Been Around The Blogs And I, I, I…
Thursday, November 12, 2009Posted in: random musings, Romanceland random ramblings
Lisa Stansfield, I salute you.
So I actually looked at my Google Reader yesterday and caught up on the happenings in RomLand.
Firstly, I discovered that SuperWendy has moved, so I updated my links accordingly.
I also caught the whole AAR Vs Blogs lovefest. Man, some of those AAR peeps sure got their knickers in a twist. I did love all the frothing at the mouth though, especially from that Xina bird.
Here’s an ‘interesting’ comment from Xina herself:
“There are a couple that seem to operate without prejudice, but mostly they can’t separate themselves from personal opinions.”
What an odd comment from an AAR message boards regular. RomLand is just one massive melting pot of personal opinions, arguments and counter-arguments. Like AAR don’t have their share of uber opinionated nut jobs.
But, hey, if you need the “haters” to generate traffic, then all the power to those blogs. Whatever works…I guess. **shrug**
Sour grapes much?
Don’t you just love people who add **shrugs** to their comments?
Anybody would think bloggers were responsible for all that’s wrong with romance. Whatev, those message board peeps ought to sort out whatever crawled up their collective arses.
Anyway, moving swiftly on, I also discovered that Angie James has a new job at Carina Press, Harlequin’s new digital only e-press. Jolly good news indeed, I knew she wouldn’t be out of work for long, she was jolly good at her job. Hopefully it doesn’t go tits up like that last lot. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you Angie.
My next juicy discovery was over at Katiebabs’ house. She’d given an author a B grade, and said author wasn’t pleased, and got a little huffy about her review. Honestly, I can’t imagine getting annoyed at receiving a B grade for anything. Apparently the author in question, one Teal Ceagh, didn’t like the way that Katiebabs focused on certain sex scenes, and didn’t have a problem saying so. Teal also listed other worthy review sites that had given her book 5 star reviews. One of the ‘legit’ review sites that she listed was Coffee Time romance. Yeah, my chin pretty much hit the floor too. Will these people ever learn?
Then Josh Lanyon steps in with his tuppence-worth, and managed to come across as both condescending, and disdainful of bloggers who review. Nice going Josh.
Anyway, apparently the author apologised, which impressed Katiebabs. Me, not so much.
Moving on again, I liked the If You Like… Mult-cultural Books post up at Dear Author, there were some pretty good recs in the comments section.
Isn’t it funny how many Anons show up when there’s an opportunity to bash Dear Author? Just an observation.
Ok, that’s all I have for now, hopefully nothing major happens in the next few days, because I’ll be far too busy to look at my Google Reader, in the mean time I’ll leave you with this hideous book cover from those pros over at Changeling Press, courtesy of Katiebabs.
There are two things that we can always be sure of in this world, people will always pay taxes, and Changeling Press will always produce sucky covers.
Jut sayin’.
Anon76
November 12
2:16 pm
That cover? Just…wow. And people pick on authors who end up with bodyparts in the wrong places?
It took me forever to realize those were the chicks ta-tas all the way down there, and not her butt turned backward.
Marianne McA
November 12
2:17 pm
And for the AU version:
What about the whole Blogs Vs AAR lovefest. Man, some of those Bloggers peeps sure got their knickers in a twist. I did love all the frothing at the mouth though, especially from that Mrs Giggles bird.
Here’s an ‘interesting’ comment from Mrs Giggles herself:
“All I know is this: I used to enjoy and respect AAR, but right now, it’s very embarrassing to see them behaving like Norma Desmond in throes of self-deluding hysteria.”
What an odd comment from a regular blogger. RomLand is just one massive melting pot of personal opinions, arguments and counter-arguments. Like Bloggers don’t have their share of uber opinionated nut jobs.
……………..
I’m declining to post on the reconciliatory – ‘Blogs I enjoy visiting’ thread now on the boards. It would feel like sucking up.
Christine Rimmer
November 12
3:09 pm
That cover??? OMG! I needed a good laugh and I got one. That guy looks like he’s about to munch a turkey leg.
As to dust-ups in blogland. I love them. Any source of amusement makes me happy.
And concerning authors who gripe about their reviews. Oh, please. One needs to get over oneself. Griping over a B grade? That’s a whole new form of not getting over oneself.
Barbara
November 12
3:15 pm
I remember seeing that cover over at Katiebabs’ place. I agree with Anon76, I couldn’t figure out where her ta-tas were either.
And yeah…I’ll admit, I’m totally guilty of adding animation to my comments and posts, such as *shrugs* and so on.
Thanks for the info on Wendy moving, I’ll have to update.
Angela James
November 12
3:46 pm
Thanks, Karen. I’m with you. I hope it doesn’t go tits up as well.
Shiloh Walker
November 12
3:55 pm
Tits up… some interesting phrasing there…lol.
jmc
November 12
4:01 pm
Okay, that cover? I couldn’t figure out where the chick’s boobs were, so I assumed it was a tranny. Then I realized if it was, he was missing other important parts. Then I realized her boobs were sagging down to her crotch while being separated/trussed by whatever that thing around her hips is.
And someone got paid for producing that “art”?
katiebabs
November 12
5:35 pm
Highlight of last week was the OMGWTFBBQ cover and being called an amateur reviewer who doesn’t understand what an author goes through, how they put their heart and soul into a book. That I should give every book a 5 stars, 5 coffee cups or 5 beers. Bah.
Amarinda Jones
November 12
7:34 pm
Reviews are just opinion and writers need to accept that and not challenge them. I have had some crap reviews in my time but my world still turns. I have to wonder if the challenge was more about gaining publicity…as for the book cover…I’m speechless.
Anon76
November 12
7:48 pm
Everyone can screech at me, but I was a bit miffed at DA’s handling of the whole Kindle share thing. There was good reason to call out the offending authors on their spazzo twitter comments, but the next post to authors in general about piracy seemed rather over the top.
I keep thinking about how I would explain to my granchildren what constitutes theft, or whatever anyone chooses to call it.
The back and forths of such a conversation intrigues me. How do I explain that what I am doing is right, while whatever infraction they did is wrong?
You see this all the time with alchol or ciggys, but I don’t believe I’ve encountered it with such a thing as taking what is not yours.
Verra intersting.
Wendy
November 12
10:30 pm
Thanks for the linkage Karen! Yeah, I hated moving – but the Evil ISP Issues From Hell were not getting resolved and ultimately it was just easier to move. My big fear was moving almost 7 years worth of archives, but honestly, that was pretty darn easy. Color me surprised.
Chantal
November 13
1:43 am
I would never, ever read a book recommended by Coffee Time romance or any of those review sites.
I know two people who review for CTR and I’ve been told that reviewers are warned about giving too many low or negative reviews because it lessons the amount of books they get sent from author promo people.
Those sites are great for authors to ‘show off’ if they want too “Oh look, CTR gave me 5 cups”
Whatever.
That cover makes me LOL! That poor author to be stuck with a cover like that.
Teal Ceagh. Oh boy. When I first read the review, before the author posted that stuff, I was interested in reading it. Not so much now. I’ll pass on it and any other book she publishes.
katiebabs
November 13
1:46 am
Chantal: When I first started reviewing, Coffee Time Romance was the first review site I went to. After writing a review that was less than 2 cups, I wasn’t just asked to leave, I was booted off the yahoo group server and all email communication was cut off. They never told me any reason why I was “let go”.
Mrs Giggles
November 13
1:51 am
What an odd comment from a regular blogger. RomLand is just one massive melting pot of personal opinions, arguments and counter-arguments. Like Bloggers don’t have their share of uber opinionated nut jobs.
I don’t recall bloggers constantly reminding themselves that they are better than AAR though, pigeon. And I wasn’t frothing, I was just being my old self. You know, sarcastic and over the top.
Chantal
November 13
3:13 am
Katiebabs, that does not surprise me one bit.
eggs
November 13
3:41 am
Maybe her tits are down on her belly because she’s 40yrs old and has breastfed 3 kids? Just sayin it can happen to some of us without the help of photoshop!
Melissa Blue
November 13
6:22 am
I might be a prude, because I couldn’t get past the open vagina-loving on the cover. Then ‘where are her boobs?’
Oh, mys.
Lately, I’ve been trying to avoid blog-o-drama. I have to thank NaNo for that. I may keep it up though.
Marianne McA
November 13
11:51 am
As a regular AAR poster, yes, that’s my mantra: ‘Better than the average Blogger’. I have it embroidered on a cushion.
And fwiw, I’ve no problems with your comment: I just have no problems with Xina’s comment either.
And I wasn’t really posting about you, though clearly it could be read that way, and for that, I apologise.
My point was, I think, that you can see the exchange as AAR peeps being unreasonable about blogs, or as Bloggers being unreasonable about AAR – the argument reads quite literally the same either way. Cut-and-paste in the ‘interesting’ comment of your choice.
I don’t think either is really true. It’s just standard internet background noise.
(I hope to be there when you do froth. It promises to be spectacular.)
Mireya
November 13
2:32 pm
Not all review sites are made equal. Just sayin’
I don’t own a review site, but rather a newsletter, but I have reviewed for a couple of review sites, and I can say that not all operate that way. Some are, definitely, doing it for the promo factor, but not all.
Janet W
November 13
3:04 pm
@M McM:
… thought this was such an interesting comment, M McM. When you said “declining”, did you mean you were asked to post to the thread and you declined? I tracked it down and well, I thought of “truth and reconciliation” commissions. LOL. So a last question: it would feel like sucking up to whom? Book bloggers or AAR?
Janet W
November 13
3:17 pm
@M McM Part II … Take two? What I forgot to say was that the long thread on AAR about why book blogs contained many excellent suggestions for book blogs to try. That being so, I couldn’t see that I had more to contribute on the newer “Blogs I enjoy visiting” thread. And my point about truth and reconciliation commissions, I think, is that “truth” is so often in the hearts and minds of the beholders — as you pointed out 🙂
Tuscan Capo
November 13
4:08 pm
My neck muscles just spasmed up trying to figure out if that woman on the cover is Christy Canyon (of the famous saggy boobs) or just a guy with an upfront suspendage problem. Think I need a flip program before I can really tell..
Anon76
November 13
7:10 pm
Nah, Eggs
If she had saggy ta-ta’s they’d be up around her neck and choking her while in that position. That’s what I find so bizarre about the cover. Boobs way down low on her bod, while at the same time pointing straight up, with no poofyness off to the sides from being in a laid back pose.
Sorry, I’m just bored and keep coming back to the cover to be amazed.
Randi
November 13
7:58 pm
Karen, you’re so nice to us. Going about, gathering all the good RomLand gossip, and then posting it all here so I don’t have to go out and get it myself. You win! 😉
I’ll say this: Teal’s apology seemed sincere and I’m giving her kudos for cowgirl-ing up and eating her crow. As oppossed to Mr. Lanyon, who simply made me want to slap him upside the head. I have this whole rant in my head about his super special snowflake “ar-teest” tone, but I won’t post it.
I was frankly confused at the kerfluffle that ensued at DA re the Piracy post. I ended up ignoring it because it got boring pretty quickly. It ended up just turning into people throwing insults and using language and tone to decry an opposing opinion. poo on that.
Lastly, that cover is…should not exist. It should never have been born. It’s a travesty of Photoshop. Bad horrible images that make you look at it over and over and over again (because, where are the boobs, now?)= FAIL.
Marianne McA
November 14
9:46 pm
LOL. No – tragically, I’m not that important. I suppose what I meant is that I usually would take part in a thread like that, because there are good blogs I do enjoy visiting regularly, so it’d be normal to join in that sort of thread & mention them.
The timing of the thread, however, suggested to me that someone was trying to play nice: send a message to Bloggerdom that all AAR peeps aren’t cows. And that seemed like a tacit admission that the thread that caused the kerfuffle was out-of-line, and I genuinely don’t think it was.
I would have felt that posting on the thread could be read as a ‘I’m-not-one-of-those-blog-hating-harpies-look-I-love-bloggers’ message = sucking up.
It’s entirely possible the timing of the thread was coincidental. And I’m not suggesting that those who did post on that thread had any agenda other than sharing their favourite blogs.
You’re entirely right about truth being in the eyes of the beholder: I remember once visiting two houses on the same day – and in both the subject of discussion was the disgraceful bias the BBC were showing in covering some news story. Thing was, they were each convinced the BBC was biased to a different side. What you perceive depends on what assumptions you start with. (My assumptions, of course, always correct…)
Shiloh Walker
November 15
2:12 am
Damn it Karen, every time I come check out the blog, I get the song, “BEEN AROUND THE WORLD AND I CAN’T FIND MY BABY…” stuck in my head.
sigh.
Las
November 15
5:49 am
Oh. My. That cover…that book could be the best-reviewed in the history of book reviews and I wouldn’t read it.
About the whole AAR vs. blogs thing…I obviously missed the history there. I don’t really see why some bloggers reacted so strongly to that thread. And some of the AAR posters come across as holding a grudge. AAR was my intro to online Romance but I didn’t get much involved with the message boards back then, and then a took more than a year of from romance. I get the impression that there was some issue with the DA and SB ladies that resulted in them leaving AAR and starting the blogs. Is that right? Help a nosy girl out!
ESheedy
November 16
5:23 am
That cover! Vile,absolutely vile. And I don’t care where her boobs are. This cover is scary!
And as to dust-ups in romanceland . . . like the tide, they are.
But, oh my gawd, that cover. It makes my breathing heavy and so not in a good way!