I had a meltdown today.Ā
Many of you are probably wondering why an author might lose it. What in the world does someone working from home in their PJs have to be upset about? Why should someone who is adored by fans have the gall to get emotional? Why should she cry and rant in her kitchen for a solid twenty minutes as her husband is whipping up the ingredients for deviled eggs that might soothe her savage beast? Why?!Ā
Because in todayās climate, nothing is good enough.Ā
Let me repeat that.Ā
NOTHING IS GOOD ENOUGH.Ā
Ever.
Iām going to break it down.
Every day, I have multitudes of people telling me to ātype faster, ” ” work harder, ” ” get off Facebook and write, ” ” hurry up and publish the next book.ā They message/email me with a long list of what they insist are āmistakesā in my manuscript when, in actuality, they might not be. Sure, typos get through, but my grammar choices or style donāt have to align with anyone elseās. Iāll talk more about this later.
Although it might appear flattering to have someone tell me all of that, and it might be coming from a place of eagerness or love on a readerās side, itās disheartening and exhausting AF.
Instead of savoring an accomplishment, of taking a moment to be proud of a product it took me MONTHS, a crap-ton of Adderall, and a few thousand dollars to create, I have to set that joy aside and jump straight into the next project. So quickly, in fact, that I donāt have time to put my home to rights. To pay bills, or catch up on laundry, or finish painting my hallway. I am an OCD person who gets overwhelmed and anxious when things arenāt in place. Like full-blown anxiety because I canāt dust a shelf or scan/file papers. Many donāt know, but I havenāt cooked a proper meal in MONTHS. I eat on the run. If it wasnāt for my husband taking over the shopping and cooking, who the hell knows what would happen to me? It feels like I have been tied to a chair and ordered to constantly produce MORE for the insatiable reading monsters people have become.Ā
When I do fall ill, like I have multiple times this past year, kind people tell me to ātake a break.ā āEnjoy time with the Hellhounds.ā Or even to spend time with my husband, who only gets about 2.5 hours of my broken attention before bedtime.Ā
Yet, I canāt. I donāt have TIME. I have to write MORE. FASTER.
Please understand Iām not blaming readers for all my issues. A large part of my stress is self-inflicted, and thereās a reason for that: financial stability.Ā
But whatās the alternative?Ā
If we, as authors, donāt become writing machines and produce MORE, MORE, MORE, then we are forgotten. Not just by readers who have other authors dangling shiny new covers in front of their faces but also by the retailersā algorithms. If we’re lucky, a new book may stay on top for 2-4 weeks. Then, we have to double down on advertising. We have to beg for reviews and shares. We must spend HOURS on Facebook, encouraging people to tell their friends to buy our new book. ONLY to have people tell us toāyeah, you guessed where this is goingāāget off Facebook and write!āĀ
Time spent on social media gives the bulk of authors anxiety. Did you know that? A huge number of introverts are forced to make themselves SEEN, put themselves in the limelight, paint on a smile, and jump in front of a camera to gain attention. No one is content with a written post anymore. We have to be dancing monkeys. We have to make videos for TIKTOKS, REELS, and STORIES. We must show our REAL selves to the world to be mocked or ridiculed.Ā
Ridiculed? Who the hell is going to ridicule you?Ā
Many people. Trolls and people dissatisfied with everything.Ā
Here are the most common things I see:Ā
āThe heroes arenāt sensitive enough. Theyāre assholes.āĀ
āThe heroines are doormats in this series.āĀ
āThere is no character growth.āĀ
āThe main characters arenāt likable.ā
āThese characters have no depth.āĀ
āThe author gave too much backstory.āĀ
āThere isnāt enough action in this book.āĀ
āWhy did the author have her kidnapped? How could she do that to that poor woman?āĀ
āThere isnāt enough romance or sex in this book.āĀ
āThere is too much sex in this book.āĀ
āThis book is too graphic.āĀ
āThis book is too tame.āĀ
āThis book has too many F-bombs. The author should leave those out!āĀ
āWhy canāt an author just create a real character? Itās unnatural for people not to swear.āĀ
āWhy do they have to put pretty people on the cover? Why canāt they represent REAL people?āĀ
āUgh! Why canāt they put a gorgeous male chest on the cover?āĀ
āThat book is too rapey.āĀ
āThis book doesnāt have enough men taking charge. Women like their hair pulled and a smack on the ass. They like to be dominated.āĀ
āThis author writes like an adolescent.āĀ
āThis author thinks sheās smarter than everyone else and insists on 4-syllable words. Pfft. Why canāt she just be real?āĀ
āThere isnāt enough diversity.āĀ
āThereās too much diversity. I donāt like to read about gay/mixed/insert-your-issue-here relationships.āĀ
Itās CONSTANT. If authors respond or complain, we are told, āMeh, you canāt please everyone. Your readers will find you and love what you write.āĀ
Sigh. If only it were that easy.
Then, I get unsolicited offers to āhelp.āĀ
Do you know how many times Iāve received the following? āHow do someone get on youāre beeta list because I want to profread yur books and i con hlpe spot typo because they jump out at me when I red.āĀ
Really?Ā
Iām not trying to be a critical bitch, but if you donāt use punctuation in a sentence or spellcheck what you are sending me, Iām not going to ask you to proofread my manuscript. Just no.
Some take it upon themselves to send āhelpā anyway. āIt was a great book, but I noticed you had a lot of mistakes. Hereās a list of typos you missed, Tara.āĀ
Theyāll send you a list of 25 typos they found AFTER your book has been published. Thatās always fun because I feel like Iām expected to open up a completed project, use the search engine in my writing program to hunt down all these supposed typos and grammatical errors, and correct them.Ā
Let me tell you how exciting THAT prospect is.Ā
Iām sent screenshots or words like āSabrina should be Sabrinaās,ā and Iām expected to find a needle in a haystack. Some are kind enough to put a chapter in front of whatever they wrote or highlighted, but if you knew how many times the word Sabrina appeared in a single chapter of the book where she is featured, you might get a good idea of how daunting this prospect is.Ā
āBut I gave you the page and location number!ā Yes, however, my Scrivener writing program is not the same as your epub or print copy. That program doesnāt break it down by page and location. Your personal settings determine those things. Using a large font? Yeah, you might have 29 pages to my 14.Ā
Even if I COULD find everything youāve pointed out, now I must fix them on MULTIPLE files. I will need to reformat and regenerate those files, upload them to EVERY RETAILER, pull the print copies, submit a new file to the printer, wait on an electronic proof, and then order a physical copy to ensure things are printing correctly.Ā
In doing this, Iāve essentially wasted DAYS. All because a few people feel I should say a sentence one particular way when Iāve stated it another. All because a comma is missing or in the wrong place. All because someone felt it was necessary to point out the story’s flaws.Ā
Way to take the shine off my project and bring me back to earth. We canāt have an author feel a sense of pride in their accomplishment, now can we?Ā
How do I put this nicely?Ā
Fuck it. I canāt.Ā
So here it is: You are not a paid editor. I didnāt hire you, nor did I request that you mark up my work and send it back to me. Youāre not my teacher, and we arenāt in high school. Youāre not my publisher and donāt pay me a regular salary.
At this point, I want to say, āRead the fucking book or donāt. I donāt give a shit.āĀ
But I do.Ā
I want everyone to love what I created. Yes, this is impossible. I know that. But it doesn’t change anything. Whatās done is done. And still, Iām begging you: PLEASE donāt message me after the fact with problems that will take me an ungodly amount of time to fix. Time I donāt have because Iām āhurrying and writing faster.āĀ
Ask yourself these questions before messaging/emailing an independent or medium-level author:Ā
Would I do this to the big-name authors? How often have I sent James Paterson, Nora Roberts, and J.K. Rowlings these types of things? Would I message them on FB, Instagram, TikTok, whatever to point out all the flaws in their books?Ā
If the answer is NO, please refrain from doing it to anyone else.
Most authors pay professionals to edit their work and create their covers. I know I do. I also have four trusted individuals who comb the book for typos, grammar, timing/pacing, and inconsistencies.Ā
Are all these discovered in the pre-publishing process? Probably not, but itās a hell of a lot more work than many traditional companies put into publishing a book. Fact: As an avid reader, Iāve found at least ONE typo on every single page of traditionally published books in recent months. Think about that. If there are 300 pages in a book, thatās 300 typos, minimum. A lot more than the 5-10 youāll find overall in my books.Ā
If you are one of these people who absolutely must point these things out to an author, ask yourself if you would message Random House, St. Martinās Press, or Avon? No? Then why the hell are you messaging me? Seriously, why? Yeah, I donāt know why any readers would either. Itās not their job, and I will refer you to the section on creating hours of work for your āfavoriteā authors.
Now, the fun part. FREEBIES and DISCOUNTS!Ā
āDear Author, Iām {fill in the blank here – sick? Out of work? Need an operation? My husband/wife had X happen.} and I donāt make/have enough to pay for your book. Iād be grateful if you could send me a free autographed copy so I can read it. I really want to. Oh, and it must be the paperback because I donāt like digital copies. I love the smell of a new book. If you could ship it this week, that would be great. I want to get it before Christmas. Also, I donāt like going to the library to borrow it for free. I like to own my books. Also, I donāt have a car to get there.āĀ
āDear Author, I am no longer reading your books because they are not in Kindle Unlimited. As much as I read, I canāt afford to buy them. Sometimes, I read four books a day, and my TBR pile is 11,000 books long. Please put them back in KU so I can get them in Kindle. If not, youāre going to lose me as a reader.ā
āDear Author, I canāt afford the $5.99 ebook. Thatās too much. I donāt even like paying $14.99 for Nora Robertsās new book. I wait until it goes on sale to get it for $8.99. When is your sale for your new release?ā
Those emails make me want to tell people to fuck all the way off. No, really. Do those people understand the insanity of contacting an artist and asking for their work for FREE? The ridiculousness of it all? Does anyone realize if creators constantly gave away the thing that it took a chunk of their time and money to produce, those creators whose work they absolutely love would all be homeless and without a pot to piss in? What other business does that? Should Amazon or Barnes & Noble give away their stock because someone canāt afford it? How can readers constantly expect free entertainment and get salty when told no?
It can cost THOUSANDS to publish a book.Ā
Let that sink in. THOUSANDS.
Shall I break costs down for you?Ā
Weāll use my last release from 11 days ago. The book cover costs $531 ($401 for the ebook/paperback/audiobook files, then an additional $40 for hardback, $40 for large print, and $25 each for KDP and Bookvault files, so I can start offering these for sale direct). Edits were $1,258. And Iāve spent roughly $1,500 in advertising costs for the last 30 days. For those not good at math, thatās $3,289 to publish The Aether and get eyes on it. I need to sell 1,000 of that book alone to recoup the expense. That is to say nothing of the endless hours writing and rewriting this story.Ā
Also, I get requests for the audiobook. Letās discuss the expense tied to producing one of those. To hire a GOOD actor, one will pay $200 to $600 per finished hour. If my book is 8 hours long, the minimum cost to create an audiobook is $1,600. The high end is $4,800. To list a book on a retail site, authors only receive 40% of the profit. If an audiobook is listed at $15, we get roughly $6 of that book. We will need to sell 267 books to recoup the cost of the production. That doesnāt count marketing costs. It also doesnāt measure hours spent LISTENING to the recording, marking spots that need to be rerecorded, listening to the corrections, possibly having THOSE rerecorded, then compiling and uploading to retail sites.Ā
For my last one, I was sent about 6 chapters per day, and the process took me about two weeks to complete. Unpaid hours.Ā
Why am I telling you all of this? I eat, sleep, and breathe this writing career, and Iām tired. I canāt string two words together to have a conversation some days. More often than not, if someone calls me, I stutter my way through a conversation or simply listen to them with a few well-placed responses.Ā
But my work is not good enough. I have to produce MORE. I have to give things away for FREE. I have to discount my books for people without the means to buy them. I’m forced to wonder if Iām selling enough to pay all the business expenses AND my mortgage.
How many of you know I do all this with a handful of challenging conditions? Chronic fatigue. Fibromyalgia. Chronic immune issues. Expressive dysphasia. Neurodiversity.Ā
Yeah, itās overwhelming in the extreme. Yet, I love writing. Not necessarily all the other stuff I need to do to make this a viable business, but definitely the writing part, when I can string a sentence together and not harshly judge what Iāve written as utter rubbish.
So Iām asking you, nay begging you, PLEASE cut authors a break. If you see that single, solitary typo that got past everyoneās eagle eyes, ignore it. If you feel the urge to ask for a free book, donāt. Go to the library and request they stock their shelves with your favorite authors’ books. If you feel the urge to tell someone to āwrite faster,ā curb it.Ā
An author will never tell you they donāt love your excitement. Hell, āI canāt wait!ā is one of my favorite things to read from a fan. But being ordered to speed up my process when I canāt humanly do so? Yeah, you donāt want to know the ugly thoughts running through my mind when I see that one.Ā
Here are a few last requests, and these are going to make me unpopular, but come the fuck on already.
1. If you have a question, GOOGLE IT first. Donāt automatically assume authors should be at your beck and call to provide links. We try to provide what you need, but we can be scatterbrained with our workloads. I encourage you to take a look at whatever graphic theyāve posted. Does it have a website? Yes? Great! Type that into your browser and EXPLORE their site rather than ask them to provide a link for your convenience in the comments of a post. They canāt possibly know where you live without going to your profile to look, and half the time, itās unavailable to a non-friend. An author may give you a link for Amazon US when you live in the UK. Also, if they ARE kind enough to provide one, donāt come back five minutes later to say it didnāt work, making them hunt up another. Your fingers arenāt broken. You can type in the name of a book along with that authorās name just as easily as they can type in a file name to find the appropriate links. Consider the time youāre costing them away from actual writing/work because you canāt be bothered to look something up. Stop being an entitled prat. Authors arenāt your personal secretary. We are alerting you to the new release. Go find it. By now, we all know how a retail site works.
2. READ. Youāre a reader. READ a post in its entirety, then reread it if you donāt understand it. Donāt comment until youāve explored every possibility and have read that post twice. Why? 99% of the time, when someone asks me a question, the answer is already in the post or comments. I nearly stroke out when asked a question thatās already answered and that a person can scroll up to find.Ā
3. Look for answers before interrupting someone elseās workday. Besides sleeping 5-6 hours and the 2.5 hours with my hubby, my entire day is consumed by business. Yet, I constantly get messages and emails from people who canāt be bothered to explore the FAQ section of my website, where the link is in the footer of EVERY SINGLE webpage. I know I canāt be the only one. If youāre emailing me, youāve emailed other authors without bothering to see if their policies are listed on the site. Hint: they are listed.Ā
4. Stop tagging authors in stupid shit. Seriously. I donāt (nor do the other 124 authors youāve happened to tag) have the bloody time to look at the cranberry sauce picture you posted on your social media wall. If you want to tag them, make it one of their books. Share a graphic from their business wall, tell others how amazing it is, and tag that author if you want, but for the love of all thatās holy, donāt expect a response. We all know how messed up notifications are. Think of all the ones you get. Now multiply that by about 100 for authors. Post a pic of your recent book purchase, either ebook or paperback, with a link to their website or professional social media business account. Be sure to make it their AUTHOR NAME and not their personal profile. Why? I donāt have any books published as Tara Cromer, and it will make anyone searching for author Tara Cromer scratch their head in confusion. However, if youād like to tag T.M. Cromer, they might have an easier time of it.Ā
5. Stop using Messenger to contact an author. Period. 99.9% of us have a contact form on our website. Canāt find the website? Hint: it usually has the authorās name in it. Mine isĀ tmcromer.com. No frills. Simple and to the point. Most other author websites are as well. If you are in any doubt, that same 99.9% of authors have their website listed in their social media’s ABOUT or BIO section. Itās only a link click away.Ā
Look, I know social media is designed to make us more accessible, and I honestly try to be available as much as I can for fans. I have a dedicated VIP reader group. Iām a member of a few other groups. There is Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X, although admittedly, Iām never on that last one. However, my Messenger isnāt meant for readers to be my best friends or to message me at all hours of the day or night with pictures I could easily see on their wall. It isnāt meant for them to āchatā because theyāre bored and assume I am. My policy is not to answer Messenger. My policy isn’t intended to piss people off. Itās so I can unplug once in a while. To relax and not think of business. To browse my friendsā updates when Iām online and see what is happening in their world. Not to be accessible 24/7. I just canāt. I donāt have it in me.Ā
And with all that, I ask that you not judge me too harshly for this long-ass post. Because in addition to all of this seemingly negative crap, Iām exceedingly grateful.Ā
Grateful to my fans. Some of you have been with me since the beginning of my writing journey, and I canāt express how much that means to me.Ā
Grateful for potential new readers. Thank you for trying a new-to-you author.Ā
Grateful to those who care enough to WANT to help by sending those typos I donāt want after the fact. I understand you want my book to be the best. I do, too. But donāt. I swear, the work involved in redoing everything Iāve just done to release a book makes me want to curl up in a ball and drink straight from a bottle of booze.Ā
Grateful to have a husband who loves me and understands my meltdowns. One who graciously asked if I wanted him to make a statement.Ā
Grateful to my friends in the writing world, both authors and readers, who talk me down from selling everything I own and picking a spot under a bridge to hang out with my Hellhounds.Ā
Yes, this was a highly emotional plea for some readers to do better. But know, those are a small percentage. The majority of you are pure gold, and I adore you.Ā
Now, I must get back to writing. This write-up was two chapters’ worth of rant. The readers and algorithms wait for no man, or in my case, woman.Ā
Ah Tara, I’m so sorry all this is going on. If I ever in the future feel like pressurising or hurrying you (or any author) I’ll think twice. Hugs
You are lovely, Debbie. Thank you.
Wow, I donāt even know what to say. First and foremost you are my favorite writer. Whether itās one book every six months, 10 books a year or one book every 10 years I would still support you. I wouldnāt dream of trying to critique your work and find it very disturbing that there are people out there that do. Why canāt they just enjoy, the fruits of your labor. I hope it gets better and quite frankly I wish I could be your enforcer. I have very little fucks to give.
Thank you, Brenda. I know you are one of my most avid fans, and I appreciate the hell out of you.
Social media has created a completely insensitive society of communicators. Because they feel that they are the most important person in their world, then everyone should treat them as such. The āsoup boxā of the past where the extremely entitled person would rant in the public square is now an international box to rant to the world. It is a great detriment to civil discourse and personal responsibility. I am sorry that you are subjected to such heavy handed behavior. I wish that you knew how much your books and characters bring joy to so many. Please know that so many of your readers bask in the light of your stories. Thank you for all you do as a writer.
Thank you, Michelle Lynn. I appreciate your kind words.
Love all you do for your fans and to those that are critical , they need to get a life .Having just gotten through another holiday in retail (43yrs at a grocery store ) I have seen some really stupid lately . Common sense isnāt so common anymore . Hugs to you š
Hi Becky. Oh, lawdy, girlfriend. I don’t know how you’ve managed to work retail for 43 years. I’d be on an episode of Snapped. You have my deepest sympathies for all the trials and tribulations in dealing with the public. Admittedly, there are so many wonderful people in the world, but the asshats that you do get must make you want to curl up in bed and never leave. I won’t argue about the common sense factor. YOU know. I can tell. š
I’ve loved your writing since I meet you at the Eureka library, but you’ll never make everyone happy so don’t try, do what makes you happy. The stories are perfect the way you write them. Let them come when they come. Take care of yourself true fans understand and will wait for you. š
Hi Elaine. Thanks for hanging in there from day one. š I appreciate your kind words and continued following.
Oh Tara, it saddens me your going through this. People need to know that it takes time to create your wonderful stories. I am patient and always look forward to your books. But I never expect you to hurry them up. Plus there are times when you need to take some time for yourself. You don’t need to burn out. I see it as I have other books to read in the mean time and I can always restart your series like I usually do. Others just need to quit pushing and wait. Your masterpieces can’t be rushed. I will always be a fan of your work. And I do love your interactions on your social media. It shows you care about your followers and that your connected. Some authors don’t even do that with their fan base.
Hi Josie. Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to reply. Your caring means a lot.
I wish I could give you a hug and make you dinner(gluten free of course)!
And I vow to never say āwrite fasterā ever again!!
Hugs happiness and joy my dear
Thanks for your kind words, Samantha. Yes, I know for people that “write faster” comes from an eagerness and place of love. It can be stressful, though, when the ink isn’t dry on the last release. š I don’t mind someone saying they can’t wait, though. It’s those “why get off FB and write?” comments that get my goat. Like I’m only here to cater to someone’s reading interests and I’m not a real human. So never feel like your eagerness isn’t welcome. It is.
Just shows the amount of self entitled asshats out there these days. I found you a few years ago now and am so very glad I did. I buy everything as soon as I can pre-order but I canāt always afford it so I get Amazon gift cards as presents from family so I can keep my reading addiction! A favourite author of mine has two series going and a standalone novel and one book for each comes out a year and Iām. Wry happy to wait. The true fan is happy to wait and support you. I hope lots of your readers take the time to read your post and get an understanding of the blood sweat and tears that go into being an author. Ill also be looking to get your books direct from your website in the future to make sure youāre getting my money before Amazon! Xoxox
Hi Laura. Thank you for your kind words. Never feel like you have to rush to buy my stories. I understand budgets and financial obligations. My post wasn’t a call for people to buy my books. It was to ask people to stop obnoxiously demanding I ignore everything else to write more when the ink isn’t dry on the last one, and to ask people to stop writing to me for freebies with whatever sob story they cook up that week. It’s hard for me to say no. Stressful too. Perhaps because I’m a major people pleaser and feel I never can. But I do appreciate all the love and support you already provide. š
Just sending hugs and prayers for peace because our Society has become a group of more, more, more when they want it. I read your work because it is an entertaining story and I ignore typos because they happen in life all the time. As I tell my daughter with some of your conditions, just breathe. As Jimmy Buffet song says, Breathe in, breathe out, move on”
Waiting as patiently as possible for your next wonderful story.
Thank you, Wendy. That’s very kind. Yes, I need to stop and breathe more. Jimmy B. is one of my favorites for relaxing. His music always reminds me that life shouldn’t be taken seriously. My mother always said, we never get out of it alive. š
#1 – HUGS!!!
#2 – Snuggle with those adorable hellhounds (puppy snuggles are the best).
#3 – Please know that we love you and want only the absolute bestest for you and that lovely man that feeds you (š ).
Reading is one of my all time, life long passions. Without the incredible talents of authors, where would I be? (Maybe doing house work….nah)
Soo, all this to say we love you and just let us know who we need to sic Amber and Alastair on š.
Thanks for your kind words, Annette. š Alastair needs to visit me for sure.
Tara, I absolutely adore you. I try not to bug the shit out of you and I tend to stay quiet because for the most part, everything you give us is amazing to me. I have no complaints. If I see an error, ah hell I knew what she meant, move on. Aaron has a list of all the books I still need for when he wants to be sweet and get me one to have when I’m ready to be a human again. I want to find all these people who cause you grief and anxiety and rage on them. You’re amazing. They’re the douche canoes. And I swear if I lived closer I’d offer to come clean your house or organize or whatever you needed. But I’m broke and plane tickets are crazy. Deep breaths, eat eggs, and then some tasty chocolate or something lemony, straighten the crown and flip off the assholes. Now I’m going to go warm up since when my phone dinged, seen you had a meltdown I stopped in my towel and read the blog. Now I’m freezing š. I love you lady…
You are too sweet, Amy. Thank you for your kind words. I understand budgets and waiting to get things we love. Been there, done that. š As for cleaning the house and organizing, that may be part of my stress. That KNOWING it’s waiting for me. Laundry and dishes are about the only thing I keep up with, and I thank goodness that Mark doesn’t mind vacuuming. Never feel that you are bothering me if you are replying to a post or in the group. It’s those random tags for things that don’t mean a hill of beans to anyone, where people are inconsiderate and tag 20-40 authors at a time that I find objectionable. The eggs and chocolate were a great suggestion. One I took without hesitation. Thanks for that.
Tara, I am so sorry. I love your books and you too. I truly understand.
Thank you, Tam.
So very sorry for all the ass holes out there! Love your work and just ordered the lastest from Amazon! I make tumblers so totally get people wanting things for free, when it cost you to get everything to be able to do it.
Hi Jeannine. I hope you love the latest story. Yes, as a business person you definitely understand about the freebies, and especially making tumblers. That’s absolutely not a cost-free endeavor. When you get a chance, email me with your shop info. I’d love to see what type of tumblers you have. š
I try not to bother you. I know some of the physical aspects you go through and how they can affect a person. I love your books and will order the books I am missing in the next couple of months. Now that I am out of the nursing home I can do things. Take care and bless you for your stories. Try to take a break at times for you and your husband. Okay with the Hellhounds daily and times of stress.
Hi Sharon. I’m happy to learn you’re back at home. Don’t stress ordering the books. Mine wasn’t a post begging for people to buy, it was merely to explain why I dislike readers emailing me to ask for freebies or getting pissed when my newest release doesn’t immediately go into KU or on sale. I understand budgets and financial pacing. Especially for readers like you who have been through so much. Sending you hugs and healing light.
OMG Tara, I just want to reach out and give you the biggest & best hug šš¤š and then wrap you in love and light and a big warm fuzzy blanket and let you scream and cry out all your frustrations.
And I really want to reach out and slap so many readers. š© I cringe every time I see these types of comments on your VIP Readers group š³ and reading this blog I want to pound some sense into people even more! I keep wanting to tell them to try waiting 5 or 6 years between books as those of us who are Diana Gabaldon’s books do. Seriously folks, find other authors to read in the interim, especially those who Tara recommends.
Now, I must admit I often tag you when I post on your page (usually responding to a question, or telling you how much I love whichever of your books I happen to be reading). I didn’t realize the extra work that causes and will drop that habit right away.
I hope that those who need to read your blog do so and wake up when they see what their behaviour is doing to you. I sincerely hope and pray that you can get back to enjoying your process as much as we appreciate and enjoy the end results …….. whenever that happens to be published.
Love, hugs, and lemon drops
Hi Edie! Thanks for your kind words. I honestly don’t mind if you tag me in the group or on my page if responding to questions or my own comment(s). If I’ve opened the dialogue or you need an answer, I’m happy to reply. It’s the ridiculous tagging of things I don’t need to be notified of outside the group, like Thanksgiving dinner pics or random memes or being added to groups without permission. The list is extensive. So please, never feel you can’t tag me inside the group or on my author page.
I am so sorry Tara. I hope I’ve never been one of the small percentage. I generally wait if I can’t afford a book straight away til when I can. That is common sense to me.
I have been one of the small percentage with another author we both know and love, but I won’t do that again. I waseaning it in a jokey way, but after reading this, I realize I’m maybe just an asshat. I shall apologize profusely to said other author.
All I can say is, you do you. I know that is a cheesy clichĆ©, but it’s all I got right now. I understand the illness/disability side all too well. Have a cup of chamomile tea if you can drink it and take 5, or even 2 minutes to yourself. Love on the hellhounds, bless them. I think we all love seeing posts about your babies.
When I’m able to I’ll send you some healing and calm. Hopefully that will help a smidge. I will buy The Aether soon as I can afford it and the last Holt Family book too. Things are a bit tight right now.
Lots of love and gluten free lemon cake.xx
Hi Iola. You never have to feel like you must buy my books. Seriously. If you have the money and wish to, that’s one thing. Going beyond your means is another. It’s why I always suggest the library. Fans can read for free, and libraries pay readers for the privilege. It’s a win-win. Thank you for your healing energy.
Oh Tara, I just want to send you the biggest hug on the planet. I have been an avid reader since I was 5 years old and am now within touching distance of 72 and you are the FIRST author I have ever had any contact with – to me authors are to be revered and respected not picked apart. I still canāt believe that you take the time to respond graciously to my inane comments.
Unfortunately in this modern world people expect way too much and intrude way too far into the lives of others causing untold stress and anxiety. I am so sad that you are suffering in this way for bringing so much joy and happiness to so many of us.
Hoping you can pull back a bit from trying to please the āterminally unpleasableā and just give yourself space. Lovers will always love and haters will always hate so tying yourself in knots is pointless.
I am thankful every day for the amazing world you lay out before me in the pages of your books and will never again say ā I canāt wait for the next oneā because I can wait and I will wait and be grateful for your wonderful talent. Much love from a VERY appreciative reader xx
Hi Allison. Thanks for your kind words. I don’t mind if someone says, “I can’t wait.” For me, it’s the demanding way people tell me to get off social media and write. I know they are excited and that it comes from an eagerness to read more. However, those people don’t understand that I’m fostering a relationship with fans. It’s the way I give back to everyone who supports me. So that demand that I write doesn’t sit well. I’m thankful every single day for fans like you.
You are wonderful, as are your books. Just sayingā¦
Thank you, Trish.
I’m so very sorry. We seem to share both sensibilities and health issues; maybe that’s why I feel that I can almost understand the frustration and stress. I’m the one who posted that I wanted to hug you so tight after you clearly and eloquently explained the KU situation…and still were inundated with questions that had already been addressed in your post! I promise, I’m not diminishing your probable frustration, but I laughed so hard; I knew what was coming your way! Thank you for sharing so much, and please don’t give up on the rest of us! Sending love, respect, and appreciation ā¤ļø to you.
Hi Angela. Yes, I remember. I think there are a lot of KU readers who don’t understand the process, and I can’t necessarily fault them for wanting to read books through a subscription service. Hell, I made decent money on it before Amazon changed categories and algorithms. But their inability to be flexible or find another way can be infuriating. I understand budgets more than most because I grew up poor. There were times my mother fed us PB&J sandwiches because that was all she could afford. All my clothes were hand-me-downs. Money can be tight for so many. Especially with today’s inflation. However, there are libraries who lend books for free. People just don’t want to make an effort to leave home to get that library card, and that’s on them. But thank you for your kind words.
I’m sorry you are having to deal with all the impatience, the lack of common sense and lack of manners that unfortunately seems to be the normal these days. Very few think of the work that is put into projects, of what the creator is giving up to produce the work. I personally love your work and think what and how often you release your work is perfect if you decided to release less again that’s fine.
I have recently learnt myself that we do not live to work we should work to live. Celebrate your work Celebrate that what you do is what let’s you live, don’t forget to take time to live walk away from the laptop and enjoy life unfortunately we cannot please everyone.
Take care and remember we don’t live to work we work to live.
Thanks, Sam. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a workaholic. Mainly it’s because I’m a perfectionist. Perhaps that’s why learning about typos after the fact causes meltdowns? But you’re right, and we should have a work/life balance. I’m working on that.
Pay no attention to those people, you take all the time you want, and I have not found mistakes, and I am pretty picky and report stuff all the time š You are loved and appreciated by all the wonderful readers who think YOU ARE JUST RIGHT THE WAY YOU ARE!! And if those doo-doo heads don’t think so, eff them!! xxoo (language cleaned up, because you know I can potty mouth with the best of themLOLOL)
Thanks, T. I’m not one to judge language, because I’m pretty sure I dropped a few F-bombs in my speech. š Thanks for your kind words.
I love your books, I read awesome typonese, if there is any. And when I’m done with a book I patiently wait for the next one š . MANY HUGGS coming your way.
Hi Suzette! Typonese – funny! Thank you for your kind words. Hugs back atcha!
I hate that you and so many authors have to deal with negativity, ignorance and mean spirited people. I love your work and am grateful for all you do! I will be here ALWAYS!! šš
Hi Cassie. Yes, it doesn’t bode well for anyone with thin skin in this industry. Most days, I shrug it off, but every once in a great while my temper erupts, causing a post like the one I published. Maybe every 6 months or so. š Thank you for your kind words and continued support.
First off let me say I enjoy all your books. If thereās a typo, thereās a typo. I read it and carry on. It doesnāt affect the storyline what so ever. I am amazed at what comes out of your imagination. We are all blessed to be apart of what you write. Some people think they can do better, if so write your own books. If I have to wait for the next book I wait because I know itās gonna be GREAT. Thank you for what you do and what you do so well.
Thank you, Macey! š Your kind words are appreciated.