lkh_lashouts | LKH Powell's interview

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the phenomenon that is the independent used book-uber-store Powell's (of Portland, Oregon). It's the best bookstore in the world as far as I'm concerned, but this isn't the point. I get their newsletter, and in their most recent Halloween-themed issue they've featured an essay from our favorite ~~narcissisic delusional poser~~ writer.

I'm not going to flog it because I don't have the time, the energy or the witty, so I'm just letting everyone else know about it so someone else can take their shot. I just want to vent a little.

She talks about Strange Candy, how the anthology came to be published, things that nobody would really care about. She does this under the guise of the 'if you get rejected, keep trying, don't give up and someday you'll be as famous as me!' pep talk. Irritantingly enough (but not surprisingly), she lists each story that was rejected, when, and why. And then proceeds to defend herself. The editor didn't know the truth. They couldn't see the brilliance that was LKH's writing and the years of hard work she put into her stories. They just didn't understand!!!

Sound familiar?

She goes on to name-drop, brag about being a New York Times favorite (a fluke, I'm sure) and describe in detail why she wrote every story, how it reflects her own life (because she can't write anything without putting half of her life in it).

I lost a shred of respect for Powell's and I hate LKH for it.

The interview is here if anyone wants to take a poke.

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I love shopping Powell's online, I didn't know they had a newsletter. When I first saw that in your post I thought "oh I have to subscribe to it!" But then I read the rest of your post. 0_O

I'm going in to read the interview...I'm getting a puke bag ready...

You know, I don't blame them for the LKH interview, because if they are an independent bookstore then they need to compete with the big stores, and let's face it, LKH sells books. If getting her name involved gave them better publicity, then more power to them. She's a popular author, and from a business standpoint, it's a smart move. The fact that they're promoting a particularly bad author is an unfortunate side effect.

Most bookstores don't have the opportunity to pick and choose according to quality; if it makes them money, then they sell it. Otherwise they could very well go out of business. They probably promote a lot of other really bad authors, too, just because it makes money.

Once LKH's sales start to dive, she'll stop being hired for interviews and promotional pitches. Until then, well...at least she's keeping a roof over someone's head. :\

Fair point. The fact her writing has become crap doesn't mean there isn't still a large, interested fanbase out there. More people would complain if popular authors like her were not interviewed, afterall...

I do understand all of that, but Powell's has always had good taste in their interviews, featured writers and staff picks. If she's making them money, good for them. I'm just a little disappointed. And angry at LKH for making enough money from the drivel she churns out to earn herself a feature.

She mentions a sale to MZB called "Geese" and it being about families we make.

I think I've read that story.

It was really good.

...

....

......

*sigh*

Oh, for the days where she wasn't (quite as) crazy and Anita wasn't reduced to ardeur and a cavernous vagina.

Everytime I see something from Powell's in my box, I keep hoping it's one of my books on my watch list. Not much luck yet.

Though "ghoulish" and "bone-chilling" are certainly good descriptions of the woman.

Hmm, I'd like to respond to a couple of things in that:

"A Token for Celandine" was rejected because the editor, Marion Zimmer Bradley, thought I'd "pastiche" Tolkien, and that elves should be left to him. After I looked up pastiche in the dictionary, I put the story in a different envelope and sent it out.

Oh God. I feel embarassed for her. Firstly, because she puts that in such a snarky way... it's as if she thinks the editor was being all elitist and high-falutin' by using what is in fact a reasonably well-known word, particularly among avid readers and writers. Secondly, because despite having looked it up in the dictionary, she doesn't even realise how to use it. The editor thought she had 'pastiched' Tolkien, surely.

I do sympathise with the problem of editors rejecting things based on factual misunderstandings, but with the handgun one... hey, her decision not to write back and explain. It just seems like foolish pride, rather than '[taking] it on the chin'.

Wait... She owns a dictionary?

WHOA. This changes everything.

Sadly, it doesn't appear that way.

Apparently she doesn't use it often enough to come up with good synonyms for "tight" and "wet" and "so much meat".

Despite my loud claims that I wouldn't buy Strange Candy, I got it reasonably cheaply yesterday and read a couple of stories. It's so sad... they're so good... It's like the old days never went away.

Anyway, her introduction to "A Lust of Cupids" states that it was rejected because she wasn't a big name. She then says that once she became "a big name," she didn't resubmit it because "she doesn't give second chances."

Meow!

"Check me out, I'm LKH and I'm a big name and I so totally pwned that editor!"

LKH Powell's interview

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