Every now and again, readers will interact with authors online and kerfuffles ensue. I know, it’s so rare, but it happens. No, really.
And sometimes in the course of these festive occasions, you’ll see commentary from a reader who is so incensed, so horrified by what an author has written that there is Epic Flounce and a vow to never read or buy that author’s books again!
(Pretend there was a really impressive echo feature on that last sentence, kthx.)
I usually blink at these flounces because it takes a LOT for me to reach a point where I am unable to see past my impression of an author to the point where my reaction interferes with my reading that author’s book. And yet many, many readers online have vowed publicly to never spend another penny on an author whose opinion, even an opinion expressed thoughtfully, is too distasteful to them – though who knows if their actual purchase history follows through on that threat.
As a result, I know many authors struggle with how much of themselves to reveal on their websites, with many individuals refraining from discussing politics or news or favorite books or even television shows for fear of alienating their readership. I know more than one author who hesitated to mention whom she was voting for in the last election, because many readers see the romance community online as a politics-free zone.
Then there are authors like Suzanne Brockmann who not only wear their pride-colors proudly but donate proceeds to fund raise on behalf of her chosen causes by donating the proceeds from a recent novel – a novel featuring a gay protagonist pair. Some readers may be turned off, but there’s no mistaking Brockmann’s position. Even recently, she’s been most clear about her position on the subject, and how she feels people may react to her writing, and a whole lot of people were shocked and turned off by Brockmann’s reaction, particularly in that she assigned homophobic motivation to those who were upset at the plot of her latest book.
As I said earlier, it takes a hell of a lot for me to reach that line of Never-Buy, where I can’t see past the conviction of the author to lose myself in that author’s writing. So let’s visit the other end of that spectrum. I’ll be honest: this author’s website tripped right over my Never-Buy line.
However, let me be clear: it’s not a question of the fact that I disagree mightily with her opinion. I do, most holy shit heartily. But I know many people who do not see the same way I do when it comes to gay rights and homosexuality. I care for some people who see the idea of gayness in a diametric opposition to my own position, and when we discuss do discuss it, they try (I hope!) understand my opinion, and I try to understand theirs, even though I disagree so very very much. It’s not like disagreeing with me lands you on my shit list for life.
What I find most objectionable here is the manner in which the opinion is expressed in this particular instance. Or, more succinctly, the flying leap into the pool of WTF that this author has chosen to employ on her professional website.
On Dorchester author Autumn Dawn’s website, there’s a section called “Chatterbox” wherein she writes:
Naturally, my biblically based beliefs include “one man, one woman”
relationships. The bible states clearly that homosexuals will not enter the
kingdom of heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is crystal clear about God’s
feelings about this. Contrary to the propaganda, I believe that
homosexuality is a choice, like stealing, like drinking, like drugs.
Addictive, sure, but a choice, one that can be overcome.Making gay marriage legal won’t overcome their guilt, depression and
confusion. It won’t take away the pain they live with. So many children
are raped and grow up thinking they are gay as a result. Many come from
broken or dysfunctional homes. It’s the unadvertised truth of
homosexuality. Take a poll some time and see if it’s true….I don’t share my personal beliefs with many as I’m a writer, and a romance one at that. This is what goes into my books, though. This is part of who I am.
Taking any extreme, whether you’re Brockmann or Dawn, yields some consequences, and the result depends on the reader.
But when the opinion is backed up by statements like “raped children are gay” and followed up with “take a poll…and see if it’s true,” the limit of my ability to see the narrative in spite of the author has been reached. Oh, how it has been reached.
It’s not even about royalties with me. Because Dawn says, “This is what goes into my books, though. This is part of who I am,” I don’t want to read her books, because I would be constantly wondering if any element of a book that rang oddly was a slight against homosexuality or if the subtext of any scene or thematic arc was a diatribe against gays.
The experience of reading this author’s website has tainted my ability to read beyond the author’s name to the story within the cover. I can agree or disagree with an author’s opinions and still read their books; I’ve done it before.
But when the manner in which the opinion is conveyed is so truly repulsive to me, I’m done. The line of Never-Buy has been crossed.
Where’s your line? What trips it? If you don’t want to be specific, that’s fine, but when dealing with efforts toward public branding of an author’s name online, where’s the line of Never-Buy for you as a reader?
It takes a lot for me to hit a “no buy” line as well… and when I do, it’s because of what you said about the politics/religious views/crazy ranting mania tainting what I’m reading/watching/etc.
I’ve hit that point with actors/actresses, where I can’t seem to separate their ridiculousness from the character they’re attempting to portray on the screen. (Although someone told me that Valkyrie would free me from my Tom Cruise moratorium.)
I think it’s why I try to stay away from celebrity news in general.
But it is a peeve of mine. Since my Junior year of high school when my English teacher stood up in front of the class on election day telling us how George H. W. would destroy the world, and how she wouldn’t want to live in a world without Dukakis as president (omg I’m sooo ooooold *headdesk*), I’ve had a pet peeve about people who use their power and authority to front their judgmental agenda… even when I agree with it.
People should be respectful and thoughtful whenever they share their opinions and views, no matter the forum (um, except when mocking reality television… because, seriously…). But really, I don’t care about the author’s background or belief system. If you want to use your storylines as metaphors for your religious beliefs… have at it. (Although I will say I was creeped out by a snarky Twilight review I read recently where someone pointed to all of the hidden Mormon subtext throughout the book. didn’t.want.to.know.)
But to come out after the fact and make statements for political or religious reasons just seems to lack integrity or courage or something… along the lines of Rowlings’ insistence that Dumbledore was gay, even though she never had the balls to include that in the books in the first place.
My never buy or read line is easily crossed. However, I don’t have a problem if an author wants to support X political party or have a certain position about an issue. That never makes me put an author on the Do not buy or read list. But when an author acts like a bully towards his readers or other authors they automatically get dumped into the never buy list.
Sometimes I haven’t read a single book about the author and because of their words or actions, they get listed on the never buy list. Perhaps it’s unfair, but I can’t stand bullies. I also (and I realize that this is a personal issue) have a tendency of shying away from buying authors that do not believe a readers opinion is important at all. I understand that characters are your creation and you can do with them as you please. I’m not going to argue about that issue, because I believe you are correct. However, when I hear authors being rude or talking down to the readers, as someone said, I get disappointed.
Look, I don’t want an author to write what I want. Write your story the way you want it to be. But, if I or anyone else, don’t agree, then please don’t be rude. There is no need to remind us that this are your characters and you do with them what you want; say your sad that they didn’t like it, and move on. If you wish to discuss the issue, then great! I’m always fascinated by discussions where there are two different point of views. But again don’t talk down to readers. In fact a good discussion where the author respectfully defends his/her point of view, story or idea against someone that disagrees, has most times put that author in the Need To Buy list. I may not like what you did in a book but I will totally support you if you are willing to defend your position in a dignify manner.
Thankfully, I don’t have time to read authors blogs or follow them around. So for me to put an author in the Do not buy list the issue has to reach big proportions or show up in a blog/site I follow.
You know what they say about opinions…we’ve all got them like…belly buttons. I don’t care what an author’s opinion is on anything, but if they did something I found distastful or nasty (oh umm…like get caught on video kicking a homeless person, mocking handicapped people, etc – something that is repulsive & vile) then I would not only wash my hands of them, I let everyone I know in on what they did. Expose their nasty behavior with the hopes they’d see it and feel ashamed and some remorse. How they vote or what they believe will or won’t get them to heaven doesn’t make any difference to me. It’s their opinion and everyone is entitled to an opinion- right or wrong, it’s just an opinion.
Why should there be a difference? My blog is my blog, period. Yes, there are things that I don’t put out there for public consumption, but that’s a personal choice—things that wouldn’t be out there for public consumption regardless.
I mean… I guess I don’t quite get the difference here. As a writer, I use everything as fodder and a lot of it gets filtered through my blog.
Now, if it was a blog being hosted by a publisher or if I was being paid by a site like Entertainment Weekly or People.com to blog about being a writer, then that’s different. That’s a “professional blog” and I’d make an effort to keep the topics centered around more professional topics. Otherwise, though, I just don’t see a need to keep blogs separated into “Writer Barb” and “Person Barb.” For one thing, it’s too easy to follow links or searches and there would be no real delineation between the two and secondly, writing isn’t just my job, it’s who I am, so from that standpoint, there’s very little line between professional and personal.
Of course, there are authors who manage to maintain separate blogs and personas or only blog as their characters or don’t feel the need to blog at all and that’s fine. I’m just saying that for me, trying to maintain such a distinction would be a waste of time.
There is very little that will permanently turn me off of a writer, outside of that authors work that is. Cassie Edwards did… but I’ve never had the urge to read her books anyhow, so no love lost there. I’m not sure either Suzanne Brockmann or Autumn Dawn (someone please tell me that her nom de plume) did, though I have never read AD.
What does turn me off of a writer is if in their writing they take the time to beat me over the head with their own personal beliefs. If AD’s opinion comes through in her writing, it would be stuck in the freezer (ala Joey from Friends). I read a book recently where the Female Protagonist discovered she was pregnant, and the author used that to go on a page long pro-life spiel, complete with using “the baby’s rights now were more important that hers”. I couldn’t finish. I can’t make it through books that read like a bible study.
What is this woman smoking? She has to know that she’s royally screwing herself over when it comes to readership, because I’m going to argue here that the majority of romance novel readers are probably more open-minded about these things than not.
That being said, my Never-Buy line is somewhere around here. When an author’s beliefs are as ridiculous and repugnant to me as this, that’s when I draw the line. For some reason, extreme arrogance really turns me off, too – it makes me read the book in question much more critically, trying to see if it’s really worth all that hubris. Nine times out of ten, it may be good, but it’s not the gold standard of writing or the Next Great American Novel – and often it’s just popular, and not actually an example of decent writing (hey, Stephenie Meyer, what’s up?).
I have serious problems when several books by an author reinforce the same negative themes, too, and again I’m thinking of Twilight. When a popular series is telling young girls it’s totally fine and even romantic for their boyfriend to stalk them and control them, that kind of thing is NOT okay.
I hate to come in with what feels like a dissenting opinion.
[Insert long boring anecdote here]
I was up in the remote kinda hills a while back, sitting on a front stoop talking to an old man who was about to have a delicate and difficult operation. He had insisted, he said, that the work not be done by the Chief Surgeon of the Department. He wanted it done by a Resident with much less experience.
“I didn’t want that Jew doctor,” he said. “I want a good Bible-believing Christian doctor.”
He was unable to separate the work from the man doing it.
If I look at the author and say, “I won’t buy his book because I disagree with his politics,” or “I don’t like her religion,” or “He’s a creep,” or ‘She’s … I dunnoh … a bad mother or a shoplifter or overspends her credit cards or says stupid things on-line,”
then how am I different from somebody who won’t listen to music because the man who wrote it had bad morals or the wrong sexual orientation?
From somebody who wants to throw out art because it’s painted by a man who deserted his kids?
From somebody who won’t go to a movie—not because of its content—but because it was directed by a Muslim or a Jew or a Black or a Religious Fundamentalist or a Republican or a werewolf?
If I say a book or a work of art can be judged just by who wrote it and not what it says … I’m using the same rational that led the Nazis to burn books by Jews.
This is not company I necessarily feel comfortable in.
@job: I don’t think your intolerance-of-intolerance-is-hypocritical shtick is really believable. No one here says throw the books out and burn them. In fact, many people have said that
a. their decision to not buy an author are usually only affected when it comes to authors they’ve never read before.
b. their decisions are affected not because of the author’s beliefs by their personal attitude/behaviour/etc.
Secondly, I don’t think lives are being saved through books. …Unless it’s a case of BEING IN YR A**, SAVING UR LIFE hahahahahaha, k sorry about that, I just had to weave it in somehow. (I was kidding there, to reiterate). Seriously speaking, art is an indulgence. Not a life saving procedure. So perhaps we need to get our scale of reference turned out right?
-anin
EDIT: I also wanted to add that art is something so personal, it seems impossible to experience it without feeling it. So how is it possible to not feel the creator of that, especially if you know something about that person, in the art? Taking the case of Roman Polanski, I have never watched any film of his. When I first heard of his case, I was like you saying, art is different and why should we judge a piece of art by the character of its creator, but when it came down to it, I just could not stop thinking that the movie was made by a suspected pedophile. It was just the way it turned out and so I stopped lying to myself and decided to join the company that you feel not very comfortable in. Maybe I am being hypocritical or prejudiced myself, but at least I am being honest to myself without hurting anyone else (except the authors and artists I find offensive by depriving them of money, which is not that great a hurt I think).
My “Never Buy Again” line is set pretty far out. The only authors I absolutely won’t buy are Cassie Edwards (never bought her in the first place) and Janet Dailey (whose old, old categories I read years ago). Because they plagiarised.
There are a lot of other authors that I used to read but just don’t care for any longer, who have also since either moved away from genre romance or disavowed their romance roots (Coulter, Delinsky, etc.). I stopped reading them before being put off by their behavior, though.
I would put Brockmann in the category of, say, Linda Howard and J.R. Ward: authors I once liked, and may read again in the future, but who are no longer auto-buys or even auto-borrows from the library. That decision was made before seeing the post at B&N, which strikes me as unprofessional.
@job
I am not obligated, in the name of tolerance, to give money to people who will then use that money to harm me and mine. We are not required to tolerate those who wish to destroy us.
I use my money to support people, companies and causes who are beneficial to me and mine.
The money Orson Scott Card and Stephanie Meyers receive from their books is tithed to the Mormon church. The church spent millions of dollars from those tithes to pass Proposition 8, which harms my family.
Now, I’m not calling for a boycott of their books. I’m not insisting they should change faiths. I’m only saying they do not get my money because a portion of it will be used to hurt me. I’m tolerating their beliefs and their tithing. But I’m not required to condone or participate in it.
Well, no.
Nazis burning books by Jews is persecution, based on racist prejudice. Refusing to buy a book/ get medical treatment/ go to the local shop because I don’t like the race or religion or sexual orientation of the author/ doctor/ shop owner is likewise prejudice.
Refusing to buy a book/get medical treatment/ go to the local shop because the author is a convicted paedophile/ the doctor is rude and unkind/ the shop owner sells out-of-date stock isn’t prejudice at all—it’s a perfectly reasonable decision based on what the author/doctor/shop owner has done, not on who they are.
Also, refusing to buy a book or only getting it secondhand is nowhere near burning it. Really.
Interesting – maybe I’m weird, but I’d never considered boycotting authors because they hold opinions I don’t like or are jerks. I love books, and I rarely, rarely ever look to find out anything about the authors (usually just looking for release date for new books, or looking up old works I might have missed if I like their work). I simply looked at whether I liked their work or not.
There are authors I won’t buy because I’ve read their stuff and just don’t care for it. Perhaps it’s because their views permeate their writing, perhaps their words just don’t speak to me. I doubt it, because there are plenty of admirable people whose views I agree with – but I just don’t like their writing.
More and more I find myself following authors on the web. I find it both interesting and frustrating to read about them. Some of them seem to have read too much of their own press and believe that fans will read whatever they write. Some of them seem to think that they have ‘godlike’ status and so whatever they say will have no bearing on the book buying public. Some of them are gracious and witty and entertaining, which makes me enjoy their books more. This is interesting to me. I don’t buy or not buy books based on the authors personal views of any subject or belief; I generally purchase books based on the quality of the writing.
Not too long ago I had a bit of a run-in with a well known author on a blog. The discussion had to do with author photos on the back of books and I expressed my opinion about a certain author’s picture. I was not the first person on the discussion to mention the photo, which is partly why I expressed my opinion about it. The author – who is a regular poster on that site – chimed in with what I am sure she thought was a pithy comment about my comment, which prompted others to chime in and agree with the author. First, I didn’t say anything of a personal nature against the author, just expressed my preference for a professional studio shot, rather than the one shown; the author on the other hand, made a not so veiled reference about me personally and I felt put down and made fun of, by both the author and her supporters.
I have a huge collection of this author’s work – previous to this she had been one of my favorite authors and a must read – since then she has had 2 books come out that I have not bothered to purchase. I still want to read them, I just can’t seem to make myself spend the money on her.
I guess for me, it does come down to the customer service argument. Who am I to judge anyone’s opinions or beliefs? Just because what you believe doesn’t match what I believe doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t read your books, if they are well-written and of a subject matter which I enjoy. But when you start treating your readers as peons or assuming that because you have been lucky enough to have been published means you can behave in any manner you wish then I have an issue with your behavior.
Respect your readers and your readers will respect you.
This is a very interesting topic, and I don’t know if I’ve honestly ever hit that line yet with an author. As someone above mentioned….
That’s exactly how I felt. I will never see another movie of his ever. But authors? I honestly have never sought out their personal opinions on anything, so I’m totally ignorant on this topic, so reading through the comments and replies was very interesting.
I will never begrudge someone their opinion on a topic (no matter how ignorant I might feel it is as in the Autumn Dawn example). However knowing the person is entitled to that opinion doesn’t mean I have to support it by supporting them by purchasing their work. Just as I feel no obligation to buy paintings of someone who portrays an enjoyment of the mutiliation of women, I feel no need to support someone whose views so widely differ from mine that it offends me on a basic level.
Hate is THE line for me. It’s actually what got me to vote in the election this year. Someone starts preaching hate and intolerance and I’m the first person on the line saying, “Whoa! Wait a minute!”
When anyone—be it author, actor, singer, etc—uses their celebrity status as a platform to start presenting their beliefs about issues and/or to start preaching to the public about issues (be it rape, abortion, gay rights, religion, etc), I’m instantly turned off. While I expect any artist to reflect or delve into issues in their writing (or whatever medium they work in) to explore thoughts, once that exploration turns into preaching? I’m gone.
Just because you’re a celebrity doesn’t mean I care what you think nor that I’m that interested in hearing about it. LOL.
Oh, and the Piers Anthony thing? I had no flipping idea! I used to read his Xanth series all the time but haven’t picked up a book by him in ages. I do, however, think that authors do delve into touchy subjects at the risk of losing readership. I did that in a story (written for online) that involved domestic abuse. It was a dark, twisted event (as abuse often is) and many of the readers were disturbed by their reaction to those events. Heck, I was disturbed writing it because I had NO idea where that came from. *sigh*
But yeah. When an author stops writing to tell a story and starts writing the story to pimp their political/social views to preach to me about how right they are? I stop buying.
JT
young47
I very rarely put an author on the Never Buy list strictly because they express an opinion that offends me. Lots of things really bug me and I simply can’t police the world. I do hate the idea of my money supporting causes I hate, but it’s not possible to know what most people do after you pay them. Focusing on authors just because I can would seem a little arbitrary to me.
The thing that will put someone on my bad list is expressing a distasteful POV in a way that makes it difficult for me to not see offensive things in the author’s work. I do not want to read a book and find myself seeing nasty, horrible things lurking behind the writing. Both Orson Scott Card & Piers Anthony are in this category. That causes me pain because I loved Ender’s Game when I first read it but I can no longer read Card’s work without wanting to hit something.
The hard part for me is that I’m an over analyzer by nature so it doesn’t take all that much to trip this reaction. Because of that I tend to stay away from author websites that have much content not directly related to the books and I never join author-focused BBSs. I feel like I make a deal with authors—-you don’t shove nasty things in my face and I won’t search out things that will make me mad at you.
That’s were I am on the Brockmann controversy. I love her books and don’t want to give them up. I also tend to agree with her and I understand that she has probably received a lot of feedback that’s tough to take. Anyone in the public eye needs to have a thick skin but when it comes right down to it the homophobes are talking about her son. No one’s skin is thick enough for that. I can see how that sort of thing would make a person touchy enough to see homophobia in some places where it may not necessarily exist.
And lord knows I have no room to critique people’s inability to communicate effectively under stress. The world is full of people who think I’m the devil because when I feel strongly about something I tend to get a little worked up.
I’ll wade into the minefield here.
I’ve never read Autumn Dawn’s books and don’t plan to now because I’m not inclined to patronize someone who speaks so ignorantly. It doesn’t seem to bode well for the content of her novels. As a Christian woman (try not to aim too well for the bulls-eye that just popped up on my chest) I am sadden by such statements as hers. My personal faith often clashes with my political stances where what I believe and what I think should be legal or not are often in contrast to each other. Swimming in a world where a pro-life opinion is automatically (and in my case, erroneously) assumed to go along with spiritual conviction is often very difficult. When someone spouts such ignorant opinions as Ms. Dawn did, I feel embarrassed to be even nominally associated with it.
I did, however, stop buying Sue Brockmann’s books for a while. She was a go to author for me (full price hardcover purchases) and I used to salivate for the next Team 16/Troubleshooter book. I’ve got a weak spot for those Alpha boys and my PB copies are well read indeed. But while I love the Jules character, I have no interest in reading intimately about his romantic arc. That’s just not what I read romance for and honestly, it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t think that’s homophobic; I think it’s personal preference, but y’all are welcomed to judge me so if you wish.
So I didn’t purchase the two or three books that intimately chronicled that arc, though I eventually checked them out of the library for the ancillary storylines to keep abreast of the world and flipped past the pages that made me uncomfortable. I also don’t read m/m fiction and prefer straight hetero romance, but I love the SB web site and the DA web site and often make my purchases based on their reviews. I’m not about to stop reading these sites b/c they sometimes feature titles I’m not so keen on. I just scan past the reviews of books I have no interest in be they m/m romances or fantasy titles. Just not my cup of tea.
I have purchased Brockmann’s newest DARK OF NIGHT and loved wrapping up the long arcs of those featured characters (though I think her men are increasingly being defanged, but that’s for another day). And while I really missed her world during my self-imposed break, I believe Sue B. had/has every right to write what she wants and highlight whatever she believes in. It’s her world; we’re just reading it. Likewise, I have every right not to participate in that world and not to spend my dollars on those titles. I don’t post a venomous rant raging “how could she do this?” because of course she should do whatever she feels necessary with her own creation. I just quietly make my own decision regarding it.
This Autumn Dawn person makes us all look bad by hard-lining what can be a complex issue for some people. It can, my friends, and to think otherwise is its own ignorance. We enter into community with each other not because we only share the same opinions or likes but also to explore dialogue and sometimes opposing views if only to cement our own convictions. But we must do this with respect and grace on both sides of the aisle and not with fundamental entrenchment and ignorance, otherwise we might as well just have stayed in the caves.
Still, I am glad to be back with the Troubleshooters.
Also, thanks Angelia for the Chronicles (OT history) and Corinthians (NT Letter from Paul) clear up. No bad juju towards Lynn; I just hate it when people get the words to the song wrong.
It strikes me that many of our “never buy” decisions seem to be tripped not by the subject matter or competence of an author’s novels, but by the way the authors communicate with fans – be it via messageboard, website, blog, and/or personally.
Food for thought.
Why so circumspect? The background of the author in question is not a secret, although I admit it made me deeply uncomfortable, especially since she writes murder mysteries.
As for me…my DNR (do not read) list is made of up authors whose works are unreadable (Patricia Cornwell), have pissed me off due to racist comments in the text (Anne McCaffery), have pissed me off due to women falling in love with their rapists (this is specifically focused on Stephen R. Donaldson, b/c there doesn’t appear to be a reason for it in his fantasy novels. I do understand what classic romance novelists like Woodiwiss are doing with it, even if I choose not to read those novels and still find the concept offensive), or authors who are known plagiarists (Dailey, Edwards).
There are others I wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole for much of the same reasons listed here (Connie Mason and Nicole Jordan, for example). But I rarely avoid someone just b/c their religious or social beliefs are utterly opposed to my own. If it shows up in the text, I have a problem with it. But if the author’s beliefs are just that, and I don’t see them in the text, or if they somehow work in service of the text without seeming preachy…well, fine. I mean, Michael Crichton was a batshit crazy ultra-right-wing conspiracy theorist, but it worked for his books, even though I’m not a huge fan.
I really don’t care about the personal beliefs of the authors that are on my auto buy list. I only drop them when it’s something that I don’t agree with that bleeds over into their writing that is obviously the author try to speak their personal opinions through the character.
The main reason I ever drop a writer from my list usually happens when they are writing a long series and somewhere around the fifth or sixth book if the series is really popular they seem to be listening more to their squeeing fanbase than actually working on the books.
Most of the authors that people have mentioned I stopped reading a long time ago as my interests have changed or I found that I just couldn’t enjoy their stuff anymore.
It’s tricky for me. I will rarely scratch an author I really love off my list because of some personal opinion (to which they are entitled.) If that opinion colors their work, however, and I actually see it in the writing, that would be enough to make me think twice before buying again. Or, if that personal opinion is shoved down my throat as an absolute certainty (especially if it’s based on the person’s religious book of choice) they’ll most definitely lose me. But a reasonable, rational opinion that differs from my own just isn’t enough to make me give up on someone. (I’d have to swear off ever opening another one of my own father’s emails if that were the case, as we have such differing views on gay marriage, politics and other issues and frequently debate them.)
Unfortunately, there are times when an author can cross the line and not even realize it. I blog with dear friends, and try to be respectful of their views, which are, on some issues, vastly different than mine. But during the election, I (very carefully, I thought) put up a few posts about how important it was to register to vote, and to actually get out there and pull the lever. I was then told by one of my blogging buddies that she had heard criticism that I was bringing politics into our blog and obviously, because I was encouraging people to register right before the deadlines, I had an Obama agenda. Gee, and I thought I was just encouraging the democratic process.
It was those comments that made me decide to not put up a link to a video I was really excited about, that included a photograph of my daughters in D.C. on inauguration day. If it were a personal blog, I would have done it. As a professional one, shared with other authors, though, I decided not to.
And I’m with Barb on not buying someone who I find just rude and obnoxious in person. Like the romance author who very publicly, in my presence, opined, “I can’t believe I lost to this total nobody” after I beat her in the NRCA many years ago.
No royalties for you sweetie.
Signed—the total nobody.
The problem with that argument—and we’ve talked about this here before—is that when any person of “celebrity” status says ANYTHING public, it can immediately be construed as “preaching.” So if Jo Rowling or Stephenie Meyer or Nora Roberts says “I don’t care for corn, and I wish they wouldn’t serve it in schools,” that person has somehow turned their fame into a platform. Basically, a famous person can’t venture any opinion without it becoming some kind of political statement, and being famous should not deprive you of your right to speak.
Personally? I like it when celebrities speak out. Why? B/c they have the power to do so—and they should use that power to make a difference. Maybe I don’t always agree with them (I think Toby Keith is a blowhard, for example), but I appreciate that they’re not just using their fame to spend money or something.
There are quite a few authors I won’t buy because of writing quality. Some of them also have personal umm… “quirks” that also make me disinclined to buy their work, but that’s not the primary reason.
The few authors who inhabit my absolutely-will-never buy list are those who have plagiarized or attacked readers/reviewers (who was the one on Amazon- McGivilray?). Oh, and Michael Crichton (who I used to really enjoy) inserted someone who gave him a negative review into a book as a child rapist. Not cool.
Ohhh, I totally forgot to mention the Dresden files by Jim Butcher. His sexist character, who is so obviously channeling his own views (according to me at least) put me off the whole series. I couldn’t get past book1.
-anin
Ruth (or anyone else!): What did Jennifer Crusie do during the CE debacle that crossed the never-buy line?
Rachel, she basically said only mean girls would be going after a nice old lady like that and then she segued into how she herself had been guilty of being snarky but was now all reformed and would never do it again, and did it right away. Gack! Her tone was also very condescending like she thinks she’s somehow better than her readers.
Oh, I agree. I was thinking of his earlier books—before State of Fear.
Dude was *batshit*, I tell you. Absolutely insane.
Why is it that so many authors are that way? I’m thinking of Anne Rice now…(anotherDNR, but that’s more b/c her books just don’t appeal to me).
…that’s really not at all what she said.
I mean, the second part, yes. She said it. And she had horrifically bad timing on her “redemption from snark” post. But all she actually said HERE was “Did Cassie Edwards run over your dog?” Which was funny and I think meant to acknowledge that CE had been a bit of a whipping boy here. A lot of people were upset about that comment, and I think it might’ve been in poor taste, but she never actually defended CE. At all. I think she’s gotten a really bad rap for this—Mrs. Giggles said worse, but people didn’t really call her out.
Leslie, you should have posted the video! I was the blogging buddy who told you about the email from a reader…not because I agreed with her, but because I was shocked that someone who think that encouraging people to vote possessed some sort of underlying agenda! If it did, then damn. I misunderstood the whole democratic process thing, too.
Other than plagiarists and known bat-shit crazy people who have attacked authors I am friends with or just authors I love, I don’t think I have a “will not buy” line. Mostly because I forget about most crap unless it’s really personal to me. This Autumn Dawn person is not someone I would have read anyway, but her opinion, which I disagree with, means nothing to me.
ksquard, I agree with a lot of what you said. I do not read m/m or other homosexual fiction. I have no desire to. That, however, doesn’t make me homophobic anymore than if a gay person doesn’t who doesn’t want to read my books makes them heterophobic. Sometimes, readers want to read to their own experience and I see nothing wrong with that. I’m glad they have their own books to appeal to their personal love lives. But I don’t mind gay characters in books nor do I mind if they get a secondary love story. As long as I have my m/f lovestory, I’m good. 🙂
I’ve seen that before.
My do-not-buy line is when people take a jab at people from the South—especially people from my own state, Alabama. For this reason, I’m not buying anything by Tom Clancy.
I’ve been known to change the channel on a comedian I’ve been otherwise enjoying when he starts talking about how you can tell a woman from India is married by the jewel on her forehead, and, in a similar vein, a married woman in Alabama has a black eye. It absolutely infuriates me to hear that kind of stereotype enforced, because I’ve met people who assume that because I live in Alabama, I’m from a farming community of 20 people and related to 17 of them in more ways than one, and have amorous designs on my first cousin.
Or, to put it another way, a woman who sat next to me in college was from West Africa. Before moving down here, she lived in New Jersey. When she gave her friends the news that she would be moving to Alabama, her friends in New Jersey, bless their hearts, tried to worn her that ‘people in Alabama don’t like black people.’
It gets really fucking depressing to find out that your home, which isn’t a bad place to live, makes you a target for derision.
Also: Keyword—Science45. SCI-ENCE. KNOW-ING. Too may people think they know something, but what they know isn’t true.
I use my blog and website to promote my books.
I figure anything else would likely bore my readers.
Ah, but for me there’s a difference before standing behind a cause or an issue and speaking out or sharing an opinion on a topic (because so many people do hold a celebrity up and find inspiration in them to, say, come forward about date rape because the actress or singer steps forward to say they were a victim of the same and experienced XYZ) vs. preaching and “abusing” (for lack of a better word) their status to bring those opinions forward.
Celebrities do enjoy a wider opportunity to take those stands than most will ever have. But for me there’s a line between appropriate places and venues to express those opinions and clear instances when its not. The Tom Cruise is a perfect example.
For me there’s a clear difference between speaking out and getting involved in causes and “preaching”. Shrug.
JT
I did. I printed out her entire blog post. I use it to raise my blood pressure when I’m feeling lazy. Or, barring that, to urge me to run another 5 minutes on the treadmill.
Because in our society they can be. We think artists are supposed to be eccentric so the BSC (batshit crazy) can be nuts and still be allowed to function. We think people in other jobs are supposed to be “normal” so when they’re BSC they get locked up and/or put on serious meds.
🙂 You’re right. I was thinking in the larger community. I felt like a relatively important person in the review community got away with being pretty nasty—but you guys did call her out for that.
I can’t always remember what was said then. Just the ones that stood out.
(I should try this “remember people who make you angry” thing to get me to exercise. I bet I could lose 10 pounds on Ann Coulter alone. It’s the first good use I’ve ever thought of for her.)
Huh. I didn’t find Brockmann’s statements that dismissive of her fans. I thought she was speaking very honestly and openly about her writing process, and that fan sentiment just doesn’t play that big a role in it.
She didn’t say that ALL the criticism of DON was homophobic, she said that some surely was, and if you’d spent any time on her message board, you’d know that was true. She received several hateful, personal messages that caused the board to be shut down for a while.
She spent a lot more time talking about the negative fan reaction to the Sam and Mary Lou arc than the Jules arc. I personally didn’t like DON much, but that’s just because the characters weren’t among my favorites, not because I felt cheated or deceived in any way.
There are a few authors I refuse to buy because of their hateful views or behavior, but that’s usually reflected in their writing, so I wouldn’t read them anyway. FWIW, there are FAR more writers that I started buying (whose works I used to just get from the library) because they were nice to me online or in person.
Ditto, Julie. I know you felt the same way I did about it, how crazy it was that someone considered encouraging voter registration an obvious ploy to support one political ideology over another! I was pretty shocked by it, and thought it served as a good illustration of how an author can be “offending” someone or “crossing lines” without having any idea whatsoever!
I think I know of the bitch you’re speaking of, and in all honesty, she’s the only person who writes my favorite genre (m/m) who I will not touch with a ten foot pole.
wrong27. Well, this chick has been wrong about 27 ways to Sunday, and no one has had the balls to call her out on yet yet.
I think I know of the author you’re speaking of, and have had my share of traumatic experiences with her.
She’s the one author in my prefered genre (m/m) that I won’t touch with a ten foot pole.
Wow. Well I’ve written the author’s name down (from o.p.) and she’s going on my no-buy list for sure. This is a really interesting topic, and very good read this morning (all the comments).
I don’t visit author blogs, websites, face book, message boards, etc. hardly ever unless I’m cruising for new books to read or want to see what’s coming. So I’ve yet to have an author cross my ‘no buy’ list from their opinions/politics/etc. That said, if I knew an author was some form of evil (rapist, murder, child abuse…) or believed in something very serious and at a fanatical level that went against what I believe in (such as author mentioned in post) and I found out they’d be off my read list for sure.
I am anon. in my romance-related posts here, on my blog, etc. for this very reason: I work in an industry where my opinion on politics, let alone reading of romance and love of the sexy books could actually cost me money and turn people against me. Might sound dumb- but it’s true. Oh, it’s known I love ‘chick lit’ and ‘happy romantic books’ but not my steamier reads. Rather than be ‘known’ and loose income (in this economy who can afford that?) I choose to keep my mouth shut or go anon. As myself I share (on-line) as much as I would at a gathering with strangers present, and I believe that to be a good rule of thumb.
I really, really don’t want to reopen the plagiarism thing but I’ll offer my perspective on the Crusie’s comments. I didn’t say anything about it at the time because, as someone said earlier, I’m not in jr high and I really try not to flounce in public. However, privately I lost a lot of respect for her. It didn’t move her to the Do Not Buy list, but it took a bit of the glow off my love for her older books. (I’m not thrilled with the newer ones for reasons that have nothing do with this, but that’s a whole other topic.)
Her comment about “what did she do, run over your dog?” was, to me, pretty offensive. It implied that the Bitches were continuing to post about CE and people were continuing to talk about the situation because they were petty & mean. The reality was that new posts were going up because new instances of plagiarism were being found in every single CE book.
It was, and still is, difficult for me to understand why an author would value a veneer of Nice over respect for the integrity of people’s writing.
As for Mrs. Giggles, her stuff wasn’t directed at me so it doesn’t raise me blood pressure or inspire my work outs the way it does for Sarah but I do remember it and I changed my web surfing behavior in part because of it.