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We all know GR has had it’s share of drama. We’re battle-scarred & throw up our hands saying “we just want to read books”.
So, I, too, got the message from the troll "Kay". But, unlike some, I believe what she posted is true. And IF any of it’s true, it isn’t just drama. It is HUGELY problematic, potentially illegal, and has the power to really hurt people.
Please, just think through a few of these things:
— Mar 05, 2018 01:57PM
So, I, too, got the message from the troll "Kay". But, unlike some, I believe what she posted is true. And IF any of it’s true, it isn’t just drama. It is HUGELY problematic, potentially illegal, and has the power to really hurt people.
Please, just think through a few of these things:
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Angela wrote: "Jaime wrote: "Whoever found the pic of Marvin and Alicia adopting the cat... huge score."Meow
It was me"
Good catch!!
There are some truly horrible stories that have been shared here and I can only be grateful to each and every one of you who had the courage to do so. You are all very brave to do so and I hope you know that you are not alone in this. I've never been targeted by SH or his posse, so I can only imagine what you've gone through,On a sidenote: It looks like all of SH's books have been pulled from Audible as well, they're still up at Tantor though. (I'm hoping this isn't just a regional thing as some books isn't visible outside US)
Anne-Marie wrote: "Catching up on the thread... Riptide surprised me by doing the right thing and by issuing such a clear and open statement. I honestly was wary whether they would drop him AND apologise for standing..."Amen!
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
Just what the???
Artemisia wrote: "Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
Just what the???"
In the whole #metoo and #timesup movement, I know this is murky considering it's an anonymous account with a name attached, but just... Fucking hell!
LA Witt just posted an apology on Facebook. Sorry, I can’t post the link :-(
Marbles wrote: "Well done Riptide.I've emailed Dreamspinner, Penguin, and St Martin's Press. I suggest you all do the same."
Don't forget Tantor for the audiobooks while you're at it.
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
OMG! Noah... I’m in tears now.
What a cruel piece of scum this excuse for a human being he is turning out to be!
Can you all just imagine how many more stories we yet to find because ppl are ashamed? How many horror stories we will NEVER find out about???
I’m SO SO upset.
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul wrote: "LA Witt just posted an apology on Facebook. Sorry, I can’t post the link :-("Here you go:-)
https://www.facebook.com/thethinker42...
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
There is no excuse for that!!
OMG Noah’s story is just heartbreaking. SH’s behavior to him counts as grooming for heaven’s sake.
Anne-Marie wrote: "OMG Noah’s story is just heartbreaking. SH’s behavior to him counts as grooming for heaven’s sake."At the very least! :(
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
God, that’s heartbreaking
Line wrote: "Paul wrote: "LA Witt just posted an apology on Facebook. Sorry, I can’t post the link :-("Here you go:-)
https://www.facebook.com/thethinker42......"
Thank you!!
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
This is just another level of sickness entirely.
Anne-Marie wrote: "OMG Noah’s story is just heartbreaking. SH’s behavior to him counts as grooming for heaven’s sake."And to think that it was or a women or her homophobic husband that was behind all these conversations Noah thought he was having with “Sonny”!
My heart aches!
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
Check this out on what he said inspired him to write about NFL
From little league to high school to college ball and the NFL, I’ve grown up watching coaches belittle their players during practice and on the field, parents advise their sons to embrace toughness and shun emotions if they want to someday be like their athlete heroes, and that most importantly—society saying that football players are examples of real men.
https://www.themarysue.com/why-queer-...
Marbles wrote: "I don't agree with comparing her to Weinstein etc..."
Could you stop? Please. This hurts.
That statement wasn't made to be flippant. I and several other authors have been sexually harassed or coerced by Sarah Lyons, and stuck in sexually inappropriate situations with her because of her position as an editor and power over our careers. We have ongoing discussions about it, and her longstanding history of sexually inappropriate behavior. I know it might not have made it to reader circles, but that's because it's happening to authors and we talk about it behind closed doors. Film isn't the only industry with a whisper network, which was what that tweet comparison was meant to illustrate.
If you're going to believe victims, believe victims. Don't pick and choose. Continuously being invalidated when I know the harm she's done to me and others? When even thinking about this triggers me and makes me feel sick? Constantly being questioned and sideways dismissed? It hurts.
Even if you don't believe me, for the sake of other authors watching in silence, please leave the dismissals at the door.
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
JFC!!! poor kid!
I know I'm late to this, but I also want to thank everyone who helped bring this to light. It was a couple of days ago I saw what was going on and I have been reading through this thread and other things since. It makes me sick to read what these people have done to others. But I'm glad the truth is finally coming out. And my heart aches for all of those who were deceived, bullied and hurt by these people. I am so sorry this has happened. Those who speak out are amazing, brave people who deserve all the support they can get.
Paul wrote: "LA Witt just posted an apology on Facebook. Sorry, I can’t post the link :-("Lori's comment. She posted Riptide's Statement Link and then said the following (and I genuinely believe she was only "defending" an author's right to privacy and not what "they" were doing:
So that.... well shit. Consider my mind blown. I didn't believe it, didn't want to believe it, but now? I would say I've got a nice helping of egg on my face and crow on my plate for what I thought was defending an author whose privacy was being violated, when in fact I was unwittingly defending a catfish. So I apologize for that because while I certainly stand by my assertion that authors deserve privacy, I don't condone this by any means. I thought I knew what was going on. I was wrong.
And now I'm completely boggled and blown away and I hope people understand if I'm hesitant to back up someone I haven't personally met in the future.
Now I'm going to go write. Probably after I throw up.
https://www.facebook.com/thethinker42...
Okay, wow, this is... I don't have words. I haven't actually read any of SH's books, but I was looking forward to starting the 5B series. I've been putting it off because they're so long and I prefer shorter books, and I'm happy for that now.
I am supporting SH on Patreon though, but I'll be cancelling that pledge now. (At the same time it's interesting to see what SH posts to his Patreons, what excuses and whiny shit 'he' comes up with... and all those people still supporting SH. I don't get it!)
I'm also a member of his group(s), but I'm not sure if it's on my new pen name or old pen name so I have to go switch between those FBs to figure this out and leave those groups. Also both my GR accounts and all those books on my want-to-read shelves.
I'm so sorry for everyone who's been hurt by SH. I've never spoken to SH or any of his co-authors, never read anything by them (except Piper Vaughn years ago, and she still hasn't posted anything about this). This came as a shock to me. And I'm shocked after reading this thread and those Twitter accounts. This is horrible. I'm glad the truth is finally coming out though!
First of all, I wanna thank everyone here for standing up and being so brave. Im so shocked and saddened by all this, and I know karma is gonna catch SH and thier peanut gallery soon.
Marbles wrote: "Dreamspinner has a FB group if people want to speak up in there? Someone definitely monitors and responds in there."It's been mentioned, this thread linked to and Riptide's statement posted.
There's still a ridiculous number of "sheeples" and I'm going to refer to them as that, who are still defending both SH and ME and claiming this is the work of "crazy" ex-fans with time on their hands but, as I said elsewhere:
"There's none so blind as those who cannot see"
Line wrote: "GUYS! You need to read this: https://twitter.com/sweetsakuradoll/s...Just... Fucking hell!"
Guys, girls, I know I haven't commented here before but I.... I just read this and I'm sitting here at work crying. If this is true and honestly, I don't doubt him... I don't have words....
For the past week I have been reading as many posts here and on Twitter and FB as I can and I'm devastated and so, so sorry that you had to go through this.
THANK YOU ALL for being so brave and relentless, for making sure we got rid of this individual despite all that you had to endure. I have nothing but the greatest respect for all of you and I'm so very happy that some of you can now reconnect with long-lost friends.
~sending you all the biggest hugs~ <3<3
Marbles wrote: "Cadiva wrote: "Marbles wrote: "Dreamspinner has a FB group if people want to speak up in there? Someone definitely monitors and responds in there."It's been mentioned, this thread linked to and R..." some of us asked them on the fb group, I didn't check if there is a reply or not, though.
I will email Dreamspinner this morning as well. While I hope they will listen to any email they receive, perhaps hearing it from one of their authors will nudge them in the right direction. Thanks for having a voice. I am sorry I couldn't hear it sooner. tj
T.J. wrote: "I will email Dreamspinner this morning as well. While I hope they will listen to any email they receive, perhaps hearing it from one of their authors will nudge them in the right direction. Thanks ..."Thank you, TJ!! I really hope they are going to listen!
Wow. I posted a new topic with a link to the Riptide Statement in the M/M Romance Group because it's very topical to the genre and it was deleted within minutes from the group.
Marbles wrote: "On FB or here? "..."
on the goodreads group
ETA: I added nothing accept the link and one line of info that if people were wondering about their preorders, the link might explain it. The title was simply Riptide Publishing Makes A Statement.
Susan wrote: "I guess the moderators are fans?"Wow 😲
Susan wrote: "I guess the moderators are fans?"From the group description: The #1 resource on the Internet for M/M Romance fans, this group has something for everyone.
I don't know how you can be the #1 Resource if you aren't keeping your members up to date on very important problems in the genre....
But yes, Lisa (a Mod) posted a buddy read for for Down by Contact in January so I'm assuming the group is showing bias by not allowing the info to be posted.
xbmbgrl wrote: "Wow. I posted a new topic with a link to the Riptide Statement in the M/M Romance Group because it's very topical to the genre and it was deleted within minutes from the group."
Yes, I deleted the comment. I'll admit that I did it with extreme sadness, but we have our reasons for it, which are complicated and also based on past happenings within our group. After I had deleted it, I thought I'd perhaps would have been able to change it a little so we don't set off a for/against fight in the group, but we have over 23,000 members and we need to stay a safe place for everyone.
In this forum I can say I'm appalled by SH's behaviour and that of his rabid followers. However, as a mod in the M/M group I have copped a lot of crap thrown at me over the years, so I need to be more careful and it's a fine line to walk. I'd LOVE to scream my outrage in the group, but for every one of us that feels like I do there is another, vocal, rabid perhaps, member who will defend SH to the death. A scenario like this almost tore the group to pieces in 2011, and I'm sure that other members who were around during this time would agree: we don't want a repeat.
I'm desperately trying to think of a way in which we can discuss this in the group without having to fear a shitstorm, but I've been racking my brain all day (I'm an Aussie, and it's getting close to midnight here) but I just can't see one.
I'm sorry we've disappointed you, but I'm hoping you can understand our position, even if you don't agree with it.
Susan wrote: "I guess the moderators are fans?"No Susan, definitely not. In fact he's been blacklisted by me for years already.
And sorry, it was a little more than just a link posted...the topic itself was linked to SH.
Shaz wrote: "xbmbgrl wrote: "Wow. I posted a new topic with a link to the Riptide Statement in the M/M Romance Group because it's very topical to the genre and it was deleted within minutes from the group."
..."
I don't understand your position at all. Sorry. You just sided with this guy 100%
Yes, I know all about how this group gets sucked into the political aspects of the genre, it's part of being a group dedicated to a genre with high drama. Sometimes it comes with a shitstorm to do the right thing.
Deleting for whatever your "reasons" are is disappointing and does truly show your belly.
Shaz wrote: "Susan wrote: "I guess the moderators are fans?"No Susan, definitely not. In fact he's been blacklisted by me for years already.
And sorry, it was a little more than just a link posted...the top..."
You guys had to know this would come up. You're now covering for him. If you didn't like the way it was posted, the moderators should have posted it the way you wanted it posted. Your attempt to stay neutral is complicity.
That doesn't surprise me much, as there are reasons I'm not active in that group anymore. The only thing I'm doing over there is my annual challenge. I found another home where I'm quite happy:)
Viv wrote: "Susan wrote: "Aissa wrote: "I originally made a small post earlier but under an anonymous name. I deleted it. But Jenn said I need to tell my story. I would feel better. I love you, Jenn, but I fee..."Same I am in tears. Susan Hugs! Alissa, I love you to pieces. I can't wait til GRL!
xbmbgrl wrote: "Shaz wrote: "xbmbgrl wrote: "Wow. I posted a new topic with a link to the Riptide Statement in the M/M Romance Group because it's very topical to the genre and it was deleted within minutes from ..."
Uhm, did you read my statement where I said I wanted to shout my opinion from the rooftops? But, you are showing exactly why we are trying to avoid this erupting in the group. You're accusing us of siding with "them". They'll accuse us of siding with "you" and then all hell breaks loose.
We are trying to be a safe place for EVERYONE. And at times that calls for us having to play neutral territory. Trust me, we all have our opinions, and while you might not believe me, I know how quite a lot of us feel. We just can't always be as vocal about it as we'd like.
I'm sorry we've disappointed you, but then again, I've always said I can't please all 23,600 of our members.
xbmbgrl wrote: "You guys had to know this would come up. You're now covering for him. If you didn't like the way it was posted, the moderators should have posted it the way you wanted it posted. Your attempt to stay neutral is complicity."Covering for him? Where the hell do you get that from? We aren't covering for him, we are simply not giving EITHER camp free rein to tear the group to pieces... if a "pro SH" group would post something it would be deleted just as fast. And if you did your research, we aren't silencing everything, we are simply asking members to keep it outside the group as much as we can to avoid exactly what is now happening in these last few posts!
Shaz wrote: "xbmbgrl wrote: "Shaz wrote: "xbmbgrl wrote: "Wow. I posted a new topic with a link to the Riptide Statement in the M/M Romance Group because it's very topical to the genre and it was deleted with..."
Yeah, I saw your statement. Personally you think the guy is scum, but for the sake of the group, you have no official opinion. I don't even think the group has to have an opinion but shutting it out totally is a statement all by itself.
You could post the statement, indicate the group has no official opinion and close it to comments. Ignoring it makes your big powerful group cowardly next to Nikki and the others that fought bravely by themselves to make sure this information wasn't shutdown by intimidation.
Shaz, I understand where you are coming from and what you want to achieve. But please have in mind that by avoiding this topic and by keeping silent you give SH the chance to keep his Patreon running and to find new victims who have no idea what is going on. Not my definition of a safe place. I hope you will at least post the statement of Riptide.
And Susan, my apologies. I didn't mean to hijack your thread. I can't tell you how sorry I am that all of you have had to go through all of this.
Andrea wrote: "Shaz, I understand where you are coming from and what you want to achieve. But please have in mind that by avoiding this topic and by keeping silent you give SH the chance to keep his Patreon runni..."As I've said, I've been racking my brain trying to think of a way to say something to the group that won't cause a meltdown. And it's not a decision I can make alone, and with mods in all different time zones in the world, that's not an easy thing to do. So, please, give us a chance. We are trying to talk behind the scenes, but us Aussies are heading to bed and the US members are at work... I think we'll probably post a statement as you suggested, adding links and then yes, close the thread. But let us get the wording right so we don't make matters worse first, please.
Shile loves books wrote: "Check this out on what he said inspired him to write about NFLFrom little league to high school to college ball and the NFL, I’ve grown up watching coaches belittle their players during practice and on the field, parents advise their sons to embrace toughness and shun emotions if they want to someday be like their athlete heroes, and that most importantly—society saying that football players are examples of real men."
You know, Shile, that's really interesting because SH said something completely different here:
"Inspiration for it came from my friend who’s a football coach and just, like, watching how he is so, like, dedicated and devoted to this game, not only just because he’s a coach, but also because he’s a fan, and it got me really interested in football culture, and I wanted to learn more about it, so I started, like, asking him a bunch of questions, and I started following college football, which is amazing. I love it so much more than actual pro football. But, yeah, just, like, the fact that he enjoys helping kids, like, you know, get scholarships to schools; maybe, you know, it’s not, like, a D1 school or anything like that, but he just helps them improve their life through a sport that they enjoy playing, and I really liked that, and I wanted to, wanted to write a character that, like, benefited from something like that."
http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/po...
He claimed that Gavin was based on this "friend". Ugh. I felt so horrible after reading that Twitter confession.
I also noticed how frequently SH seemed to stumble when discussing characters, and stories, and inspirations. It's almost like this person...gasp...didn't know what he was talking about at times!
I need to get out of it.. so many groups. I forget I am in half of them