tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post112631739397497837..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Final ThoughtsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126814579328118412005-09-15T15:02:00.000-05:002005-09-15T15:02:00.000-05:00Just some observations from someone who buys books...Just some observations from someone who buys books, thoroughly enjoys your work, isn't an actual author (yet), had a high-functioning alcoholic for a dad, and has no patience for people who don't enjoy the ride of life ...<BR/><BR/>1) Would I care if I saw an author acting like an ass at a convention? (Grimace, because even I don't like the answer.) Yes. Why? Because - as far as I'm concerned - you're at work. And I'm a client. You don't have to be a stiff, but show me you're not a jackass at heart, and I'll forgive a lot. What if you ARE a jackass at heart? Well, at least be self-effacing about it.<BR/><BR/>2) Eventually you'll come up with 2 groups of panelists - those who hate working with you, and those who love working with you. Forget about the "whys" of the former group, and ferret out the authors in the latter group. You'll all have a better time, and so will your audience.<BR/><BR/>3) Whatever path you take re: alcohol, remember you won't be the first. Many people drink socially, many people drink themselves to death. Fans seem to simultaneously embrace and revile both. After living with an alcoholic for many years, I'd have to think most online tests are bullshit. Alcoholics are already fooling themselves, why would some clicks of the mouse open Pandora's box? Only your family knows if you really have a problem. Ask them. Listen. Take their answer seriously, even if it sucks. Change if they suggest it. And then get on with life.<BR/><BR/>4) I did have the opportunity to meet you once, during a signing in Seattle. You were a nice guy. After a few raucous jokes (all of them appreciated), I asked if your wife missed you while you were on tour. You showed some very earnest and naked emotion in your answer. Be good to your family, be a good husband and a good dad. Those are the people that will visit your grave, my friend - not panelists and perhaps not your fans.<BR/><BR/>Good luck.<BR/><BR/>And when can I get a copy of Rusty Nail?! (How does one obtain an ARC, by the way?)<BR/><BR/>JulieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126722342502907802005-09-14T13:25:00.000-05:002005-09-14T13:25:00.000-05:00Joe,Not all authors shine in front of a mike -- an...Joe,<BR/>Not all authors shine in front of a mike -- and they know it. So some of this is jealousy. I've seen your gig for a couple years now and you've matured into a good and generous moderator. As for being disliked in "the community," hey, join the club. At Bcon this year, my sister and I were publicly vilified as "offensive" and "hated by everyone" by a very inebriated woman who happens to be the main squeeze of one of crime fiction world's kingmakers. I thought, hot damn, I must be getting somewhere in this biz if I'm starting to piss people off!<BR/><BR/>So don't worry. Screw 'em. Be yourself. But if you ever throw me over your shoulder again in a hotel lobby, I will tell your wife.<BR/><BR/>PJ ParrishPJ Parrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13980813858620119772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126709535309607712005-09-14T09:52:00.000-05:002005-09-14T09:52:00.000-05:00Joe, all I know is your panel was the only one tha...Joe, all I know is your panel was the only one that actually made me want to go down to the dealer room and buy some of the panelists' books. And because you made us keep repeating their titles, I actually remembered what I wanted to get. Your moderating style might be "unconventional," but some of those panels could have used a little juice. I heard some people say a few things about it afterward, but I got the impression their complaints were more along the lines of "Oh, that crazy Joe..." Like how you complain about how your mother dotes over you, even though you secretly like it.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, that's my small bit. I think you helped your panelists more than hurt them. No matter what, you're going to get differing opinions on that one, though.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04914329013690756540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126665600237339402005-09-13T21:40:00.000-05:002005-09-13T21:40:00.000-05:00I think there's more than one lesson for JA, and e...I think there's more than one lesson for JA, and everyone, to be learned here.<BR/><BR/>There's the lesson about drinking too much in public.<BR/><BR/>There's the lesson about being more in tune with the needs of your panelists when you're a moderator.<BR/><BR/>And there's the lesson about folks in the mystery community who find it okay to badmouth others behind their backs.<BR/><BR/>If you thing poorly of a peer, that's okay. Everyone has an opinion.<BR/><BR/>But if you tell everyone in the bar that you think less of a peer, that's not cool. That's wrong.<BR/><BR/>I've only been to a few conventions, but I've met several folks who spread negative comments, rumors, and BS.<BR/><BR/>I once thought that this was a friendly, tight-knit community. Now I feel like I should be looking over my shoulder, in case they start talking about me next.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126619939850191872005-09-13T08:58:00.000-05:002005-09-13T08:58:00.000-05:00Do what works for you, Joe, but listen to yourself...Do what works for you, Joe, but listen to yourself when you ask yourself questions. And then, listen to yourself when you answer.<BR/><BR/>People who complain that your schtick is the same each convention, well, did they ever follow a successful band or comedian around and hear how those entities performed the same thing each night? You're the same. You take what works. If a chord strikes a dissonance time and again, you change the music, that's all.<BR/><BR/>From a personal standpoint, I once looked forward to the pleasures of the bottle on a semi-regular basis, until I found those pleasures harder to attain and, most frighteningly, harder to remember. I won't go into details. They're the stuff of unbelievable horror novels, but the upshot is that for the past 15 years I rarely have a drink and I'm as freaking crazy as ever.<BR/><BR/>So, just listen to yourself, dude. And keep writing (as if you needed to be goaded into that!). You're an inspiration, though from the schedule you keep and the works you produce, I think you must be at least three people.Bob Farleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12511976142310659750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126557889078456832005-09-12T15:44:00.000-05:002005-09-12T15:44:00.000-05:00Joe doesn't strike me as pissed at all. I don't k...Joe doesn't strike me as pissed at all. I don't know where you're getting that from.<BR/><BR/>Sounds to me like he's merely trying to analyze the response. Nothing wrong with that.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952008139132652259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126517190623120462005-09-12T04:26:00.000-05:002005-09-12T04:26:00.000-05:00But meanwhile, you are being defensive. You're war...But meanwhile, you are being defensive. You're warning people that everyone gets gossiped about and to watch out. Joe, you asked for all this. Just read what works for you, alter your performance or not, but don't start being accusatory about what you got in comments when the whole point - you said - you wrote all this was to get feedback. <BR/><BR/>The issue wasn't - is everyone universally liked? It wasn't are people creul? It wasn't should people tell you to your face or chose to be anonymous? You said you might have a problem. Folks answered. Now you're pissed.<BR/><BR/>Oh well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126471495991187352005-09-11T15:44:00.000-05:002005-09-11T15:44:00.000-05:00You're wrong, Joe. I am universally loved.Except ...You're wrong, Joe. I am universally loved.<BR/><BR/>Except by that one mystery author I had never met, but who still found a reason to dislike a complete stranger.<BR/><BR/>Don't sweat it, Joe. Life's too short.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126371405359468012005-09-10T11:56:00.000-05:002005-09-10T11:56:00.000-05:00Joe,I was standing in the back of the room with Da...Joe,<BR/><BR/>I was standing in the back of the room with David Morrell during your panel. I distinctly heard one guy whisper with pure excitement to his wife: "That's Konrath!"<BR/><BR/>My feeling is that you are our generation's Stephen King.<BR/><BR/>I just worry about your health, but you know, fuck it, you only live once.<BR/><BR/>I do think if you're on a panel with other people you might think about toning it down. You just totally stole the show from everyone else on the panel. But it's like watching Jack Nicholson early in his career; everybody thought he was an asshole, but nobody could take their eyes off of him.<BR/><BR/>I just pray that you don't drink yourself into an early grave.<BR/><BR/>We might have to form one of those awkward and uncomfortable interventions...<BR/><BR/>Hang in there, big guy...<BR/><BR/>You're going to be a legend!<BR/><BR/>StaceyStacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126366959869961622005-09-10T10:42:00.000-05:002005-09-10T10:42:00.000-05:00Joe,I owe you an apology.I read my prior note to y...Joe,<BR/><BR/>I owe you an apology.<BR/><BR/>I read my prior note to you. It was much harsher than I intended. Even though I've never met you, you come across quite clearly in your writing and blog as a hell of a nice guy. The fact that you're even asking for opinions about events at Boucheron shows a lot about you.<BR/><BR/>I think it's smart of you to reconsider things. But don't flog yourself about it. Sorry I contributed to that.<BR/><BR/>Lindamoihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14233272046318849965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126358260006408462005-09-10T08:17:00.000-05:002005-09-10T08:17:00.000-05:00Who doesn't like me? Bastards! Have some balls and...Who doesn't like me? Bastards! Have some balls and tell me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126331933770083992005-09-10T00:58:00.000-05:002005-09-10T00:58:00.000-05:00You can't please everyone. You come across as a n...You can't please everyone. You come across as a nice person on this blog. I haven't picked up your books yet, but I plan to when I'm in the States again. (Currently overseas for work)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126331640785761692005-09-10T00:54:00.000-05:002005-09-10T00:54:00.000-05:00At least three people said to me: "You haven't re...At least three people said to me: "You haven't read WHISKEY SOUR yet?!?!"<BR/><BR/>So, I bought it. <BR/><BR/>I was going to anyway.<BR/><BR/>I approached you in the lobby to ask you to sign both books for me. You were so happy and appreciative that I bought WHISKEY SOUR.<BR/><BR/>You're a good man, Joe.John Schrammhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05964761106260207348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1126322163773047522005-09-09T22:16:00.000-05:002005-09-09T22:16:00.000-05:004 people asked me for blurbs, even while in the mi...<I>4 people asked me for blurbs, even while in the midst of all of this controversy.</I><BR/><BR/>*Rolls on the floor laughing*<BR/><BR/>Well, hell <I>vato</I> why didn't I think of that?JD Rhoadeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123361739160525998noreply@blogger.com