There’s a fight of sorts, on the Harlequin Presents Blog.
It kinda started with this comment from one of those ultra sen-sa-teeve, happy clappy readers:
“Iโm actually a little taken aback by the direction this blog is taking. Very disappointing.
I thought the purpose was to discuss the Presents books and support the Presents authors but obviously Iโm mistaken.
This is like inviting guests into your home, handing them a match and inviting them to set everything you stand for on fire.
I think the Presents authors get enough jealousy and envy from people in the romance community on other boards/blogs.
They certainly donโt need it here.”
Wow, she’s obviously not on the Romanceland blogging circuit, or else she’d know that when you invite opinions, you’re gonna get the good, the bad, and the ugly. I bet she still believes in Santa Claus and fairies. Poor deluded woo-man.
I can’t believe she used that tired-assed line about inviting guests into your home. I mean come on, doesn’t she realise that readers and authors have a symbiotic relationship? As in, if they don’t sell, then their publishers will drop ’em like they’re hot?
Incidentally, this argument has absolutely nothing to do with me. Seriously, I’m being very good.
Although, I’m thinking that Presentsfan (the person who the comment was aimed at) and I could be Bestest Friends Evah. I’ll wade in with my size 6’s when I get home.
Sarah McCarty
March 8
8:06 pm
Well, obvisouly, I’ve spent too much time out in blogland, because I didn’t see any problem with the posts. Looked like open respectful discussion to me. The only thing that did make me blink was the statement that strong emotion didn’t necessarily lend itself to technically well written.
Anne
March 8
11:51 pm
*blink* There’s jealous over Harlequin Presents? *blink*
Karen Scott
March 8
11:52 pm
Sarah, you have been in Blogland too long. *g*
Compared to the outright flame wars we’re used to, it’s fairly tame, but 62 Comments suggests that there are definitely some ruffled feathers in a place that prides itself on feeling the love. *g*
Shiloh Walker
March 9
12:16 am
Karen, it was your presence that did it. You step into their little corner of blogland and there’s instantly dissension among the ranks… *G*
All in all, I think that was probably the most polite disagreement I’ve ever seen… well, in the online world.
Funny, though, the one who was slapping at presentsfan and making the comments about jealousy didn’t ever come back to see what her comments stirred up
sallahdog
March 9
1:02 am
wow,,, I used to read HPs, but after living in California for years in the 80s, lost all my taste for “sheik” stories after experiencing those dudes in the flesh…
Like a good friend of mine once said after going to Alaska after all the stories of the dearth of women for lonely guys, ” The odds were good, but the goods were odd.” Well… I had the same feeling after meeting the real Sand kings…
LOL… I am amazed at the panties in a tight wad just because one particular reader said she didnt love the Uber Alpha Sheik model… You would have thought that she tore up that writers contract there on the spot from the squeals of indignation…
I won’t comment on that webblog, simply because I havent read one of those books in years…
FerfeLaBat
March 9
9:09 am
Incidentally, this argument has absolutely nothing to do with me. Seriously, I’m being very good.
~ Karen
:::Looking around nervously for lightning:::
Kate
March 9
1:05 pm
I’m a newly signed Presents author and I found the discussion quite interesting–I had no idea there was so much flak against Presents authors. I think part of the reason many of the authors on the blog site were offended is because they’ve been dealing with this or worse for years, and the lack of respect for their genre gets wearying. I agree with the list of alpha heroes you don’t like–I don’t like them either. Any man who acts without honor in my opnion is not a hero. I never expected to write alpha heroes, but suddenly there I was with an idea… a LOT of romances have alpha heroes, though, they’re just not Greek/Italian/Arabic billionaires. Anyway I didn’t think the discussion got too out of hand, but there’s a history that a lot of people are not aware of.
Merlin
March 9
1:32 pm
Hi Karen,
Just seen the draw for the quarters.
I love it.
I love it.
I love it.
Lokos like the path’s clear all the way to the final (but we’re going to have to ride our luck a bit).
ATB,
M.
Tara Marie
March 9
4:12 pm
I think the Presents authors get enough jealousy and envy from people in the romance community on other boards/blogs. Huh??
Bev (BB)
March 9
5:44 pm
You took the words or rather the word right out of my mouth, Tara Marie. I was going to mention it last night but was too tired. I’ve never heard of this one before.
Double huh?!?
Jealousy and envy? Over what exactly? That’s what I’d like to know and that’s a truly honest question, not a sarcastic one. I’m really curious as to what the answer would be but I’m definitely not asking it on that blog. That’s for sure.
Mainly because I don’t read that line any more. When I do read category, it’s usually Silhouettes. The only Harlequin line I tend to read is Intrigues but that’s really sporatic nowadays.
I’d rather let Karen carry the banner. ๐
Bonnie Dee
March 9
6:03 pm
That “jealousy and envy” got to me, too. There’s no way to include that in a sentence without backhandedly saying “People SHOULD be jealous and envious of us”.
FerfeLaBat
March 9
6:14 pm
I guess it all depends on if you are writing to make a living or living to write. If you don’t understand it then you are living to write.
Maralyn G
March 10
2:49 pm
De-lurking.
I thought Penny Jordan’s response to the thread was quite interesting. She got very defensive. Her attitude seemed to be that anybody who didn’t appreciate the subtleties of HP books were idiots.
I liked your response to her comment Karen, very well said.
che
March 10
5:20 pm
What I got from the HP blog and comments was:
Some authors and HP fangirls sure can’t take any criticism.
You vulgar Americans think Harlequin revolves around you- they don’t. Ok. Fair enough.
You vulgar Americans may not appreciate my books, but there’s 100,000 all over the world who do. Neer, neer.
Just exaggerating slightly. But in any case, this vulgar American sure ain’t gonna read books by those authors. So there.