Writers Online: If You Don’t Like The Author, Will You Buy Their Books?
Monday, October 24, 2005Posted in: Uncategorized
I recall a while ago, somebody asked this question, and at the time I foolishly believed that an author’s online personality would never deter me from buying their books.
Well, I was ridiculously naïve. And wrong.
While I wont necessarily buy the books of authors who’s online personalities I like, I can unequivocally say that an author who comes across as hard-faced, bitchy, and fake, will not be getting any of my hard-earned pennies. Not a f*cking red cent.
Why do I ask this question? Because I’m currently reviewing my spending habits on a certain author’s books.
Read: Will not be buying his/her books ever again. Ever.
UPDATE:
Anne has an interesting rant on the subject!
Kendrah
October 24
3:30 pm
Now we all wanna know who you’re talking about, lol!
Anne
October 24
3:56 pm
I’m with you 100%. Used to buy books from a certain author all the time.. now I can’t even force myself to look at them to see what they are about. They may be good reads, but because of this author’s bitchiness I can’t imagine myself even considering spending money on said-authors books.
Eve Vaughn
October 24
4:13 pm
I told you I was sorry already. Let it go!! *smooches* You know I love you K-rock!
But seriously, I think its really a shame that this author’s attitude has overshadowed her/his work. I remember I once met one of my favorite authors. I was so excited to meet her and when I did, I wished I didn’t. She was such a beotch, I couldn’t believe it.I trashed all of her books that I owned and haven’t read anything from her since and it’s a shame because she’s a damn fine writer, but whenever I think about that incident, I cringe.
Sam
October 24
5:14 pm
Or an author’s political views – I can’t bring myself to buy an Orson Scott Card book again – although I loved Ender’s Game and some of his others were fabulous. But when I read some of his articles I was like ‘Huh???’ Yikes.
OK
Hope the bitchy author isn’t anyone I like!!!
Ann Wesley Hardin
October 24
5:36 pm
Oh man. My blood just got slushy. Guess there’s no way to find out who it is (she says while hoping it ain’t her). If the author is on a public forum, can you say which one it is and let us investigate?
I really do have to get out more.
Jay
October 24
7:26 pm
There are authors that I’ve never bought because I wasn’t terribly interested in their books, and now that I’ve seen them online, and “in action” I’ll be sure to keep passing their books by.
I’m thinking about 2 in particular.
Anonymous
October 24
7:59 pm
I don’t think it would make a difference to me, the most important thing is that the book is good.
Jan
Jennifer B
October 24
8:12 pm
It would matter to me as well. And I can point to two venues where this has happened for me. One, a fave author engages in very public political activism–and makes acceptance and participation a measuring stick for all around him/her. Don’t go for that level of ignorance (using celebrity to affect political change).
Second, in more intimate mailing lists or groups, populated predominantly by women who–at whatever age–continue the junior high bullshit. You know, cliques and misplaced arrogance (from those who fashion themselves more intelligent and beautiful than others).
Both leave a vile taste in my mouth. And thankfully, both occur rarely–at least where I travel online.
Jaye
October 24
11:27 pm
Yep. There’s one author I haven’t bought in years because of her online behavior. I haven’t ditched the books of hers in my tbr pile, but I’m in no hurry to read them either….
Monica
October 25
1:23 am
Sometimes I wonder if the authors who maintain a low profile online and keep it all about their books, aren’t the wiser?
Jaid Black
October 25
3:05 am
This has happened to me a couple of times too. One author was a former “hero” of mine who turned out to be pretty nasty in real life. The other was a male suspense author who…well, basically same thing lol. Sometimes it seems like the bigger the name gets, the bigger the head gets. I’m with you, though. After the 2 separate incidents occurred, they couldn’t have paid me to read their books let alone me pay them.
Rosie
October 25
6:24 am
For me it’s not just the bitchiness…heck anyone can have a bad day. For me it’s the phoniness. I’ve been to a few author signings and you sure can tell the difference from the “real” and the phonies. If an author can’t be bothered to be kind and genuine with the people who basically pay them to write…well I don’t want to help them pay their mortgage by buying their books. : )
BTW, I’m not asking them to adopt me, just have some manners and consideration. Goes the other direction too.
Karen Scott
October 25
7:46 am
Kendrah, sorry it would be unfair for me to name and shame, but good try!
Anne, I can’t believe I once thought that it wouldn’t make a difference to me how authors behave, but I guess I am merely human afterall *g*
Eve, I think we automatically equate good story telling with nice personality, and we forget that just because they’ve sold tons of books doesn’t mean that I’d want to go for a drink with them.
Sam, in terms of political views, I can be more forgiving, unless of course their idols were people like Hitler, and they were members of the Klan. *g*
Ann, you don’t have to worry, it’s definitely not you, lol! And I can’t/wont tell who it is because that would be grossly unfair.
Jay, it really does make a big difference doesn’t it? There’s another author who I don’t particularly care for, but I can appreciate her because she’s not afraid of voicing her opinion (And no Monica, it aint you!) even though she regularly gets lambasted for it. I appreciate her because I know she isn’t fake.
Anonymous, all I can say is, it hasn’t happened to you yet. When it does, come and tell me that you feel the same way.
Jennifer? Beautifully said! I know of a few groups like the ones that you’ve mentioned. I call them Self-Appreciation Clubs, and all the members are there purely to worship at the altar of the author.
Jaye, it’s just really hard to separate the online personality from their books I think.
Monica, you’re probably right, but then I think about the many really genuinely great authors, whose online personalities eventually got me to try their books out. It’s a bit of a catch-22 situation.
I think the important thing is to be genuine. It’s the fakery of this particular author that annoys me the most.
Jaid, it’s just so disappointing to find that somebody who’s books you loved could be so horrible. As corny as this sounds, it almost feels like a betrayal.
Rosie, you’ve hit the nail right on the head, it’s the phoniness I can’t stand. It’s the writing a bitchy/judgemental comment and trying to negate it’s affect by sticking a lol on the end, so that nobody knows that you’re not as nice as you pretend to be.
I can be ridiculously bitchy and sarcastic myself (if you haven’t noticed) but If I’m gonna be horrible to somebody, then dammit, they’d know about it.
Personally, as long as you’re honest about who you are, I can at least respect you for that, even if I don’t particularly like what you say.
Sarah McCarty
October 25
12:48 pm
Now see, I have a hard time being mean to anyone. I can be coldly blunt if necessary if someone is on full attack and won’t accept a withdrawal from confrontation. I can also be motivated to jump in on someone else’s behalf if they are being bullied, but in general, I love people and tend to cut them slack. Love meeting them, chatting with them, laughing with them, and generally learning what makes them unique. For me, it is really really hard for anyone to offend me personally to the point that I won’t buy their books as I tend to make a distinction between the person and their work.
That being said, there are a couple authors whose work I normally enjoy whose books I won’t buy and the reason is because of how I have seen them treat others. Nice people who in all innocence went forth and expected at least the common curtesy of politeness and got smashed instead.
I have a real dislike for bullies.
Tara Marie
October 25
1:32 pm
Like Jay I have 2 authors I wont read because of their on-line personas, one I actually flamed me on a message board because I defended Mrs. Giggles reviews. I wasn’t all that impressed with this particular authors books, so it was no real loss.
byrdloves2read
October 25
3:43 pm
Many years ago I had the disappointing experience of meeting one of my favorite authors, CJ Cherryh, at a sci fi convention. I was her “host”. After the convention I learned she trashed me behind my back because I didn’t take her out drinking/partying. While it hurt my feelings, I still buy her books because she’s sooo good. But you know what? If I’d seen her be overtly rude or hurtful to someone else, it probably would be a different story. I, like Sarah, tend to defend others.
Monica
October 25
5:53 pm
I once signed next to a popular particularly snotty author. Most black authors at a romance convention or a group signing with other white authors have had the experience of sitting alone behind a stack of books, while fans busily hover around the other authors.
This lady rolled her eyes, sniffed and wondered to her fangirls/author buddies if I were self-pubbed. What gets me is she nor any of her friends/fans had ever read my books, but I’d read hers and they weren’t Shakespeare. Her superiority (and sales) were based solely on the color of her skin.
It’s sad how frequently this happens at group signings, I’ve experienced it in the past (you couldn’t force me do signings with white romance authors anymore) and heard from other authors–not always, but too often the snottiness, condescension and superiority of these authors are astounding.
I ignore them and pity them more than anything, but I don’t buy their books anymore either.
Lauren Dane
October 25
7:52 pm
EEEK! I must totally live in my own world, or I’m not popular enough to be in the mean girl cliques because all of this stuff just goes on over my head.
Not that I claim to be really sweet or anything. Cause while I take care of my lovies, I won’t shy away from confrontation. But because all of that fake stuff and passive aggressive behavior drives me nuts.
I think i’m just fortunate in who I meet and who I know. My author friends are all very good people who set the bar very high for behavioral standards and those people who have turned their noses up at me being an ebook author don’t matter much to me (although I don’t buy their books anymore)
I’m sorry you had such a negative experience. I, like some others here, hope that I can continue to be truly gracious in public and keep the bitch to a reasonable level.
Dakota Cassidy
October 26
6:16 am
Wow, what frosted this chicks wheaties? LOLLOL
I’m real sorry to hear you had a bad time of it with whomever it is that tweaked you. It’s a pity that the e-book community can be much like pre-school.I guess it happens everywhere, in any job, but I’ve sure seen a lot of it online. Maybe because you can be whoever you want to be in cyber space?
It’s like playing dress up and pretending to be a movie star. All I gotta say, is the cyber water cooler can be a very lonely place if ya cause grief like that.
Oh, and Monica? Damn, I’m sorry you’ve had this kind of trouble. However, I don’t much like the idea that you wouldn’t sit with me at a book signing, cuz I’d sit with you if you were pink:)))
So why don’t you recondsider? You c’mon over and sit next to me if we’re ever in the same book signing space. I may be white, but I can’t be out-snooted or out-snarked. We’ll show ’em what playing nice can do 🙂
Dakota 🙂
Kate R
October 26
3:19 pm
if it’s me, no worries. I sent you the books so you don’t have to buy them (comedian at the post office said “it’ll take one week to get there, and it’ll take her one week to get the tape off and open it.”)
Karen Scott
October 26
4:28 pm
Sarah, I’m with you, I also have an intense dislike for bullies!
Tara, if I’d have been there, I would have been flamed too, cuz I think Mrs G has a right to review books the way she wishes. She, like everyone else has her prejudices and peeves when it comes to books. A lot of people don’t like her because of her forthrightness, but I think she’s great!
Linda, if that had happened to me, I would have told everybody I possibly could about the incident, and stopped buying her books. She was truly out of order!
Monica, I’d say that the women were snotty not because they were white, but because they were bitches!
Lauren, I can be as bitchy as the next person, bitchy is fine. Bitchy amuses me no end actually. Bitchy and fake on the other hand, is a whole different ballgame.
Dakota, as snarky as I am, I hate people who deliberately set out to hurt others, it just gets on my tits!
Kate, seeing as you’re sending me freebie books, I’ll take you off my shitlist! *g*
Monica
October 26
5:22 pm
It’s just a few snotty bitches I’ve dealt with and they’d be snotty bitches if they were black, purple or green.
The main reason I don’t generally like to sign with white romance authors is because of the difference of our markets. Their fans generally don’t care to read me no matter how similar my writing style or content of my books.
But if that ever changes, I love to sign with other authors and would be happy to do so!
As I edge toward writing paranormal erotica, maybe those readers are more open minded? I’ll see.
Dakota Cassidy
October 27
5:10 pm
Gets on your tits? OMG–I LOVE that expression! Yes, I’d agree. I’m very much the same way. I HATE cliques. I hate ganging up on folks and I always have something snarky to say about that.
On the snotty bitches–you’re right. You can be a lime green snotty bitch 🙂
Dakota 🙂
Anonymous
June 24
10:45 pm
Oh, How I wish this were not true, but it is.
For me, the author’s personality definitely effects my buying habits. In Writer World I too have had clique experiences that are second only to high school. It can be disheartening.
Reading is for fun and pleasure, as is my online play. I will not support authors who are just plain mean. A reader fan should not be insulted because of their enthusiasm toward an author and their books. For a writer it’s like shooting yourself in the foot. It makes no sense.
Susan