Sue Dent is unprofessional AND rude!

***update at end of blog. Apparently now I'm an idiot too. Read for yourself. It's the only conclusion I can come too.

That's a response I got from a Christian magazine I contacted concerning having my books listed. I actually contact many on-line magazines on a regular basis and always ask pertinent questions to see if my books are even a close fit as I don't want them showing up on web-sites and in places I'd prefer them not to be. However, nine times out of ten, when I contact Christian on-line magazines, using the same language by-the-way and the same tone, they immediately get defensive and usually end up calling me names (for the record, defensive is not a name. It's an attitude.)

I'm not sure what is it that triggers them (even though it may seem that I do since the response is so consistent) but I have learned this. Whatever you do, NEVER, EVER, EVER ask them why it is that they always start by listing books from publishers who serve that very targeted Christian market that CBA serves when they can pull books from Spring Arbor that has books that appeal to ALL Christian readers as is Spring Arbor's intent, or so it's supposed to be according to Spring Arbor.

Yeah, don't ask them that.

By the way, not only am I rude and unprofessional, I always portray myself as the victim too. So yes, I'm through asking Christian on-line magazines where they get their book list from. Actually I'm through contacting any of them. Like I need that kind of abuse. Sheesh!

If I were unprofessional I'd tell you which magazine. As it stands it doesn't matter. All Christian on-line magazines I've found admittedly pull books from the Christian Booksellers Association first and foremost instead of from Spring Arbor suggesting a targeted intent and begging that the question be asked. If you do ask though, just remember this: I WARNED YOU!!

** Actually I didn't expect to have an update to this story. I'd Pretty much decided I'd not hear back after I ended my last email with, "forget my request concerning how a general market Christian author gets listed in an on-line magazine that only list books from CBA's affiliated publishers."

Boy was I wrong. But then, from past dealings with such publications I do find they usually like to have the last word. But you simply must read what the last word was. It started with the sender quoting the last line from my e-mail which is the line concerning, forget my question. Beneath that was one sentence. It reads and I quote:

Why you would cling to an erroneous statement from a non-editor is simply mind-boggling. It’s like you asked a paperboy about the editorial policies of the local newspaper.

Ummm, because the "paperboy" is the one who answered the question I asked from the website contact page? He forgot to identify himself as such though, so what do you know, I believed him.

Wow!

So much for an apology.

Let's just twist that analogy around a little. I believe it's more like hiring the paperboy to answer questions about the editorial policies of the local newspaper and then blaming customers when they believe his "wrong" information because well, he just didn't know!!!!! Yeah, I know customers are so stupid!!!

Here's a shovel. You want to dig a little deeper.

For the record I've found no magazine on-line or otherwise that list fiction that most Christians would find readable an not offensive. If it's labeled Christian in any way it's primary, if not only purpose, is to promote fiction put out for that targeted market CBA has been serving since 1950.

The only real problem with that is they are now making broad claims they don't do this. Yet when asked where they get the titles listed each and everyone of them stick with targeted publishers and first and foremost affiliated ones acting as though none others exist. All while Spring Arbor sits there approves a wide variety everyday. Just market to your audience and find a descriptive name so folks like myself don't have to take your bitter tone when you tell us in your lovingly Christian manner that you don't want to list our books.