Another Author Fiasco...?

As usual, I am always the last to know about certain issues in the book blogging world. But recently another author, a well established author in fact, was found behaving badly towards reviewers. The author in question is Emily Giffin. Some of you might have heard this story already, but for those of you who don't know, Emily Giffin, the author of "Something Borrowed", which was made into a major motion picture, was involved with some drama. A person placed a one star review on her latest novel, "Where We Belong" and Emily Giffin's husband was the one to contact the reviewer calling them a "psycho." She then posted on her other social networking sites, causing a backlash on the reviewer with her loyal fans. You can see more about the post HERE, as mentioned on the timesunion.com by Kristi Barlette.

Sadly, this is a case where it is not an Indie author, but a well known published author. I went on Amazon to look at the review, and it wasn't even all that bad. This just goes to show that ALL authors can go a bit crazy with the one starred reviews. And though she told her husband to not go on these websites, it also teaches authors that even though loved ones are trying to come to their defense, it might not be the best way to act. Do you think major published authors like J.K. Rowling, E.L. James, even Stephen King and Nicholas Sparks look at their one starred reviews? It also goes to show that family members should not be involved in one's career goals. And what was also uncalled for, was the fact that she let her loyal fans know about the one starred review. Yes, I'm sure you'd probably get so angry at people who don't love your work. But when you splatter that everywhere on your social networking sites, there are going to be a whole bunch of people who won't always agree with what you did. Some people can only dream of one day being in the position that Emily Giffin was in. My advice is to suck it up, and ignore the one starred reviews. Don't make a big deal out of it, because it could seriously damage your career.

I haven't read any of her novels, and had thought about picking up one of her novels in the past, but when this whole debacle came about, it is most likely that I will not be spending my time on her work, as if I ever give her novel a one star review, I wouldn't want the wrath of a Mr. Giffin calling me a psycho. It's sad to see a well established author whose had their works be turned into a movie no less, act like this. Yes, her husband was the one to have started it, but she should not have encouraged others to join in. If you're thinking about becoming an author, don't let your friends and family become involved with the reviews, and be careful what you put on social networking sites, because in the end, it might come back and bite you in the ass, and you might end up loosing more loyal fans and readers, than gaining them. A perfectly good scenario of what not to do when you become a well established author...