tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post6054329976313958153..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: Bought and paid for, yessirreee bubbaJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58025822807602973732009-10-21T19:52:51.040-04:002009-10-21T19:52:51.040-04:00"Hey, this bathwater has a baby in it."
..."Hey, this bathwater has a baby in it."<br /><br />"So? Hurry up, we need the tub."Daisy Batemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10031425541717458261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-31176885137727931282009-10-20T22:37:39.201-04:002009-10-20T22:37:39.201-04:00Dear Janet,
Jane Tried is a mild-mannered literar...Dear Janet,<br /><br />Jane Tried is a mild-mannered literary agent by day, but nightfall brings out the beast in her as she transforms into an acid-tongued anarchist blogger.<br /><br />Fearlessly pouring scorn on corporate silliness everywhere, Jane inadvertently falls foul of the Federation of Traders in Cupcakes, and innocuous-sounding organisation secretly plotting to control the global trade in sickly confections.<br /><br />Smarting from her vitriolic barbs, the undead minions of the FTC kidnap Jane and carry her off to their lair. As virtual cobwebs gather on her neglected web pages, Jane's secret army of blog-followers embark on a galactic quest to free Jane from the ghoulish frosting fiends.<br /><br />My YA supernatural science-fiction thriller FREE THE CUPCAKES is complete at 197,465 words. Thank you for your time and consideration.Botanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80207363868289576252009-10-19T22:17:21.795-04:002009-10-19T22:17:21.795-04:00Where is Janet? What am I supposed to do, get thro...Where is Janet? What am I supposed to do, get through the day on my own? :)<br /><br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08769664455069233208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64970486870308808032009-10-19T09:54:50.905-04:002009-10-19T09:54:50.905-04:00No posts for several days. Janet's too busy to...No posts for several days. Janet's too busy to blog? Either she's ill or she's found something new and tasty for us to nibble on. My hope is the latter. <br />Hope your conference was productive and inspiring, MMonika:)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11587813689471949903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-66518885038418102962009-10-19T00:24:08.379-04:002009-10-19T00:24:08.379-04:00**knocks on the monitor**
**picks up monitor and ...**knocks on the monitor**<br /><br />**picks up monitor and shakes it**<br /><br />**holds monitor upside down and shakes it some more**<br /><br />**slaps monitor a couple good ones**<br /><br />**peers into the air slots in back**<br /><br />**pushes the auto adjust button**<br /><br />**turns it off and on very quickly a few times**<br /><br />Is there something wrong with my computer? Where the hell is Janet?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698804783275442825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-22263232651251993882009-10-12T13:54:20.153-04:002009-10-12T13:54:20.153-04:00I don't think adding a level of transparency t...I don't think adding a level of transparency to book review blogs is a bad thing. I don't think a lot of readers will be turned off by knowing that an ARC was sent by the publisher. If a reviewer is honest and thoughtful in his or her critique, blog readers will appreciate the review regardless of how the book was obtained. <br /><br />What initially worried me was the concept that review materials had to be returned. While I'm all for finding a way to keep ARCs out of used bookstores and off eBay, I don't care if book bloggers keep them as part of their personal book collections.Katie Alenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15693819955523038560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-61400475451172698032009-10-10T07:07:32.320-04:002009-10-10T07:07:32.320-04:00Fascinating. esp. the comments with misinterpreta...Fascinating. esp. the comments with misinterpretations. As many authors and their publishers do, I send copies to reviewers. Sometimes I get reviews, sometimes not. For media outlets, disposition of the received copies is usually not a problem. For free-lance reviewers it may be because there is some actual value attached to the ARC or finished copy they receive. The law of unintended consequence it in play here. It will be interesting to see how this goes forward. Insulting to readers it may seem to be, but if the recent uproar over "death panels" in health care reform proposals is any indication, the American Public is fairly gullible.carl brookinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16400731716746662544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-41384318173766120822009-10-09T22:24:41.470-04:002009-10-09T22:24:41.470-04:00The way I understand it, it was all originally pro...The way I understand it, it was all originally proposed because of companies like wineries setting up blogs and pretending to be reviewers and reviewing their own wines. (The same stuff happens on Amazon with authors, and we all laugh at them). I don't think they are after book reviewers necessarily, but I was in the military long enough to know that in any governemnt beauracracy it only takes one superhero looking to make a name for himself to put a lot of asses on the line. Legislation like this gives them the power to. But seriously, with child porn, cyber bullying, hacking and hate crimes out there, is man power really going to be allocated to this? Unfortunately, I think the answer is yes.Literary Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617158752582477717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-24739109288092616242009-10-09T19:41:53.569-04:002009-10-09T19:41:53.569-04:00holy crap... i hope cooler heads prevail!
our own...holy crap... i hope cooler heads prevail!<br /><br />our own feds want to muck with copyright regs, but i can't find a lot about it... after the fact is too late, in my book :(laughingwolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873675614347328116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-13929083811034509212009-10-09T19:12:45.267-04:002009-10-09T19:12:45.267-04:00Kristin Nelson blogged about this tonight, and app...Kristin Nelson blogged about this tonight, and apparently, the fines are problematic in another way. The FTC doesn't seem to have the right/ability to levy said fines.<br /><br />That said, it also appears that it would be the advertisers that would be fined, rather than the blogger. Linky below, and happy weekend!<br /><br />http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2009/10/three-articles-worth-sharing.htmlJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11705320883615938075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65192340523626728872009-10-09T18:24:35.566-04:002009-10-09T18:24:35.566-04:00I find such attempts to regulate speech very unset...I find such attempts to regulate speech very unsettling. At least I'm in Canada, and don't have to follow your American rules!<br /><br />So media moguls, if you want to bribe a blogger, then bribe me. I'm caustic and affordable!<br /><br />;)Furious Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07934529688753875751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-34025548930503003382009-10-09T15:52:06.488-04:002009-10-09T15:52:06.488-04:00So ... what? If you're a blogger and do a rev...So ... what? If you're a blogger and do a review of a book, do you have to pdf the receipt and post it along with your review to prove that you purchased the book?<br /><br />Thanx for the information, Janet. This is all very disturbing.Liz Kregerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02877308707153108891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-21703587604746797402009-10-09T11:33:45.685-04:002009-10-09T11:33:45.685-04:00Like they are actually going to have the time to p...Like they are actually going to have the time to police every single blog and see if they're "following the rules."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-56070473861383665762009-10-09T11:33:42.715-04:002009-10-09T11:33:42.715-04:00Like they are actually going to have the time to p...Like they are actually going to have the time to police every single blog and see if they're "following the rules."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-5232290316141824452009-10-09T10:54:04.849-04:002009-10-09T10:54:04.849-04:00"I know folks are mostly talking about blogs ..."I know folks are mostly talking about blogs here, but what about reviews posted elsewhere, such as Amazon or Goodreads? Any number of my pubbed friends have asked me to post reviews for them (I always buy the books, rather than get them for free). Is it necessary to say that in the review?"<br /><br />I'm kind of curious about this, too. It might keep people from leaving reviews on these sites.Dale Bishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136056378495563856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-38654799367842387582009-10-09T10:20:54.921-04:002009-10-09T10:20:54.921-04:00I know folks are mostly talking about blogs here, ...I know folks are mostly talking about blogs here, but what about reviews posted elsewhere, such as Amazon or Goodreads? Any number of my pubbed friends have asked me to post reviews for them (I always buy the books, rather than get them for free). Is it necessary to say that in the review?Kat Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07115380745293826767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57576840584647980162009-10-09T08:26:27.150-04:002009-10-09T08:26:27.150-04:00The regulations really need to be clarified and re...The regulations really need to be clarified and refined. Let's say that an entity (author, company, business, whatever) sends out a free product for review with no expectation of getting airtime, as it were. The recipient of that product makes fraudulent claims about it with the intention of harming said entity. Would the entity be fined? Would the recipient be fined if they essentially followed the rules and disclosed the source of the product?<br /><br />Worst case scenario, I guess, but this has 'can o' worms' written all over it and it's not clear how these cases would be handled.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14277325698208900030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-26925054625202846912009-10-09T08:17:24.147-04:002009-10-09T08:17:24.147-04:00Thanks for this article. My fear is that a few inn...Thanks for this article. My fear is that a few innocent bloggers, (aka those who are ignorant of this law, or those who just forget to add the disclaimer line one time), will be made scapegoats and have that $11 grand fine thrown at them. I wonder if a blanket disclaimer on a blogsite would do the trick--something like, "Books reviewed on this site were not paid for by the reviewer." <br /><br />In the meantime, we should be seeing some job opportunities open up--"FTC blog-police wanted."Laurie LC Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11642055237160385791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88704353451591721202009-10-08T22:01:54.481-04:002009-10-08T22:01:54.481-04:00So, forgive a dumb question from over the border, ...So, forgive a dumb question from over the border, but is this just a US issue? <br /><br />If I live & blog in Canada (not blogging yet, but thinking about it) can I be touched by the FTC?<br /><br />And if I send a US blogger a copy of my book (still dreaming!) and they don't disclose, what happens then?Botanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-60099962366771200792009-10-08T17:32:19.591-04:002009-10-08T17:32:19.591-04:00I got a book deal from my dream publisher via my b...I got a book deal from my dream publisher via my book review blog (and yes, they sent me some of the books I reviewed free of charge). Am I now supposed to disclose that they are publishing me? Lord knows I wanted to be published by people who put out crap books, and I said all sorts of nice things about those crap books so that would happen. Really, most bloggers aren't getting paid. It's a labor of love and at times exhausting. I am not about to read a book cover to cover and praise it if it stinks. Life is too short. I'm not peddling Slap Chops here, I'm promoting art and literacy. Oh, and I do review and promote my firends too, but only if they write something great, and offer me bribes ;)Literary Cowgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15617158752582477717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-53005104652434650962009-10-08T17:13:14.761-04:002009-10-08T17:13:14.761-04:00What? Cupcakes don't cure cancer???? Damn tha...What? Cupcakes don't cure cancer???? Damn that salesman! Thanks for the information. All flippancy aside, this is an issue that bears paying attention to.Julie Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15311231654035295596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-10705502109235050042009-10-08T16:07:51.309-04:002009-10-08T16:07:51.309-04:00I put a small notice up earlier this week. I don&#...I put a small notice up earlier this week. I don't do many book reviews, but I have done them.ryan fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361694356025572544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-79731620999905040772009-10-08T15:21:09.137-04:002009-10-08T15:21:09.137-04:00After giving this more thought, what bothers me is...After giving this more thought, what bothers me is that it's so insulting to readers. It seems the FTC is trying to address the problem of when people buy a product because a celebrity endorsed it and then it doesn't work as advertised. And that people might be more skeptical about effectiveness if they know the celebrity was paid or compensated to endorse it. Okay, good point.<br /><br />But how do you determine whether a book works? It's entertainment. "Effectiveness" is subjective. A book review pretty much says, "This is a book, this is what it's about, I liked/disliked it." Readers know that one person (or even several people) liking/disliking a book isn't necessarily a good indicator of whether they will. When I read a review, I'm more interested in the description of the story than I am in the reviewer's opinion. Consequently, whether the reviewer received compensation that might affect their opinion is irrelevant. If a reviewer says, "I hated this book because it had flying mice," I might buy it because flying mice are my favourite thing.<br /><br />Now, if I bought a book because a reviewer described it as time-travel fantasy and when I got the book home it turned out to be a cozy mystery, I'd have a problem. Or if when I got the book it wasn't a book at all but a badminton set. That would be a problem. Maybe that kind of thing happens all the time and I just haven't heard about it? <br /><br />I don't want or need the FTC to protect me from books that don't work. <br /><br />BTW, are movie and television reviewers subject to this proposed regulation? Music, theatre and restaurant reviewers? It would be a shame (and by shame, I mean maybe illegal) if the FTC were regulating just one segment of the entertainment industry.BCBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03073904727232797021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-92127265067455842682009-10-08T15:09:14.131-04:002009-10-08T15:09:14.131-04:00I have a blog where I let readers know what I am r...I have a blog where I let readers know what I am reading each week in my Book-A-Week Challenge. All I want is to get people to read more books and other authors.<br /><br />I do not offer a review, but I do give the blurb and buy information for the book so other readers know where to get it. It is offered as a help, not a kickback. I don't even know if anyone actually clicks the link. Do I now need to worry about a ridiculous fine of $11K? Do I now need to put "caveats" on my site when it is my site and I just want to share what I am reading?<br /><br />However, being an author myself, this FTC thing gives me the willies because while my books will seldom get reviewed by a "traditional media" person, a "new media" person will. I am grateful for their feedback and their spreading the word on my story, but there is no guarantee they will ever read the book, let alone talk about it. My first book went out to several bloggers and and a good handful of them never made their way to my book in their pile.<br /><br />I think Janet hit the nail on the head when she said that the FTC believes there is "guaranteed" give and take and that is far from the truth.<br /><br />Not to mention that word-of-mouth is just that, whether online or in-person what is the difference? Either way I did not pay for that word of mouth.<br /><br />The FTC should understand the blogger/online world and not try to save "traditional media" failures.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08202637428419405795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-78859262818112879602009-10-08T14:37:23.561-04:002009-10-08T14:37:23.561-04:00Our tax dollars at work.
I'm just starting to...Our tax dollars at work.<br /><br />I'm just starting to get brave enough to post comments on blogs and e-mail lists. I guess I'd better be careful. Heaven forbid I mention a great book that I had the good fortune to receive free.Julie Godfrey Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01246100763110953098noreply@blogger.com