Authors NOT behaving badly
I just had to do a followup post on yesterday's post from author & bookstore owner Kris Neri about authors behaving badly at bookstore events.
I'd like to start off by saying that I have yet to meet an author who is a . . .um, in consideration of my younger readers, I'll say "jerk." Every author I've had the privilege to meet has been warm, generous, giving, and happy to share what knowledge/experience they've gained over their careers. I do my best to do the same.
I'm living the dream, I know that I'm blessed to have it, and I am GRATEFUL for it. And I try to show that gratitude to everyone responsible for helping me get to where I am: my agent, my editor, her assistant, my publicist, booksellers, bloggers, reviewers--but most of all you, my fans. I wrote Raine's story in hopes that some day I would be published and people such as yourselves would love those stories and its characters just as much as I do. That is the ultimate thrill for me, when you tell me that you do. And dorky though you may think it, I've saved every last fan email; occasionally I'll re-read some of them and they help me get through the rough writing times. When I think I suck, it's always nice to read an email that tells me that I don't. ; )
I'm grateful for every experience I've had, and gracious to those who have enabled me to have them. Not to mention, I was raised to say "thank you" whenever thanks should be given, to ask politely, and to try my best to give back to those who have given so much to me.
So it's all about you, my fans. Being published is only part of what's so great about being an author -- the other part is having wonderful fans. Heck, I'm still amazed that I even have fans and that people are actually excited to meet me. I get a lot of emails from you thanking me for responding to your emails. I'm thrilled to be getting those emails, and I love talking with you, responding to your blog comments, popping over to your blogs and commenting on your posts. My secret: I have Google Alerts set up for me and my books. Sneaky, yet very effective. ; )
The bottom line is that I simply do not understand any writer who has had the privilege of getting a book contract and becoming an an author behaving badly at a bookstore event, being rude and condescending to anyone, not wanting to sign autographs, and not talking to their fans.
Either these authors didn't have to work very hard to get where they are, or they feel entitled somehow -- or they're just jerks who weren't raised right.
My two cents worth,
Lisa
Coming up on the Saturday Snippet: By request, a scene with Raine and Sarad Nukpana.
UPDATE on BOOKSPOT CENTRAL March Madness Book Tournament: Armed & Magical won its match in the first round 21 to 5 against The Reawakening! Thank you so much to everyone who voted! That means that Armed & Magical is now in the Semi-Final round against Dead to Me. I'd love for Armed & Magical to make it to the finals -- and one step closer to a trophy. My little book would love a trophy. ; ) Voting for this match is now open and will end around 8:00 PM EST on Monday, 3/30. It doesn't matter if you voted in the first round, you can vote again -- and please do. Here's the link to the rules & voting page. Thank you!!
I'd like to start off by saying that I have yet to meet an author who is a . . .um, in consideration of my younger readers, I'll say "jerk." Every author I've had the privilege to meet has been warm, generous, giving, and happy to share what knowledge/experience they've gained over their careers. I do my best to do the same.
I'm living the dream, I know that I'm blessed to have it, and I am GRATEFUL for it. And I try to show that gratitude to everyone responsible for helping me get to where I am: my agent, my editor, her assistant, my publicist, booksellers, bloggers, reviewers--but most of all you, my fans. I wrote Raine's story in hopes that some day I would be published and people such as yourselves would love those stories and its characters just as much as I do. That is the ultimate thrill for me, when you tell me that you do. And dorky though you may think it, I've saved every last fan email; occasionally I'll re-read some of them and they help me get through the rough writing times. When I think I suck, it's always nice to read an email that tells me that I don't. ; )
I'm grateful for every experience I've had, and gracious to those who have enabled me to have them. Not to mention, I was raised to say "thank you" whenever thanks should be given, to ask politely, and to try my best to give back to those who have given so much to me.
So it's all about you, my fans. Being published is only part of what's so great about being an author -- the other part is having wonderful fans. Heck, I'm still amazed that I even have fans and that people are actually excited to meet me. I get a lot of emails from you thanking me for responding to your emails. I'm thrilled to be getting those emails, and I love talking with you, responding to your blog comments, popping over to your blogs and commenting on your posts. My secret: I have Google Alerts set up for me and my books. Sneaky, yet very effective. ; )
The bottom line is that I simply do not understand any writer who has had the privilege of getting a book contract and becoming an an author behaving badly at a bookstore event, being rude and condescending to anyone, not wanting to sign autographs, and not talking to their fans.
Either these authors didn't have to work very hard to get where they are, or they feel entitled somehow -- or they're just jerks who weren't raised right.
My two cents worth,
Lisa
Coming up on the Saturday Snippet: By request, a scene with Raine and Sarad Nukpana.
UPDATE on BOOKSPOT CENTRAL March Madness Book Tournament: Armed & Magical won its match in the first round 21 to 5 against The Reawakening! Thank you so much to everyone who voted! That means that Armed & Magical is now in the Semi-Final round against Dead to Me. I'd love for Armed & Magical to make it to the finals -- and one step closer to a trophy. My little book would love a trophy. ; ) Voting for this match is now open and will end around 8:00 PM EST on Monday, 3/30. It doesn't matter if you voted in the first round, you can vote again -- and please do. Here's the link to the rules & voting page. Thank you!!
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:23 AM
8 Comments:
Congrats on your first win!!! I have already voted on the second round..you have very loyal fans ..your going to win it all :)
We are all going to buy your books because they are great..but we are extremely loyal to you for the way you take time for us..you writing shows us your a great writer but all the other things like this blog and emailing us shows that you are a great person..
Sorry everyone that this was so long.
Woo! Congrats!
You're one of the more friendly and accessible authors I read. It really shows how much you love your fans. :)
Thank you, Tina & Jen!
Lisa, you have to admit, there's a little bit of vanity in every writer. You need a little to be confident your work has value and ought to be read.
But there's a little vanity and then there's selfishness. All those authors behaving badly seem to think their books are more important than anyone else's, or the store being open, or their own reputation.
And don't forget, these days you don't need a contract to get published. I think too many authors self-publish without learning the business. That ignorance lets their "inner jerk" out, and the rest of us shake our heads. That's my two cents.
You're right; even if we're self-published, we should be thankful for any and all fans. Without them, where would we be?
Enough said. I'll go back to being quiet and shy. :)
VERY well said, Robert.
And yes, I readily admit that I had confidence in my writing -- at least I knew that one day it'd be good enough for publication. That confidence kept me going when people said I wouldn't make it, or circumstances conspired to make me stop writing. I managed to break through those roadblocks. And those same roadblocks are in ANY writer's way, be they contracted with a publishing house or self-published. We all have to do the same work, and we all have to be willing to make the sacrifices to make our dreams a reality.
As you said, ignorance of the business can be blamed for a lot of the "jerkitude." Also unrealistic expectations of what being published means -- and what it doesn't mean. After my first book came out, I learned real fast that I was just a tadpole in a very big and crowded pond. That took the air out of my ego real quick. ; )
And don't be quiet and shy; I always enjoy hearing what you have to say.
I'd like to think that Authors Behaving Badly(ABB) are in the minority. I've been to a number of signings and only on two occasions have I encountered ABBs(not naming names). One seemed fairly unenthusiastic but did say hi(nothing when I commented on the latest book). Didn't phase me 'cause I was getting it signed for my cousin. The second ABB, was for me. I was excited and brought the entire series as well as purchasing the lastest. Not once did I get eye contact or any acknowledgment that I even existed and I didn't even get a response when I said thank you, afterwards. Very shocking and it soured me towards that author. But the majority of authors I've come across have been very friendly and approachable.
You bought their entire series and the latest book and you didn't get ANY response?? Heck, honey, you'd have gotten a hug from me. ; ) Then again, I'm exceedingly social; maybe that author wasn't. But still . . . dang.
I'm glad there are lots of well-behaved authors. I'm happy to say that's the only kind I've met, either online or offline. {REALLY BIG GRIN}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
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