Mar 29 2007
Wherein Jane Is An Ass Again
I laughed a little uncomfortably when I wrote up the The Leopard Prince review. At the end of the story, Georgina loses all her good sense and intelligence, flies off the handle and makes some poor decisions. Much like me. (I liked the book despite that).
When I was writing last Sunday’s article about the RITA fiasco, I came to the end and felt like I was throwing myself a pity party. I claimed that I wasn’t but I was. And I have to acknowledge that I was. It was bad behavior on my part. It was a fiasco of my own making and I promise to do better blogging next time.
I have to apologize to the RWA and to the readers here for being an ass. I would love to go and delete the blog post and shuffle my sins under the carpet. Alas I don’t think that would be right. I’ll keep it up so that everyone can see what a pissant I can be. (not that some need any reminder).
While I was sucking on my big toe, I got an email from Leah Hultenschmidt from Dorchester who said that if I ever did run the contest that she would offer up a book for every finalist from Dorchester. In fact, she said she would offer 5 copies of each finalist that they have in stock so that people could read them before the contest ends. In the face of such overwhelming generosity, my toe sucking looked very juvenile indeed.
I reached out to a few more publishers. Harper Collins, Bantam and Warner offered up books as well. For all my complaints about publishers, I was overwhelmed by the giving nature of these folks. It’s not even Thanksgiving.
I swallowed my pride and emailed RWA. RWA wrote back and said that they didn’t think the contest was infringing either just not to use the statuette. We can do that. I’m having Ned draw up a statuette this weekend.
Needless to say, I apologize to RWA and to everyone else. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the RITA finalists and thank the publishers and RWA for allowing the readers to have a little fun with the RITAs. Please feel free to mock me in the comments section.
Next Tuesday, we’ll open the contest which will run until June. During the contest, we’ll give away RITA finalist books to random ballot participants. The ballot closest to being right will win a basketful of RITA winners. That would be 12 books considered to be the best of the year of 2006 in romance. You can vote with your best dress on or with your pajamas. No dress code.
Send to Kindle
Mar 29, 2007 @ 10:59:06
You’re not an ass, you’re awesome, and the publishers are extra awesome. If you need help with any backlist books you can’t get hold of, the offer stands.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:09:45
Hey, I’m not even big on contests but even I think it’s great that the publishers are coming forward like that. Way to go. I may just have to look over the list to see if I want to . . . nah, never work. See, my problem with contests is that I never remember I entered them. Or never remember to do what I need to do. Whatever. But I still may try. Just this once. :D
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:11:49
Most people would try to sweep it under the rug and wouldn’t admit they were wrong. Nicely done :)
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:27:50
Not an ass at all, you’re splendiferous.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:29:11
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo….I know how hard it is to admit being wrong…put to admit that you were wrong to the public that takes guts.
Kudos to the publishing company for jumping on the bandwagon and donating books to your contest.
Congratulations to all the nominees, it is quite an honor.
I just hope I do good in picking out the winners!!!!!!!!!!!
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:43:42
What Alison said, Jane: you are way awesome. And I’m a finalist. I’ll be glad to send you the necessary copies of my book–if that helps any.
I think it’s going to be a ball. :)
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:47:50
Please, no more. I feel guilty as it is. And your nice comments are making me feel even more guilty. As for free books, :), we all love free books.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:56:20
Oh, guilt. So delicious. How/where do I send them??? If you want, email me christine@christinerimmer.com with an addy.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 12:13:31
No dress code?!? That just registered in my brain. ;p You know, at the very least I think we should make it a pajama party for the awards . . . :D
Oooo, oooo, does SMF have a, oh, what’s it called? My mind just went blank. Oh, yeah, a chat room like feature? (I’m thinking something I’ve downloaded does but I can’t remember what.)
Or were you already thinking of that? If so, forget I mentioned it. ;)
Mar 29, 2007 @ 12:19:08
I understand why you feel the way you do, and I understand that you feel differently now, and I understand why you feel the need to apologize, but I’m still trying to understand why you think you were wrong.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 12:39:23
Robin- I guess I don’t believe that I used the statuette or the name inappopriately. I do think I was wrong in throwing myself a little pity party and by making a big thing out of possibly nothing. And just generally making an ass of myself without trying.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 13:19:29
Hmmm. I still think what the RWA did was wrong. You reacted to it. Now that you have cooled down and gotten that lovely offer from Dorchester, you feel guilty, that you over-reacted. I can understand your need to apologize for that, and think it’s a nice gift to the RWA “and everyone else” (whoever that might be), but I don’t think you were *wrong* in posting what you did. And I wonder if Dorchester would have reached out to you if you hadn’t posted. Yeah, of course you would do it differently now, but that doesn’t mean it was wrong or bad to begin with. Hell, that’s BLOGGING — its very power is in its immediacy, the tangible energy of talking about something almost as its happening. Perspectives evolve over time.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 13:21:47
I kept thinking “I must be missing something.” Couldn’t quite figure out what the whole tempest in the tiny teacup was really about, but then I tossed it up to being off line for several days.
The apology is nicely done. :D
So where’s the review for The Leopard Prince?? Did I miss it?? I’m still playing catch up.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 13:28:22
I’d like to thank all the publishers and authors for offering copies of their books for us to give away.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 14:13:07
Well done Jane.
I’ll be sure to pass the word to any of my friends who are finalists, in case they’d like to donate books as well.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 15:45:14
[quote comment="25552"]Please, no more. I feel guilty as it is. And your nice comments are making me feel even more guilty. As for free books, :), we all love free books.[/quote]
OK
Your an ass.
And I agree with Robin… write this day down! Next you know Keishon and I will like the same book.
LOL nice of the publishers to come out and play. Nice of RWA to allow you to pimp them and their finalists. But you are an ass for feeling guilty.
loveses ya anyway
Mar 29, 2007 @ 15:56:59
What? You’re not entitled to bitch? We’re all entitled to bitch. It takes us to a happy place when we do. I do it a lot as a matter of fact. :-)
And look, the whole thing turned out awesome for all parties. Well done Jane!
Mar 29, 2007 @ 16:15:13
Pity parties are a blogger’s right, don’t apologise for it!
Good of the pubs to offer up the books though, but like Robin said, would it have happened if you hadn’t blogged about it? Maybe, maybe not.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 16:23:47
Jane, what you’ve done is a thing of rare beauty. You ranted and raved, cooled down, and took responsibility for flying off the handle. Congratulations for not being ashamed to apologize for an emotional outburst. However, every once in a while we’re all entitiled a miserable day without needing to apologize.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 16:35:52
Bad blogging??? I don’t think so. It has been interesting to see the hard work behind what should prove to be an enjoyable contest – from idea, to disappointment, to retrenching, to a wonderful response from the publishers.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 16:55:44
Well done–as usual–Jane. :-) The contest will be fun to watch.
EC
Mar 29, 2007 @ 17:12:24
Bowing before your skills as an embassador of goodwill…nice job Miss Jane
Mar 29, 2007 @ 17:59:21
[quote comment="25562"]I’d like to thank all the publishers and authors for offering copies of their books for us to give away.[/quote]
What Jayne said.
Mar 29, 2007 @ 21:28:43
“I’d like to thank all the publishers and authors for offering copies of their books for us to give away.”
Now see I will agree with you there. Those guys deserve praise.
But… Jane you are not someone to fly off the handle easily.
So I will not say the RWA deserves anything but to continued being ignored like it has so many deserving writers.
Mar 30, 2007 @ 03:16:42
(((((((Jane))))))))))
Everyone should act like an ass once in a while. :)
And I agree with the others who’ve wrote it’s the nature of blogging. That’s how you felt at that moment in time. And it just shows how passionate you are about the subject, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Mar 30, 2007 @ 05:40:40
I enjoy a good pity party myself.
If you send me the contact info, I’ll make sure you get copies of my book.
Mar 30, 2007 @ 08:46:34
Jane, sorry but I gotta agree that it takes a big person to admit to being an ass. We’re all asses on occasion and very few ever own up to it — even if they realize it. But, just so you won’t feel *too* guilty (lol), you’re in danger of making me like you — and I really *hate* liking people who don’t like my books. ;-) Good luck with the contest. My book didn’t final, so once more I’m out in the rain…
Mar 30, 2007 @ 10:06:26
Here’s a little more guilt to fire up the complex *g* – I think you’re being way too hard on yourself. I still think the RWA wanted to have their cake and eat it…
Mar 30, 2007 @ 11:50:41
Don’t worry, Ms. Smith, I’m bound to do something assholish in the future that I won’t apologize for or I may fall in love with your books. One of the two.
Mar 30, 2007 @ 12:37:15
Annndddd she’s back!
Mar 30, 2007 @ 13:54:27
Jane, as everybody else has already pointed out, there are a lot of people who throw temper tantrums online, but only very few of them apologize afterwards. So kudos to you. You’re one fine person.
And, yes, Leah is a total sweetheart.
Mar 30, 2007 @ 14:33:59
Mock, mock, mock, mock…
Better?
Now, I need to borrow the ass picture so I can paste it in the comments section (of said post) where I put my hoof in mouth.
You did good. You stepped up and made it right. Good on ya!
Many thanks to the publishers and authors who are donating books so that us readers can play in the Rita!
CindyS
The Stalker on Saturday « Milady Insanity
Mar 31, 2007 @ 08:07:47
[...] Jane is not an ass. Besides, if she didn’t do something like that, I’d start wondering whether she’s an AI construct. [...]