Anne in the comments mentioned that an entitled fan had made a mess of themselves on Nora Roberts blog. So I went to look.
You’re looking for the commenter named Debra. She explained to Nora Roberts how publishing works. OMG, I can’t even. I can’t.
New goal in life: Don’t be Debra.
Wow. W.O.W.
Open mouth, insert foot. Continue to shove foot down throat hard, harder, HARDER until it comes out the back end. Debra needs a chill pill, STAT.
A friend of mine used to say, “Open mouth, insert shoe store.”
My mother called it “foot in mouth disease “.
Yep, “foot in mouth disease” is the perfect pun!
She has more nerve than I do to suggest to Ms. Roberts now to arrange her life for her. I am so impressed by the written word and the ability to lay out a story.
I love it! I’ve got to remember that one, Kristen!
Oh please please please? Can “Debra” be the new Meme!
“Karen” would love to retire!
what would the urban dictionary entry be for ” The Debraness of it all”?
???????? I have a couple people unknown who are like that. I’m going to start telling them not to be a Debra
No thank you. We Debras have enough trouble with our name! I feel for you, though, “not that” Karen.
????????????????
Man, I’m sorry. I have friends named Karen and most laugh about it but it has to get old at some point ????
Seconded, with emotion!
????????????
My sister-in-law (Karen) and my friend (Karen) would appreciate if the face of entitlement was someone other than a “Karen” also 🙂 Personally I could do without a “Mary Sue” (Altho I’m Mary BETH)
You know for a while there was two meme going on. Debrah and karen.
Clearly karen won the meme war.
But debrah is making a comeback it looks like.
I have an aunt “Mary Jane” several decades older than when the phrase became popular. I always get wonderland comments, or references from songs.
Please do not make any form of “Deborah” the new Meme! We already had to deal with “Debbie Downer” since 2004!!!!!
No! My name is Debra and my sister is Karen. We are not really bad people!
Yes! My heart always jerks when I see my name doing rude, terrible things publicly in YouTube. I can’t help the knee-jerk reaction. When someone says ‘Karen tried to take my switch for her son’, I twitch… When I comment in YouTube videos, someone comments ‘Oh, a nice Karen for once’, etc… I vote it’s time to rotate the name to Debra!
No –
One commenter named Belle said “the Karen audacity” and I died. I’m commenting from the afterlife.
+1
Ow. ow. ow. My face and stomach hurt!
LOL
Fan-splaining. Love to hate on it.
I am adoring Belle’s comment. “Read the room and take the L home.’ Ouch. Then, “Go find Patrick Rothfuss’ blog or George R Martin’s and tell them they need to write faster so you personally can read the next books in their series on your schedule.” That’s a serious burn.
I saw that. I had tears in my eyes. It was funny. I cannot believe Debra.
I couldn’t even read all of Debra’s comments. I was too embarrassed for her. But reading all of the comments here is giving me life. ????????
There was another, a psychiatrist I think, who very seriously explained to Debra with all the gravitas of a professional that she was displaying symptoms of some serious mental disorder. I should not have laughed at that as much as I did.
Cries with laughter till ribs crack.
*works for Hachette
Love and light from Oxfordshire x
She just didn’t know when to quit. Oy vey…
Oh nooooo. Nora even engaged with her and Debra kept on fansplaining. Yikes.
I have learned a new word: fansplaining. My vocabulary thanks you.
Oh wow. Just wow. I thought NR gave a well done response to that. ????
Ilona, Let me explain to you how to speak Russian.
Jesus, she is THAT stupid! I wonder if she realize how idiotic is she sound.
Nope! That’s a level of obliviousness to folks who act like that!
A classic case of Dumming-Kruger effect. * I could not finish the thread, that much stupidity hurts my head.
* beeing too stupid to realize you are stupid
I hadn’t heard of the Dumming – Kruger effect. I googled it and it’s now going to be one of my favorite sayings/ references that I will teach my children ! Awesome, it explains so much happening in the U.S. right now.
Mouth hangs open. Mouth hangs open to belly button…
Wow! Could “Don’t be Debra” be a new publishing meme?
(Sorry to all the other -mannerly and sane- Debras out there)
Oh my… and she just goes on and on.
Gosh…I prefer writing positive reviews and rarely write a super negative one..usually because i dont bother to finish the book. But i have been critical, even on occasion of the iconic Nora Roberts. I thought these were safe places to share ideas and opinions, even suggestions.
Did not know review shaming was a risk. As a reader i also have a responsibility to read with wonder and with my brain engaged.
Dixie, this isn’t about a review. You have to scroll down to comments where a person named Debra is upset because Nora Roberts won’t publish the book faster to accommodate her. She screams that the customer is always right and then it goes sideways from there.
Already that seems intensely sideways! I can’t even wrap my head around it going further batshit!
Debra was demanding more books rather than reviewing them, but I still think it’s insensitive to write a bad review in the comments of an author’s blog, knowing that they have to moderate them, unless they specifically asked for feedback. It’s a bit like demanding an author cater to one’s own personal tastes.
Is Debra the new “Karen”??? I was just waiting for her to request to speak with the manager.
Ok I could only read part of that thread before I had to stop. Insane, is the nicest thing I can say.
I also had to stop reading Debra’s comments. I just couldn’t stand it any longer.
+1
W O W. I’m dead of secondhand embarrassment after reading that, even though I’m pretty sure Debra didn’t feel any at all. Yikes.
Holy bananas! that is so wild! in a very awful car crash way that keeps going and going….
Yes a Debra Meme would be pretty fantastic.
Hahaha It seems there are plenty of people who think they are more knowledgeable than a best selling author.
That was like watching a car crash. O.O What a disgusting way to treat any person whose work you care about. At least the trolls are good for the wtf was that feels?
Wwwoooowwww!
Oh my damn… ????
I apologise on behalf of Debra’s everywhere.
Omg. That was…. intense. No that’s not a good enough word. Rabid??! She took being obstinate to a whole new awful level!!!
I’m sorry for everything negative you (I&A) and NR and all authors have to go through when you guys give us so much joy!! In your case not just from your amazing books but also glimpses of your life 🙂
It just….went on… and on…. and then ON AGAIN!
What a dumpster fire. She should have banned her way sooner.
It sucks y’all (authors) have to deal with this.
le sigh…
Hugs and love!
Did she ban her? I read for awhile, then had to stop. It was hurting my head. ????
Oh my lord
holy crap that was just insane. She just kept on going!!!!! I think not being a Debra or a Karen are very good goals in life
* Sorry to all the Debra’s and Karen’s!!
It’s always amusing when someone who is obviously talking out their behind says something along the lines of ” I am sorry that you do not want me to state facts.” It’s like a characteristic trademark of Debraness 😉
I’m grateful that you choose to deal with your adoring public. Or BDH, as you prefer ????
But I am often astonished that you can.
Thank you again for returning to the well!
Holy moly ???? Clearly she is going to singlehandedly revolutionize the writing and publishing industry. I mean, if you keep shouting you’re the customer and always right surely it must be true. Must be a tough choice, bend the industry to her will? Or wait until all the books are published and then there’s no waiting in between?
Nobody forced Debra to read the book when it came out. She could have waited until the entire trilogy was published. Or better, she could buy the books as they are published (supporting the author) but wait to read them.
If as customer, our desires can affect how fast a writer writes and how fast a publishers publish, then we’d get an IA book every other day. (Why not every day you ask, cause we’re not pushy like that ????)
I love how Debra brings her own schedule into the discussion. Can you imagine? House Andrews, I have a major project deadline coming out, please alter your schedule to accommodate. I am, you know, your customer. And we all know the customer is always right. So all of your please fit your life around me.
It’d be funny if I weren’t so embarrassed on her behalf. To be corrected by the author multiple times and not to know how to stop.
ABSOLUTELY!
WOW!
Good thing Debra wasn’t a fan of Herbert’s Dune series starting back in ’65.
He went 7 years between books 2 and 3, and a total of 11 years between 1 and 3.
I loved his work, but each time a new book came out, I had to start from the beginning, again.
Or George R.R. Martin (nearly 10 years since the penultimate book). Or Patrick Rothfuss (stopped counting how many years between books two & three).
Those of us older folks remember the long timelines between Jean M. Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear books, particularly the 10 years before the final book. I think a lot of readers whined over that, as we do over George R.R. Martin’s timetable, but to continue an argument that is invalid and addresses by the water as such is ludicrous. I could never be a polite if I was a writer to people on my blog who behaved that way. I’d just tell them to p*ss off and ban then. I’d never have the patience!
Wait… there was a final book? (Seriously, I had forgotten that I was waiting for that one.)
@Toni,
I was just tryint to remember if I ever got around to reading it! 🙂
Yes!! I was about to mention Auel’s final book and how long the series took to write. The final book was The Land of Painted Caves and I really enjoyed it!
+1
We were teased again that Doors of Stone would be out this year. I’m hoping that theyll put out a 10 year anniversary edition and release book 3 in 2021???? But there are rumors that he just got bored and walked away from the project???? Things happen, you just move on to another series and/or author. Like the wonderful Ilona Andrews ????
I would be ok with no book 3 if he just came right out and said it to his fans. Or if he’s trying for a rewrite because he didn’t like the way it came together. Whatever he chooses is fine but just as a courtesy to his fans, a heads up would be nice.
But maybe it’s not his fault, maybe, as Debra says, the publisher is holding everything up. Lol
Ha. Consider PC Hodgell, if you will. I read the first two books in the ’80s. Still awaiting the end of the series. Fortunately, it’s likely to be completed in the next few years. I’ve read other series that will most assuredly never be completed.
Or Lisanne Norman who had a seven year gap between book 7 and book 8, and another 7 year gap until book 9.
Or Sherrilyn Kenyon/McQueen who had to stop writing until she got custody of her intellectual property.
I believe Kresley Cole is in a similar legal battle that has left her writing in hiatus. It has only been a couple of years in her case, but when fans were used to one or two books a year that seems like forever. Very hard for Immortals After Dark fans, yet we still seem to remain civil.
Ahhhh. Didn’t know this. This is why there hasn’t been any new IAD books in awhile. I’ve been impatiently waiting for the next one.
And now I’m wondering if Christine Warren is in a similar battle, since her writing is also on hiatus.
Or Arianna Franklin, whose final historical mystery ended in a romantic cliffhanger. Then she died. No disrespect meant here. I mention this not in a spirit of complaint, but in a spirit of things could always be worse.
Wow.
Holy cow, what a selfish person. I don’t know how else they could have explained to her that writing a novel takes time, and that she can’t have all the books because the books aren’t written yet. Nora even gets on and gives very detailed explanations about why real world publishing takes so long – BECAUSE IT’S A LONG PROCESS. Duh. And Debra just…she just doubles down and keeps digging?!?!?! How in the world does someone think they can tell an author and publisher what to do like that. Man, I hope she gets banned. Nora, or any other author, doesn’t deserve that kind of ridiculous hate.
I recently had a taste of the publishing process. I wrote an article for an academic journal, at about 36k words [which, is still in the editing process of the journal’s editors will ask for parts to be cut, so the word count will go down]. Writing the article took about 6 months, and there’s probably another 4-5 months of the editing and publishing process to go through until it makes it into print. And that’s for a relatively small article, not a novel. This process isn’t just writing something and getting it published. There’s so many layers of editing, from the author’s editing, the publisher’s editors, limits on word count that rearrange everything and then requires even more editing. Formatting! Consistency and accuracy! [and, in my case, making sure the footnotes are correctly citing to the sources & accurate]. It is so. Much. Work.
Honestly, we are lucky Nora is such a prolific writer, and doubly lucky the Andrews team is willing to put up with our ridiculous requests/demands for books [looking at you, Hugh] in addition to their normal publishing schedule. The Debras of the world are why we can’t have nice things.
OK, but have you and Gordon considered that if you use unspecified kinds of technology beyond what you all currently use, you can magically write faster, your human editors can edit faster, the humans at your publishing house can complete all their skilled tasks, and the human artists can finish art faster? And you can all do it for all series of books (and all authors in the case of the other folks)? Someone on the internet said so, it must be true.
Alternatively, have you considered just not paying anyone for a while and holding onto finished books to satisfy a subset of your readership? While not saying anything to the large group of readers that would strongly prefer the first book sooner even if it means waiting for the next one? (I am definitely team release over time as the books are done!)
In fact, I think they should consider in investing telepathic technology so that we can all read the book while it’s being written.
In fact I’ve seen and read many documentations of machines that can actually help us travel forward in time. Why even wait for it to be written, I say. It is NOT that difficult.
Have you thought about that Mr and Mrs Andrews? Your publishers should listen to the customers. We are, after all, always right. ????
I really appreciated your 2 posts today. Needed the laugh. Thank you
Great balls of fire that was bad. I don’t understand how someone gets like that. I wonder if authors prefer “back in the day” before the internet… I cannot begin to imagine harassing someone, especially an admired author in that way. Fandom sure has some fringe elements…
I’m sorry Nora had to deal with this. Personally, I am cautious about buying books in a series with cliff hangers that still have pending publication books. I was working through a fantasy series in the 90’s with a major character death at the end of book 2. Book 3 has never been written and probably never will, the author has moved on to other worlds. My advice to Debra would be just wait to buy the series when it’s done. BTW, I have bought Iron Covenant. I trust Ilona and Gordon not to leave us hanging.
I think I know what book you’re talking about and I’m still traumatized. I feel bad for the author — I understand why she stopped writing and I don’t blame her, but like.
I would love to read authorized fanfiction or even just a 500 word plot summary for closure 🙁
Yep. I believe I know that series of which you speak… and agree.
I definitely don’t blame the author, but the idea of a quick plot summary — that the author likes — is exciting and in some ways would be a relief. I have “written” / daydreamed out so many scenarios for that next book and know that I am not even close to what might have happened. But again — I don’t blame them a bit and am very, very thankful to have what they have written.
Nosy question. Which series are you referring to? I want to read it and suffer
Melanie Rawn, EXILES. She has struggled with serious illness which is part of the explanation. So I have some sympathy for the incomplete series. Just wish I knew it wouldn’t be completed when I read it so I could make the choice. I loved the book she wrote with 2 other authors, The Golden Key.
A fellow Exiles cast away! I share your pain.
I’ve always assumed she had a good reason and hearing it was her health makes me even more sympathetic, her health must come first!
Dragon Prince was 1 of the first 4 books I ever brought myself as a teenager, glorious day! I lived and breathed the series for ages and she will always be one of fav authors.
I think I know this one as well. She moved on to writing other series since the previous one was too complicated (and she had no notes) to pick back up after all of these years. But Debra should be happy, at least Nora is alive, and writing, unlike some other authors we have followed over the years.
I love Lois Bujold’s ANYTHING and she will answer questions on Goodreads. She has a couple of side characters in the Penric series that I can’t see a way to a happy ending for. So I asked. Her response was that, yes, she could see a way for them to get to a happy ending. But it would be a book length process to get them there, and she might never write that book. The fact that the author can see a way is good enough for me, although I’d still love to read it, if/when.
What was the series that left you hanging?
The Lion, The Witch and the Audacity of this B$%#&.
Wow!
And clearly has NEVER worked in a people facing position to think the customer is always right.
That was my favorite comment on the NR board. I will forever use it whenever it is even slightly appropriate ????
seconded!
Wow, Nora Roberts really answered several times, until she couldn’t bear it anymore.
„I am NOT your slave“
„And for some it’s just never enough.
Comments like this make me wish I’d never written this book in the first place.“
In the past, I complained in private about Patrick R and GRRM, but since a while not anymore, because I heard that PR has his problems and GRRM is … enjoying himself, which he’s allowed to. I gave up on him finishing the series himself.
I recall reading a thought from an author that went something like, “Look, it can be fast, good, or cheap. You can have any two but never all three.”
I want only one — good.
I’m willing to wait for it (maybe not with the patience that I would like to have) and y’all deliver.
Ha! Good one. I’m currently re-reading One Fell Sweep and just read that part.
Wow…. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone dig themselves into a hole that deep that fast and still insist they were standing on the surface….
Could someone pass me a link? I have tried to find Nora Roberts blog and the infamous Debra post. Not sure if I should read it it, I already have too much of a morbid fascination with Karen stories. It’s a train wreck spectator thing. You know it’s going to be horrible, but you can’t look away.
It took a bit for it to load on my phone so you may have missed it, but the link is actually in the post above ????
Where I looked and I don’t see any link.
I just googled Nora Roberts’ blog and the google suggestions automatically finished it with Debra’s full name. I guess she has become quite the sensation.
I’m one of those people who hates a cliff hanger, but I damn well don’t go to the author and bitch about it, or Debrasplain about how it could have been done differently to make the customer happy (speaking of, what the heck kind of job does she have?? (Obvs not publishing, but I digress)).
I do the sensible thing and WAIT for all the books to be published. So, it looks like in Fall 2022, I’ll have some great reading ahead of me. Simple as that, Debra.
Wow I am truly shocked at Debras obstinance. Who behaves like this. Just no. Nooo. The audacity. The arrogance. Wow.
Aha !! Not so annoyed about the caramel thing now, right ?? ????
Well… wow… that’s some entitlement.
Nora: Thank you so much, I’ve been doing it wrong for 40 years.
Debra-ing is now the new mansplaining. Or is Debra-ing the generic version and mansplaining the subsection? More thought required….
I saw balls. Then I saw Nora Roberts and I thought this was going to be about the fact that in her new book THE AWAKENING she named a dog, an Irish Water Dog…..Bollocks.
I thought the same thing when I saw the title! LOL — NR naming a dog Bollocks. I chuckled through that reading so much — we had a cat my father in law named DA for Dumb A**, because he had zero common sense. He’d sit in the rain and howl because he was getting wet, yet refuse to come inside or sit on the porch.
Then read IA’s posting and just sat in shock –then read part of the “Debra” posting and Still. Can’t. Even.
I think I have to read the book just because of the dog’s name!! ????????????
The comments by Debra are sad because she does not seem to respect the author. It is exceedingly difficult to write a quality novel, and I am amazed at the quantity (and quality) of works written by Ilona Andrews and other . I would never try to tell an author what to write, how to write, or when to write. Your works give me joy when I read them and I thank you.
Did I get that right?
Nora is supposed to sit on a pile of finished manuscripts und the publisher is supposed to publish a new manuscript every 6 months so that the customer gets the books sooner? ????????????
Holy cow! She handled that better than I ever could. Audacity reaches new levels every day.
Unfortunately what Nora Roberts was telling Debra is not what she wanted to hear so she choose instead to live in the “Land of Denial.” And if I argue long enough people will just give up and let me have my way, this is another customer is always right situation that I have encountered as a service industry person. No one is going to be able to change her mind because she is just so sure that she’s right.
Someone needs to introduce Debra to Not Always Right. Preferably with a lovely comic based on her actions in NR’s blog.
Apologies to anyone who now loses many hours to the NAR rabbit hole.
This poor person was never taught good manners. Not excusing the behavior, just a possible explanation.
But definitely wearying when you are the one having to deal with such a miserable person.
I went and read some of Debra’s comments.
As a person who lives/ works with individuals who have a hidden disability, I wonder if it is that type of situation.
I thought the same.
At lunch and finally in my office but I can’t get the page to load. I think the BDH broke NR’s blog site.
Thanks for eye roll. I’ve enjoyed reading the comments about cluelessness.
I can’t get it to load either, but I had the same feelings as Monica. As a parent of two girls with autism who don’t understand social cues at all, I too wonder if there’s a hidden disability at play.
Yikes!
I wonder if she wants salt with the other foot?
I’d say that’s unbelievable, but 2020 has shown me many things I had previously thought were unbelievable. I’m surprised the commenter (Debra) didn’t threaten to call the cops or demand to speak to the manager! Sheesh. I hope she’s now blocked from the blog. What is wrong with some people?
I actually follow this blog because I obsessively like to check if authors I like have books coming out in the future so I can pre-order.
To actually argue with an author that they need to do it faster because the customer is always right!?!? My God
People are going mad! Tweet idea to call this fansplaining.
Strong tweet from today
By: Ana-Ztyllablintz07-Kerie
·
Replying to
@girlsreallyrule
If mansplaining is a term, fansplaining should be one as well. Where fans try to explain a writer’s own character to them or how writing a book or TV script works.
Perfect. This phenomenon is not uncommon and deserves its own label.
I do agree with the posters who speculate that there may be some disordered cognitive process there. That is also more common than we think. Sadly, it doesn’t make it less annoying.
Oh, wow. I have so much respect for Nora, answering that clusterfuck with grace and a distinct lack of bad words.
Don’t be a Debra, folks. You’re not entitled to Malibu Barbie.
I… Just… WTH did I just read?!?
Seriously, that was just… weird…
I am not very sorry that the comment is not coming up on my computer.
I just want to confirm: DEBRA = KAREN WHO THINKS SHE KNOWS ABOUT WRITING?
DEBRA = KAREN WHO THINKS SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT PUBLISHING THAN AN AUTHOR WHO PUBLISHED HER FIRST BOOK IN 1981.
Uh…????♀️
That’s like a non statistician explaining statistics to me. The person wasn’t aware that I am a statistician. I let the person talk. Once the person was done, I just smiled, and told them I already knew the information since I have a degree in biostatistics. The person got red faced and didn’t talk to me after. Once I was alone, I just laughed.
At least that person was unaware of your expertise and was bashful afterward. This Debra commenter argued with *known experts in publishing* and did so with no credentials of her own. It’s baffling. A more accurate analogy would be if the person who tried to explain statistics to you had already been aware of your degree and insisted they were right and you were wrong because technology!
I have had that happen too. I tried everything I could to get the person to stop, but nope. I eventually gave up. I really feel for Nora Roberts.
I read her books, especially her In Death series.
Oh geesh! It’s going to give the rest of us a bad name! Well, at least my “Deborah” is spelled differently?????????????
My mum is a Debra, imagine growing up with that. It’s exhausting!
I’m so sorry:(
It wasn’t me, I swear!!
Love,
Debra
It wasn’t me, I promise!!
Love,
Debra
BDH must have broken the blog page !!! I can’t even get in to it……….
Sweet Baby Jesus. That’s just frickin’ crazy town.
Can I make a nice comment about your writing? Thank you for giving your books an end. Yes we always want more bit each book though part of a bigger tapestry can stand alone. I love that. Some books were meant to be one novel but the the publisher split them up. LOTR is a famous example. But there seems to be a recent trend in multi book series to not have a book ending. Six books into a series not one ending and having to wait for a new release to see if I finally get an ending I just stopped reading. I will never read that author again and if I ever pick up another author who in the first book pulls that kind of nonsense I won’t read or recommend them either. Just like I won’t read an author who blatantly plagiarizes a classic because the original author can’t sue. Thank you for you clever exciting original and complete stories
I should have added I don’t rant at the author. I just stop reading
Fortunately, I was not taking a drink while reading this blog ???? As it is, my eyebrows still have not lowered to their normal position and my ab workout is done for the next 3 days. I can finish my day feeling proud that I did not have the nerve and blind hubris to pubsplain to freakin Nora Roberts. Or anyone else ????
Darn it. I lived most of my life hearing “don’t be a Debbie downer”, lol. When you have Debbie as a name you have to start a lot of conversations with 1. I am not depressed and 2. I have never been to Texas.
Saying anything to Nora Roberts short of “Oh my gosh you are amazing. May I listen to you breath?” is beyond. I understand the “don’t be a Debra.” She can go sit with the annoyed Karens. Maybe I’ll start introductions with, “Hi. I am Deborah, spelled Deborah not Debra.” Too high maintenance sounding? Sigh. On behalf of all Debbies, Debs, Debis, Debra, and Deborahs, apologies are offered to Nora Roberts.
Oh my goodness!!!!
Nora has way more patience than I ever would have and she (Debra) just won’t stop she is so bound and determined that she is right and be damned facts and explaination of how she really is not!
Ummmmmm….Wow! What are moron!
It’s Nora f*ckin Roberts Debra! You don’t think she knows about publishing…..oh ok that’s why she’s not suing that Brazilian broad for plagiarism. And others. ‘Cause she doesn’t know about publishing. Jeez. She’s written a gazillion books. All good
And let me say yes I know what the Debra said. I’m just astounded she would tell her when to publish. I read that Nora Roberts writes every day. EVERYDAY. It’s like breathing to her. I know it’s a number of pages. And you’re going to be an asshat so called fan. Ack. Idiot
I just don’t understand people’s lack of etiquette on author’s blogs. It is really easy, ready.
Thank you, *insert author’s name here*. I’m a huge fan, I enjoy your talent and ability to bring joy into my life with *insert book or series here*. I can’t wait till the next one.
Ps. Hey fellow fans, what are you reading? I would love to find something new, while I patiently wait for the next book. What are your suggestions?
I couldn’t resist.
For the record, when I saw the post title, I thought the Roomba ate Christmas ornament balls. ????
????
I just finished the new Nora book. Then I had to explain to my 8 year old why internet drama was funny.
I also first thought Laura was the troll, instead of Debra, and that was amusing to figure out!
I think they removed portions of the conversation. There’s enough left to get the gist though. I’m wondering about the phenomenon of liquor stores being classified as essential, and possible consequences to critical thinking skills.
“As it happened so often with our species, logical reasoning was discarded in favor of the overpowering need to be right, facts and consequences be damned.”
Excerpt From
Emerald Blaze
Ilona Andrews
https://books.apple.com/us/book/emerald-blaze/id1489240240
This material may be protected by copyright.
(Thanks Ilona&Gordon for the easy copy and paste.)
Very true!
Is that Bartleby the Srivener in the blog photo?
Face palm x 10000. I had trouble getting the site to load but persevered and got to read such entitled nonsense. Are all of us trying to read Debra’s word vomit crashing the site?!
I wish I could go to her place of work and tell her with no actual inside knowledge and tell her she’s doing things wrong and that I as her customer is always right and start demanding nonsense things.
Seriously WOW. This type of entitlement really terrifies me as I cannot believe these people truly think that way and the more I see it in society the more concerned I am for our future. Gah! That phrase itself I’ve never heard used in a reasonable situation before. Usually means the customer is wrong but the other party just has to accommodate the customer. Ugh, that mentality needs to 100% go away.
And side note, silver linings for Nora! I will be picking up this book for my next read! Feel like many others may be doing the same thing too 🙂 Was convinced that it has to be fantastic!
I think we were crashing the site last night! Then I had to explain how a site could crash to my 8-year-old, also.
I agree that the bright spot I’m seeing is people picking up authors’ books after not reading them for a while.
I mean, besides the epic smack-down.
I tired to get into the Nora Roberts blog and cannot.
Do you have to register??
Where is this link to the article with the Debra fan?
I can’t find it.
Any help will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
finally my computer got in and found it
Wow. I’m a 30 year plus publishing professional. Debra, Karen, and all of you who no nothing about publishing, step down. You know nothing. Nora Robert’s is a gold standard, only next to Ilona Andrews of course. The publishing world is…complex, human oriented, and no, the customer doesn’t know best.
WOW! couldn’t believe what I was reading. I am a NR fan as well and love that we get so many books a year from her and from Team Andrews. Yes, we can be impatient but sensible people know that good things can take time. If I need a fix of my favourite authors then I just re-read older books. Simple, really. A shame that people feel they can attack anyone like this on a public forum. But for any one Debra there are thousands of other fans that just appreciate our favourite authors still writing fabulous books for us to read. It’s a stressful year for everyone around the world and for a lot of us books have been a real treasure and respite. So, thank you 🙂
I think it’s crappy when people harass authors who have years between books(for whatever reason). Harassing bone of the most prolific and steady producers of work takes that crappiness to a whole new level heretofore undiscovered.
As others have said, wow. Just wow. And the number of times she just dismisses Nora’s responses…wow.
Well! Just as well the poor thing is not a GOT fan then…
Right?!
I WISH my favorite authors published two books a year!
Debra (or Deborahs) are the Karens of the art world
I had to reply to Nora’s “outburst.” I’ve been reading her for years, and I just loved that… I saw MANY Debras working in retail, just different topics, and I WISH I could have stood up for myself like Nora was able to do.
A friend of mine is just starting her publishing journey. I wish her luck, because you authors are amazing. <3
One of Nora’s comments, that this crap almost made her wish she hadn’t written the book in the first place, made me so sad. Debra is a bitch. We all wish we could have what we want when we want it, but seriously, sometimes the anticipation is fun. Life would be crap if we didn’t have things to look forward to. Thanks to you two for giving us so many good things to anticipate.
Fact: Nora has the patience of a publishing saint.
Bless Debra’s ignant heart…
That’s not complementary in the south right? I’m learning…
No, it’s not a compliment. If you see me use it, someone is at full Debra on the scale of obnoxious.
Now added to my vocabulary: “at full Debra.”
Lol
Wow. Just wow. It’s all about Debra and Debra wanting to read when Debra wants to read.
The “tech” comment got to me as well. There’s few things that irritate me hate more than sloppy editing. I’ve dropped more than one series because the author didn’t take the trouble/expense for copy editing. That’s why I appreciate the effort Ilona and Gordon go through, and the disclaimer in the snippets posts not to offer any corrections or edits since it hasn’t gone through the editorial process yet.
And I think I’ve found my new mantra.
Don’t be Debra.
Lol brilliant life goal
This is just sad. Debra is not a “fan”, she is an entitled spoiled brat demanding her way. A “fan” understands and appreciates the work that goes into crafting the art they enjoy. Debra is not a “fan”. Debra is someone who doesn’t appreciate the work, and only wants the product.
I love the IA books, and thoroughly appreciate the work and effort they put into them. As a fan, I would NEVER presume to dictate terms to the authors or the publishers they choose to work with. If the authors are happy with a publisher and their process, good enough for me.
Especially since I’m a tech-head, and not remotely aware of what goes on at a publishing company. About all I do know about the publishing industry is that it is under constant financial stress because of the nature of books vs other entertainment mediums.
Do I have my own desires? Sure. I’d love to see more Edge George and Sophie, and more Innkeeper, but I’m not about to dictate to an artist what art they must create to make me happy.
I am impressed by Mrs Roberts kindness in explaining.
I am also impressed by the COCCIUTAGGINE (a good italian word for Mr Alessandro Sagredo ????) of this appalling Debra character. Aiuto.
(Also, may I say that I am impressed by the choice of the italian exclamations from Alessandro Sagredo? They feel perfectly natural and just right…it’s a first!)
I would love for you to do a glossary somewhere, something like the post Laura put up on Nora Robert’s blog with Gaelic!
Geeze Louise! That Debra is something special. Bless her lil ol heart. I just can’t comprehend how a person has the balls to be such a asshat SMH.
I went and looked, partially because the photo header of this post was so hilarious. Debra is… a special soul. I wonder how many topics she is an expert of. Probably everything.
OMG. I mean….I too wish my favorite authors wrote more quickly & immediately start hyper-ventilating in anticipation of the next book in the series. But I would never – EVER – presume to demand content & publication adjustment. As a consumer of the written word, who suffers from a marked inability to write a single word, I’m in awe of the talent & will impatiently wait for the next book to be published. Gives me something to look forward to. The arrogance is off the charts; I will NOT be a Debra.
Thanks for the entertainment – looking forward to the upcoming releases!
I couldn’t finish the thread. It was unreal. For me, the best thing that has happened to me has been being friends with writers and learning about the blood, sweat and tears involving the process of writing. Authors’ blogs and podcasts about books has reinforced the conviction. Now, I have learned to wait and to anticipate upcoming books.
OMG. The spoiled entitlement of it all!!!! And that’s coming from a millennial.
I wonder if she realizes all the people between her and her read? It’s one thing for an Indie to put out a book every week. It’s quite another for a name, who is supporting a sales team, a PR team or two, a variety of editors, printers, and the rest of the industry that supports each book. It kills me that Nora pulled herself away from the next book to answer that idiot. I guess squeaky wheels do get the grease, but it would be nicer if Nora was able to just say, THANK YOU for being nice, and not explain herself and her writing. Come to think of it, it would be nice for you all as well.
I will say this: I have read Karen Chance explain a bit about how a book she was working on had to be split in two, and so was going to take longer to come out because the publishers had to find a new slot which was further out in time than it would have taken her to split the book. Said book part I became a cliffhanger. So if someone read something like that by another author, they may feel like they Understand Publishing Now. To which I say:
1) Karen Chance has published maybe 15 books now, probably 10-11 at the time of her post. Nora Roberts has published roughly 20,5 million books.
2) Any given publisher who is lucky enough to be publishing Nora Roberts is going to shove Karen Chance back a year to fit Roberts in. I’m not making one single judgement about quality of writing here, just about fame and number of readers.
3) Debra’s entire argument (as someone actually points out) is that the publisher and author should do it Debra’s way because they should be Putting The Customer First. However, Debra mistakes herself for All Customers, and in fact is arguing that Roberts and her publisher should be Putting Debra First.
It’s really #3 that is responsible for the entire meltdown. It clearly does not occur to Debra that instead of rearranging Roberts’ entire writing schedule AND the publishers’ entire publishing schedule, or having the publishers sit on MSs until all three are ready, DEBRA could have checked the reviews, seen it was a cliffhanger, and chosen to NOT read it until the next book was out. Something I have done more than once, as I don’t like cliffhangers any more than the next person (I also believe this is at least partly why I have seen two authors get dropped before Cliffhanger Part II is released. At this point, you really have to be a Nora Roberts to pull it off). But heaven forbid DEBRA change anything when the rest of the world should be rearranging itself for Debra’s convenience.
I’m pretty sure #3 is also 90% of what’s wrong in the US nowadays, summed up in one meltdown on one blog.
If Karen Chance happens to be referred to this thread, Love You Karen! I only used your name BECAUSE you had that post explaining your changed release schedule (Everyone read Karen Chance, two series: Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab).
This a now-completed 5? part series by an author which I read the first – third books upon yearly-ish release. Book Four’s review had a warning that it was a Serious cliffhanger. Huge cliffhanger even compared to first three when we knew it would be a five book series.
Oh thank goodness for that reviewer who also had one of the most “Helpful”‘d reviews. Yes, I waited until the last book came out. Bought them both read them together.
I will say that if it was by Ilona Andrews, I’d just buy the book upon release and stash it in the to-read queue until the follow-up was released or read and go re-read some others. You know. Like a sane fan for her auto-buy authors.
EXACTLY!
I read the first book of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson with deep suspicion, having been burned by both Robert Jordan and George RR Martin on massive epics (for very different reasons*). I felt, from the way that book one read, that he has a real chance of finishing it in the projected ten books. BUT. He then went and published something like 8 more** books one, and so now I buy the Stormlight Archive books when the price drops for the Kindle, but I refuse to read more unless and until he finishes it. Trust, but verify.
____
*Robert Jordan spun completely out of control. It was around book five or six when I finished and thought “I just read 1500 pages and the characters are all in exactly the same place as when the book started.” Not just metaphorically (zero character growth) but physically, as they ran fruitless errands for 1500 pages and returned to where they started. That means that at a bare minimum, 1500 pages could have been cut without any holes in the story. I was told it didn’t get better until Sanderson took over. George RR stopped writing to do a tv show. I heard it was a good tv show, I congratulate him on his success, I’m not going anywhere demanding he finish the written series, but a) there were definitely signs of the books experiencing Robert Jordan control issues and b) he’s over that story now, and I won’t get the end of it. So I am extremely leery of massive multi-book epics.
**I toned this exaggeration down from 15 new books one, which is what it FELT like, but honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out it really WAS 8 books.
Well state Siobhan. The fact is, if you read Nora’s blog, the first book of every trilogy she writes elicits this type of response from someone who feels that they absolutely have to have the next book right now. They tell Nora that holding the second or final book is simply a marketing ploy. It doesn’t seen to matter that Nora patiently explains that the net book in the series hasn’t even been written, that someone always has to comment when the next trilogy comes out.
Debra though. Whoo. This woman took it to a whole other level, totally ignoring the fact that Nora doesn’t usually write cliffhangers (if she is doing the unusual, wait to see where it goes), that fans of Nora’s work get FOUR books from her a year (yep, 4 book per year, every year for the last….i don’t remember how many years), and that Nora herself responded, explained, and asked her to stop (this was after Laura explained and asked her to stop). By the time all was said and done, I felt bad for Debra. But if there was one upside for Nora….the publicity. Man, you couldn’t pay to get the publicity that was garnered by this. How many new readers and book sales do you think Nora will get from this. Best not to questions that too loudly, lest Debra begin to think that she should get a cut of that too.
I think that particular Debra must be struggling with something in her life if she’s at that point. I always feel like there’s something particularly painful to watch bad moments in someone’s life play out in a public forum and can only hope I have grace and inner serenity the next time I cause something like that to happen to me.
On the flip side, Nora Roberts’ seventh assistant assigned to the task of reviewing comments for Nora’s billion dollar empire will probably get a huge kick out the thread. I make it a goal personally to always entertain the people at the bottom of publishing empires if I can help it (in a good way), having suffered at the bottom of such empires myself. And this particular Debra is doing just that.
My god she just keeps on coming back to dig herself in
Not even going to look. I know too many authors in my real-world life – and know perfectly well I don’t want to work that hard and never have. The one who is pretty much a life-long friend at this point thought that I was crazy for being willing to work as hard as I did at being an academic secretary.
*Somebody* has to keep the professors and researchers from looking like idiots when they are not – I spent about 30 years as the lab spellchecker at a couple of different places. And the count of grant proposals I worked on was over 50 before word processers were involved – I could pull miracles out of Selectric typewriters and a lot of people where I worked at the time knew it.
I’m a Debra! I wouldn’t do that! Please don’t think all Debra’s are like that!
If Ilona and the commenters here managed to miss this link in the 400 comments over there, I’m re-sharing it here. Ilona can trot it out the next time someone demands a new Innkeeper installment.
https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/05/entitlement-issues.html
(I did not read every comment. I skimmed down and this one caught my eye.)
Damn.
Wow.
I saw the following comment regarding the Nora Roberts / Don’t be like Debra situation on Twitter by @Crampedsultana:
“ If mansplaining is a term, fansplaining should be one as well. Where fans try to explain a writer’s own character to them or how writing a book or TV script works.”
OMG LOL
“Don’t be Debra.”
Wow! That blog thread was brutal. I figured someone as experienced as Nora Roberts would explain once and then let it go. It was obviously very distressing to her. I had no idea how much comments from readers could affect an author. And, how pig headed is Debra! Wowzer!
Wow, she is instructing Nora Roberts, a publishing phenom, on how to publish. Hubris and ignorance on full display.
This chick has obviously never met Nora Roberts or she would’ve NEVER gotten into a pissing contest with her. LMAO! Seriously, reading stuff like that explains so much of the behavior I’ve seen this year and the issues arising from said behavior.
On a completely separate note..
Ilona, I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you for introducing the Harney & Sons tea shop. At first, I thought you telling us about Paris tea was a blessing. Like you, it’s the first tea I’ve been able to drink without it upsetting my stomach. But now–five orders later, I’m beginning to think it’s not so much a blessing and more like an addiction. Grrr… 😉
I bought some as well to be a stocking stuffer and OMG, the willpower it took to put it under the tree instead of using it right away. Smells sooo good.
I got the Harney & Sons Spiced Apple
& the Paris flavours.
My favorite brand of tea. I love their Earl Grey.
That was just one of those “smh” moments!!
And then she just keeps going!!! Its like sheesh woman!!
My favorite comment throughout that thread was Suzanne’s comment:
“I bet she’s super fun to be behind in the checkout lane….”
LOL!!!!!
And she would not stop! That’s what I couldn’t believe.
Oh boy oh boy oh boy! That thread was a revelation in ignorance (Debra is the new Karen) and grace under fire (Nora). I totally get why IA have no truck with anything that smacks of entitlement from the peanut gallery. And the link to Noel Gaiman’s article put it succinctly “the author is not your bey-atch” (paraphrased) ????
Oops! *Neil Gaiman ????♀️
I read the blog with the hard headed Debra. It was interesting that she kept harping on “the customer is always right” and bringing up that is how business operates. She is right to a certain degree, but I would have pointed out to her the publisher IS satisfying their customers or they would be out of business. The proof is in the pudding so to speak. I admired Nora Roberts for trying to explain the process but since Debra refused to listen to reality I wish she had stopped engaging. All it did was upset her and who needs that. Mark Twain said “Never argue with a stupid person, they beat you with experience and then drag you down to their level”.
OMG and Wow just wow. Not in a good way. She needs to ride kid 2’s roomba, poo and all.
I’m so glad she wasn’t named Karen. We’ve gotten enough grief for having that name this year!
Wow…just wow. How someone has the audacity to speak to anyone like that let alone to someone they a purportedly a fan of, it is mindbogglingly rude.
Part of the love of good stories is the wait for the next part of said story.
I don’t care how long I have to wait if it is a humdinger!
Love all the stories you guys tell, you make a fantastic team!
Has anyone checked on Debra today. LOL
I wonder if Nora Roberts will quietly destroy a Debra-like character in one of her future books?
Dear God, imagine the fan theories… It’ll be almost legendary????????
She just wouldn’t go away!!!!
I can say with all the love in my heart that that was entertaining as h3ll.
O. M. G.
That was like reading an orange twitter rant.
What’s that? I’ve never been on twitter…
????????????????and to Nora of all people!!! A brave woman- or an incredibly stupid one. Let’s go with the 2nd option shall we? Why does being a ‘fan’ suddenly endow you with the knowledge of how long it takes you to write a book of any length, proofread , choose the cover, & then have it published? Yes we get eager for the next one in line but we would be far grumpier if it was below our expectations.
Trying to explain to this type of Debra is like banging your head into a wall. Props to everyone’s persistence but sometimes you just have to walk away. She clearly only wants to hear that she has a point. “The Customer is always right”… not true. Best response to the inanity of the her ‘facts’… Dwight?! (I wanted to applaud and reply back with, beets, bears, Battlestar Galactica!
Although, the hidden disability statement above may be hitting the diagnosis on point.
doesn’t take balls, just pigheaded ignorance.
Hahaha! I read it! Oh, Debra…I was laughing sooo hard. Also now I have to buy the book!
Dear God. I love Nora Roberts and have books I bought of hers still from when I was a teen saving up babysitting money. She has the patience of a SAINT to have not blocked her long before she did and let Debra keep going on and on and on as much as she did. I worked in customer service in retail and work in éééhr and wow, this would not fly.
????????????
1) Debra had some stank coochie energy, also known as a bad case of the audacity
2) Nora Roberts continues to be an icon
3) Jim Butcher published 1/2 a story after 6 years and we had to wait 2 months for the other half and we STILL were super excited!
4) I bet Debra tries to use expired coupons
5) she is the person I would have spilled ice water on deliberately when I was waiting tables
“stank coochie energy”, can I quote you on that? ????????
“I bet Debra tries to use expired coupons”
OMG. SO MUCH THIS. And worst, she throws such a fit that it becomes easier to LET her use the coupon, which just reinforces that bad behavior = getting what she wants.
Oof. That made me physically ill. I rabbit holed until I just couldn’t handle it. Books are life. Authors should be revered. Y’all create badass worlds that literally can save someone’s sanity..you guys have certainly gotten me through rough times. I’m a Gen X-er who still is in awe of the fact that sometimes an author will interact with you online! That Debra chick (and anyone who is,let’s face it, dumb enough to not recall when we first met Julie, scrawny, scrappy and BLONDE) is a blight to authors everywhere. I usually never comment on this kind of stuff, but slow clap for y’all putting idiot trolls in their places.
She was totally blonde and always was!!! I loved her angel fluff hair after her first shower at Kate’s house!!
I know a person like that. I thought she was really nice at first and I asked her to come to a doll meeting. That was before I realized that she was an expert on everything. One time she preceded to tell a woman who had been making reproduction antique dolls for at least 30 years how to paint eyebrows. She reads something and low and behold an expert is born. We all ignore or shut her down.
Some people read something and also become experts. It is best just to listen and ignore them.
I thought it was particularly fascinating how she simply refused to stop posting. Hate to say it, but I bet Nora responding to her kept her going, how many times do you get a famous author trying to get across to you directly?
I agree. Although if one of my favourite authors responded to my stupidity directly I’d probably melt in a puddle. My next text would probably read:
fwtjxkligf,,,,-&_+’₹+hfghj
Exactly!!!!
Is it just me imagining this (for obvious reasons) or does Ilona sometimes sounds like Kate on the blog.
“New goal in life: Don’t be Debra.”
That’s such a Kate thing to say.
Or does Kate sound like Ilona? Do characters sound like their authors all the time? I only read the Andrews’ blog.
Well of course she sounds like me. All of my female characters sound like me. 🙂 Their words are coming out of my brain.
But, and I might be totally wrong here, Kate sounds like you a lot more than Nevada or her sis or Dina.
That might totally be because I’ve read Kate too much, though.
Yes! I totally agree. Except that there is no such thing as too much Kate ????.
I just went and read the comments. I almost died!! I’m so embarrassed for her!! You are right. New goal for 2021….. Don’t be Debra. Also, everyone says it but I truly appreciate your dedication and hard work in writing amazing books. Just a little over a month until Blood Heir!!!!!!! Eeeeek!!
Thank you Ilona for sending me to that entertaining discussion! I left a suggestion to Nora that her next In Death book should have a villain or annoying character named Debra that Eve Dallas or Peabody could kick the living s**t out of.
But if she is too kind to do that, maybe you can do the honors in the next Catalina or Arabella book?
I forsee a lot of antagonist characters named Debra in the near future…
Yes please. Shelf next to your google search is not equivalent to my (insert advanced degree and research credentials here) mug or mug shot… depending on mood.
BTW, just to take a kinder tack. How would you feel/react if you discovered that this person had aspergers syndrome? Perception can be everything.
Kate, there are several people here with Aspergers. In my experience, high functioning people on the spectrum learn to recognize when their behavior seems to upset others. Even if that person has Aspergers, that doesn’t mean that as an author and human being Nora Roberts should be subjected to abuse. And that’s abuse. Repeated abuse despite being asked several times to stop.
The people I know who have Aspergers are genuinely happy to be told calmly when their behavior is making others uncomfortable and eager to learn “the rules.”
It is entirely possible to have a physical disability or to be non-neurotypical and to still be an asshole.
I’m an Aspie and appreciate when someone explains to me why something I said was hurtful or insulting. I may not understand it, but I make a note not to do it again and for the most part I’m successful. It’s a huge help. I appreciate Sheldon because it helps people to understand that I’m not trying to be a jerk, I just don’t get it. Also being able to refer people to Wikipedia’s article which explains that it’s a matter of being hard-wired differently not a choice on my part.
Definitely needed to explain that to Nora. She’s written so many books Wikipedia stuck her 40 year long bibliography on a separate page and broke it down by year. Some of the years have more books on them than some extremely popular authors manage to publish in a decade (read: Patrick Rothfuss). I’m sure she doesn’t know anything about publishing. I’m one of the “In Death” readers she spoils with 2 a year. Don’t know how she does it. Used to take me weeks to write a short story in school.
Wow, just wow! One of the comments that stuck out to me:
“You were trending on Twitter all day Debra, as the asshat who tried to tell Nora Roberts how to do her job. Congratulations. *Golf clap*”
She repeatedly argued that she knew publishing better ???? (I used to think Nora Roberts was a machine cranking out books so regularly and consistently!) Debra the recidivist- a person who repeatedly offends. Brings to mind a misattributed quote “Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.” Dunno if she learned anything from the set down by ALL the people on there, but hope other fans learn not to be Debras!
I am grateful for the amazing books authors put out despite entitled asshats, Covid, and life challenges. Thank you to the outstanding authors who put up with so much crap and still give us whole worlds to escape from our daily stressors ❤️
“In this year of our insanity, 2020…” (from one of the comments in the thread) is how I will be referring to this year going forward.
That thread was…wow. Nora Roberts had far more patience, class, and the perfect amount of sass in dealing with Debra. Which is still more than any author should have to deal with.
All I can say is that if she doesn’t like the one per year release schedule for a hardcover book trilogy, she really doesn’t want to try the publishing schedule for academic journals. I worked on one as a grad assistant for a semester. I was tasked with doing citation edits – make sure that the citations were accurate and correctly formatted. Some of the articles I worked on had been accepted over a year before I got them and weren’t slated for publication for another three to six months. At least one that had been waiting for a year got pushed back an additional three months because the edits needed were so extensive.
But yeah, publishing just isn’t that hard. SMH
Uhhh, update on why some couldn’t see the comments on Nora’s blog…she just posted her monthly update and…well…yeah…”we” the BDH and others broke NR’s blog site – temporarily.
O_O
Oppssies – dreadfully sorry.
Oh my….( said in George Tacoma voice over)
Where do these people come from? Sheesh!
Just read the Debra comments.
Oh.
My.
Word!!!
It was as if a yellow belt was correcting Chuck Norris on how to throw punches.
Oh, the cringe!!! Lol!
I still think more people need to adopt a strategy of enlightened self-interest, long term.
Yes, authors are people and as such deserver to have a life outside their work.
BUT ALSO, authors are people and like other people, their creativity comes from everything they are and do and interact with. So yes, I might want lots of books from my favorite authors nownownow, but if I want those to be good books, and if I want the author to survive a long time with mental and physical health intact (or intact enough to write) and I want them to be able to sustain writing them for years to come, and I want the books to be good enough to sell enough that the publisher will keep publishing them (not the only factor in publication, I know, but it’s a big one) theeeennnn I need the author to take the time they need, to remind themselves of who they are and to refill the wells of creativity.
See? Enlightened self-interest.