Truthfully, I hadn’t been impressed with them for a while, not the least of the reasons for that is because they call romance books “trashy” while claiming to love them – and then taking every opportunity to snark about them. Too many mixed messages for me.

Write, review or edit. Love books or don’t. Just be honest about your goals.

- Readers already complained about this author’s book to the publisher and apparently the publisher ignored their complaints, so the book was mentioned to us.

- I’m sorry, but the book is certainly unfit for publication. I’m still shocked, to be honest. It STILL doesn’t mean the author is that crap because she isn’t. She has an awesome imagination, for instance.

She just needs more time and effort in polishing her writing and storytelling skills, which can be done. Especially if with guidance from skilled editors and mentor authors.

But apparently she did have constructive feedback from her CPs and authors’ mailing list for her book, and she apparently chose to ignore their advice.

I can’t remember where I said this: if I read a better work from said author, I would certainly review it with a better grade because I really do want her career to take off. We, readers and reviewers, WANT to fall in love with whatever authors give us. I’m 101% certain Jane feels that way about all books as well. I’d not be surprised if Candy, Sarah and the others feel the same, too. I bet that all readers do as well.

With that in mind, I prefer to spend money on books by authors who evidently spent time and effort polishing their skills, because they deserve attention more than those who won’t listen or make an effort.

Either way, best of luck to the author.

- if you read the “review”, you could see that we both said the editor and the publisher did a huge disservice to the author, by publishing her book before it was even ready for publication.

When I co-wrote the review, I assumed her editor was either inexperienced (not wanting to hurt the author’s feelings, for instance) or lazy. I really had no idea her book didn’t even have any input by her editor.
It apparently went straight from submission pile to publication.

It’s crazy. Even Nora Roberts have had editorial input for her books, so why couldn’t this author and other authors have that? She deserves that much respect at least, surely?

- I honestly didn’t expect the publisher to pull the book. (I’m fairly certain Jane didn’t either.) To be honest, I was annoyed with the publisher because if they saw fit to publish her book, they should at least stand by their judgement. Instead they yanked the book at author’s expense (and I found out later, without her knowledge).

I put the blame of this mess at the publisher’s feet. Not at the author’s feet. And definitely not at Jane’s feet (or due to, as you put it, Jane’s nastiness).

I say that because THE PUBLISHER chose to publish the book without editorial input and before it was even ready for publication; THE PUBLISHER chose to pull the book from the site, and THE PUBLISHER chose to structure their editorial dept the way it is (or hopefully, was).

If the publisher felt the book was ready for publication, they should be able to withstand negative responses from readers and some reviewers (including me), but no. They pulled the book.

- Where does Jane say “we won”? It doesn’t sound like her. It’s certainly not her style if the comment was about the author. Knowing Jane, she’s likely to have an issue with publishers who have a low regard for its authors and readers. It’s the issue I share with as well.

Authors AND readers deserve the best from publishers and when publishers don’t deliver, we should say something, surely?

The defintion of “bandy” – To toss words back and forth casually, often without caring whether they are true or what effect they may have.

For the record I must clarify. I don’t know Ann S. Have never met her in person, and most certainly would never follow her on Twitter (rest easy Ann, you don’t have to block me or lose one moment’s sleep over this).

I have never followed DA or romfail. And would not.

Ray Garton was an unfamiliar name to me until two days ago (AFTER his post about romfail — key word here “AFTER”) although I must say I’ve enjoyed his acquaintance immensely since.

I seriously doubt Lori Perkins and Ray Garton are engaged in a clandestine conspiracy about romfail. Ms. Perkins couldn’t care less about romfail. This is paranoia speaking.

Truth: I did post comments on RTB BECAUSE like many, I had grown sick and tired of a pack of wolves destroying their “supposed” fellow authors. Until that time, I had not heard of RR Theatre night and if I had, would not have engaged. For jumping into the fray, Land of Falling Stars was dutifully excoriated on a public forum, aka RR theatre night the FOLLOWING Friday night. Can we say “retribution”?

I lived through it just fine and by all accounts of many who lurked on the sidelines the participants did more damage to themselves than they ever could to Land of Falling Stars.

One thing I have learned, as I’m sure most of you have on this forum, romfail lives by one creed only . . . “Squash the rebellion at all costs.” Can we say revenge?

Ann, whoever you are, please do not post my name on a public forum when you know nothing about me. This is really a very low-handed tactic from someone who is possessed of a delusional mind.

Let me state publicly just so we’re clear — I am against cyber-bullying, against humiliating human beings on a public or private forum for the sake of others’ enjoyment. I intensely dislike the entire concept of romfail, RR Theatre and any such forum. I do not personally dislike or loathe the people who participate because I don’t know them and could never make that judgment based solely on this misguided venture.

To state publicly you dislike people or to demonstrate hostility on any public forum in the publishing industry is nothing short of suicide. To stick up for yourself when you are being attacked from all sides is another matter.

You, however, Ann, author or not, feel compelled to attack your fellow man on a level that resembles lunacy if they don’t agree with you. There is no need for this. Nor is there a need for you to pull names out of the air and drag them into a melee just . . . just because you think you can and you’ve apparently gotten away with it for years.

State your side, act courteous and respect others, and all should be well.

Oh, and yes, leave my name out of your rants and posts.

Surely you must have better things to do in your life? One can only hope. If not, I can’t help but wonder how in the world you sleep at night.

Keta Diablo

Ack! Ann S just compared me to woodlice and cockroaches! Ad hominem attacks! Ad hominem attacks! Everyone run for the hills!

But seriously, my latest is up for review at UP? Ohhhh, right. It’s got the m/m in it. Hmmm, this is a bit uncomfortable, isn’t it? Perhaps I’ll have to stick to the girl-on-girl from now on…

Ann, would you seriously listen to yourself? Do you honestly think that a horror author and his former agent would be sitting around discussing #romfail over coffee one afternoon?

Actually meant the explanation in the comments and not the post itself lol sorry I should have been more clear – right before Victoria Dahl’s comments. Says basically that #romfail came up when some of his followers were complaining about it and others were taking part in it.

And who did that, Kirsten? Because when a cursory search revealed Garton had been Perkins’ client, I assumed that was where he had heard about #romfail – and nothing more. You will note that all I tweeted was the fact of the former connection – and nothing more. After all A Big Important Male Genre Writer doesn’t involve himself in wimmins’ work unless he’s got some personal interest or connection – we seen this before. I wasn’t aware that trying to work out who knows who in writing was an evil deed.

“I hope anyone intelligent enough to understand the concept of irony”

Well then Sybil must be one of the irony-deficient. Along with Keta Diablo, Mr Garton, and you.

“Once someone else starts the fire, though, we come out of the woodwork to have our say.”

Yes, you do. Like woodlice and cockroaches. It’s quite, quite fascinating in an anthropological way – while remaining unedifying, amoral, and unimproving.

I look forward to all the conspiracy theories that you and your charming friends will cook up when your latest Samhain book is reviewed on UP. Ooh, I can hardly wait. Whatever score it gets, I’m sure you will tell everyone it’s the result of either vendetta or arsekissing.