Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

Crain’s, oh, how you torment me. All these interesting bits of stuff to link to but can I link? No. Your content is locked up tighter than a widow’s virginity. PAH!

In this week’s issue is a small item in the “New York, New York” section, edited by Valerie Block (gotta cite your sources, now) that discusses using MySpace to promote books and boost their popularity. Seems MySpace is trying to parlay it’s success as a “launching pad for recording artists” by “redesign[ing] its year-old MySpace Books section...with an eye toward doing the same with authors” according to an unnamed industry insider.

The article cites the success of the book Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture as evidence of the power of MySpace. After the book was featured, the Amazon sales ranking, oh that addictive statistic, shot from 3243 to 261: “A MySpace spokeswoman says Everybody Hurts has been the most popular book on the site,” according to the article.

With an obvious tie-in to the music industry and its success using MySpace as a promotional vehicle, the agent for the book hopes to use the community-building aspect of MySpace to craft a book tour that will combine readings by the authors with performances by “emo bands.”

(Man, what a whine-fest that will be.)

Bitchery member Abby, a noble and kickass librarian, sent me the following link. Seems the latest issue of Library Journal features a story on gay/lesbian books as part of it’s “Collection Development” section. It’s not just romances that help develop the collection, but there are great online resources in the article, according to Abby.

The romance recommendations themselves could stand to reference our own lesbian romance recommendations, for example, but even then they do mention some good names, such as Kallmaker and Forrest. But Abby is right - the online resources section is rather fab, should you or someone you know be on the lookout for good gay/lesbian literature.

Thanks Abby!

Early Ink is now live and running, and I believe will be accepting promotional materials for new books within the next few days. So far initial feedback has been very cool, and I hear word that some Major Name Authors are looking to feature their upcoming books on Early Ink. I also hear tales of upcoming feature stories on Big Honking News Outlets online, so boo yah to them.

I was trying to explain the site to a book-loving friend, and the best analogy I could come up with is this: imagine going to the book store, and seeing all the new releases organized by genre and subgenre, in one central location. You can read the back cover, read an excerpt, and check out what other people are saying about a mystery novel, and then, without having to actually walk to another shelf (or get out of your chair), you can go examine the new releases in romance, or sci fi & fantasy, and do the same thing. As a reader, this site is way fun, and something of a super-addictive time-slurp.

I think the site is way cool (though it needs more hot pink, for gosh sakes) and even if I hadn’t spent the weekend re-learning a CMS I used to know - it was kind of like having dinner with an ex-boyfriend three years later - I’d be reading the entries.

(Bitch Disclosure: Mollie Smith, brain behind the Ink, asked for my help with managing the advertisements on the site since she wisely decided to use our friendly adserver. So if you inquire about advertising with them, and end up talking to a Smart Bitch about uploading and reports, don’t be alarmed. I can be professional. No, really, I swear! No, shut up, really!)

Bitchery reader Amy sent me a link to some interesting author reviews on everyone’s favorite free-for-all, Amazon.com. Seems Linda Bardoll has been responding in snark fashion to negative reviews of her book Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife.

Amy herself didn’t enjoy the book, and posted a review as such, which appeared among other more scathing reviews from folks who were downright irate at how much they’d disliked the book.

Bardoll has, in Amy’s words, “decided that she’s not going to take the criticism lying down, and is making an effort to rebut some of the more offensive one-star reviews by leaving replies to them such as:

Due to your outrage, we can only be grateful that you didn’t read farther. We might have to have sent for the paramedics. I do hope you borrowed it from the library and did not pay good money for it. If you did purchase it with so little research, it isn’t surprising that you are unaware that there are dozens and dozens of P&P sequels. I’m certain you can find one among them more to your liking. Really.”

An anonymous source gave us the dish on Triskelion Publishing, which has apparently canceled their print program and has had their RWA conference invite revoked. No Dallas in July for you! Why, oh why? Author complaints is the first order on the list.

But of course, there’s always more. Our source got a hold of a letter from Gail Northman, incoming EIC at Triskelion, detailing what happened, and what RWA said to rescind their invitation for publisher appointments and workshop participation. Seems Ms. Northman is angry that details of private email were forwarded to RWA, so she fires back on those who are happy with the “FWD” button by posting RWAs letter to her on a Triskelion-centered YahooGroup. Tit for tat, eh?

Since it seems that there are those that are happy to go running to the RWA for everything including the fact that I am now Publisher or will be at the end of the month… and send details of private emails to Allison Kelley - I’m obliging by posting her letter to us....

RWA’s mission is to advance the professional interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy.  In striving to fulfill its commitment to members, RWA established standards that publishers must meet to participate in RWA programs such as the annual conference.  RWA recognition generate a significant amount of credibility and free exposure to the Publisher who appear on RWA’s list.

As you know, I have written to advise you of complaints against your company on least three occasions.  Author have asked me to write to you to resolve issues related to delayed royalty payments, NSF royalty checks, and reversion of rights.

Furthermore, I am aware that you notified authors that most print titles for 2007 will be either be delayed or removed from the schedule.  By admission in email, “Triskelion bit off more than they could chew,” and many authors have suffered.  Not only have authors invested significant amounts of money to publicize print versions of books that will not be released, they have also missed out on opportunities to licence their rights to other publishers.

A recent review of your company’s website lists 154 authors of which 93 are RWA members, a clear indication that Triskelion found 60% of its authors through RWA. Due to the ongoing problems authors are reporting, and the latest announcements regarding print titles, changes in editorial staff and management, I have concluded that RWA must act in the best interests, of its members and rescind the invitation for Triskelion Publishing to participate in the workshopes and editor appointments at RWA 2007 conference in Dallas.

Regards
Allison Kelley

I’m not taking over officially until June 1st however, in that I have some points to make out. First off two of our editors have now lost their flight money.... and secondly we have lost money in wasted promotion too… so it’s not something that is just down to the authors.....another thing we have not found a majority of our authors via RWA they found us and in a lot of cases here before we even got recognition… I also might add - I didn’t realise one had to RWA with changes in the company management and editors.. editors come and they go.

So here is the thing.... If you are not happy, not interested in working with us for any reason… just let me know I’ll give you your rights back.  I’m done… with reading stuff that I sent out - seen forwarded elsewhere… you are either with me / us or against me / us.  The ball is in your court.  However, I’m here today and tomorrow and I’ll be leaving for Texas before returning home if you want it done now email me - if you are happy and willing to work with me… that’s great and I look forward to it.

And on a side no I’ve vaguely informed you I have issues at home big major ones that I have to deal with when I return..and so you know I have ***edited to remove WAY too much pathos in the form of TMI, because yeah, you have a point, gotta think of the children here *** -SBS.… so if I’m not answering your emails fast enough I’m sorry but I have a lot on my mind.

But through all this.. I hope those of you that are happy want to work with us… we’ll do well and prosper.

Gail

Good heavens. Business drama plus pathos equals extra drama like damn.

That said, good gracious. Anyone in the Bitchery want to comment or confirm the scuttlebutt? And if you have your rights with Triskelion, will you ask for them back and shop elsewhere?