I coudn’t help myself; with the stealth of a panther, I moved the copies of Tabke’s book somewhere else in the store, and replaced them with a few copies of a new title by an author I enjoy and respect.

I did something similar the other day when I saw Deborah MacGillivray’s books in Borders. I hid them in three different sections in the store, including the black history section.

Yes, it was quite a naughty thing to do, (apologies to store assistants) but it felt really good.

Was it the right thing to do? No. I won’t do it to any other author, but I’m sure Ms. Tabke will appreciate the co-opting of the Karen Co-op.

Now that shit’s funny.

back again, thanks, gennita.. I have been accused of trolling before, mainly because I am not afraid to put up a dissenting opinion. and I tend to be sporadic so I am sure that it does look like I am just being a shite stirrer (they may be right occasionally)…

I save my disgust and horror for things that truly merit it. War, famine, etc. The reshelving issue, while petty, stupid, prone to backfiring(see nonnys post above,lol) and just a wee bit desperate just didn’t raise to the level of disgust…. For me personally… Others mileage may vary…

Was it the right thing to do? No. I won’t do it to any other author, but I’m sure Ms. Tabke will appreciate the co-opting of the Karen Co-op.

And if one’s team is that large, then I’m thinking the whole strategy is moot. :)

So not only do I find such tactics disturbing, for many reasons — not the least of which is the implication that one can’t succeed without resorting to such overt, sometimes downright squirrelly manipulation — I find it a bit disingenuous.

I certainly understand, and sympathize with, authors feeling pressured to get the word out — you know, because nobody will buy the book if they don’t know it exists — but I’ve also seen a lot of flashes in the pan over the last dozen years, authors whose first books were pushed out the wazoo but who never really caught fire and ultimately (sometimes with embarrassing speed) fell off the radar.

Perhaps force-feeding might work with a first book, to some degree, and perhaps those sales will garner an author a subsequent contract. But ultimately, it’s all about matching up an author’s WORK with readers who dig her voice/stories/characters/whatever. And all the manipulation in the world can’t forge that relationship.

Not in the long term, at least.

Not that long ago people were incensed at DAM’s clickies. So what’s the difference between DAM asking people to click “unhelpful on reviews” and Tabke reshelving and asking readers to do the same?

Yeah, the whole thing leaves a icky taste in my mouth. Bluh.

I have several times gone into Borders looking for a book, having the computer insist it’s on a certain shelf, and still not being able to find it. How the hell many people are engaging in reshelving, because it’s not just insulting (and IMO totally unfair play) to other authors, it’s also frustrating to me as a reader, because it’s a potential wasted trip to the bookstore. And we already know it’s a waste of resources for the bookstore and for the publisher who pays for placement.

Not that long ago people were incensed at DAM’s clickies. So what’s the difference between DAM asking people to click “unhelpful on reviews” and Tabke reshelving and asking readers to do the same?

(There are some great Aphrodisia books out there, however.)

You’d think she should have been able to get enough books sold via national exposure…

So now she’s trying street teams and encourages her readers to do something that’s both morally questionable and illegal and she’s dismissive about people who point that out.

There’s a new entry in my ‘never-to-be-bought(again)-list that just keeps growing and growing and growing.

It’s A-grade dickery.

Freakin’ ditto. WTF? Fucking around with shelving in an attempt boost one author’s sales at the expense of other authors won’t just get you yelled at–it can and will get you banned from stores. And if I was a store owner and caught someone doing this, and found out it was encouraged by the author–well, guess what author I wouldn’t be stocking anymore?

This woman is a piece of freaking work.

Is it okay if we criticise her now? Because you can make all the special pleading you want because she’s a nice person and she was doing a favour to someone or other etc – but what it comes down to is, she’s behaving like an ass on this issue. I can’t for the life of me see why she should get a free pass when no other author on the planet would if they did this, or encouraged it. It’s A-grade dickery.