Lately I feel like I've become a tad too absorbed by romance novels. In addition, I become extremely irritable whenever there is mention by an Avon author of a book of theirs coming out in Winter of 2035 (ok, I'm exaggerating here, but it feels that I have to wait that long sometimes). So...it was no surprise to me when I blew the proverbial gaskette, after reading on the avon author message board that Lisa Kleypas had sent one of her fans an advanced copy of AN AFFAIR IN AUTUMN, a book due to be released in October. The fan, a very nice and sweet girl, was so excited about getting it, that she mentioned it on the avon board...you can imagine the chaos that followed...and now...now I am absolutely ashamed to admit that I was one of the ringleaders of this rebellion against the poor girl (who will probably never post a thing on the site again). I really cannot, in hindsight, comprehend what led to me getting so upset over something as trivial as a book...I'm disgusted that I would even take my frustration for AVON and their greedy tactics out on this poor girl...The fan is not to blame...I almost applaud Lisa for wanting to give the girl some relief...WE ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR BOOK II FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, after all...but then again, why doesn't Lisa (and the other Avon authors) do something more than engage in such passive aggressive rebellion against their publisher? How about grabbing Avon by the balls and telling them to stop fucking with them and US, the reader? I guess I felt betrayed...betrayed that we all have to wait forever to read what might end up being, courtesy of Avon's shitty editors, a really bad book (God, I truly hope this is not a case)...betrayed that the authors aren't sending all of their fans a free book; betrayed that authors don't fight for their fans, but instead just accept the postponing of their much awaited novels and take whatever release date (even if years from now) they can get. Sorry, but I don't buy the bullshit excuse that Avon has to satisfy every author as a reason for delaying book releases...not that dumb...Avon publishes about 6 books a month...other companies publish double that amount...definitely seems like Avon is trying to get us to buy books by other less established authors, enticing us with sex-filled excerpts (which end up being the only good few sentences of the book) and cheesy covers (see Donna Fletcher's new book...blaurgh!). I didn't really believe this until a friend pointed this theory out to me. It makes perfect sense..Kleypas has her fan base, idiots like me who would wait 2 years or more for a book of hers (a series book, mind you)...I can hear them now..."let them wait for Kleypas and Enoch and all the other good authors; let's leave'em with nothing to read but really bad Stephanie Laurens novels...let's giv'em Book 531 of the Cynster series. They'll take it...they're morons..." Oh, now I'm getting upset again...I really need to chill out. I might take a break from these novels. Really considering re-reading MIDDLEMARCH. I love the book; it's about 500 pages or so but a masterpiece. Read it in college. I need something different, something that I already know "with absolute certainty" is good...
Again, I feel really stupid for getting upset at a fan who is probably 10 years younger than me...I just lost it...really hated Avon at that time and was just annoyed that Kleypas would not fight harder to get her Wallflower series out when it was first intended to come out. She should have fought for us and she didn't. I really hope Avon chills out with these methods of theirs to get more readers for their new authors; it's bound to backfire...by the way...did I mention that I'm really getting sick of the kiss ass attitudes of several of the Avon Message Board fans? More on that later....ciao!
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2 comments:
I gave up on Avon some time ago. Lisa Kleypas is the only author left there I will buy. All the others have gradually moved off my autobuy list. One of the reasons is what you mentioned - the game playing they seem to do. Another is there is such sameness to so many of their books. It's just one huge generic bunch - some better, some worse - but overall the same. And when was the last time the published a historical outside of Engand with a hero/heroine who weren't members of the nobility - other than the odd Kleypas book? I don't understand what's going on with the Kleypas situation. I may be wrong but hasn't she had at least 3 of them written for ages and ages now? I don't blame the authors - they can't help what's going on. They need to earn a living and I'm pretty sure they aren't unionized :)
To set the record straight, I have since learned that Kleypas did not take the postponement of her books sitting down. It's nice to hear that authors fight for fans.
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