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The Disappointment.
By Nancy Lindquist | May 4, 2007
She was one of my favorite authors. I read her stuff so many times I practically had it memorized. I admired her, thought she was a fabulous writer and was just in awe that I was in the same room with her, let alone the same convention. Then came the blow.
I was in a public arena, and I think it is a pretty good job of hiding the shock on my face. She was speaking. Intelligently, thoughtfully, and interestingly. Sometimes authors are really not as good at public speaking, as they are on paper. This woman did not disappoint. As a renowned author, she was someone to look up to and admire, someone to be like when I grew up. Someone whose work was to be lauded. So, when she said the horrible thing, I was beyond shocked.
What was the horrible thing? I’m not going to say, because if I did, everyone who attended the meeting I was in, would know exactly who I was talking about. I’m not interested in cruelly pointing out one person. Let’s just say. She held her own genre up as the very best, beyond all others, then abused my genre as unworthy next to hers. Her heroes as better than any in contemporary fiction.
What’s so terrible about that? I guess nothing. In the end everyone has their own opinion about which book is better which genre is best, which book is more interesting, which author speaks with a stronger and more pure voice. It’s very subjective, and that’s okay. It’s also a competitive industry. Just because I’ve been held up in arms and shoulders of my fellow authors, doesn’t mean everyone is. Nor should everyone be. On some level this is a solitary profession. Something done alone in the dark of night by the light of a computer only or single light lit behind you. Many writers, write when everyone is asleep. The house is quiet, the world is quiet, and they can think. I’m not like that. I like bustle, I like noise. I don’t like my books erased. Thank you son. Still, I understand that some people are very competitive in romantic fiction. However, in my opinion, there is no excuse for using someone’s work to make yours look better.
There are many different types of readers out there. Women who love historical, some contemporary, some paranormal. Personally, I don’t read much to do with vampires. Just don’t get into it. I don’t understand. That’s fine perfectly okay, that doesn’t mean that the people who are writing vampire and paranormal fiction aren’t fabulous writers doing excellent work they are in many cases they’re the best in our genre the very, best of the best. Women and men who are on the cutting edge of romance. It would never occur to me to say one negative thing about someone who writes in a genre different than my own, or their work. Yes, there is bad work out there and that should be talked about, but not labelling an entire group of people and their work.
So why did this writer do it? Why did she stand up in front of hundreds of other writers and laud her genre about everyone else’s? I cannot convey the sinking feeling in my gut, when she compared her hero is far more favorably to any hero in contemporary fiction. How disappointed I was, how saddened, how hurt someone I’ve longed to meet, someone whose autograph I’d love to have, someone whose books I spent hundreds of dollars on, would throw my genre under a bus to make some sales.
Am I all wounded in whiny? Yes, a little bit. I just never expected this woman, or anyone to say negative things about a genre that wasn’t their own, because they didn’t happen to write it. I don’t understand what she hoped to gain? Was it more sales? Not from me. I’m sad to say that I will never purchase another one of her books again. I can’t financially support someone who accuses what I do of being not quite up to her wonderfullnes to gain more sales.
One of my fellow authors. A woman far wiser than I, said that this woman said negative things about my genre, because she may have been intimidated by the sales in my genre. I understand that to some extent. However, I just don’t feel that what she said was necessary. Is this a rant? A little bit. On some levels, I understand the desire to boost your sales by hurting the sales of others. This is a very competitive world. It doesn’t mean it’s right. I am not going to do it. Am I taking some sort of moral high road? I don’t know. It’s possible. Still, I believe there’s room for everyone. I believe the good book stand on its own merit. Maybe that makes me a little Pollyanna. I think that’s okay.
May 4th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Your feelings are your own, and you have to stand up for you believe in, sweetie. Remember this event so that in the future you can remind yourself and your friends to guard their words carefully.
Hugs, Monica
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