tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post4549658149767567851..comments2024-03-29T11:29:56.764-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: On sales pressureJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80671556601966757882009-05-08T13:13:00.000-04:002009-05-08T13:13:00.000-04:00Hi - Coming from the Lawrence area, I can tell you...Hi - Coming from the Lawrence area, I can tell you there really is a great deal more to this story. The short of it is, the press chose to focus on the book - for the obvious reason, and for one less so.<br /><br />Certainly, the book is fraught with explicit "steamy sex." The real issue is that no public employee can promote for personal gain on the public dime. While she was, indeed, proud of her book - and had a right to be! - and whether an elementary school is an appropriate setting for showcasing it is appropriate, the problem became the Ethics violation. <br /><br />As I said, there's a great deal more connected to this. However, it's all irrelevant given what the press has chosen to focus on.HGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02482012647760057141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70874565511482532322009-05-05T10:56:00.000-04:002009-05-05T10:56:00.000-04:00Hey Susannah,
Thanks for weighing in with the teac...Hey Susannah,<br />Thanks for weighing in with the teacher's perspective. The hard sell -- well, even the soft sell - of my books always makes me squeamish, even with no power position.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66743938117928233812009-05-01T18:15:00.000-04:002009-05-01T18:15:00.000-04:00I don't know the story directly, but my first thou...I don't know the story directly, but my first thought as a teacher is -- "What was she THINKING?"<br /><br />I'm as eager to sell a book as the next gal, but a steamy romance novel hawked to colleagues where I teach? Not only does is smack of an abuse of power, it also just seems ... misguided. Know your demographic and access those readers. These days it is not as difficult to get out there and shiver the radar. Plugging at your employees seems a right mash of desperate, unethical, and naive.<br /><br />I don't even write under the name I teach under (my given name isn't the best for a book jacket), and though my colleagues know the book is coming out, *they* have been the ones to offer the public readings, the local release parties, etc. My work is hardly steamy, and I'm pretty sure any figures on the cover will be reasonably dressed and have their eyes open and their mouths closed, but I would still feel squeamish about nudging any book on my colleagues, especially in the workplace.Susannah Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660387525544941776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29636500269103162522009-05-01T17:44:00.000-04:002009-05-01T17:44:00.000-04:00When I heard this story I was driving and had to s...When I heard this story I was driving and had to stop the car to catch my breath. There, I thought, but for the grace of God go I... What writer doesn't know that desperation to SELL the book. <br /><br />Having said that, it's inappropriate to try hawk your book to co-workers during work...especially when you're the boss. Puts everyone in an uncomfortable situation--never mind the content or the quality of the writing.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33445044326151627702009-05-01T15:10:00.000-04:002009-05-01T15:10:00.000-04:00Hi Helen,
I say no, but I still feel guilty. If w...Hi Helen,<br /><br />I say no, but I still feel guilty. If we could get rid of guilt, maybe we'd never feel resentment. <br /><br /><br />Wouldn't that be nice?Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87032397638343926692009-05-01T14:35:00.000-04:002009-05-01T14:35:00.000-04:00It all looks suspicious, but we weren't there, so ...It all looks suspicious, but we weren't there, so we don't know. Maybe she was over zealous. Or maybe it was just because others felt pressure (even if she didn't exert it) to buy. I for one have gotten much better at saying No. No to the supermarket salesclerk, no to solicitors who call, no matter how many times they ask, and no to work that I just don't have time to do.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74372090976273144512009-05-01T12:58:00.000-04:002009-05-01T12:58:00.000-04:00Hi Barb,
Yes, I think it may all go back to what K...Hi Barb,<br />Yes, I think it may all go back to what Karen said: what REALLY went on in that faculty room.<br /><br />I think that's why this issue is so fascinating-- we all start out mentioning our books to people we know -- its just part of the process. <br />When is it that we step over the line?<br />(maybe when we reassign coworkers who don't buy it!)Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8272411175615013932009-05-01T12:32:00.000-04:002009-05-01T12:32:00.000-04:00Argh.
Well, unless it's expressly forbidden by co...Argh.<br /><br />Well, unless it's expressly forbidden by company policy it's pretty common for people to "present the opportunity" for co-workers to buy school gift wrap, girl scout cookies, donations to their fun runs, etc. Is a book where a teensy bit of the money goes into the author's pocket over the line? <br /><br />Maybe.<br /><br />When you work full-time, the line between colleagues and friends gets to be pretty thin. I was astonished when a couple of my subordinates bought a Level Best book one of my short stories was in. I don't think it was a pure suck up move--it came out in casual conversation months later--I think they were curious about what someone they worked with everyday did in her spare time--just as I might go to one of their softball games or a quilt show or whatever. <br /><br />Of course, pressuring, taking names and punishing those who don't buy is way over the line. (Though I think even this behavior is common when a boss has written a business book, though it's universally resented.)<br /><br />And, if you're in a public sector job the rules are usually stricter and more explicit.<br /><br />Anyway, it would stink if the issue was really the steamy sex and illegible drug use in the book. As you say, she wasn't trying to sell this to her student.<br /><br />Rambling today...<br /><br />BarbBarbnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12517049576158521032009-05-01T12:10:00.000-04:002009-05-01T12:10:00.000-04:00Hi Kira,
Yes, I'm envisioning both the tar and fea...Hi Kira,<br />Yes, I'm envisioning both the tar and feathers and the best selling list. <br /><br />Bad behavior is so often the path to stardom!<br /><br />And Karen, I agree, I'd love to know what REALLy went on in the faculty room and transfer of the teacher who complained to another school.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35296384032749492292009-05-01T11:55:00.000-04:002009-05-01T11:55:00.000-04:00I also hate being pressured into things (including...I also hate being pressured into things (including that grocery store donation you speak of) and will resist simply on principle.<br /><br />I wonder about the reality of what went on. I think we may never know what with the skewed coverage media always seems to present.<br /><br />Isn't this why so many 'erotic' writers have pen names?Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17397891534682887230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19322592501465914892009-05-01T11:51:00.000-04:002009-05-01T11:51:00.000-04:00You have to wonder if it had been a nonfiction boo...You have to wonder if it had been a nonfiction book about some boring topic if it would have generated this buzz. (I'm thinking not so much.)<br /><br />On the one hand, it's inappropriate to peddle the book at work, no matter the content. <br /><br />Add in that she is in a position of power (not just pushing among equal rank colleagues).<br /><br />Add in that this is in a school situation, which is fraught with its own culture and taboos.<br /><br />Add in that the book has, gasp, sex in it.<br /><br />She'll be lucky to emerge without a coat of tar and feathers.<br /><br />But maybe given the publicity, the book will be picked up by a big publisher and she'll be laughing all the way to the best seller list.Kiranoreply@blogger.com