Steph Sinclair > Status Update

And I have just realized I spelled vendetta wrong in my status. Damn you GoodReads for not allowing me to edit it! Guys, I swear I can spell! O_o

Lina wrote: "I think what some writers fail to understand is that a review (good or bad) does not guarantee sales. Especially in this economy. Just because the first review you see on here or Amazon is a negati..."

Word. I respect your reviews, but I'm not going to rush out to buy a book because you liked it. Books are way too expensive these days for me to blindly buy them. That's why I wait for it to come out at the library or go to the bookstore. I mean, I like Libba Bray and Holly Black, but I still prefer to borrow their books from the library first because I can't afford to spend twenty dollars on a book I'll never glance at again.
And agreed on the negative reviews. I went and looked at books you didn't like because I was curious. I didn't buy them, but like I said, it's because I can't afford it.

BTW, Stephenie, other authors have a problem with this kind of behavior as well: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showp...

Wow, I'm an author and I'm appalled by this. I've gotten my share of negative reviews, including some that I felt were misguided or personal (rather than about the book), but I've always felt, well, I had my say with the book. I'll post to correct mistakes, but that's it. So sorry.

Adam 'Archer' wrote: "Cory wrote: "BTW, Stephenie, other authors have a problem with this kind of behavior as well: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showp..."

The link there leads to this thr..."

You click in the top right corner, and you'll see the entire thread here: http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showt...

Stephanie wrote: "And I have just realized I spelled vendetta wrong in my status. Damn you GoodReads for not allowing me to edit it! Guys, I swear I can spell! O_o"

I don't know you, but I hate a bulling author...so it is on. :)

Adam 'Archer' wrote: "Kira wrote: "Who is this "Vanity" person? Someone please enlighten me."

>name removed<"

ARGH.

You know she's got Google Alerts on.

Crap crap crap.

Palice wrote: "I know Lissa, I know :(
I saw those comments and I really wanted to say something, but she's been getting so much attention because of us. I just wish she'd disappear, and that's why I keep wanting to ignore everything about her. It's hard though. I'm sorry this is happening to you."

I'm very sorry too, Lissa. God, she's so petty. Her fake accounts and "friends" are a plague on this site.

(Goes back to forgetting she exists ...)

UNFUCKING believable!! Another author pisses in the pool. When will they learn the world has gone cyber and shit like that travels uber fast around the world?!

Good for you Stephanie. I have no doubt the author has heard about this thread, and if she really didn't send that mass email out I'm sure she'd be denying it by now

Edited to add: ah, I see from page 4 the author did own up and apologize. Mighty big of her, but sadly nothing she can say now will really clean up her mess.

Stephanie, no one should be subjected to the harsh things this writer called you. I'm sorry you were subjected to it. As a writer myself, I know how our books feel like our babies and it's hard to hear critical reviews of them, but there is a level of professionalism that should be maintained. Using those words is definitely over the line. I hope this was a case of identity theft and not something the writer actually wrote. Whether it was the writer, her agent, or her little brother, there's no excuse for it.

Ceilidh wrote: "I think we all need a drink."

But I'm on painkillers. :'(

I don't think I would have cared if someone had called me names or called my review trash or anything of the sort. Haters gonna hate. It's the fact that she's trying to stuff the ballot box and round up her friends against a legitimate review that is the most reprehensible. So she was upset and she vented or had a knee-jerk reaction? If she was just apologizing for that then I think this would blow over a lot quicker. But thinking you have the right to manipulate rankings and votes and things like that is bullshit.

You know what? I'm done.

Ever since this whole debate popped up sometime in 2011, in the few posts I've made, I've defended the authors. I got in discussions with Kat, Cory, and some others (thought I wouldn't be surprised if you guys don't remember me...) and I've stood up for the authors, claiming that one side is no better than the other.

But this? This thread proves otherwise. This thread hints at a shift in author-behaviour, and quite frankly? I'm disgusted by it.

Not only did I have a hard time believing an author could do such a thing, but I've read this whole thread and seen how respectful you guys have been, even in your anger. You've supported Stephanie (and seriously, Steph, nobody deserves support more than you!) and kept the thread from becoming a hate-filled shriek-fest. You have truly been professional. Great job!

So, even though I hate taking sides, even though I'm fully aware not all authors are like this, I have to say that I'm done. There comes a time when one has to send a message: this is not okay. It's simply not, no matter what Leigh says to try and justify it.

So... I'm officially Team Reviewer. Oh dear...

That is simply appalling to hear from an author. I'll be keeping that author's name in mind so I'll never pick up a book by her. What disgusting behaviour!

This makes me feel sick for having bought this book. I haven't read it yet though, and now have no desire to. #recyclebin

Sorry you had to endure this, Steph :(

Paige wrote: "Pam wrote: ""bitch" "big nose" really? I'm not advocating anything but being rude about appearance and using the word bitch is ridiculous. You guys think you are any better than her acting that way..."

To be honest Paige. I just found out about the Tempest review today. I rarely check into Goodreads :) I (along with several others who replied on Twitter to that hash tag) thought it was a fun hash tag. So I didn't know it was about a specific review here and my comment was about the trolls here not good reviewers.

This thread poppped up on my homepage as well, and I just wanted to give *hugs* to Stephanie... I *ran* over to amazon and 'liked' your review straight away, and I hope that all authors will realize that they need to be a lot more careful with their fans. And yes, even someone who writes a negative review can be a fan.

Hopefully, things will get better around here, and authors won't continue trying to change the reviews here or on amazon or any other place.

I am mortified to read this from an author that must remain professional at all times, even when reviews are not that positive, I never read the book so I can't add my two cents I tend to buy books based on the interaction online I have with authors and this is not the right move for her, yes critique stings like a M*** but it also serves to help writers. In addition, just like TWILIGHT no one will blame the editor for issues in books the author will always get the blunt of the critiques.

Hey Stephanie, this popped up on my feed, too. Sorry you had to go through this kind of thing. Do you know who sent you the first e-mail with the copy of the author's nastiness?

I have to admit, I don't have a problem with the private venting to friends (although one of those "friends" obviously didn't care to keep it private -- let that be a lesson to all of us!), it's the organizing a hit squad that's so egregious.

I gave an author a terrible review once and then followed it up with a much better review on another book. But the much better review had some (deserved, IMO) criticism in it. This author is a sweetie, but I could see her being upset by my harsher review. I know she's seen it. If she vented to friends I wouldn't take offense. I was pretty harsh. However, right after I posted the better review (that still had criticism) all my reviews at Amazon started getting "unhelpfuls". Even old ones that hadn't been liked or disliked in ages. It just coincided so perfectly since I hadn't posted a review at Amazon in a long time. I know it was in relation to the criticism. Did she request it? I seriously doubt it. But one of her friends or a slavish fan sure did it, of that I'm certain.

All this to say that fans can be bad enough without authors egging them on.

OMFG. WTF IS THIS SHIT! Pissing me off! Gawddamn! People should express how they feel the way they want to. OMFG.

Beanbag wrote: "Hey Stephanie, this popped up on my feed, too. Sorry you had to go through this kind of thing. Do you know who sent you the first e-mail with the copy of the author's nastiness?

I have to admit, ..."

I don't know who the person was. It seems like the account was newly created to send me that message and it was a private account.

Once again, thanks everyone. I'm just glad it's over and done with.

Wow, I just spent an hour reading through this entire thread, and I never cuss, but I want so badly to right now. I thought Leigh was so nice. I liked her book, but I was also kinda annoyed with it. I didn't hate it, though. I can see why she acted the way she did.

AUTHORS! NOT EVERYONE WILL LIKE YOUR BOOKS! WE. WANT. TO. LIKE YOU. STOP GIVING US REASONS NOT TO, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

Goodness, I need some ice and a giant bowl of popcorn and a couple of cheesy Disney movies right now.

Steph, I am SO, SO angry and sorry that this happened to you. I hope Leigh learned her lesson. And Lissa? That. Sucks. Tons.

Lastly..
*waits while my GIFs finish uploading on Photobucket*

My reactions, for your entertainment:

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Okay, more or less read all of this -- got a little "skimmy" the last couple pages.

Stephanie, I'm very sorry this happened to you -- it's one of the hazards of reviewing, but it shouldn't be! Her apology seems, well, better than can be expected, but it doesn't put the genie back in the bottle.

Lastly, can someone steer me toward the Rachel Hawkins stuff? I loved the first 2 Hex Hall books, and I was looking forward to giving them both a very nice review when I got some other reviews and obligations out of the way, but there is no way I will support her if she is bullying reviewers. If this is true, it will be a great disappointment, considering how excited I was to find a new author.

Why does this stuff keep happening? It always harms, never helps.

Michelle wrote: "Lastly, can someone steer me toward the Rachel Hawkins stuff?"

Just check her Twitter feed a few days back.

Michelle wrote: "Okay, more or less read all of this -- got a little "skimmy" the last couple pages.

Stephanie, I'm very sorry this happened to you -- it's one of the hazards of reviewing, but it shouldn't be! He..."

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It really saddens me to see all this drama going on at the moment and usually I stay well away from it but I can’t keep my mouth shut any longer. The crux of the issue is freedom of speech. Whilst I don’t always agree with a particular blogger’s reviewing style, they absolutely have a right to an opinion about a book and how they express that is totally their choice.

However

Freedom of speech extends to EVERYONE and let’s not forget that. An author can absolutely respond how they wish to, however I would hope that they would be wise about it and professional enough to do it with grace and sensitivity acknowledging the above statement.

What happened to Fallon is a bit like her personal diary being thrown around the internet for all to see. In the words of Bridget Jones “It’s just a diary. Everyone knows diaries are full of crap”. I don’t believe Leigh was making a personal attack in any way; she was obviously hurt by such a negative review and acted like a normal human being by venting to those closest to her. Her ranting to a couple of friends was never meant to be made public. Now imagine this happening to you. Embarrassing? Sure. Pretty devastating? Absolutely. But overall, it would probably make you feel like shit which I’m guessing is pretty much how Fallon is feeling right now. I think it was very brave of her to admit that she wrote those words and to explain her actions. She even apologised for her private thoughts and opinions which haven’t we already agreed, that we are all entitled to our own opinions? I don’t believe in punishing someone for making a mistake, especially when it was not her fault. Have I read Leigh’s book? No. Will I? Sure. This “incident” has not put me off at all. I don’t believe this drama should be seen as authors vs. bloggers or bloggers vs authors or even bloggers vs. Bloggers (yes, the person who attempted to stir some shit up about a fellow blogger did not go unnoticed) but I’m hoping that we can all be decent human beings and invoke our capacity to forgive.

Um, Lynsey, did you miss the part where she tried to manipulate all of the Amazon reviews?

Lynsey, it was not a private diary. She sent out a request that she had no control over to 20 + people in an attempt to flood the amazon review section in her favor. Like I said before, it wasn't enough to have a huge advance and a substantial amount of advertising money from her publisher behind her. She issued a call for other people to assault the list until it read in her favor. It was not a diary, it was not private, and I find it difficult to excuse. I am, however, impressed that she admitted to it and apologized to Stephenie. She made a mistake and I don't feel anyone's career should end over a single mistake, but that doesn't mean we should all ignore it either.

The Holy Terror wrote: "Um, Lynsey, did you miss the part where she tried to manipulate all of the Amazon reviews?"

Seriously. I think we were supposed to be twins, bro.

Lucy wrote: "The Holy Terror wrote: "Um, Lynsey, did you miss the part where she tried to manipulate all of the Amazon reviews?"

Seriously. I think we were supposed to be twins, bro."

: )

The Holy Terror wrote: "Um, Lynsey, did you miss the part where she tried to manipulate all of the Amazon reviews?"

I think her eyes glazed over.

You're up to 237 "YES" votes on Amazon btw, including mine, but you wouldn't recognize my name on there lol

Thank you, guys, for the Hawkins info. So disappointed right now, and she lost 2 very nice reviews -- the type she wouldn't consider me an a-hole for writing. :)

***
Lynsey,
I agree about privacy and being allowed to vent to friends. If the email has just been that, well, I wouldn't have an issue with it. More authors would be in better shape if they vented privately. Honestly. Trusted friends! Spouse! Dog! Vent to them! If this has been all the email was (and the toe rag thing hadn't happened) I'd think no less of this woman, and would honestly think less of the person who betrayed her confidence.

I mean, it's ridiculous for any reader to think that a critical review is not going to stick in an author's craw. However, professionalism calls for the official response to be thanks or silence. The private one can be whatever they want, as long as they're not being shady.

The issue, for me, is that she enlisted her support group to sabotage an honest review. That is where she lost me -- well, that and calling the reviewer names directly. The former shows a lack of respect for readers, the latter is reviewer intimidation. Her choices show that she would like to suppress opinions that exist for the sole purpose of helping readers.

Lucy wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Okay, more or less read all of this -- got a little "skimmy" the last couple pages.

Stephanie, I'm very sorry this happened to you -- it's one of the hazards of reviewing, but ..."

Hey Lucy, I've just read the whole Twitter thing based on the comments of your review. It's unbelievable. But do you know if the authors have, I don't know, apologized or something?

※ Sophia ※ wrote: "Lucy wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Okay, more or less read all of this -- got a little "skimmy" the last couple pages.

Stephanie, I'm very sorry this happened to you -- it's one of the hazards of revi..."

As far as I can tell only Dan Krokos apologized and, well, obviously Fallon has for this separate incident too.

Lucy wrote: "※ Sophia ※ wrote: "Lucy wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Okay, more or less read all of this -- got a little "skimmy" the last couple pages.

Stephanie, I'm very sorry this happened to you -- it's one o..."

Yeah, okay. Thanks. It seems like they've all lost many potential readers..

Amber J. wrote: "You're up to 237 "YES" votes on Amazon btw, including mine, but you wouldn't recognize my name on there lol"

I saw that! I'm amazed.

I think Lucy, THT, and Michelle have pretty much voiced my opinion on the matter. I'm glad she apologized, just sad it all came to this.

Hi everyone,

This isn't really related to the current discussion but I feel it's important just the same:

Hannah Moskowitz (of the awesome comments on Kira's review of Tempest) and I were having a conversation on Twitter and she told me that one author who was using the #goodreadsslogan hashtag had absolutely no idea what was going on and just made an innocent comment. This author is now being blacklisted and is getting hate mail on her blog for the comment.

Although making the comment was just slightly in the wrong, it was also a comment that was made by someone totally unaware of the actual situation on Goodreads.

I would appreciate it if you all would take Jessica Corra off your "will-never-read" lists and the like.

Cory wrote: "The Holy Terror wrote: "Um, Lynsey, did you miss the part where she tried to manipulate all of the Amazon reviews?"

I think her eyes glazed over."

This is what I'm talking about, that's not a particularly nice comment. I did see that but I did not see any proof of it and to be honest, I don't entirely understand what she did on Amazon?

I didn't hear anything about Jessica Corra. Just as well.

Reut (reutreads) wrote: "Hi everyone,

This isn't really related to the current discussion but I feel it's important just the same:

Hannah Moskowitz (of the awesome comments on Kira's review of Tempest) and I were havin..."

The same thing with me and I talked to one author and she had no idea either. I don't think anyone had any idea that what we were replying to was more than talking about trolls on Goodreads. I for one didn't mean anything more than that and I didn't know anything about Tempest or Kira or Dan.

But you guys, we don't know for sure that Rachel was talking about Kira. She could have directed those tweets to Dan and kept them vague to keep from "burning bridges", so to speak. I'm very angry too, trust me. I just hate to get worked up over something that might not be true later. Who knows what Rachel was thinking?

Julianna wrote: "But you guys, we don't know for sure that Rachel was talking about Kira. She could have directed those tweets to Dan and kept them vague to keep from "burning bridges", so to speak. I'm very angry ..."

Exactly what I was thinking when she tweeted that. I thought she was talking about Krokos.

Lynsey wrote: "This is what I'm talking about, that's not a particularly nice comment. I did see that but I did not see any proof of it and to be honest, I don't entirely understand what she did on Amazon? "

Particularly nice or not, the author admitted to rallying friends behind her to get Stephenie's review moved down on Amazon, thinking that it would increase her sales. That kind of behavior is dishonest and looked down upon. If you'd read all seven pages instead of jumping in, you'd understand that this isn't just about Fallon calling Stephenie a bitch/toerag/whatever in a "so-called" private email.

ETA: But I will offer an apology.

Kira wrote: "I didn't hear anything about Jessica Corra. Just as well."

Kira, I'm going to put the same comment on your review so it's out there.

Julianna wrote: "But you guys, we don't know for sure that Rachel was talking about Kira. She could have directed those tweets to Dan and kept them vague to keep from "burning bridges", so to speak. I'm very angry ..."

You should ask for clarification. I'm not saying heads or tails on Hawkins until she does. Other authors, however, have made their opinions quite clear on the matter.

Lynsey wrote: "This is what I'm talking about, that's not a particularly nice comment."

"Not particularly nice" is a bit of an understatement.

Cory wrote: "You should ask for clarification. I'm not saying heads or tails on Hawkins until she does. Other authors, however, have made their opinions quite clear on the matter."

It honestly doesn't matter to me who she was talking about. I didn't appreciate her comments or the ones from people who responded in kind.

Reut (reutreads) wrote: "Kira wrote: "I didn't hear anything about Jessica Corra. Just as well."

Kira, I'm going to put the same comment on your review so it's out there."

Well, Pam is letting us know publicly she knew nothing about Kira, which is nice. I wish Jessica would do the same. By not saying either on her blog or twitter that she didn't know she's not removing the perceived support her tweets indicated.

Reut (reutreads) wrote: "Hi everyone,

This isn't really related to the current discussion but I feel it's important just the same:

Hannah Moskowitz (of the awesome comments on Kira's review of Tempest) and I were havin..."

Thanks for letting me know about that.

Attention: just letting you know that Goodreads didn't remove my reviews of Moulton, DeStefano and Hawkin's books. I cut them right off my shelves. I thought about using them to express how I feel but I can't - it's not even entertaining. I felt sick having them in my database.

Again, Stephanie: hugs. I don't know what else to do other than support you.