15 Responses

  1. lisa44837
    lisa44837 at |

    Thanks for a great post, Kaje. I’ve shared on facebook.

    Reply
    1. Kaje
      Kaje at |

      Thank you for sharing it. <3

      Reply
  2. Sadonna
    Sadonna at |

    Thanks for this concise and thoughtful post Kaje. It’s been a really rough year in so many ways. This too shall pass of course, but I think you make so many good points here. I truly hope 2017 is a much better year for us all and that we do treat each other with kindness as we move forward. The outrage addict has certainly gotten a workout over the last 15 months or so and I for one am suffering heavy outrage fatigue. Now I just mostly feel sad.

    As a heavy purchaser at all of the publishers and sites you mentioned, it’s been hard to see them go. Many of my favorite authors have suffered multiple blows. I hope they will be able to weather the storm, but inevitably some may not 🙁 I’ll look forward to Scott’s site and will be looking into other ways to purchase the stories I love.

    Reply
  3. Grace
    Grace at |

    Thank you so much for this!

    As for reviews, I think there’s a general feeling that, “I really liked the main characters!” or “The sex was seriously hot!” or even, “I really loved this book!” or whatever is needed to meet the minimum character count is useless when it comes to reviews. But a lot of readers don’t understand that it’s PURE NUMBERS for sites like Amazon, B&N, Kobo, etc. (I think B&N and Kobo consider reviews in their rankings/recommendations.) Yes, stars matter, to a point, but just having a review there–positive OR negative–makes a HUGE difference. No one wants to make the readers feel coerced, most definitely. But one of the biggest helps out there, to get our books in front of more people, is a simple review.

    I have had people tell me that they’d never tried any kind of LGBTQ romance before my books. These same folks have gone on to buy tons of other gay romance stories and books. It really IS all about the community and fostering togetherness, cooperation, and support does so much more than the infighting we’ve all seen. As emotions run high under the stress of lost royalties and more, it’s easy to let that get to us and let it out at the wrong people. We should be angry at Lori James, not our fellow romance authors. I think readers and authors alike would do well to remember that.

    For the readers with that, I would ask that they remember that emotions ARE running high. Many of us are very scared for what’s coming both financially and simply the fears of being “out” as a gay romance author. So if you see someone acting out, posting something that strikes you as off or offensive, I would ask that you remember that they are likely as scared and upset as the rest of us. Immediately writing that author off because of a single post is really hurting all of us because it fosters more of that infighting and anger.

    Thanks again, Kaje for such a great post.

    Reply
  4. Andrea M
    Andrea M at |

    Loved this post, every single word of it. I particularly appreciate the low heat recommendations. I read exclusively m/m and have often wondered why the whole world isn’t reading it. Then I think about all those pages I skim because the plot is sacrificed to all the pages and pages of sex. I’ve got nothing against sex, love it, but how many potential readers out there have been scared off, either by the perception or reality of the content. I hope the new site will offer some type of heat level rating. Do we really need 90 pages of sex in a 200 page book? I have my favorite authors (you’re one) and it’s not such an issue for me now but when I started reading m/m if was VERY frustrating. Also, I love, love love the idea of straight writers blending in a few gay characters. That’s a perfect way to open up readership of m/m books. We have some of the best authors and you all need to be recognized and treasured.

    Reply
  5. adellisauthor
    adellisauthor at |

    Thank you for this post, Kaje! I’ll be sharing it for sure!
    It’s such a great feeling of love and community when readers share books with their reader friends. And, when a reader takes a chance on an unknown author and falls in love with the author and/or genre, it definitely brings a smile.
    Great, good, or not my cup of tea reviews are so very important.
    You speak my heart when you say “be kind to each other” and “writing LGBTQ romance matters.”

    Reply
    1. Kaje
      Kaje at |

      Exactly this. Thank you. (And thanks for sharing.)

      Reply
  6. Ophelia Roses
    Ophelia Roses at |

    This was very well written. You make very solid points.

    Reply
  7. Cathy Brockman
    Cathy Brockman at |

    Amazing Post. I agree with what you say. Especally on the Piracy stuff. I learned the hard way to never download a photo off the inernet though I am sure i got scammed in that… There are ways to get free and reduced price books ( at least I hope they are all on the up and Up) through your email from newsletters that are promotions from authors. Insta freebie is a good place now and it helps you connect to the author as well. When I first got back into reading had no income to buy books. I just saw my first MM books ( one by Lee Brazil) I saw interview blogs so I set up a blog where i posted interviews and fun stuff and reviews in exchange for the book. I contacted some of the authors and simply asked for a copy for review and offered them posts too. I met some very cool generous authors ( you were one of them RJ) You guys helped me through recovery and depression. I was happy to give back what I could. Now that I am on my feet some and can buy some books I do try to do that. I have lists and mark off a few each month. The point is there is no reason to pirate or support pirates. its easy to support an autor on Social media!! Tweet retweet blog post on there pages and of course buy and share omments on thier books ! Good luck this year.

    Reply
  8. Cathy Brockman
    Cathy Brockman at |

    Sorry I meant Kaje I was looking at a book by RJ and got my wires crossed. No disrespect intended and still the same words you are awesome ( if you cna correct it by all means please do.

    Reply

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