When it’s hard to be an author
You might think I’m rude. Can I explain? Well, I’m only human.
Hey folks, if you read this and think it’s not about you, then that’s probably true and I really am not talking about you. But I got some really strange and most of all hurting messages the past few months, and I think it’s time to explain something to each and every single reader and fan out there.
I love you all for reading my novels and for your great support. But if you have the feeling I did you wrong in any way, I can only tell you that I never meant to. I just can’t do magic is all.
I’ve been called lazy, stupid, mean, rude, a fake, incompetent, and a crappy author. All of it by people I never met in my life. But most of them have read my Grover Beach Team series. Or at least, some of my books. Give me a chance to explain why I may seem all these things at certain moments.
1. I’m mean.
Every other day I still get the same emails or messages on Facebook where people ask me to write more books in my contemprary teen romance series, and especially more about Ryan Hunter. I always give the same answer. There will be more books, but Ryan’s story is told. He’s happy with Liza and I don’t want to ruin that story by dragging it out with some fake problems.
It seems some people don’t trust me to write other sweet and maybe even great books. I’ve been called “a mean person” because of that. Apparently I started something that I “didn’t finish” and now I’m torturing people with holding back. I’m so sorry if you really think that, but I can only go with my own feeling in this. I really don’t intend to be mean to anybody with my decision.
2. I’m a crappy author.
In other messages, I got asked by a few people if they could tell me the epic story of their life and I write it down for them. I always say no for several reasons: It’s your story, not mine. I don’t want to write stories that are being dictated to me. I have a ton of ideas that I want to write down because I feel like it, and while I hardly have time to write them all down, you shouldn’t expect me to write something that I don’t feel in my heart at the same time.
There’s also the very important issue of copyright. If you tell me your story and I write it, you would be the copyright owner. So tell me, am I really supposed to work 6 months on a book that you told me in 90 minutes and then give you all the money for my work? Would you do that for someone else?
I’ve been literally called a “crappy author” because of that by someone who claimed to be my biggest fan only two emails before that. I absolutely don’t know what else I can say to make you understand my reasons, but I’m sorry if you feel that way. I really am.
3. I’m stupid.
Fantasy doesn’t work. That’s what I’ve been told when I spent 5 months on writing Neverland and Pan’s Revenge, instead of investing that precious time in another book in the Grover Beach Team series. And apparently I’m stupid, because I don’t get that.
Well, you might not like Fantasy, but I do. And if a book is calling to me, I’m going to write it. I’m sorry if that intervenes with my contemporary series, and I’d love to give you more books about the Grover Beach guys a lot faster, but there’s really more in my heart and head that wants out. And just because you don’t like Fantasy, there are still some people who do. And, of course, that also goes the other way round! James Hook is a sexy hero and I love him as much as you do. But please have faith and believe that I can write other heroes just as sweet and hot as him.
4. I’m lazy.
There are periods of time where you don’t hear from me often and where you don’t get a new book. Contrary to some people thinking that in that time I’m hanging out in front of the TV or doing my toe nails while stuffing cake into my mouth (I never do that—the toe nails. I do occasionally stuff cake in my mouth, though), I’m actually busy with other work. You may or may not know that I’m from Austria and my first language is German. I do have some fans around here too, and they are waiting for my next release as anxiously as you. But that means I have to make time to translate my books. And even if it’s a work I really dislike, I do it for my German readers. Translating a book takes about 2 months. But maybe there’s a small light at the end of the tunnel for you: I hired a translator for my future books. From now on, I can concentrate on my English writing all the time and hope to present you with new releases more often.
5. I’m a fake.
Ouch, that one hurt. People think I’m a fake because there are some small similarities in one or two books they read before mine. I wonder if you actually know how many books there are out there by now. Probably something close to ten billion, it might be a lot more, though. Personally, I believe each and every story has been written in one way or another already. Or can one of you think of ten billion different plots? I dare you to try.
The truth is I read every single book that people accused me of copying—after I wrote my books. Just because I wanted to find out if they were right. And you know what? They were right. There are some similarities between my books and some others. I’m sorry about that, but it wasn’t intentional. At the time I wrote Play With Me, I totally thought it was quite original in its own way, even if it sported a love triangle that was done in a million other books before. I’m sorry if anyone, especially some other authors feel I copied an idea. I did not. I just seem to have had a similar idea at the same time or before or after somebody else.
6. I’m incompetent.
My books are shit and I’m an incompetent author because my books lack ideas and editing, that’s what I’ve been told not only in emails but in some reviews, too. I don’t know where that comes from. I give my best when I write and I have a professional editor who’s doing an excellent job. If you find errors in my books, I’m more than happy for you to reach out to me and tell me about them, so I can make appropriate corrections. Strangely enough, no one ever does…
7. I’m rude.
I’m rude because I didn’t get back to you within a week after you sent me your first fan email. I’m rude, because instead of getting in touch with you personally, I set up an auto reply.
Yes, I did that. And yes, it might take me longer than a couple days to get to your email, but that’s not because I don’t care, it’s because I don’t always have the time for it. There are days where I write 10 to 14 hours non stop. I don’t eat and barely drink in that time. I don’t talk to my family or my friends. I just write because I’m on a roll and really want to give you the next book as soon as possible. Because I think that would make you happy.
If you write to me and it’s a nice email telling me how you liked my stories, ask me questions or whatever else, you will get a reply. If you call me a rude pig in your message, you probably won’t.
In all that time I try to make for my fans in between my work and my family, I’d really rather speak to nice people and don’t waste that time one someone who only aims at making me feel bad. I hope you can understand that. If not, I’m sorry.
Having said all of that, I know these people are a small minority and most of you are still very, very suppostive and understanding. I silently thank you every day for giving my books a chance and falling in love with my heroes and heroines. I apprecialte every single email you write me, every single review you post, every single time we chat and every single moment you spend reading my stories.
I love you!
Anna
