Can't We All Just Get Along???

Okay, so I linked to Solaine's blog post about Rabid Freeloaders and I guess I should have read the comments before I did. Yikes! I'm reading along and my eyebrows shoot up into my hairline, my jaw drops, and I lose all coherent thought at the blatant hostility directed toward Sarah McCarty's popularity.

One comment went like this:


:::sigh::: another “no comment” from me, though you need only take a look at my web site to know that I’ve come to the conclusion, if you can’t beat them, run far far away.
Comment by Ann Vremont — May 22, 2006 #

So I go to said author's website and I'm like.. Huh? There's nothing here? I see nothing. So I read the next comment....


i saw a term “mobette” on one of the links you had, and i think that is a good word (regardless of how the original user might have meant it) to describe some of the frustration an author can have — everyone’s entitled to their opinion on the value of a read (valid or not (hey, I’ll never disclaim a bit of snobbery on my part)), but you get fan flooding for one particular author on boards that are publisher boards or genre boards and not a board for a specific author. So, yeah, we feel a little frustration where we might not see the problem were it our fans causing a flood in our favor.
Comment by Ann Vremont — May 22, 2006 #

Then Solaine asks what "mobettes" are. Here's the response.. brace yourself, it ain't pretty.

Specifically, they’re one of Sarah McCarthy’s more vocal fans “When an accusation got back to the group that “Sarah McCarty has some devoted fans” the resounding response was a laughing, “Heck yeah!” It was seen as a growth moment. The Mobettes had gone from invisible to known. I even created a pin to celebrate the moment. Along with the Mobette logo, it also says, “Rabid Fan and Proud of it!” ”

Now, I’m trying to think of a situation OUTSIDE OF EROTIC ROMANCE where you can have a book talk on say:

German literature and have it turn solely to a discussion of Thomas Mann
Sticky horror and have it turn solely to Stephen King
Military families and have it turn solely to Pat Conroy
etc etc etc

Try having a conversation on the EC reader list about cowboys — better yet, I’ve seen an established author (different publisher, but she was not there pushing herself, was really incognito) mention she was interested in subbing something Western-flavored to EC and both fans AND an EC editor on the list essentially [if you the author listening to this]said “You’ll never match Sarah’s cowboys so don’t even [fucking] try.”

Holy shit! Was that really said? And moreover, who would say such a thing to another author? Established or not? It continues...

If they love cowboys and they love erotica, why would they want to discourage this person from submitting something? I’ve never heard a huge fan of vampire fiction/vampire erotica say, “ah, God, please, not another vamp book!” But rabid fans give the appearance of actively trying to clear the field of all competition for their author. Granted, some authors are so great that any discussion of a topic will at least give rise to mention of that author, but what I’m talking about goes far beyond that natural reference.

Now, I don’t want to discourage fans from giving their well-liked authors good word of mouth. Authors need it, really really bad. It’s one of the most effective (often said to be the most effective) means of generating sales for them.

And it goes on to say this:

So mobette is a term exclusively for Sarah’s fans? What is the definition though, I mean?
Comment by Solaine — May 23, 2006 #

you’d have to net one and ask it
Comment by Ann Vremont — May 23, 2006 #

I'm thinking mobettes are people, not "it"s. That's rude.

darn - I don’t have rabid fangirls. I don’t have rabid anythings, except maybe a rabid fear of spiders.I have gotten a couple letters about the Phallus from Dallas asking how long, exactly, Mitch’s meat was…but I’ll have to give Ciarra credit for the cryptic count;-)Maybe I can rent some fangirls. On second thought, I’m into my tranquility.Zen and fangirls don’t go together, do they?(Oh, and did you get that shameless pimp for the Phallus? LOL)
Comment by Sam — May 24, 2006 #

That was a great plug, Sam! I’ll have to look into that story.
I have to admit I’m enthusiastic about authors I like, but I tend to be more low-key about it (huh, Ann?). Maybe if I get rabid, at least it’ll bring some publicity to my faves. They say all publicity is good publicity right…
Comment by Solaine — May 24, 2006 #

Solaine…a phallus is a great plug indeed. Oh…wait, you meant…
Yeah, you’re pretty low-key but you’re, like, the only fan I have, so I’ll take you however I can get you. ;-)
Sam…ya don’t have to rent ‘em … just get multiple email accounts and be ‘em.
Comment by Ann Vremont — May 25, 2006 #

Now that's just down right snarky. I thought the snarkiness had left the building... but apparently where one author leaves off, another one takes up the slack. *sigh* As far as I know each mobette only uses one email address. Sheesh. Get the facts straight.

Ha!!!Multiple e-mail accounts and be them - OK Ann - You’re hired!LOLOL!
Comment by Sam — May 25, 2006 #

Ann, I’d tell you to get your mind out the gutter, but that’s where I like it!
Sam - You’ve inspired me to go on a quickie binge, actually. Details to come…
Comment by Solaine — May 25, 2006 #

Man, what do you say to something like that? All I could think to say was this in my comment:

Wow, anyone else thinking that someone has a problem with Sarah McCarty’s popularity? Holy crap. Who knew? She writes fabulous western historicals, but I, personally, have NEVER said that to anyone who wanted to submit. Hell, give me a good cowboy and I’m happy no matter who the author, and I’m a friend and fan of Sarah’s, so I’m a bit surprised at the hostility here. Yikes.
Comment by Anne — May 30, 2006 #

I guess it's true what they say, any publicity is good publicity, including where one author's jealousy of another author's popularity is so blatant and just plain petty. And to think people willingly become authors. *shaking head* The fact that you get tell a story of your heart is great and, better yet, you get to make money doing it, but is it worth the hatred and snarkiness you have to endure?

Comments?