(no subject)

[d3athw1sh.livejournal.com]

Since I am moving to St. Louis in a few weeks, odds are that I will go to one of Laurell K Hamilton's book signings while I am living there. And, like many other people who are fans of her series before it decided to become the Anita Blake Vampire Fucker (excuse the language, please) series, I would like LKH to understand just what she is doing. I have this idea, but I'm not sure if it is any good, so I need others' opinions on it. If I go to one of her book signings, I would take one of the earlier books and one of the newer books (probably Incubus Dreams for the new one). I would go up to her, and calmly lay the books in front of her and say, "These are both books you have written, correct? Well, why is it that this one," I'll point to the older book, "is so much better than this one?" and I will point to the new one. And from there I would say, "Just because your books are selling better doesn't mean that this new stuff is good. And cutting off all contact with any fans that actual criticize your writing is going to really hurt your book sales. If you want to continue being a New York Times bestselling author, you might want to sit down and actually read some of your books. It would take you about 2 weeks, if that, to finish your entire series. If you did that, you might be able to put together a decent book the next time you write an Anita Blake book." After that, I would simply walk away.

Good idea, bad idea? If you think it is a good idea, please tell me what earlier book I should take if I am able to go to one of her book signings.

Comments

[naeko.livejournal.com]

I don't think she'd let you speak that long.

And even if her puny brain was changing what you WERE saying into something like, "lolz im suck a fangrrrl omg plz sine my boko!!!!242eleventy" micah jon would probably dart forward and ferret you away before risking his beloved mistress seeing the truth :(

[d3athw1sh.livejournal.com]

I don't think she'd let you speak that long.

Good point. She would probably shoo me away after two words.

[freyalorelei.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't advise it, not because I don't agree with you (gods know the woman could use a good healthy metaphorical bitchslap), but because judging by her past reaction to criticism, it would all sail over her head and you'd be instantly written off as one of the (according to her) .000001% "mean, negative" fans who are just jellus of her work OMG and the TRUE fans are the ones who REALLY understand her "art" etc. etc. lather, rinse, repeat.

Besides which, the "why is the old better than the new" approach wouldn't work with her...you'd need to get into a lengthy explanation of precisely WHY her previous books were better, which also wouldn't work because a) she wouldn't listen and/or care (see above paragraph) and b) you'd be dragged off by security for taking up her time, or possibly even slapped with a harassment charge. LKH strikes me as potentially sue-happy, and is proven to have a poor opinion of her less approving fans.

Criticizing an author is always very touch-and-go, because by the time the book goes to press, they've likely had all the criticism on it they want, and will not listen to any more suggestions, badly needed or not. And when it's a bestselling author--forget it. LKH has a bulletproof ego and is infamously deliberately contrary.

Probably the best route to take, if you really want her books to improve, is to simply not buy them and encourage others to do the same (not me, though...I'm still buying the paperbacks to point and laugh!). As her sales plummet, LKH may take notice and make some sort of effort to maintain her readership. Or, you know, not. Unfortunately, it's all up to her.

[oohasparklie.livejournal.com]

All she's going to do is get all pissy and go "OMG YOU'RE SO MEEEEAN!" though she'll probably spell it wrong, even in her head, and the grammar will suck.

Then she'll come home and blog about it and spell it just like she saw it in her head.

[infidelkast.livejournal.com]

I'd just say, "I LOVED your older books!" (emphasis on older) or "I LOVED the first nine books!", kind of like a back-handed compliment. If she thought on it long enough I think she'd get the point.

[dwg.livejournal.com]

As nice as it would be to bludgeon her to death with a hardcover copy of Incubus Dreams (and I'd totally do it if got funding to jet to the US and managed to make it into her inner sanctum ...I'm fully prepared to go Alias on her butt) - it probably wouldn't work, for all the above reasons.

I'd rather approach this the way you would a government department - quiet, polite and relentless. Smiling as you entertain thoughts of massive head trauma usually gets you further than any amount of ranting and raving.

[unicornssong.livejournal.com]

mmmm. If you get past the "so much better than this one...", let us know. You know they apparently screen potential LKH approachees? Better think up some good fangirl squee to tell her body guards.

*brightly* If you doesn't let you pass, I suppose you could throw Incubus Dreams at her head and run for it.

[d3athw1sh.livejournal.com]

mmmm. If you get past the "so much better than this one...", let us know.

I definitely will, if I ever actually go to a book signing.

You know they apparently screen potential LKH approachees? Better think up some good fangirl squee to tell her body guards.

Well, you know, she has to have big bad bodyguards protect her because you never know when her precious little ego will be hurt.

I can be a very convincing fangirl. Even with something as horrid as LKH's latest books.

*brightly* If you doesn't let you pass, I suppose you could throw Incubus Dreams at her head and run for it.

That just made me laugh, and I thank you for that so much.

[nanale.livejournal.com]

I agree with all the other statements and don't think, that you would have the time to explain something. Even a very short and sharp phrase like "Your older books had a decent plot and good character development, why did you chance that?" wouldn't do it. LKH would probably hear it as "You are the worst writer ever and I'm so fu*king jealous*. Not to forget, you would have to face all the other fans afterward and I guess two minutes "improve your writing" are enough to hear all the angry fan-girls after the "insult" of LKH.

[saadiira.livejournal.com]

Hehehe. As always, you put that so damned well.