Tuesday, October 10, 2006

As if the week hasn't been stellar enough...

I just banned the first author from being reviewed by Spinetingler.

Let me just say this, to all authors, for the record - and because I'm in a bad mood I'm not going to pull punches on this.

If a publication has submission procedures for reviews, you follow them. Unless you have been contacted by the reviewer and invited to do things differently, don't assume special rules apply for you.

When it comes to Spinetingler, one person has final say over reviews that go in our issues. K. Robert Einarson. And he isn't a reviewer. He's the co-founder and publisher.

If you go to reviewers, you're putting them in the position of taking a book they can't guarantee we'll run copy on. And I have built a wall to protect our reviewers from being harassed, specifically because they volunteer their time and I don't want any of them to be abused. We have explicit guidelines on the site, for the information you are to email to me.

If one of our reviewers is interested, I will notify you.

If I ever find out an author has gone behind my back to a reviewer directly - particularly if they have been in contact with me already - or an author is abusive to a reviewer over their review, I'll ban them.

You know I'm friends with a lot of authors. I am one. We all make mistakes. But I have a responsibility to protect the people who volunteer and give of their time. That's my job.

And if I have to be supreme bitch of the universe, I will be.

Today I found out someone who'd been in contact with me went behind my back to a reviewer and this particular person is one who'd already left a bad taste in my mouth. No reviews of their books will go in our issues or on the review site.

I do NOT have time for this kind of bullshit.

26 comments:

Julia Buckley said...

I am going to make a T-shirt for you with that slogan on it: I don't have time for this kind of bullshit. Come to think of it, I'm going to make me one, too. :)

angie said...

Yuck. I can't think of another pertinent thing to say...just yuck.

Sandra Ruttan said...

Oh, I want the t-shirt Julia!

Angie, yeah. Yucky.

You know what's amazing? Every nice, decent, lovely person I know will email (if they haven't already) to say, "it wasn't me, was it?" Every time I comment on behaviour that pisses me off, that happens.

And usually, it's a composite of behaviour by several people so no one person should actually think it's them. I don't do this to pick fights - I do it to get it off my chest.

But in this case, it really is one specific person.

You know, I don't want to lose my good reviewers. If we lose reviewers, we can do less for authors. So I have to protect them.

Now, why can't someone capable of writing a book muster the intelligence to see that they're hurting their career? Because they already weren't in my good books...

DesLily said...

Was it me? (just kidding !)

Boy somedays there is just no let up eh Sandra? Sorry you are having a bad time... sometimes screaming out loud helps! If that doesn't work a good punch in the nose! heh...

Sandra Ruttan said...

LOL DesLily! You're very funny.

Mindy Tarquini said...

Um...other than that, how was your day?

JT Ellison said...

Bah. Humbug. Tomorrow will be better!

Daniel Hatadi said...

See, I never get in trouble for this kind of thing. The reason is the same as why I never get ripped off on my credit card.

The credit card's always maxed out, and I've never published a book.

Here's hoping your mood changes once all these timewasters move on.

Oh, and on a sidenote, I used to have a t-shirt that said in huge, bold, capital letters, "LEAVE ME ALONE." It always made me laugh and it was guaranteed to provoke reactions in people I didn't even know.

Sandra Ruttan said...

Mindy, I've actually been reading a book I'm enjoying. That's something!

JT Scrooge, can I have that in writing?

Daniel, I want that t-shirt! Actually, I think I want a shirt that says, 'I see soon-to-be-dead people.' I bet everyone would leave me alone.

And you'd better get off your arse and get that book published! You've been entrusted with saving the PI genre. :)

Anonymous said...

Good on you Sandra. I love how all writers know that there are industry standards, but some people think it doesn't apply to them. Fact is you get what you give out.

Bonnie S. Calhoun said...

Sandra...tell us how you REALLY feel! LOL...I hope your week gets better...if I remember correctly Jonny Walker Red used to help!

Daniel Hatadi said...

I do like how you spell 'arse'. It's proper, I tells ya.

JamesO said...

I see a new line of Spinetingler T-Shirts. Can I put in an order? I like them in XL size. One of each, please.

Bill Cameron said...

I'm with James. XL here too, plz.

Sandra Ruttan said...

Amra, yeah, and if you've actually published more than one book, boy oh boy you should understand this!

Bonnie, you aren't encouraging me to turn to drink are you?! ;)

Very funny Daniel!

James, not Spinetingler t-shirts. Just t-shirts. But I could get a lot of use out of both of them! We should ask Bill to design them.

s.w. vaughn said...

All hail the Supreme Bitch of the Universe! :-)

You aren't a bitch, Sandra. You are a caring professional who is protecting the people who work for you. That rocks.

Behind the back sniping does not rock. Shame on the author who did.

Bill Cameron said...

I favor emphatic design styles.

Tracy Sharp - Author of the Leah Ryan Series said...

You're an extremely fair person who always gives the benefit of the doubt. When it gets to the point where you feel like you're being bitchy, that person has more than over-stepped the line.

JamesO said...

You're missing the marketing angle here, Sandra. You've got at least three really good sayings, and I'm sure the hordes who comment here could come up with more. Stick them on some T-shirts, along with a Spinetingler logo, and you'll have an army of fans who'll buy them and spread the word across the globe.

Alternatively I guess I could just get some fabric paint and make my own...

Bill Cameron said...

Front and back!

mai wen said...

Good for your, Sandra! It's not easy standing up for what's right and it's unfair that you'd have to be labeled a "bitch" when you do so. You're doing what's right and I think the person who tried to push the rules is a better candidate for that label!!

Kudos, girl!

Sandra Ruttan said...

Thanks Mai Wen!

Okay, do we have votes on the t-shirts? You guys are killing me! I'm supposed to be working here.

Anonymous said...

**BLUBBERS**GROVELS**WHIMPERS**

But dammit, Sandra!
Gaiman promised he'd rub my bunions if I gave him a super review!*


* NOTICE: This is not a true confession. It is, however, a rather pathetic unattainable fantasy.

Sandra Ruttan said...

What you and Gaiman get up to with your bunions stays between you guys!

Anonymous said...

I just bought a t-shirt that says "Don't make me break out my flying monkeys." I think this shows I am already the bitch supreme.

Bonnie S. Calhoun said...

Drinking??? Now that's a novel idea...LOL!