It’s That Time Of Year Again Folks…
Friday, July 13, 2007Posted in: RWA Loves E-publishers Like A Fat Kid Loves Lettuce
Not that I give rats arse about the fact that RWA Have basically told erotic romance publishers to fuck off, but I was wondering about the real reasons behind the decision.
I’m thinking that Reason Number One was the whole Gail Northman/Triskelion thing. Let’s face it, Northman might as well have taken a dump whilst the whole of Romanceland looked on. Not pretty. Triskelion going bankrupt and shitting on their authors from a great height, probably didn’t help the cause either.
Reason Number Two, Venus Press basically shut down and didn’t bother telling anybody. The way I heard it, the owner stopped taking authors calls, answering e-mails etc. Bad, bad, bad.
And Reason Number Three, the whole Elloras Cave/Jaid Black assfuckery. You can’t tell me these people don’t read blogs, and cast their judgemental nets over Romanceland.
Then again, it might have simply been because the RWA hate the stink of erotic romance like Victoria Beckham hates simple carbohydrates. And then there’s all that anal sex, and the naughty men giving each other blowjobs. Come on, surely that aint romance Hilda!
I’m thinking, that they were thinking, that Barbara Cartland would surely be rolling over in her grave if she knew that men were rimming other men in the name of romance. *g*
Who’s betting that in a few days when the e-pubs start going crazy, and burning things, and pulling down their pants to pull moonies, that The RWA, will send out a press release trying desperately to back-track?
I love how RWA Fuckwittery happens every year without fail, oh happy days.
OK, that’s the extent of my commentary on this. Like I said, personally, I don’t really give a flying crap either way.
And by the way America, what’s with all the David Beckham over-hype? Do you guys even know what position he plays? Sheesh.
Emily Veinglory
July 13
11:18 pm
In a way I love their RWA. They are blogcrack.
Sarah McCarty
July 13
11:59 pm
Where do you get these images? LOL! The last three have been just hilariously evocative.
katieM
July 14
12:08 am
In the real USA, nobody cares about that Beckham hype. That’s strictly the entertainment media try to distract us from the wars (which we are losing, btw) and the fact that Bush has dammed us in front of the world.
Lynne Simpson
July 14
12:37 am
RWA controversy is one of those seasonal things, like birds flying north for the winter. The controversies were entertaining for a while, in a morbid sort of way, but now I’m just fed up.
Arin Rhys
July 14
12:41 am
I agree with Lynne.
Dionne Galace
July 14
12:56 am
For the record, I never thought Beckham was cute. I always thought he looked kind of greasy. I didn’t even know LA had a soccer team!
I am, however, ever-so-fascinated with Posh Spice.
Anne
July 14
1:10 am
Not sure what position Beckham plays… don’t care about RWA because they keep changing things and I can’t keep up… and wanna see someone hunky? Look at James Blake(#1 on the list). Holy mother of GOD. He was being interviewed on ESPN today. Hot, hot, hot.
Karyna
July 14
2:04 am
This post had me cracking up. I almost peed my pants. You’ve hit the nail on the head, Karen. But the backpedaling has already begun. I think RWA didn’t expect such an uproar from the epub and erotica crowd. I think they’ve finally realized it’s a forced to be reckoned with. Can I get an Amen? Can I get a hallelujah?!?!
bettie
July 14
2:25 am
I’ve no idea what position Beckham plays. I’ve never even watched an entire soccer game (football match?). I did see part of a Galaxy game once when driving past the Rose Bowl. Does that count?
I could care less about Beckham, except that it’s cool that he once wore a man-skirt somewhere. I am, however, happy that Posh will be coming to our shores. I love that scrawny labelwhore like a starlet loves her spray-on tan.
P.S. This does not mean I’m distracted from the wars. Bush is a doofus. The Final Benchmark Report the White House released today was a joke.
Eve Vaughn
July 14
3:24 am
oh, your comment about Posh and carbohydrates had me in stitches. You are the height of just too muchery. As for the position Becks plays, I’ll take a wild guest and say, Midfielder. Not sure if that’s right as the only two positions I know in soccer is that and goalie. If I’m right, you’ll owe me dinner next time I’m in the U.K. 🙂
Ann Bruce
July 14
3:27 am
I am, however, ever-so-fascinated with Posh Spice.
Doesn’t it seem wrong to be calling a grown woman with three kids by a stage name that, frankly, should belong to someone who dances around a metal pole?
Just asking…
(Extra bitchy today because it was a long day at work.)
Dionne Galace
July 14
3:42 am
Doesn’t it seem wrong to be calling a grown woman with three kids by a stage name that, frankly, should belong to someone who dances around a metal pole?
Nope. 50 years from now, they’ll still be the Spice Girls to me. Of course they’d be dead…
bettie
July 14
5:29 am
50 years from now, they’ll still be the Spice Girls to me. Of course they’d be dead…
They’ll live forever in our hearts…
Rosie
July 14
5:55 am
Even my sports mad 20 year old who was over the moon to have Beckham in LA was overheard saying, “confetti for crap’s sakes he hasn’t done anything yet!” Only in LA…
Dionne Galace
July 14
6:14 am
ZOMG, check out this absolutely brilliant picture of Vix Beckham.
SHE LOOKS LIKE A FRICKIN’ BARBIE DOLL. Is any part of her even real anymore? I think every single part of her is either made of plastic or silicone.
Dionne Galace
July 14
6:23 am
hey, karen, quick question… they’re chavs, right?
Ann Bruce
July 14
6:38 am
They’ll live forever in our hearts…
Dear God in Heaven, I’m surrounded!
Jenyfer Matthews
July 14
6:47 am
I *LOVE* the tag on this post!!!
Karen Scott
July 14
8:44 am
hey, karen, quick question… they’re chavs, right?
Yep, they are the ultimate chavs, but I still love ’em!
Karen Scott
July 14
8:48 am
I love that scrawny labelwhore like a starlet loves her spray-on tan.
Ok, now that was funny, lol!
Tilly Greene
July 14
11:21 am
Ummm, yes I know what position he played at both Man U and Real Madrid, but I don’t think he’s the next Pele blessed to bring the love of footie to the American table because its a TEAM sport.
shiloh walker
July 14
1:36 pm
I think that a number of things have played into the RWA deal, but I also think some of the people behind it were rubbing their hands in glee.
In their eyes, some of this crap justifies their decision.
But it’s just a way for them to be more ‘exclusive’.
Naturally, this is all just my opinion.
I’d recommend that the authors of the affected publishers write calm, logical letters and not blow a gasket-no reason to give the people who liked this idea any reason to think they’re right for question the professionalism of e-authors, but I got a feeling it’s asking a lot to hope for that.
Nikki
July 14
4:00 pm
You are so funny!!
“men rimming men in the name of romance” OMG!!! You are so funny!!!!!
The RWA thing is a joke. It is like a mother bird eating her young or throwing them out of the nest because they are not perfect. I think the ebook publishers should start their own organization and have their own convention!
The whole Beck thing is funny. At least we are talking about a guy (even if he is a little skinny for my taste) instead of Paris (who gives a shit) Hilton!
The war is a joke! What a major screw up! I guess the Dixie Chicks were right all those years ago!! Everyone who destroyed their albums should go out and buy new ones because the Dixie Chicks were right, damn it!! I’m ashamed he is American! (I’m not from Texas).
Angelia Sparrow
July 14
4:09 pm
You mean rimming, blow jobs and anal sex aren’t romantic? My boys will be crushed to hear it!
All the big authorial groups are doing their best to keep E-pubs and “lesser authors” out. Minimum print runs. Minimum advances.
Screw ’em. I write what the voices in my head tell me to. (Right now, they’re clamoring for me to finish the breath-control play scene to celebrate an ampalling.)
jmc
July 14
5:18 pm
My knowledge of football/soccer is limited to boy-watching in college and the period excitement that even the US experiences now with the World Cup. Beyond that? Eh. Beckham? Meh to the whole hype. On the radio yesterday morning, the sports announcer explained that he was the soccer version of the set up man or the outfield assist in baseball. Otherwise I’d have no idea what Beckham does on (or off) the field.
jmc
July 14
5:19 pm
Gah, periodic excitement, not period excitement…
Mireya
July 14
7:42 pm
*comes out from under her rock*
Though I partially understand the need to protect the membership, there is also no doubt in my mind that there were ulterior motives. I have been reading erotic romance since 2003, not even when EC was recognized did things really change *shrug* Let’s face it, “erotic” is still a dirty word in the heads of a huge number of members of the RWA…
*goes back under the rock*
Livia
July 14
8:31 pm
Let’s face it, “erotic” is still a dirty word in the heads of a huge number of members of the RWA…
Which is unfortunate, because they don’t seem to realize that there are people in the world that may have different tastes. Their brand of “morality” isn’t the one set of rules everyone must follow.
Whatever. The RWA has always been a collective hive of incredible asshatness. Ultimately, I think, this will all make no difference. People will keep buying online, and eventually the RWA will be forced to cave.
Anonymous
July 14
10:45 pm
The RWA is nothing short of an antiquated organization that (like the powerful NY publishers and distributors) have their collective heads in the sand (or up somewhere hidden)! The moment any e-publisher meets the requirements, RWA changes the rules. It’s been a pattern for nearly a decade now. Certainly e-authors are miffed, and have every right to be…considering that the majority of them are still making money whereas many NY authors haven’t sold a book in years because their editors left their publishing houses, they are forced to write for an imprint that’s been discontinued and now have nothing, etc. Yet the e-pubbed authors who are laughing all the way to the bank are considered “unprofessional” and the poor NY authors who have basically been on the “pending shelf” for years are considered professional. Is there anything more bizarre than that? RWA is, like the NY big boys, attempting to keep the old regime active, even though it’s grossly outdated and completely resistant to any change whatsoever (unless the change benefits them…ie. NY authors…and keeps out the misfits…ie. e-pubbed authors). The problem is, however, that the very same e-pubbed authors who BELONG to the RWA are empowering this organization to continue as the head-poobas of all things romance. If every e-pubbed author quit the RWA tomorrow and stopped the “dues money river” from flowing into the RWA pockets, things might start to change, but until authors stop treating RWA as the be-all and end-all of the publishing world, things will continue status quo. The bottom line is that RWA has the power because the authors give them the power…but what if the authors put their trust and faith (and dues money) somewhere else? Marie Antoinette knows what happens when the “flock” turns on their supposed leader, the ones who could give a damn about the “little people.” And basically, since 99.99999% of all customers don’t give a damn who is and who is not RWA “approved,” why would any author give a shit about this old-fashioned, pigheaded organization anyway?
Barbara B.
July 15
2:54 pm
Well done, Anonymous! As an non-writer, I really don’t understand the significance of the RWA. Particularly to epublishers and their authors. How many times and in how many ways will they have to give a symbolic FUCK YOU to epubs before you guys get it? Seriously, how much RWA fuckery are you epubs and epubbed authors willing to put up with? You guys are like battered women who just keep coming back for more. You just can’t stop hoping…
I know many of the epubbed writers hope to become NY published writers someday. Maybe that’s why you guys can’t/won’t commit to creating an association comparable to RWA for electronically published authors.
Barbara B.
July 15
8:05 pm
That should be as a non-writer, not an non-writer. Sorry.
Emily Veinglory
July 16
3:34 am
I lot of writers hope to do both, some already do. It would be nice to have an organisation to match.
Selah March
July 16
2:34 pm
Barb-
I can only speak for myself, but I’ve ended my association with the RWA and am going ahead with my professional goals in much the same manner as before I let my membership lapse. Do I think RWA can be instrumental in furthering a writer’s career? It depends. I certainly learned a great deal about how to approach an agent, how to write a query letter, and the finer points of formatting manuscripts.
Could I have found the same information on the Internet without the RWA? Probably.
For me, the organization ceased to be relevant. Combine that with how often they piss me off, and I don’t need to be sending them $100 a year plus chapter dues.
Lynn Viehl, as an example of a non-RWA but still successful romance author, seems to be doing just fine. Thirty-seven novels in five genres. If she can do that, I can certainly find success in one or two genres without the RWA.
Casee
July 16
2:51 pm
katieM said…
In the real USA, nobody cares about that Beckham hype.
Did you see LAX when the Beckham’s arrived? Good Gawd.
No, I have no idea what position he plays. And it’s called soccer here, not football. I have a friend in Singapore who lurves giving me a hard time about that.
EC authors were at RWA, right? I could have sworn I saw some EC books at the signing.
I think it’s a bad move on their part if they don’t accept the erotic romance publishers. Romance has changed in the last 20 years and it will continue to change.
Jewell Mason
July 17
2:22 pm
You know, I’m not epubbed “yet” but I have many friends who are. And trust me, they are very “career” oriented. To link a certain advance amount to whether they are “hobbyists”, is truly degrading. They work their butts off and I’m truly proud to know them.
Here is one thing I can’t help wondering: Will RWA ever address the issue of NY pubs and their new ebook endeavors? I’m speaking of the royalty cut here. I honestly feel that if an author is not getting at least a 30-35% cut of those sales, then they are being hosed.
Maybe that should be brought up to the board?
Just sayin’
H.S. Kinn
July 17
4:35 pm
Nikki, Emily, Barbara B, and anyone else who’s over this crap? Come to EPIC, guys. It’s a professional organization whose goals are to network and establish ePublishing. Writers and publishers alike are welcome, and what genre you write for is irrelevant. I’ve blogged about this subject before and so has EPIC President Brenna Lyons. I can’t say enough nice things about the organization. It’s professional AND inclusive, isn’t that refreshing?
Sherry Thomas
July 18
2:10 am
David Beckham is a midfielder, duh. 🙂
I don’t really dig Beckham, nor do I particularly dig Posh, as individuals. But I find them rather fascinating as a couple, I don’t know why. And Posh is really starting to grow on me. Say what else you will about her, the woman seems sane. And Becks seems to be a genuine good guy.