Current Project: PNWA Entries
Status: Recovering from the plague
Sorry for my prolonged blog absence, but I've been insanely busy with school and with recovering from the plague. Or maybe Ebola. Whatever it was, my whole house has been ill with some vile nastiness.
Suzanne Brockmann (whom, as many of you know, is my personal goddess) has landed herself into a industrial sized pot of boiling water with her latest release, Dark of Night. If you have not read the book and are planning to or have not started the series and have it on your TBR pile, SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS ahead. And I strongly urge you to read this one spoiler-free. I did, and I'm really happy for it.
SPOILERS
Many readers are furious with her for not pairing a particular hero (Hero A) and heroine (Heroine A). These readers were absolutely certain that a HEA was forthcoming for them based on a past sexual encounter and some smoldering glances, pining, and tension over several books. Hero and Heroine were discussed endlessly on Brockmann's message board and topped several reader polls for favorite couples. I have to admit at one time, I was firmly in Hero A's camp. However, over time, I came to root for Hero B and therefore wasn't too disapointed by the pairing. I trusted that I would like whatever Brockmann came up with and read the book without reading any reviews or spoilers. My perspective is that I loved the book even though it wasn't what I had expected, and I give her kudos for pushing the boundaries of romantic a little futher. (I'm linking to my good reads review--lots of spoilers)
However, there is a huge contingent of livid readers who feel very betrayed. They've errupted all over the All About Romance Forums, made themselves known on the Dear Author review, and staged protests on other blogs and in the amazon reviews. There's still a lot of controversy on Brockmann's message board as well, but it's nothing compared to the vitrol I'm seeing other places. Brockmann responded to reader questions as part of her Barnes and Noble centerstage chat (she's still taking questions through Friday! And she's happy to chat writing/craft!), but many readers are still dissatisfied (and indeed, some got even angrier at her replies). There's a pretty sizeable contingent of readers who have sworn off her books completely and/or refused to read Dark of Night.
Many readers seem to want some sort of apology or explanation ala Elizabeth George (this link also contains spoilers). You often see this kind of protest with TV shows (I've yet to forgive Enterprise, Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy and a host of others for stupid pairings), but I've yet to see this kind of passion for romance novels. Although, Lori Foster is encountering a similar resistance to her latest offering that moves a contemporary realistic series into the realm of time-travel (which is in my TBR pile). Readers WANTED one thing, and the author handed them something different. AAR has another great post about other author/reader expectations mismatch?
Does the author OWE readers a certain HEA or style of novel? How should writers manage reader expectations? Should Brockmann have announced the hero/heroine pairings earlier or given more advanced warning? Should Foster have kept her series in the here and now? Have you ever been disapointed by a couple pairing or series direction? How do YOU (plan to) manage reader expectations? Oh, and, do you go spoiler-free on your favorite books or are you all about the spoilers?
9 comments:
Wavy, thanks for a splendid blog.
I have never read Brockmann so I can't comment on the "stupid pairing" aspect of her book. But I have read Elizabeth George and I appreciated the link to her blog.
As for George, well, I had stopped reading her books a few years ago. When I picked one up a few weeks ago and read the bad cover and realized what she had done in the previous book, I was appalled. I put the book down. I did not want to read that book or the one before. I won't spoil things for potential readers. Just say that I knew what these characters meant to each other, esp.her to him, and I couldn't bear to witness or share his pain. It hit too close to home.
So, as a reader, I made a choice not to follow this author down her chosen path. I wasn't brave enough. As a fellow writer, I wholeheartedly embrace her decision to do with her characters what she wishes. She makes an excellent argument in her linked blog about the foolishness of trying to anticipate and meet reader expectation (although I will say when she writes about Hercule Peroit (sp) being a stagnant character, I think she oversteps her grounds -- Hercule kills himself in his last book, doesn't he?) Anyway, I agree with her that a writer can't write for an audience.
George also points out that she was gratified her book inspired passion (it comes in both the negative and positive varieties) and I suppose that is the comfort Brockmann should take, as well. Imagine writing books where so many people CARED so much about a choice like this one?
Fans can be deadly as well as charming and I think Brockmann's rabid fans need to get a life. This is fiction, folks, and though you may be disappointed in an author's choices, the vitriol some people spew is horrible. The Internet just gives way more opportunity for it to spread. George also said she wished people would have thought before they voiced their reactions and this is another problem with modern communication -- some people have forgotten they should think.
Thanks again for the links and the DEEP THOUGHTS.... so sorry about your Ebola. Ack!
Wow! Are readers so caught up in the lives of fictional characters they turn to riots?
I've never read Brockman, I listened to one audio book and it didn't resonant with me. I've read a long time ago some of George's books. But nothing recent.
So far, other than being told by readers I had to write a book for each of the Halsey's and they had no idea who the heroine would be, I've not had to cater to anyone's whims but my own. And most likely because I have never been into peer pressure or the norm, I would continue to write what comes to me and hop the readers don't string me up.
Wavy, thought provoking and interesting! Hope you are over the crud!
Hi Wavy -- hope you're feeling better! Thanks for another excellent post.
Does the author OWE readers a certain HEA or style of novel?
My short answer is -- No.
Of course an author risks alienating some readers when she makes "controversial" decisions. However, it's still the author's choice. You can't please every reader all the time and I think you could probably drive yourself crazy trying. I agree with Alice that you can't write to an audience; that way lies the worst sort of cookie cutter-type writing, IMHO.
There's an appalling sense of entitlement in that question -- entitlement that I've seen expressed by some readers on other forums (and yes, by fans of TV shows, as well). Frankly, it baffles me. An author owes her readers the best writing she's capable of producing, period. Readers are under no obligation to like an author's story, nor to continue buying the author's works if they disappoint, but to expect an author to craft a story in a certain way because readers expect or demand it is a bit, well, crazy.
Nor do I think an author should feel obligated to explain herself or her choices. There's a risk in being so involved with your readers, I think. On the one hand, part of this business is keeping your books (and your name) in front of readers and what better way to do that than to interact on the internet? On the other hand, some authors would be better off just writing their books and never opening their mouths, if you know what I mean. I found Elizabeth George's essay interesting. She doesn't exactly say so, but I wonder if perhaps she wrote that message so that she could just point to it when a reader asked about why she made the choice she made. By the way, I've also read a few of her books and I stopped mostly because I found one of the main characters very off-putting, but I'd never dream of trying to tell her what she should write.
Wavy-- Sorry you've been a victim of the plague and/or ebola. That sucks.
Loved reading your post. Very thought provoking. And I agree with Alice, Paty, and Debbie; no author should have to cater to anyone. I've never read any of Brockmann's works or George's, but still, I hope they never cave to the crybabies.
And I love what Debbie said about just writing and never opening their mouths. LOL Wish Hollywood would do the same thing. :)
The authors owe us nothing, IMO, and I can choose to read or not read. I did this very thing with the Outlander series. I could only take the first one, and barely that, because of the physical torture of the hero Jamie. It was heart-wrenching and sickening and my constitution is too weak for that sort of torture, so I chose not to continue with the story. But look how many others loved it and read the whole series. She's not hurting as an author for the decisions she made for her stories and I don't think it's our right or our business to be bitchy about it to the extreme that some are going with Brockmann's stuff.
I'm not sure how I'll manage reader expectations. We'll see. Maybe I'll just tell them what I tell my kids. "Too bad. Like it or lump it." Or maybe, "Hush up and go to your room." LOL
And yeah, I love spoilers on most things. I'm a planner and don't really go for surprises. :)
Loved your post! Get well soon!
sorry, forgot to check the follow-up button. duh!
Hi, Wavy! As always, an interesting post. Glad you're feeling better.
I don't consider myself a rabid fan of any writer, nor do I have a huge contingent of readers (that I know of!) waiting to string me up if I don't pair up Hero A with Heroine A.
I agree with Alice and Debbie that a writer can write what she wants and pair who she chooses. If she has led readers down one HEA path then abruptly switches direction, that's also her choice. If she alienates readers in the process, then the repercussions are also hers to deal with.
If I don't like what a particular writer has done with a story, I just don't buy any more of their books. I think it's much more sensible to invest passion in writing my own books or volunteering for a charitable organization or supporting my family or...
Sofia doesn't end up with Deck!!!???!
Kendra, you shouldn't have read! Bad! Bad! Bad!
SPOILER SPOILER
No. Sophia ends up with Dave, and Decker gets someone new. And the book is totally, completely worth the read. It's not my favorite of the series, however it is a strong, compelling offering. (Breaking Point is although, many others are closely tied including Gone Too Far and Into the Storm)
Debbie said it better than anyone else in this whole mess:
"An author owes her readers the best writing she's capable of producing, period."
Yup. You need to leave it all on the page. If you compromise, then you won't throw everything you have into it.
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