Anne Rice Takes a Moment on her Fan Page on FaceBook . . . . .

Anne Rice takes a moment on her Fan Page to humor ways to fix a deplorable issue that affects ALL writers; targeted attacks just for the heck of it. 

It began when I commented on one of her post that it wasn't worth it for me as a writer to have my books show up on sites like Goodreads and Amazon because such sites aren't obligated to uphold the very guidelines they set for posting "reviews" and leaving comments. Authors are openly bashed to the point where they go off and set up private groups which is fine until one considers that no author has a choice about whether they end up on these sites. The second an ISBN goes on a book, an author is open prey.

Ms. Rice's response on her Fan Page on Facebook directed to me:

--- I hear you. There is a lot of hatred and hate negative review campaigning on sites like Amazon where people use authors as punching bags. It is quite horrible. But I do think we are doing something positive here on this page, and by posting articles about books that are responsible and informative I am fighting back against the darkness of the internet. Maybe we should discuss a little more the kind of libelous hate that swirls out there and what we can do about it.

She added in another comment directed toward me that 

"--- . . . I've put up with campaign reviewers on Amazon for years who treat me like a video game. It's nonsense really all the garbage these people spew. And I can imagine how these kinds of people hurt other authors. So let's talk about it a bit. Let's see if we can generate some interest. I'm pondering how to do it. I might publish some "negative" reviews of my books from Amazon and open the topic. . ."

Ms. Rice's suggested some steps that could immediately improve the site[Amazon] such as (in her own words)

"make reviews carry not only "a real name" but an email. Nobody should be able to "strike" on the web without an email to hear a response. Most of the really hateful and ugly and unfair reviews I see are by "anonymous" people or people with made up names and profiles. So again, first make it "real name" situation and make an email part of it. That might be hard to police but Amazon could do it. If you aren't willing to use your own name and your own email (the email through which Amazon contacts you, etc.) then you don't get to post a review, or post in the viewer discussions."

But Amazon is a retailer and it seems like other retailers, they "skimp" on the capital it takes to create a system to protect authors from the "hate negative review campaigning" that takes place. Their primary interest is of course, their readers. No retail site that encourages "anyone" to leave reviews is willing to monitor such things or to "police" policies already in place or so it seems. An author should therefore suit up in their thickest armor and wait for the inevitable. 

One solution for an author, to keep from showing up on such sites to begin with, is to not assign an ISBN to their work. They could simply sell their books through their publisher's site or a site of their making. Of course, large bookstores won't carry a book with no ISBN but then they won't carry any publisher's books or self-published book unless one plays by the "hang-by-the-neck-until-dead-industry-standard-non-industry-standard-return-policy" game.

You may find these comments and more on Anne Rice's Fan Page on Facebook, one of the few, if not only, large published authors/legends who actually takes the time to talk with her fans--personally. Love me some Anne Rice. 

Press Release for ebook signing of Never Ceese!

My feelings on editors.

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Do note that Anne Rice confirmed that the below excerpt did come from her and she did so in a comment to this post!!! What? How she happened to see my blog in the massive blogosphere, (where I can only hope to be read,) I'll never know. But it is what it is. So jump to the comments if you're interested. You certainly won't see someone along the lines of Anne Rice commenting on my blog very often . . . if ever again. But at least the ten or fifteen who follow my blog might be impressed. ;)
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I've pretty strong feelings about having an MS edited and I've shared them before. But to better understand the different feelings some well-known authors have about editors one must truly understand the nature of publishing. Otherwise, the information put out will have one switching from one idea back to another based on who said what.

I recently read a "supposed" entry made by Anne Rice on Amazon. Do understand that I did NOT go beyond reading it to see if the post was legitimate. So while I say the post was from Anne Rice and thus most likely reflects her views, I'm not 100% certain. It did sound like something she would say but even if she wasn't the one who wrote it, I do know it is the way many long-time published authors feel. Here's the excerpt from what I read (again, maybe Anne Rice, maybe not.)


". . . and no, I have no intention of allowing any editor ever to distort, cut, or otherwise mutilate sentences that I have edited and re-edited, and organized and polished myself. I fought a great battle to achieve a status where I did not have to put up with editors making demands on me, and I will never relinquish that status. For me, novel writing is a virtuoso performance. It is not a collaborative art. . . ."

After reading this one is tempted to walk away saying,"ha, see! I don't need an editor."

My response to that is this. ALL larger published authors are at the mercy of those editors who work for the publishers whose job it is to produce a book that they've decided will sell better than say some other book. More times than not, they will drastically cut, rework and otherwise revise an MS until it's virtually unrecognizable leaving enough of the authors voice in to make it distinguishable from all the other stuff they put out.

These editors are in no way reflective of the work a professional editor can do for you if you're self-published or with a small press who can't afford to hire an editor (beyond perhaps a line-editor.) An editor you hire yourself will ask you at every turn and only suggests things to make your work more readable. Acceptance is based on what you want, not what they want. Any contentions large published authors have with their editors stems from the fact that they have little control over what these editors want to do with their MS. The author above states they've fought long and hard to have it the way they want it. Seems like they could've saved themselves the trouble of a fight by going with a publisher that will give them the final say. Many have said for years that going with a large publisher means giving up everything, a sort of selling-your-soul-to-the-devil scenario. Perhaps back in the day larger publishers hid information from authors they signed. I don't know. But everyone knows today that large published authors have to "fight" to have their work not edited so much that it isn't even their story anymore. Even at that I wish large published authors would clarify when they speak so horrendously of being edited and editors in general.


Just keep in mind that the excerpt above, (no matter who said it as it's all been said before) means that most, if not every large published author, hates that they don't have the final say on their edits. Just keep in mind that it's a very different scenario when you're hiring your own editor. And if you feel that writing isn't a collaborative experience between writer and editor then it will be a very, very long journey for you indeed and you most likely won't make it to your destination at all. It IS a collaborative work and as many large published authors believe otherwise there are just as many who disagree. J K Rowling is one. At least she got something right. HA!

Give Anne Rice a break!

Oh for Pete's sake! Anne Rice confesses that after her conversion back to Catholicism, she's finally had it with the rhetoric spewed out by those who we're all sick of listening too. You know the drill: same sex attraction is evil and of the devil, fighting and bickering over doctrine instead of loving and accepting, twisting scripture to fit twisted beliefs etc . . . etc

So what's up? 95% (random number generated by my own limited research) of us dislike this fraction as well. We just ignore them. So Anne Rice has decided to ignore them too AND to go public with that decision . . . well, to at least air them out on FaceBook which FOXnews.com seems to think is public enough. The headline reads: 

Anne Rice Quits Christianity 

Well. I've been to Mrs. Rice's FB page and I can't see where she's quit anything. From what I read she's very much a follower of Christ. But this is FOX News so . . . well . . . I'm just saying *cough, cough Shirley Sherrod cough, cough* I'm sure it won't be long before it goes viral. So when it does just remember that Anne Rice hasn't said anything that the rest of us haven't been saying for well--FOREVER!!

Jesus himself was never more frustrated than he was with this group that Anne Rice has now confessed she too is unhappy with. 

Oh but it does make for a catchy headline, doesn't it? ;)

Catholic worldview? Ann Rice territory?

Catholic worldview? According to my latest review from Father Obregon, Never Ceese, THE PAPERBACK version, and soon to be released e-book, sits nicely with Catholic Christians very much the way Ms. Rice's recent works do and G.K. Chesterton's work as well. Wow! . What a nice thing to learn!

". . . But, more than that, without being preachy or even overt, it is clear that this is a book written by a Christian who has put a lot of thought into what a vampire/werewolf tale would look like if it were written totally within the worldview of a Catholic Christian. Like G.K. Chesterton, she writes a fantasy tale that never preaches while clearly calling you to think about how life really works. Actions have consequences, one can struggle for holiness, self-sacrifice is the way the world really works, and change sometimes begins with suffering. . ."

You can check out the entire review here.

Thank you so much Fr. Obregon! ;)

Proud to present Angel Time

Like this book needs an introduction. :) Anne Rice, one time vampire writer, now writes for general market Christian readers specifically. She's given up her vampire writing for naught, as I understand it, because it points to a very dark time in her life that she'd rather not revisit. So going back to her Catholic roots, she's now writing with a more defined perspective. Not as defined as affiliated Christian publishers thank goodness but defined none-the-less.

Will it be good?

*gasp*

What kind of question is that?

Of course it will be. After all, this is Anne Rice. It wasn't what she wrote about that made her who she is but her exquisite style. Keep in mind, despite writing Christian fiction, you won't find Mrs. Rice's work in larger Christian Bookstores as you should. Knopf publishing isn't affiliated. However, I do foresee some larger Christian bookstores ignoring this fact as Mrs. Rice stands to sell a lot of books!

So there ya go! Another non-affiliated Christian book and at least two more to come in this series. I'm excited.

Forever Richard tours FIRST on 9/11

In case you don't know about FIRST Wild Card Blog Tours, let me explain. It is a blog tour designed to give all authors, who don't come right out and say they aren't Christian, to tour. And what a wonderful thing for authors such as myself who have a host of Christian readers but can't (and won't) tour other Christian Blog Tours because a.) it costs too much and b.) all work is judged against CBA and ECPA standards, two narrowly targeted Christian markets. *gasp* Say it ain't so. Sorry. It's so.

Well, yes. It's a tad bit early to announce this I guess but there will only be twenty-five books available and MANY that I know of on this tour have not been able to put out the cash to purchase Forever Richard. But my publisher has signed off on it and so there ya go!

Just wanted to give everyone the heads up. And for all my wonderful reviewers who tour the CFBA and FIRST together, this will be your only chance to get Forever Richard. CFBA judges books against that standard I was talking about. :)

I would like to emphasize for those who sign up, my publisher, The Writers' Cafe Press, though Christian, is not CBA or ECPA affiliated and therefore is not bound to serve the evangelical market CBA and ECPA were set up to serve. While some stories my publisher puts out are more overt or rather more Biblical than others, they exude a broad Christian worldview. My stories are not overt and are written to appeal to the general market reader (Christians included.) Never Ceese was even short-listed for a Bram Stoker Award. I've toured FIRST before and have been more than pleased with reviewers understanding this and reviewing accordingly. Though readers of CBA and ECPA fiction seem to love my work, it was not written within the standards required by these two affiliations.

Thank-you Mimi for the chance to tour again. I look forward to it!

YIKES and oh my!

From a poster on another entry here on my blog. I'm concerned enough to respond here.

Hi Sue,

I recently sent out a children's book manuscript to 35 different publishers, one of them being Journey Stone Creations. They sent a letter stating that they are no longer accepting, but that they sent my mani to their sister company, Publish America. Since I have heard about Publish America being a 'not so great' company I was pretty upset about it. FYI: Publish America is a POD! In my search for more information concerning Journey Stone, I have come across about 100 listings about you and your books.

I just wanted to say that I am really glad that you were able to come out of this with grace!

I wish you all the best!!!

I've come out unscathed by the grace of God. Did I read correctly? Did you say Journey Stone implied Publish America was their sister company? Somebody please report that. And Publish America is far from a POD. From what I've read and understand they're a very, very, very nasty vanity press operating on their own and of their own accord.

Journey Stone was a traditional press at one time with legitimate distribution. I'm not sure what they are now.But if they're claiming some association with Publish America I'd have to say they are very confused and desperate.

Other than that, they sold all copies of Never Ceese to a liquidator without telling me so I make absolutely nothing off sales from the hardback. I re-published my paperback myself to remedy this. I've posted blogs about the situation so hopefully my wonderful book won't be associated with that particular company much longer.

You can report Journey Stone to WritersMarket.com if they still have them listed as a traditional press. That will help other authors not get burned. WritersMarket will take them off the list. ;)

Once again, I'd appreciate if no one bought the hardback. I don't make any money and I understand that pages are missing and books are falling apart. The paperback is being distributed through Ingram and Spring Arbor.

The ISBN is 9780976994701

Cyn No More

So Cyn No More looks to be the official title for the third installment of my Thirsting For Blood series. Any comments *be nice* on how that sounds? Of course, you have to be nice or else I'll lovingly delete your comment. Oh the power of being in charge of ones own blog. :)

Officially In Stock at Ingram and Spring Arbor

Never Ceese the paperback, ISBN: 9780976994701, with it's fantabulous updated cover, is officially "In Stock" at Ingram and Ingram/Spring Arbor and is showing up as such. So order away. Oh and if anyone would like to help out with distribution feel free to contact me as I am S D Enterprises. :)

A vampire . . . a werewolf . . . Can two who were wronged make it right?
Never Ceese
www.neverceese.com

A vampire . . . a werewolf . . . again!
Forever Richard
www.foreverrichard.com

So here's one link to Never Ceese the paperback!

With distribution through Ingram and Spring Arbor, Never Ceese the paperback will be available wherever books are sold. Please make sure you buy one! Here's the link for Amazon. The temporarily out of stock business will go away shortly.

The Christian Ghetto.

Lovely term, isn't it? I didn't create it though. I'd never even heard the phrase until I started trying to find more ways to get my books to a particular audience of readers who seemed to be enjoying my work.

I found the term to be a bit derogatory and offensive and researched to learn more. Apparently the term came about as a way to define writing, music, art etc . . . overtly dealing with the Christian market--for the Christian market, Catholic,protestant, you name it.

In the writing arena, fiction produced by the larger Christian publishers, or rather work produced by CBA and ECPA affiliated publishers (and a handful of other publishers who produce fiction for other Faiths not covered by CBA and ECPA) fit this bill. The fiction these publishers turn out is not designed to appeal to general market readers thus the term Christian Ghetto.

In the beginning I was thrilled to have the support of CBA and ECPA market readers and I'm still thrilled. I simply want to make certain it's understood that my work is simply general market fodder equally enjoyed by readers from a very specific market.

Readers interested in both Never Ceese (the re-published paperback ISBN# 9780976994701) and Forever Richard (autographed copy available at www.TheWritersCafe.com) can find my books where ever books are sold. As an added bonus, because of the attention my stories have received from readers of the Christian market, my publisher and I have submitted and qualified for distribution through Spring Arbor.

Paperback of Never Ceese finally available!

I've gone through Lightning Source to make my self-published paperback available to those who wish to purchase it. I've done this due to Journey Stone's change in direction that had them dumping much of their inventory, including all their copies of Never Ceese, to a liquidator.

Because of this action, I receive no compensation for any of the hardbacks sold.

If you wish to support me, or at least encourage me to write more :), please order the paperback. Presently you can pre-order a copy from www.NeverCeese.com and of course I'll autograph that. In four to six weeks you'll be order to order it anywhere books are sold. And to top it off, I just received word from Lightning Source that the paperback has been tagged for the Christian market.

How's that!

Of course Christian bookstores exclusive to books published by the bigger Christian publishers still won't carry it, but then, why would they, right?

So off you go now and check out the new cover. Here's a snippit with the larger version at www.NeverCeese.com!



And don't forget to order your copy of Forever Richard from www.TheWritersCafe.com so you can have that autographed as well. :)

God Bless,
Sue Dent

Anne Rice says: (on facebook)

I saw this today on facebook and thought it might be interesting fodder here as well. You can visit facebook yourself and become a fan of Anne Rice yourself to see what others are saying. So here's her status for today 3.27.09:

Anne Rice: My emails tell me today and every day that people are crying for high level Christian novels. I want to live up this with my work. What do you think?

My limited knowledge of Christian publishing has me assumming that the ones crying out are referring to the targeted fiction put out by the bigger Christian publishers as CBA* and ECPA** write for a very specific audience of Christians with protective restrictions and guidelines in place to keep their work from offending their core market readers. The work they produce rarely appeals to the broader Christian reader and is often seen as falling short literarly.

Anne says she wants to live up to this in her work. I'm guessing she means she'd love her work to appeal to many Christians on many different levels. I for one believe she can do this.

Anne asks what do we think about this statement. I think Ms. Rice should hurry up and get her new book out there and let the chips fall where they may. :)

There does seem to be more clarification however when speaking of literature in relation to appealing to Christians. There are far too many ways to define what a Christian novel is. For instance someone brought up affiliated author Frank Peretti who does in fact write Christian fiction, but only for a specific market of Christians. Clarification is key. :)

*CBA-Christian Bookseller Association
**ECPA-Evangelical Christian Publishers Association

Celebrating Anne Rice!

She certainly deserves to be celebrated. What a wonderful author and person. If you don't believe me, you can go read her new book: Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession.

Also, you may check out this video.



As an author who is a Christian and writes in the horror genre (at least for now), I'm even more inspired by Anne's journey from atheism and back to her Catholic roots. I understand that in this novel she talks about how her previous novels were written from an atheistic worldview. I so admire her coming out and saying this as it helps point to the fact that writing about vampires or werewolves or zombies isn't inherently evil but rather an expression of self as is the case with all fiction.

I also appreciate Mrs. Rice's decision to stay away from the type fiction that obviously pushes her to remember a very dark and sad time in her life. Perhaps one day she'll be able to forge ahead and revisit writing horror fiction from her new worldview. Until then, do check out her recent books. After all, these were written by literary genius Anne Rice and horror or not, she's well worth reading. I can only hope to ever be as talented.


Other books by post-atheist Anne Rice: