Comments on: Miss Crankypants Talks About Image

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By: Lynne Connolly

Lynne Connolly — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 10:11:19 +0000

Lots to say, not enough space to say it.
First – the paperback market,the books you find in bookstores. I’m still glomming, having discovered the US romance market a bare four years ago (I’m English), but I’m loving the backlists, everything from Iris Johanssen to Susan Elizabeth Philips. Great stuff. But I’m just not buying as many new books. Disgruntlement has taken hold. We know there are cliche-ridden, deeply wonderful books out there, so let’s hear about them. I don’t want a thoughtless, rave about a book that doesn’t deserve it, there is too much of that these days, I want an intelligent opinion, and one from several sources, because opinion varies. Once a certain standard of excellence is reached, I want to know what was good about the book. And I want to know when a book sucks, and why.
Publishers are learning not to ask authors to hit certain marks. No, there’s no formula, God forbid, but there are certain things that are expected of a new author, because that’s what always happened.
I’ve learned to trust my own judgement. I write for myself first, always have, through years of writing as a hobby (no less seriously undertaken, I just wrote the books I wanted to read). I went through a phase of hitting the marks. Now I won’t do that any more. I will write what I want to write, because I’ve learned that readers always appreciate honesty, and they can spot when there is a false note.
Second – e-books. This is where you’ll find the innovation, the great new stories and authors (and I’m not just saying that because I am one – most of my new purchases are e-books. We are past being tired of being denigrated by paperback writers – it’s the only market sector that is growing, the one that doubled in volume last year. We no longer need to go cap in hand to anyone. But, having said, that, there’s a lot of ‘Deadwood’ in the e-book market. It’s the wild frontier. There are houses that produce better quality books, both in terms of the look of the book and its contents, and there are the others. The only way readers can learn which is which is to buy some. Reviews are usually very kind, even to the books with grammatical errors in every sentence. But there are dazzlingly good books out there and publishers and agents are now looking to the e-book market for some of their new authors.
Many e-book authors are choosing to remain in the market. With the recent statistics, who wouldn’t? But we don’t need the markets to play off each other, to waste their time denigrating each other. We need them to work together. The paperback market needs the excitement and the innovation the new authors can bring, the younger market the e-book publishers are attracting, and the e-book market needs access to offline outlets and acceptance by industry professionals. Authors in both markets need the higher level of royalties the e-book companies offer.
Could that be why? – No, surely not!

By: Silma

Silma — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 18:46:49 +0000

Kassia, you have voiced an opinion that’s shared by those in the fantasy and sci-fi genre. Do you know how many fantasy and sci-fi writers and readers complain about the book covers? They’re too sensuous, or etc. They blame the covers for not been taken seriously. A friend of mine told me the same goes for suspense and horror. Funny how those inside those genres feel that nobody takes them seriously due to the book covers.

By: The Mess in Progress

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By: booksquare

booksquare — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 18:35:50 +0000

Brenda — thanks for posting. I discovered the source of the quote when I read your blog this morning. However, I was about fifteen minutes late to be out the door…

I don’t mind being confused with you at all!

By: Brenda Coulter

Brenda Coulter — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 18:28:23 +0000

I believe I can clear up this small mystery: The “giggling schoolgirls” quote is from yesterday’s post over at my blog. I was linking to this entry of yours, Kassia, which is probably how Karen got us confused.

I’m cool with it, though. I’ve always wanted to put words in your mouth.

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 17:39:48 +0000

OMG, those horrible clinch covers. As if it’s not bad enough that they’re so insidiously insulting to women, how about the fact that the art is stunningly *BAD*! Victorian virgins in slinky polyester frocks with elasticized scoopnecks! Bare chested Regency dukes in capes and tighty latex pants! I can’t help but wonder where these cover artists got their “art” education. Avon deserves special mention for ensuring the survival of the Cheesy Romance Art Painters union (CRAP). My favorite artist is the one whose heroes have an oddly simian look. Monkey men don’t quite do it for me, but it must be working for someone.

By: Kassia Krozser

Kassia Krozser — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 14:47:45 +0000

Karen, I’m not when or where I wrote what you’re quoting, but would say that I’m not ashamed of what I write — but I am frustrated by the fact that something I take great pride in doing doesn’t seem to receive serious treatment from the institutions that support my work. I realize, more than most people, that publishing is, first and foremost, a business, and business decisions necessarily trump art. However, the fact remains that sales of fiction are down, including in the romance genre, and the industry needs to take a serious look at itself to address ways to grow the audience. These are my thoughts on the matter.

As for the giggling schoolgirls (really need to figure out where that came from ), that is the public image of romance, but based on the readers and writers I know, that’s not the reality. Unfortunately, it’s easier to present women as silly that complex.