book fourteen.
Jana Oliver said on 05.25.08 at 05:34 PM • [link]
Futzing with the reviews is a no-no in my book. Unless the reviewer suggests you have an inordinate interest in some perverted activity involving underage chipmunks, the review should stay on the page. The readers are a savvy lot. They’ll weed through what is valuable and what’s pure b.s. Amazon and B&N;should trust their customers more than they do.
Kerry said on 05.25.08 at 06:26 PM • [link]
Cat Marsters, is that a real soapbox? Because first-sale doctrine is well established in American copyright law and culture, and if you think it’s wrong, tough shit and get into another game. Or go tilt at the windmill of copyright. Garth Brooks will loan you a horse.
And FYI—public libraries in the US don’t pay royalties on circulation. We buy the book or lease it, and that’s the last time the publisher collects money from it. In return, we don’t have a guarantee that the books will circulate or be any good. We fulfill the role of a repository for knowledge and ideas. Libraries are highly local and decentralized, and if we had to keep records on circulation and remit payments, we’d collapse.
Virginia said on 05.25.08 at 07:17 PM • [link]
Actually, so sorry anyone has problems with people buying used books.That is very short-sighted. Buying a used book may not bring in money to the author immediately, but when a reader finds an author they like they don’t wait around til they find it at a
used bookstore or online (newly released titles online often cost as much when you add in shipping so I order a bundle on Amazon and save the shipping cost). You should be considering a used book of yours as free advertising.
In addition, I volunteer at a library, and there are no fees paid for circulating a book. Libraries face enough of a budget crunch,since they are not at the top of the list when town budgets are being discussed. I started up a used book store within the library and the funds raised- and they are significant - allow a great many services including author signings, children’s summer reading programs, books to the elderly, air conditioner units so that the library is usable in the summer, etc. Would you rather have your used book tossed ?In addition, if your book only comes out in paperback, it will not get into many libraries. Because of the Book Nook, it has exposed many people to authors they would never even heard of.
Cat Marsters said on 05.25.08 at 07:56 PM • [link]
Yes, it is a real soapbox, and one shared by many, many authors of my acquaintance. Authors are like normal people: they don’t work for free. Publishers are not charities. The rash of lawsuits against file-sharing sites offering downloadable music for free, and the Hollywood writers strike over DVD royalties are both proof that it’s not just authors who feel this way.
Yes, it can be considered a great advertisement if someone buys your book cheaply; but I’m not convinced that a person who bought one book second hand will pay full price for the next. When ‘new and used’ books can be bought on Amazon within days of publication, it’s both easier and cheaper in many cases to continue buying that way.
I’m very sorry to hear that US libraries don’t have a Public Lending Right scheme. According to the PLR website, over forty countries worldwide recognise lending rights, including Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and many European countries (where it is part of an EU directive on renumerative rights). In the UK, the payments are capped at a few thousand pounds so as not to bankrupt library authorities.
Virginia said on 05.25.08 at 08:16 PM • [link]
Quite frankly, we all have to make a living. Over the weekend I sold an older book of Nora Roberts (most of the books I sell are older or out-of-print). The young woman who bought it from me said she was just getting into reading romances and after reading one of Ms. Roberts books she bought used, she went out to a bookstore and bought her two most recent books. She hadn’t been able to find a copy of Three Fates at the store, liked my listing and my rating. I am quite certain, if this book had been available at the bookstore she would have bought it then and there. I probably made .30 after listing fees, final value fees and shipping. When books at the Book Nook sell, the library makes .50 or !.00. I’d say that was fairly inexpensive advertising for the author.
Cat, if you prefer, let me know what you’ve written and I’ll make sure it goes to the landfill where most used books end up.
Georgiasblu said on 05.25.08 at 08:19 PM • [link]
There are numerous midlist authors who’d love to have an occasional nasty review removed and I have heard from several that it’s very difficult to accomplish this from the BN and Amazon review departments. I find it odd that BN chose to remove critical reviews but have in the past allowed early reviews for Evanovich’s other books. In looking at Ms. Evanovich’s upcoming tour schedule for Fearless Fourteen, I see four out of five stops are to be held at Barnes Noble book stores. Janet has debuted at the numero uno spot on the NYT for the last seven years and I’m sure she will land there again. I find this curious and curiouser.
Regarding used books: I buy a lot of books, most new and occasionally will buy used at a local usb. I once boycotted an author I once enjoyed for whining publicly about usbs and sharing books among friends.
Cat Marsters said on 05.25.08 at 08:41 PM • [link]
Oh no, Virginia. I should hate to contribute to the destruction of the planet by filling up landfills. Paper can be recycled so effectively.
Kerry said on 05.25.08 at 09:23 PM • [link]
Cat, you’re getting paid on the first sale. But a book is a physical object, and after it’s out in the world, it is uncontrollable. It’s a container for expression and thoughts.
We’re not asking you to work for free. But if you have a problem with the longevity of your work in a print format, either stop writing or write only for a format with better controls, if it can ever be perfected. Or get better contracts.
By your logic, artists should get a royalty every time their art changes hands, and the builder who designed my house 95 years ago should be getting a cut of the sale.
The law is designed to encourage the exchange of ideas, innovation and the development of knowledge and the greater good. You make money off the first sale. After that, each container your story comes in has a life of its own.
Kristin said on 05.25.08 at 09:27 PM • [link]
Guess the same should be said for anything used that is up for sale on eBay…clothes, shoes, plates, furniture…the manufacturers should get a cut there as well. And what about the selling of paintings? The artist only makes money the first time it is sold…and then it get resold and resold and auctioned and the price goes up….poor starving artist.
Some people just don’t have the money to spend on reading books. So they use the library or paperbackswap or a used book store. And when they do get some extra cash and want to splurge, it will probably be on their favorite author’s newest book or one they discovered at the library or on paperbackswap.
I don’t see anything wrong, as long as money was made off of that first sale.
Mary said on 05.25.08 at 10:06 PM • [link]
*Heaving a tired sigh*
No, I don’t own a used book store. I just want to find fantastic stories to feed my insatiable brain food habit. If the hunt takes me to the galaxy of X91PRTM’ Nucles Beta 5, that’s where I’ll go to get the book.
I’ll give a hurrah for used book stores. I am a reader. I read romance, science fiction, mystery, young adult, childrens books, horror, general fiction, and the occassional non-fiction when I can be bothered.
I frequent used book stores, thrift stores, yard sales, library sales, swap meets, and most other places many people would find used books for sale. I also frequent my local retail book stores such as B&N;and Borders, the supermarkets, Target, Costco, Walmart, online retailers, and other such shops to purchase new books.
Used book stores are not the enemy of authors. They can, in fact, be an author’s best friend. It’s all in how you look at any given situation.
Examples? Yes, I’ve got them.
I picked up two new-to-me authors in a used book store. Bless the authors’ hearts for having large backlists. Between the two authors, after having purchased one of each of their books at the used book store, I went out and bought seven of one authors’ books and ten of the others. In one day. New, from my local Borders. The authors were LKH and David Weber. It wasn’t the first time I’d done it, and it sure wouldn’t be the last.
(Ms. Roberts, I know you didn’t object but you’ve got the nice big backlist I need as a visual reference. Please forgive my presumption of using you as my example, true though the story is). A used book store was how I was introduced to the In Death series. I sure hope Ms. Roberts doesn’t mind I purchased Naked in Death used but have sinced purchased the remaining 27 books at full price within the first week of each of their release dates.
I’m am positive had I never set foot in that particular used book store I’d never have picked up the first two authors. Trust me on this. At that time in my reading span I was adamantly opposed to the genres both the first two authors wrote. I also would have never picked up J. D. Robb. As much as I adored the writing of NR in her romance genre, the thought of a futuristic police procedural at the time, *shudder*. I was a ROMANCE READER!
The clerk convinced me to read the authors. It’s that simple folks. Authors, you’re intitled to my contribution of cash on a sale purchased first time round. But don’t begrudge me if I find you by way of second hand shopping. I might never find you otherwise.
Cat Marsters said on 05.25.08 at 10:26 PM • [link]
I’m greatly saddened by tales of readers boycotting authors who are simply pointing out the realities of the publishing business and standing up for their right to be paid.
It was recently proposed that a small duty could be levied on second-hand books, which could be used to renumerate authors in the same way as PLR (I don’t know about other countries, but here in the UK books aren’t subject point-of-sales tax like other new goods). That way, readers could buy books cheaply, and authors needn’t lose out.
Jana Oliver said on 05.26.08 at 02:16 AM • [link]
As an author I can see both sides of the coin. I’d love to get a little bit of cash each time someone read my book. It’d sure help with the cost of ink cartridges, paper, travel to conventions, etc. On the flip side, I can see the “Ford doesn’t get a cut out of each used Mustang sold” analogy.
I do admit to buying used books. If I find I love a particular author’s work, then I buy new from then on as my way of supporting that author so they don’t give up writing and resort to flipping burgers at Mickey D’s to earn more money. It’s not a perfect solution, but it works for me.
Mary said on 05.26.08 at 02:43 AM • [link]
Ms. Marsters,
Or the line “I might never find you otherwise.”, could simply read to mean if it hadn’t been for that particular used book store, I’d have never found those particular authors. Just as I intended it to mean. Again, it’s all in the way you look at something.
Write a great story and I’ll do my best to find it, where ever it is.
michelle said on 05.26.08 at 03:18 AM • [link]
Often its not what you say but the way you say it. I love my librarys used book store where they sell donated books or library discards. I will try a new author for 35 cents when I won’t for 7.99. If I find a new author I love I will then buy their books new. Also for my favorite authors I will often buy cheap copies to try to convert people into fans. I have stopped loaning out my keepers because you never know if you will get them back or what shape they will be in.
Amelia "Fuckheady Bitchipants" Elias said on 05.26.08 at 06:23 AM • [link]
Not going to jump into the “ethics of used book stores” debate other than to say I wish Amazon wouldn’t put the used books on the same damn page as the new ones. Especially since the used ones seem to go up as soon as or sometimes even before the book actually comes out—how the frick does that even happen, anyway??? My last book had 3 used copies available for sale on Amazon’s page before I even got my author copies in the mail. What. The. Hell? Can someone explain that to me?
Amelia "Fuckheady Bitchipants" Elias said on 05.26.08 at 06:44 AM • [link]
... okay, I’m a liar, I’ll say something else on the subject. The only time I’ve actually gotten pissed about the “used books” thing was when a friend’s roommate told me she’d gotten 4 of my books and read them and loved them. I started to smile and say thank you, and then she proudly added that she’d pirated them all so she didn’t pay a dime. “Pretty cool, huh?”
Um. No. Actually, so NOT cool, really. She looked a little surprised at my sudden speechlessness and whatever look came over my face, not to mention the silence that fell in the room. Then my lovely friend jumped in (while I was luckily still finding my voice) and explained to her that she’d basically just reached into my wallet, taken my lunch money, and then bragged about it to the room at large. She was extremely embarrassed and bought me dinner to make up for it, so hopefully that means she’s actually purchased any subsequent books I’ve put out. She probably has. I really think she honestly didn’t think about it before it was pointed out to her.
Wish I could say that’s an isolated incident. In fact, I had the exact same thing happen just a couple months ago—when I complained that I’d found my entire backlist on an illegal download site and was writing to God and everyone to get it disabled. Instead of sympathy or shared outrage, I got this response: “Ooh, great! What’s the url? I want to download them before that link gets taken down!” And this person? WAS MY MOTHER. *headdesk* She can’t squeak by on the “she just didn’t know” excuse—I don’t even know what the crap was in her head with that one. *makes face of utter bewilderment*
Yes, I know these are examples of ebook piracy and not technically the same animal. Point is, I can understand how emotions can run high when money’s involved. It’s one of the biggest hot button issues around, always has been, always will be. You’ve got authors on one side, mostly broke, all working hard to make a product and hoping to be compensated for it, and readers on the other side, also mostly broke, and all trying to stretch a limited entertainment budget as far as they can. Who’s right? Like lots of things, it depends on your point of view.
What I want to know is, how can I get my books into libraries that pay that lending fee? Because that seems like an excellent middle ground to my mind, and my checking account could use all the help it can get.
Willa said on 05.26.08 at 07:04 AM • [link]
Seeing as libraries, at least in the US, have been closing down left and right due to slashed federal funding, looking to them for a lending fee might not be your best bet.
Denni said on 05.26.08 at 08:15 AM • [link]
Pirated books totally get my goat…and I’m a reader, not an author. I love books, buy new books, buy used books, buy e-books, trade my used books, active at my local libarary…but pirating is just STEALING. My ratio of new book purchases to other reading material (library, used, trades, library) is maybe 50/50 ish.
Cat..if it’s important to you that you get paid for every single book copy, and those copies cannot then legally change hands, maybe you should consider selling your work to an e-publisher. That seems to come the closest to your expectations.
Wayward said on 05.26.08 at 08:18 AM • [link]
I’d love to be able to buy the works of my favourite authors fresh off the rack to support them and their endeavors.
Got a time machine? Most of ‘em died before I was born.
( No, reprint volumes are of limited use to me - it’s always the same stories over and over again. Used bookstores are the only place I can find the more obscure works I don’t already own. )
Cat Marsters said on 05.26.08 at 11:07 AM • [link]
Denni, I’m with three e-publishers. Hence, I understand all about piracy.
I apologise for offending anyone’s right to buy books cheaply. I like buying books cheaply. I don’t have a lot of money. I don’t like wasting what I do have. And I know something has to be done with used books or they’ll all get turned into toilet paper (although personally there are some books I’d consider quite fit for that purpose).
My point was simply this: that authors (unlike car manufacturers or clothes designers) are paid in royalties. Their income depends on every new book sold. Publishers make marketing decisions based on bookstore figures. They might even decide not to buy an author’s next book if it hasn’t sold well enough—if people are waiting for the books to turn up used. Very few authors have the financial security to deal with the loss of even a few sales.
I’m simply trying to make people realise how people who write for a living earn their money, and ask readers to think about supporting them financially by buying new books whenever possible. Buy a new book: the author gets paid. Buy it used: the author gets nothing. It’s that simple.
Nora Roberts said on 05.26.08 at 12:13 PM • [link]
~And this person? WAS MY MOTHER.~
Oh, the pain!!
Hate piracy.
I’ve got no problem with used books. I’ve been paid (and thanks), and whoever bought it owns it, and can give it away, sell it, trade it or lend it to their neighbor. They just can’t make copies of it and sell them over and over, which is how I equate piracy.
I also appreciate that many readers, if they enjoy the author’s work when they pick up something used, will then buy future releases or backlist new.
I agree, and strongly, about Amazon’s used/new books on the same page being a crap deal for writers. Sell the used ones, fine, but jeez, don’t list them right there with the new. And yeah, HOW do they get them used before or basically at the same time of release?
While I don’t agree with authors who object to used books, I can see why they object. Boycotting those who do for stating their opinion seems harsh.
Sarah W said on 05.26.08 at 02:10 PM • [link]
This controversy over reviews at Amazon and B&N;just reaffirms my love of http://www.goodreads.com/ There the reviews are distinct from sales and are much less likely to be influenced by publishers or authors. In addition, one can see what your friends have thought about a given book before the mass of people you don’t know. So when I’m considering reading a specific title I can see if people who I know share my taste liked it.
While I’m not an author, I do work in a library, and I thus have a hard time seeing what is so bad about them for authors. The library system that I am in purchases large quantities of most titles, and repurchases them when they fall apart from use or poor construction. We automatically purchase large quantities of books by popular authors, regardless of reviews because they will circulate. It is true that it would be better for authors if all the patrons went out and bought their own copies, but many of our patrons can not afford to purchase the quantity they read. Most patrons use the library to discover new authors, try out new genres, but mostly for the internet computers.
Thorn said on 05.26.08 at 02:58 PM • [link]
With practices like this coming from BN and Amazon, Librarything.com is an oasis in the desert. Over there, NO ONE censors reviews (we may flag them, but not erase them). If a book sucks, it sucks and we don’t care how many people know it. A review is tied to a personal catalog and that is part of your data record; only you control it. Because LT is not interested in sales, there is no axe to grind over money. Refreshing.
Georgiasblu said on 05.26.08 at 03:43 PM • [link]
Miss Roberts,
I have recently bought a car, a computer, clothing, books and groceries. The car dealer didn’t seem interested in selling to a woman with a latino last name so I took my purchase elsewhere. My one right as a consumer is that I can choose whom I give my money too. If a writer complains that her readers shouldn’t share books with friends, then that is a writer who will not get my dollars. Over the years I’ve shared many a book and that person went on to purchase more books from that author. To you it may seem harsh ,to me it’s exercising my consumer rights. This is the internet age and opinions and blogs spread quickly. We all, are responsible for our words and actions. I guess it’s time to pull out the big girl pants.
I’ve spent a great deal of money with BN both online and in local stores and that too will come to a screeching halt. If they pick and choose whose reviews they choose to allow to be posted then I’ll go elsewhere. No where on the BN site do they state they will not post reviews before a book is released. This leads me to believe they want to be free to manipulate reader opinion and cash flow particularly in the case of an author like Evanovich. I was told once that SMP and Evanovich sells 13% of her books online with 40% of that going to BN. Is that worth alienating customers? It appears so.
Sarah,
I recently discovered Goodreads. However I have some concerns about the security. Last night I received a message from someone wanting to talk books but I realized it was a phishing scam when they asked for my gmail password.
Willa said on 05.26.08 at 04:46 PM • [link]
Count me in as another annoying harsh reader who won’t purchase any books from an author who publicly states something I oppose, find objectionable, or who just plain annoys me in turn. I just can’t bring myself to buy something by them. Authors might not like it, but it’s not going to change. What a person says publicly has repercussions.
Nora Roberts said on 05.26.08 at 05:25 PM • [link]
Every reader has the right to choose—what books to buy, what authors to read. Certainly they have every right NOT to buy.
Readers have opinions. So do authors. Agree or disagree.
I’m simply of the mindset that it seems harsh to boycott an author (one the reader may very well enjoy) because of that author’s opinion on a particular subject. I never said annoying. I said it seemed harsh to me.
But I’d never argue with any reader’s right to do so.
Certainly everyone—including authors—has to own the opinions they express in public. I have no problem owning mine.
I guess I can (and do) disagree with objections from my colleagues regarding used books without their objections pissing me off. I can think they’re wrong on this particular issue and still respect and enjoy their work.
Willa said on 05.26.08 at 06:44 PM • [link]
Ack, my first “annoying” adjective in my last post was awfully passive-aggressive. Eeek! *embarrassed*
Arethusa said on 05.26.08 at 07:50 PM • [link]
This is completely off-topic, by the by.
I’m not sympathetic to creators who seek to limit the means by which people can legally obtain their work. Encourage one to buy new, certainly. Swoop in to criticize one’s purchasing habits without any knowledge of the person’s financial situation or location in regards to book availability and give the impression one is knocking bread from someone’s mouth as he/she trembles on the verge of starvation?
I guess I’m too jaded by the starving author stories (of this kind). Whenever I see them I want to wrap them all in a bundle and drop them over at Booksquare. Do publishers get any of this, maybe someone gets on soapboxes about possibly imbalanced share of money on the product, or do they just think of new ways to charge the audience because we’re a less united front?
It’s at least heartening to see that the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) isn’t on board with this stuff. I’d rather this “modest duty” had been placed on used stores—for-profit outifts, for heaven’s sake—rather than poor libraries. I’ll have to look it up some more but according to the IFLA site these “renumeration” payments aren’t even considered to be royalties.
http://www.ifla.org/III/clm/p1/PublicLendingRigh.htm
Edit: Are these libraries paying extra on the visual and audio material they have too?!
Nora Roberts said on 05.26.08 at 09:17 PM • [link]
Let me say, again, I’ve got no problem with used books. In fact, I see a pretty strong pro side when it comes to used books.
I agree, authors don’t know the readers’ financial situation, and I think it’s unwise to criticize the reader for buying used (regardless of the reader’s financial situation.) But some authors have VERY strong opinions against the used book market. I think they should be free to express those opinions and state their reasonings.
At the same time, it’s doubtful the reader knows the author’s financial situation. Maybe it is fairly grim.
But I just see all this as completely irrelevent. It’s not the author’s job to worry about the reader being able to afford enough books to satisfy her. It’s not the reader’s job to worry about the author’s financial status.
It’s the author’s job to write the best book she can (with the hope, undoubtedly, that readers will flock to the bookstore and buy it). It’s the reader’s choice to buy or not, and where to make the purchase.
As I see it, writer’s job; reader’s choice. That’s the way of the world.
Used bookstores are perfectly legal. So are yard sales and flea markets.
I personally feel libraries are a continuing miracle.
Arethusa said on 05.26.08 at 09:41 PM • [link]
Oh, I’m not out to restrict anyone from giving their opinions. And I’m at least happy to note that for PLR in some countries (well Canada, which is the only one I checked for selfish reasons ;)) the money comes from the government rather than the libraries.
The first draft of my comment, actually, was about how my relationship as a reader is to the book first, last, always because I’m not running a Support The Author business (*once those books lower in quality I bail). One thing that I see as an uncomfortable side effect for the authors and readers together online dealie—especially for the romance community in which persons from the two groups are buddies—is that this (professional? dunno what to call it) relationship becomes blurred and one becomes worried that innocent critical book commentary get blown up into vendettas…but I thought I’d come across as a cold bitch.
So thanks for saying it in a nicer way. :D
(In the interests of upholding this site’s reputation as a Nora Roberts Butt Kissing community: after a long break I picked up your Angels Fall to see if I was still burnt out. (I’ve read your books since I was, like, 12 or something.) Au contraire it sent me combing through your back list for rereads and books I hadn’t read along with the purchase of High Noon. So thank you very much because I’ve been having a hard time with romance books lately; and for being so professional that you’re one among a few authors online that I don’t feel I have to tip toe around when it comes to their writing.)
*This isn’t strictly true. There are authors I’d buy from during the weaker creative times because their better books have earned them that grace (but it IS borrowed time). I can’t explain why I still buy Shannon McKenna.
francois said on 05.26.08 at 10:03 PM • [link]
I like to support my favourite authors by buying new (and also because I can’t wait to get their books!). But after hearing authors (or indeed anyone) whining about how their job doesn’t pay enough, I wonder why they don’t get another job instead because they’re probably not suited to working in the arts. Imagine how much more authors would be paid if all the people that thought it didn’t pay enough actually gave it up. A worldwide writer shortage could do wonders for the ones left.
A writing career has a lot of positives about it as regards location, hours and personal expression. If the negatives outweigh the positives for you, for goodness sakes don’t whine to your customers. Why not try a boring office job like the rest of us? It sounds like the secure financial package would suit you better. Sure it would be nice if you got more money for writing - wouldn’t we all like to get more money for our jobs, regardless of moral issues, the contracts we’ve signed and general good sense?
[sorry, this sounds like I’m talking at someone in particular - honestly not. This is a general rant!]
Lesley said on 05.26.08 at 10:19 PM • [link]
I read the ARC of Fearless Fourteen and wrote a less than favorable review of the book at BN which was removed from their website a few days later along with the other less than favorable reviews. My review did not reveal any spoilers, nor did I attack the author in any way. My only comments were regarding my disappointment in the plot and humor of this particular book.
My issue with the disappearing reviews is this: If a online bookseller allows prerelease reviews, allow all of them. Removing reviews of those who have read the book and leaving up
of those who have not read the book and rate the as
is misleading, and the practice is discrinimatory.
The situation with BN has me outraged, and calls into question the validity of excellent reviews of other books. I can also say that I will now spend my book buying dollars elsewhere.
Lesley said on 05.26.08 at 10:23 PM • [link]
UGH. Sorry about the poor formatting. It will be better next time!
Nora Roberts said on 05.26.08 at 10:42 PM • [link]
Personally, I don’t think my butt gets kissed nearly enough. Here or anywhere. I call for more butt kissing.
But I’m delighted you enjoyed Angels Fall.
~But after hearing authors (or indeed anyone) whining about how their job doesn’t pay enough, I wonder why they don’t get another job ~
I agree with this, particularly with the ‘or indeed anyone’ because—at the risk of annoying some readers—it doesn’t engage my sympathies to have a reader say they’re voracious, they love, love, love to read….but they’re on a budget, they can’t afford, they have a limited income.
Buy used, that’s your right—I won’t complain (have never complained), but I don’t need (or especially want) to have this justified to me—anymore than I need to have an author complain about her finances.
Both complaints are, undoubtedly, perfectly true and reasonable. Just not relevant to me.
But I do think if it’s generally considered okay for readers to use this rationale, it’s pretty much okay for writers to whine about their dented income if that’s the reason for their opinion. Not smart, imo, because the writer has something she hopes to sell. The reader is the one she hopes to sell it to. And whining (or whatever term you use) tends to piss the reader off.
I once debated, extensively, with another writer about used books. She was extremely angry with me by the end of it because I had no problem with the concept, and boy, she did. I never got was she was so angry because I didn’t agree on this issue. I wasn’t angry with her, and could—on some levels—at least see where she was coming from. She could not see where I stood, on any level.
And now that I’ve written all this, the light dawns. It’s not a hot button for me. It’s just a fact of life. But it IS a hot button for many authors and many readers. And hot buttons get the blood up.
So . . . carry on.
Arethusa said on 05.26.08 at 10:59 PM • [link]
Definitely agree with that, too. I don’t know what would possess me to tell the author anything unless I was in fan girlish mode and wanted to express me true devotion a la “I ate ramen noodles for a month so I could buy all your books in hardcover!” or something. In that case I wouldn’t be looking sympathy…just giving TMI. :) It’s not an issue.
GrowlyCub said on 05.27.08 at 02:19 AM • [link]
That’s exactly it. Many would like to declare the reader-writer relationship equal, but in reality readers are customers and authors are salespeople and it’s just never a good idea to make a customer feel bad about their buying decisions.
I agree it’s harsh not to buy books by authors whose online behavior one doesn’t like, but that’s just the way I’m wired. Once the author has put his/her foot in in a significant enough manner, I cannot divorce their behavior from their works any longer. I know plenty of readers for whom this is not the case. In a way I envy them, because I’ve lost a number of authors over the 15 years of my internet reader-writer experience whose past books I enjoyed tremendously.
spamword: theory39 No, not a theory, I make it a practice.
Amelia "Fuckheady Bitchipants" Elias said on 05.27.08 at 03:00 AM • [link]
But after hearing authors (or indeed anyone) whining about how their job doesn’t pay enough, I wonder why they don’t get another job instead
Well, 99% of the authors I know do have another job. They’d like to make more from their writing so they can quit that day job and write full-time, and I certainly count myself among that number. Other than Nora, I wonder how many full-time writers are here? I’m certainly not—after about 50 hours a week at the “real job,” whatever I make off my books is a bonus for me. I sure as hell don’t make my budget around it.
Bitching about pay is everywhere. I hear it at the grocery store, at work, in line at the gas pumps, on the radio, read it on blogs, etc. Seems like people in the arts get an especially bad rap for doing it, though. Does anyone stop going to their doctor, for example, if they overhear the nurse complaining that she needs a raise and management isn’t about to cough one up? Go to a different grocery store because the checker gave TMI on her bills while ringing up your toilet paper and bananas? I doubt it.
But since authors *do* get this kind of reaction, I think they’d would be smart to keep their financial frustrations to themselves. Big girl panties on, my finances = my business and no one else’s, and move along.
On a semi-related note, have any other authors noticed how many people think it’s okey-dokey fine to ask you how much you made off X or Y book? What the hell’s with that, anyway? Last I checked, they weren’t offering information on their Christmas bonus to the general public and it’s considered bad form to ask, yet apparently that’s out the window for authors. Huh?
Willa said on 05.27.08 at 06:49 AM • [link]
This is almost entirely off-topic, but I LOOOOOVED the Stephanie Plum series at Hot Six, with High Five and Seven Up, etc. being almost as hilarious. The books were just hysterical!
After about book 8 the humor felt more and more flat to me, sadly, and Lean Mean Thirteen felt like it had been written by a very bored JE zombie clone, with all of the humor fizzled and gone, the characters pale shades of their former selves (shedding a tear for Plum and co.).
So, question: What series/books/author can I go to for hilarious, laughed-so-hard-you-cried stories? Romance, mystery, I don’t care what genre, but I really miss laughing so loud dogs barked in sympathy next door.
Any suggestions?
Randi said on 05.27.08 at 06:04 PM • [link]
I think there is a disconnect from the author’s pov about used bookstores, and it is this: readers who LIKE an author, personally or just written works, go out of their way to buy new when they can afford to, because we like to support our authors. We readers KNOW you make your living off of writing, and I think (maybe I’m wrong), that the majority of readers really would like to support their authors.
But new bookstores don’t always carry a full booklist. i.e. For months and months, I couldn’t get a CT Adams book at B&N;. They just weren’t carrying her, or maybe they were just selling out really quickly. So, I went to amazon and bought them used. However, I really like CT Adams and will buy her new WHEN I CAN FIND HER. Or, when Keri Arthur came our with her Riley series, I really wanted her backlist. But no ones sells it. It’s not printed anymore. So I had to buy it used. Is that my fault that a backlist doesn’t get reprinted? and should I, the reader, abstain from reading a backlist simply because it isn’t printed anymore? Likewise, I have not been able to find High Noon, by Nora, or the earlier Gregor books. ANYWHERE.*grumble* I’d like to give Nora some royalties, but if my only option for getting backlisted or new books, is through a used bookstore, a yard sale, or Vincent Du Paul, I’m gonna buy it there.
Melissa said on 05.27.08 at 06:41 PM • [link]
So, question: What series/books/author can I go to for hilarious, laughed-so-hard-you-cried stories? Romance, mystery, I don’t care what genre, but I really miss laughing so loud dogs barked in sympathy next door.
Any suggestions?
Jenny Crusie would be a good place to start. Especially “Manhunting”, “Anyone But You”, “Welcome to Temptation” and “Agnes and the Hitman” (co-written with Bob Mayer). All four titles had scenes that made me laugh out loud, and were so good that I bought archival copies (new!) as well as reading copies.
Julie Garwood’s “The Secret” had funny scenes between the heroine and her best friend, especially when they were children. The opening chapter made me laugh out loud in the bookstore, and convinced me not to wait to buy it.
I’ll check when I get home and see if I can find a few more for you.
Sarah W said on 05.27.08 at 09:05 PM • [link]
I work in a library and people ask me all the time how I got the job, how much I make, and how can they get the job. I once had an elderly man ask who I knew and what I had to do to get my entry level job when his daughter couldn’t get even an interview. I was a bit flabbergasted—I hadn’t been working there long and wasn’t used to that question. Some people just have different considerations of what is tactful and appropriate!
Personally, I’d like to advocate some of the great ways libraries actually support authors—frequently we have lots of back list titles that can satisfy ravenous readers and we introduce new readers every day. As a librarian, I’ve frequently been asked “do you have anything good to recommend?” Not only that, but a lot of libraries offer space for new and local authors to publicize and gain feedback. This summer we will be having a first time YA novelist visit some of our branches to talk with our teens and get their responses to her novel. Certainly this means we will be acquiring more copies for our system, and likely teens who are lucky to meet the author will go out and buy her book.
Willa said on 05.28.08 at 04:09 AM • [link]
Melissa, thanks for the recs!
I love Crusie’s early novels; Getting Rid of Bradley is so funny and so cute. Her later works don’t affect me as much, unfortunately. I’ll have to give her collaboration books a try.
And I’m putting your Garwood rec on my immediate list, thank you! Sounds very promising!
Erik Chase said on 10.15.08 at 07:37 PM • [link]
I’m not big on review sites, I like reading the book first then seeing what other people have said about the book. I think the reviews can affect what you think about the book prior to reading and during. Let your mind think for itself, that’s what I say!
Jablonski said on 05.01.09 at 08:21 PM • [link]
With all due respect, i before e except after c. Thus, “shrieking” not “shreiking”.
Care to comment?
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