Yesterday's drama in Romanceland featured an author taking to task a reviewer on Amazon for giving her a bad review. The author, Candace Sams, who I'd never heard of before yesterday's kerfuffle and posting using a pseudonym (NiteFlyr One), basically accused the reviewer of having a personal vendetta against the author and then not engaging with her after the author challenged the negative review. The reviewer, again, who I've never heard of, did reply back a couple of times, in a most cordial manner, but as the situation escalated, she, quite smartly, in my opinion, backed slowly away from the discussion. The author engaged with a variety of posters on the Amazon board, questioning everything from author sales, to motivation of posters. She was quite sure that the reviewer (again, never heard of this person), had sent up some sort of reviewer bat signal to all the other romance reviewers in the land to go and defend her from the author. Which of course, is absurd. The traffic started when Jane from Dear Author and a number of others on Twitter, picked up the conversation and noted it. Personally, I read through about 12 pages of comments and crazy rebuttals from the author before I thought, "I can't watch this any more."My point is that, I've never heard of Candace Sams. The book in question is one that has one of those titles, Electra Galaxy's Mr. Intersteller Feller, that immediately makes me think "no thanks", not due to anything I know about the writer, but because I tend to avoid titles that are too cutesy or have a pun in them.
As Meljean so succinctly put it yesterday, "Oh, Honey, no." I am not an author. I will never be an author. But I am a voracious reader, and I review for a couple of different blogs. And I cruise about 150 blogs almost exclusively related to romance every couple of days. On top of that, I spend a good deal of money on my romance habit. I'm one of those terrific target demographics in romance, because if your book is getting buzz, has a pretty cover, or you have a good web presence, I'm very, very likely to buy your book. And nothing -- nothing at all is going to make me mark you off my buying list faster than showing your ass to readers.
I think that there is one cardinal rule for romance authors, and it is: Do NOT Engage with Readers or Reviewers Who Do Not Like Your Book. There is pretty much only one answer to a reviewer or reader who doesn't care for your stuff, "Sorry to hear it didn't work for you."
Truly, I understand why this is so difficult. Imagine it from an author's standpoint. You've toiled for months on this book. You've had to submit it and perhaps endure rejection letters and editor feedback, and perhaps crit partner or beta reader feedback. You've polished and rewritten and worked your tail off to get this book published. And then one reviewer comes by and trashes the work.
I get where that would tee you off. I get where you'd want to defend your work. And defend it hard. But here's the thing, like Julia Roberts said in Notting Hill, these sorts of things are forever. They get cached and stored, and readers remember them for ages. I can tell you, I have a list of probably 15 authors who I would never, ever pay money to read, not because their work is bad, but because they have shown their asses to readers over the years that I've been on the internet.
On the other hand, there have been a multitude of authors whose work I've bought because of their strong, friendly, and smart web presence. Authors like Meljean Brook and Shiloh Walker are examples of that. These authors chime in with their unique perspectives when appropriate, redirect conversations that might be veering slightly off course, and of course, bring their general personalities and smart commentary to web discussions around Romanceland. And that's enough for me to say, "Yeah, I'll buy her book."
And I truly believe I'm not the only one. I'll bet there were a multitude of readers yesterday who mentally marked Candace Sams off their reading or buying lists. It was like watching her self immolate before my very eyes, and it did get to the point where I pitied her. She just couldn't seem to stop herself from responding, and clearly not one of her friends were willing to wade into the fray to get her to stop.
What about you? What's your opinion on author/reviewer interactions?
10 Comments:
Yes, that was very dramatic yesterday! I really feel for Candace - I'm sure she feels just awful today, and she'll probably feel awful about this for a long time.
I'm really grateful to have authors to sort of emulate - like the ones you mentioned, and others. Oh, for sure, an author should never challenge a review. It's probably ideal for authors not to even read them, but that's probably pretty hard what with the internetz.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's opinion, and one cannot change someone's opinion. I just say, I'm sorry it didn't work for you, but thanks for reviewing.
I did once ask a reviewer to offer up some help with my research when she said I got it wrong. She'd indicated she was from the setting I'd used, and I was sincere in my request for an authentic source of research.
I'm just like broccoli. Not everyone is going to like my work. But that's okay. Variety is the spice of life. Complain about it doesn't do one any good.
I will say that an author behaving badly won't necessarily make me not buy a book. If the book is being raved about, I might just be inclined to buy. It would depend on a number of factors.
Do NOT Engage with Readers or Reviewers Who Do Not Like Your Book.
Yeah this. Because here's the thing - no author will ever win this particular dog fight. Also the reviewer really has nothing to lose. At all. While the author? Yeah, more to lose. So it's best to step away from the keyboard and not engage AT ALL. Plus, how many "bad" reviews fade into the woodwork on their own? Pretty much all of them....eventually. The only ones that stick out? When the author wades into the fray. By wading in the author is giving the review more juice in order for it to survive longer.
So yeah, just back away from the keyboard. Call your best girlfriend(s) and have them bring over wine, chocolate, and the latest chick flick instead. Or heck, treat yourself to a piece of cheesecake. That always makes ME feel better.
Wendy - I'm a big advocate of writing the nasty letter I never send.
Oh! Or I do the whole imaginary conversation while I'm driving. Which could be why people look at me like I'm crazy when I'm driving.
Or, it could be the dancing.
And the funny thing is, the book came out over a year ago. Also, Sams thinks Harriet K is a great reviewer? *gasps for air as I laugh till I am on the floor*
Better for someone to have read your book then not to read it at all.
Also, saying some very accusatory things about your publisher would be a no-no.
It started as funny (to me) but now I feel bad for her. I mean, she did this to herself, but I don't know. I say I understand how hard it is for an author to receive a bad review but I probably don't realize the full extent. However, that is part of what happens with being an author. I mean, think of how many people now will not read her because of her rant, compared to the very small number who may not have picked her up for a one-star rating. There are mature ways to handle things and she needs to reevaluate.
Because here's the thing - no author will ever win this particular dog fight.
Exactly. Opinions are very hard to change...it would be like trying to pull down Mt Everest. Best to walk away.
Now, I completely missed all this yesterday, so I am off to read the review in question.
I had seen this on Twitter, and despite my better judgment, got sucked into the whole trainwreck. In the beginning, like a lot of people, I scoffed at her comments, but then I couldn't help feel a little sad for her myself. She really seemed to believe that one review was going to prevent her from maintaining her career. So I see why she was upset.
But she totally went about it the wrong way. Don't ever try to change someone's opinion by arguing them into it. Doesn't work. You have to show them in another way why they might possibly want to change their mind. Then it's a win-win.
Like Monica, I can't say I'd never read a book because the author was an ass, but I'd think long and hard about it first.
I really don't understand these author meltdowns. I've never had the slightest urge to respond to a negative review. I care about my work A LOT, and I want people to like my books, of course. But I also have confidence in myself, and refuse to be crushed by one person's opinion.
You know, John Scalzi wrote a blog post once about owning your 1-star reviews. He encouraged authors to go read their 1-star reviews and blog about them. Not complain about them. Not argue or disagree with them, but put out there exactly what the 1-star review didn't like.
So I did that and to be honest, it was a freeing experience. I realized that for every person who didn't like my book, there were others who were equally passionate about loving it.
But mostly, it was just, yeah. Someone didn't like my book and I own up to that. Yeah! (fist in air)
Shrug.
I feel genuinely sorry for Ms. Sams, too. It's a tough business this writing gig, and I hate to see someone implode over something they can't control and that takes their focus and energy away from the things they can control: the next book.
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