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My Guest Today - Author Jenny Twist

1/28/2013

89 Comments

 
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Jenny Twist joins me today to discuss saboteur reviewers - if you're an author, you know what she's talking about.

Jenny's novels include All in the Mind, Bedtime Shadows and Away with the Fairies.

The Saboteurs

I am becoming increasingly disturbed and upset by the saboteur reviewers who seem to be appearing more and more often on Amazon. I know at least two superb authors who have fallen foul of these people and I recently did so myself.

We can all (I hope) handle the odd bad review. After all, most of our readers are ordinary people, not academics. They don’t review according to the quality of writing but simply according to how much they liked it. Consequently they will often give a bad review because they don’t like the genre, or the format, or they felt it was a bit too long, too short, shouldn’t have so much sex in it, should have more sex in it, etc.

That’s fair enough, I think. We put our books out there. We WANT ordinary people to read them. And we should remember that ordinary people are not always fair.

We should also remember that we can’t please everybody. I find it hard to believe, but even Stephen King and Kate Atkinson get bad reviews!

But I’m not talking about ordinary people here. I’m talking about those who seem to take pleasure in shooting good authors down. You often can’t identify them because they write under pseudonyms. Like most bullies they are also cowards and are not prepared to expose themselves to the kind of ridicule that they dish out to others.

Disturbingly, where I have been able to identify them they have turned out to be authors themselves. The logical assumption is that they see these talented authors as a threat.  As if people only ever buy one book and you need to stop them buying this one that is better than yours. If that is the case it makes perfect sense that it should be the very best authors who suffer most.

You have no defence against these people. If you argue with them you just look petty.

But it is pretty galling when you have a string of four and five star reviews and you get just one of these ‘nasties’. It is Amazon’s policy to publish the ‘most helpful’ positive and the ‘most helpful’ negative reviews at the top of the review page. Consequently, if the nasty is the ONLY negative review it appears right in the face of every potential reader who views the page. No amount of voting it down will get rid of it. My own nasty eventually acquired 20 votes of ‘not helpful’ and no ‘helpful’ votes at all but remained in its prominent position.

I believe it killed the American sales for the book, which continued to sell well in the UK (the reviewer had not posted it on the UK site).

So these people are affecting our sales, our livelihood, and we are helpless to stop them. Amazon will not withdraw a bad review, no matter how unfair it is, on the grounds that everyone has a right to their own opinion.  (Goodreads, incidentally, has been known to do so. So it’s always worth asking).

I don’t suppose appealing to the saboteurs directly would make any difference. I imagine they must get pleasure from hurting other people.

I am considering asking Amazon if it would be prepared to change its policy. Given how devastating these reviews can be, wouldn’t it be better not to post the ‘most helpful’ negative review when it is the ONLY negative review (I would suggest only start featuring one when there is a minimum of three) and  NEVER to post one if it has not had a single positive vote. Come on Amazon, be fair!

In the meantime I have had to settle for sending out a general curse to these gremlins. They will find the next time they attend an important function that they will suddenly fart loudly and follow through. And serve them right!


About the Author:
Jenny Twist was born in York and brought up in the West Yorkshire mill town of Heckmondwike, the eldest grandchild of a huge extended family. She left school at fifteen and went to work in an asbestos factory. After working in various jobs, including bacon-packer and escapologist’s assistant, she returned to full-time education and did a BA in history at Manchester and post-graduate studies at Oxford. She stayed in Oxford working as a recruitment consultant for many years and it was there that she met and married her husband, Vic. In 2001 they retired and moved to Southern Spain where they live with their rather eccentric dog and cat.
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Her first book, Take One At Bedtime, was published in April 2011 and the second, Domingo’s Angel, was published in July 2011. Her novella, Doppelganger, was published in the anthology Curious Hearts in July 2011, Uncle Vernon, was published in Spellbound in November 2011, Jamey and the Alien and Uncle Albert’s Christmas were published in Warm Christmas Wishes in December 2011, Mantequero was published in the anthology Winter Wonders in December 2011 and Away With the Fairies, her first self-published story, in September 2012.

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Her new anthology, with Tara Fox Hall, Bedtime Shadows, a collection of spooky, speculative and romance stories, was published 24th September 2012.

Her new novel, All in the Mind, about an old woman who mysteriously begins to get younger, was published 29th October 2012.

Turning Back the Clock, a short horror story, will appear in Horrific Histories by Hazardous Press early 2013.


89 Comments
Cynthia Woolf link
1/27/2013 10:41:04 pm

Good article Jenny. I've fallen victim to a couple of bad reviews and it's devastating especially when you know there's not a darn thing you can do about it.

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Jenny Twist link
1/27/2013 11:55:52 pm

I knew I wouldn't be alone! I only had one, though and I've got it off the first page. Email me privately if you want to know how! What incensed me was the hammer two of my friends came in for. One of them had literally dozens of these things. And she is an incredibly talented author:

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Rose Anderson link
1/27/2013 10:45:28 pm

Oh well said Jenny! When they say "don't buy the book" they affect an author's livelihood. I've recently heard an author say a reader gave nasty 1-stars to book one and book two on Goodreads, yet the third in the series sits in the woman's queue to be read. Why? If the first two were so bad, what does she expect from the third? I think Goodreads is a bully's playground and now it looks like Amazon is headed that way too. Jenny, if you've gotten any low-ball reviews at all they're completely false. I haven't read a single one of your stories that wasn't wonderful. Best luck.
Rose

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Jenny Twist link
1/27/2013 11:59:58 pm

I could say the same for you!
I think I know the author to whom you refer. Again very talented and successful. It HAS to be jealousy, hasn't it?

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Alina Szpak link
1/29/2013 07:00:05 am

I have a lot of this problems (I am publisher and filmmaker) very often people post awful reviews and I know they didn't read book or in film case - see the film. With film is easy example: my film Player is in queue on Netflix - it is not available yet but already has 17 people giving few stars only. Or reviews are so idiotic that you know that people simply cannot read. So there is only one fight - promote IGNORING all those reviews and stars - I never even look at them when buying book or film!

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Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 05:02:06 pm

Hi Alina,
I'm not surprised you experience the same problem and you are of course in a unique position to see what is going on. I am fascinated to discover that you got 17 ratings before the film was even available! Unbelievable!
I agree with you completely about ignoring the daft reviews and ratings and as an individual I intend to continue to do so. But I do feel Amazon has a responsibility to curb these trolls. I had one response from a brand new author who caught one of these as her very first review. Devastating! Some people might just give up!
Love
Jenny
xxx

JSGoldstine link
1/27/2013 11:12:09 pm

Great post! This has happened with my first novel. My first and only review is 1 star and it was posted the day after I began its first 3-day free promo. It stopped sales almost completely and I still had two free days left. I can deal with the fact that not everyone will like my books, but to leave a nasty review full of spoilers less than 24 hrs. after it's first free promo w/o any helpful criticism at all really hurt. I'd spent a year making sure my book was the best it could be before publishing it. After the experience, I began to reconsider publishing my other novels with Amazon.

Also, I can't remember which book, but I saw where one reviewer gave the book 1 star and said she had not read it yet, but would change her rating whenever she did finally read it. Someone asked her why she reviewed a book she hadn't even read and her reply was, "Because Amazon kept sending her emails asking her what rating she'd give the book, so she got tired of it and gave the book 1 star for the time being."

Ugh!

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Jenny Twist link
1/28/2013 12:16:33 am

Dear JS. How nice to meet you. What a dreadful experience drawing a gremlin with your first promotion and as for the one star kid - what a plonker! Don't these people think about what they're doing at all? If I were you, I'd offer my book for review on the Goodreads site. Look for a group that specialises in Romance, join it and send a message to all the members. You should soon collect some good ones to offset the nasty. If the horrid one is still on the first page in a couple of weeks, email me on casahoya@gmail.com
Love
Jenny
xxx

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JSGoldstine link
1/28/2013 01:55:50 am

Thank you, Jenny. I will try that! It is nice to meet you as well! Thank you for writing this post. It helps as a newbie to know that esteemed authors like yourself are dealing with similar problems and I think holding back the 1 star negative review until at least a positive review has been made is a great idea. My friends who have read my book and loved it offered to join amazon and post their reviews, but I told them not to. I want honest feedback from strangers who are not worried about hurting my feelings and I didn't want to be one of those authors accused of having false 5 star ratings. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thank you again!

Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 05:11:37 pm

Hi JS.
I think when you first starting out and these things happen you feel like you're the only one. You will find each of these horrible trolls there are a hundred authors who are supportive and kind. I see Julie has already responded in that vein.
I don't think there's anything wrong with letting your friends review your book. They're entitled to their opinion even if they ARE your friends. And I'm sure they're proud of you and want to have the opportunity to say so. If you're afraid they may be biased, just ask them to say in the review that they're a friend. Then you're not misleading anyone.
And keep writing.
You are a hundred times better than these pseudo reviewers!
Love Jenny
xxxxx

JSGoldstine link
1/29/2013 10:05:42 pm

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, Jenny! It pleases me greatly that we met! And only death could stop me from writing. I still have 9 more (romance) first drafts to revise and publish as well a mid-grade fantasy series I've been working on for the last 5 years. No egotistical dung-shooter is going to prevent me from doing what I was born to do!
xoxo

Julie Elizabeth Powell (pen) link
1/28/2013 02:34:45 am

If you email me, JS Goldstine - julizpow@yahoo.co.uk - with a mobi copy of your book, I'll read /review it fairly. If I really don't like it, I'll tell you why and not post a review.

Although I'm a self-published author (looked down upon by many), I have eleven books available in a variety of genres, but despite being extremely busy, I do read and review for others to support.

Never stop writing.

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JSGoldstine link
1/29/2013 12:14:32 am

Thank you, Julie! You are so kind to offer your time and honest review! I will send you a copy today.

Julie Elizabeth Powell (pen) link
1/28/2013 02:37:50 am

JS Goldstine If you can send me a mobi copy of your book, I'll read /review it fairly - julizpow@yahoo.co.uk If I really don't like it, I'll tell you why and not post a review.

Although I'm a self-published author (looked down upon by many), I have eleven books available in a variety of genres, but despite being extremely busy, I do read and review for others to support.

Never stop writing.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 02:55:14 am

I'm so pleased to meet you, Julie. It is kind people like you who give new authors the confidence to keep trying.

Tara Fox Hall link
1/30/2013 12:34:03 am

I am horrified at your experience, JS. I've fallen victim to a few of these on Goodreads, and both times these reviews came up for the two books I had offered free through Amazon. The first time I was livid, and petitioned Goodeads to remove the review, as it didn't meet their criteria As has been stated above in other's comments, this review was by an AUTHOR...one that was just starting out and hadn't yet published her first novel! I was appalled at her behavior, and could not fathom what kind of strategy she had for doing what she did, especially as she would soon be in my very position with reviewrs herself!. As soon as I got it off Goodreads, this person must have told her friends, because another very low mark popped up. I could not do anything about that, as it was a rating and not a review. So I have left all the others following that one that pop up alone, not wanting to get an avalanche of bad marks. Hugs to you, and all other authors that get a one or a two rating from reviewers like this.

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Lynette link
1/28/2013 12:34:54 am

You have my sincere sympathies, dear Jenny, for falling foul of one of these internet nasties. You are right, they are just mean-spirited bullies and cowards.

But do credit your readers with some intelligence ;) - I could never take seriously any negative review of your work as you're one of the best writers I've ever come across and your wonderful 'Domingo's Angel' sits forever at the top of my all-time favourites list.

Any potential reader will receive all the affirmation they need about your stories from all your glowing reviews and recognise a troll for what it (?she) is.

Now get on with your next story please - I'm getting withdrawal symptoms here...

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 02:57:32 am

You are SO nice to know! I was trying to remember the proper name for these horrid people. Trolls! That's it!

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Been there...
1/28/2013 12:48:55 am

Never EVER, EVER, EVER confront one of these reviewers or comment on their reviews. And PLEASE tell your fans, family and loved ones not to comment on them either.

There are groups on Goodreads and Amazon forums that eagerly whiff out any blood in the water, then they strike. They will put the author's name on 'authors behaving badly' boards and swarm in mass.

I can't stress this enough DO NOT comment on the reviewer publicly.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 03:00:40 am

I couldn't agree more. I know people who have done so.
Thanks for the advice
Love
Jenny
xxx

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Julie Elizabeth Powell (pen) link
1/28/2013 02:28:07 am

What a great article. You will of course have people contesting your argument and telling you that you're just a rubbish writer that can't take criticism - I know that's not true, but it makes them feel better.

I've had very few poor reviews, and I will always listen to constructive criticism that is backed up by evidence, rather than just 'spewing meanness'. I recently had a terrible review for one of my eleven books, Knowing Jack, but the worse thing about the 'opinion' was the inference that all my good reviews were fake and must be from friends and relatives! Very far from the truth - honestly :)

Whenever I receive one of these, I always thank the reader for their time and say sorry that they didn't enjoy it - in the hope that I don't come down to their level.

It's not good for the ego at all, but as you say, we have to accept poor reviews, as much as it hurts. For myself, I try not to hope too much for sales and focus on the enjoyment of writing. But of course, I'd love to be able sell enough to make a living.

I have a passion for writing and always will have, and I do like the challenge of various genres, although fantasy will always be my favourite.

Love the last paragraph! lol

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 03:05:15 am

You can't argue with these people. I would like to say that even if a reviewer IS a friend they may still have the integrity to give an honest review, You are treating these vile beings in exactly the right manner. Do not let yourself go down to their level, as Been There so rightly says above.
Love
Jenny
xxx

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E. Ayers link
1/28/2013 02:36:18 am

The general public needs to start paying attention. They need to read blurbs and read the sample. They can tell if a book is good by the sample. It's the general public that allows these people to have power instead of deciding for themselves.

I recently obtained a non-fiction book that was so riddled with errors that it made me wonder if the person who had written it spoke English. Had they used software to translate it? In spite of the problems, it was a very inspiring. Let's face it. Anything that will make someone want to go clean the bathroom, kitchen, foyer, or bedroom was worth the dollar it cost.

I've seen bad reviews stop a book in its tracks and I've seen bad books with long strings of bad reviews, keep selling.

I'd like to see reviews go away. Force people to read the blurbs and the sample, and not rely on a previous reader who might not have read the book.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 03:09:36 am

Hello, you. You're quite right, of course. Anyone with half a brain can make their own mind up by reading the blurb and an excerpt. I always do (thus proving I have at least half a brain). But I think the general public have rather got into the whole on-line review system. It is open to the most dreadful abuse but we try not to get too bitter. Chin up, Young Ayers. We'll all laugh at this in a few years' time when we're rich and famous!

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E. Ayers link
1/28/2013 02:21:53 pm

Young? Thanks for the laugh.

The problem is not the truthful reviews, but the false ones. There are way too many horror stories attached to reviews. Why would anyone read Book One and give it a one star review and then read Book Two and it give a bad rating with one star? And they are going to read Book Three? Seriously? If I don't like a book, I won't waste my time reading it.

I have several bad reviews. They come to anyone who puts their work out there. I've had to laughed some of them off. I have no idea whose book was being reviewed, but it wasn't mine!

Actually, my all-time favorite review is a three-star review. Whenever I need a good belly laugh, I go read that review. It's priceless!

Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 05:14:45 pm

Which review? Give me the link?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Brian Randleas :Reynolds Star Sagas link
1/28/2013 03:18:04 am

Hello Jenny.

I have to say I enjoyed your article. I agree whole heartedly with your assesment of the problem. It seems that in this world where everyone has a voice artist of any type are more apt to be subjected to the "Heckler" in the crowd. I agree that these types of reviews are not only hurtful to sales and an artists career, the downright hurt emotionally as well. Everyone deals with these experiences in their own way and mine has been to use humor. Whenever I personally recieve these kinds of comments or reviews or even if I hear of it happening to a fellow author my first response is to outraged. Once I have had a cup of joe or a good adult beverage and the color returns to me not so colorful face, I sit down and try to write a humorous blog about it. Here for your consideration is my latest post.

THE HECKLER
Constructive criticism is always welcome. I realize as an author that not everyone will like my work. However if I have created something that is not your cup of tea it does not mean; I am a bad person, do not practice good personal hygiene, my parents or family should perish in an epic conflagration, or that I will in the future be personally responsible for the ending of the world. Tell me where: I spelled aftah wrong (yes the misspelling was intentional), left out a comma, used the wrong tense, contradicted myself, or used bad science or research, changed the name of a character half way through the story, etc... and I will thank you. Just please do it in the same manner that you would wish me to walk up to you out of the blue and offer you a tissue and point out that something large and grotesque was hanging from your nostrils in front of a completely packed Rockefeller Center when all eyes are on you, and the entire event is being televised world wide. (Forgive please the run-on sentence) Oh and of course please feel free to offer your critiques of this posting. - Brian Randleas

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 05:17:43 pm

Fabulous! I love it. Thanks, Brian
Love
Jenny
xxx

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Marissa St James link
1/28/2013 03:50:53 am

good article. you've hit the problem exactly. it's unfortunate that we have to have reviews in order to sell our work. (I can't get a review, good or bad, to save my life)

As a former reviewer, I always did my best to give an honest review. If there was something about the book I didn't like, I dealt with it diplomatically and commented about the good things.

However, there is no excuse whatsoever to tear down someone else's work. Remarks like that will, sooner or later, come back to bite you and you can end up getting a rep for nasty reviews. Is it worth it? I suppose some might think it is if they succeed in tearing down others' work.

We all invest a great deal of time and emotion in our stories and a kind word for our efforts goes far. On that note, I suppose no reviews are good reviews.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 05:37:55 pm

Hi Marissa. Nice to meet you. I can't for the life of me understand why you can't get reviews. Send me From Hearth to Heart and I'll review it myself - casahoya@gmail.com
Got a waiting list, but it's not too bad.
Your review principles are the same as mine. I review for Manic Readers and am committed to do a review even if I don't like the book. And I cannot write to the author privately. With private reviews if I think there is a real problem like poor editing I will not say so in the review, but will tell the author privately so they can put it right. I agree with you. What's the point of tearing somebody's work apart? I think some people just enjoy inflicting pain. I hope you're right that their mean remarks will come back and bite them on the bum.
Love
Jenny
xx

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Zrinka link
1/28/2013 09:58:31 am

There's a saying about opinions. They are like a**es, everyone's got one. So uglier the opinion, uglier the a**, nice opinion, nice a**. I just live by that, however recently I read a truly trash book that is not only badly written but historically wrong, no descriptions to place the reader in the setting, no plot, nothing... It was like the author just woke up one day and decided to throw the book together that's not about her culture, heritage or country and she didn't bother with the research either, probably thinking it's a tiny country on Balkans who'll know. Well, we people from there for sure will and needless to say I had to give it one star and not a good review because it's demeaning to the people and it puts down their history and heritage.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 05:42:41 pm

Dear Zrinka
I shall endeavour to always have nice opinions from now on!
How irritating when people can't be bothered to do the research. I got on my soapbox with Victoria Hislop's' The Island' and 'The Return', both bestsellers, both wildly inaccurate. And she should know better. She should have known the facts about Greece and Spain. She's a travel writer!

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Maggi Andersen link
1/28/2013 10:01:58 am

Perhaps as readers we need to be discerning. If the book has a heap of good reviews, question the motivation of the reviewer who gave the bad review and ignore it!

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 05:48:13 pm

You're absolutely right, Maggi. And I believe I do just that. If I pay for a book it's because I already love the author or because a trusted friend has recommended it. Mostly I get books free because I'm a reviewer, but I am SO picky when I'm choosing what to review. I do look at previous reviews, but I choose the book on my own opinion of the blurb and excerpt. I'm one of those people who believe they can assess good writing in the first few paragraphs. Of course, this is a self-fulfilling prophecy if you never read more than that before deciding!

Love
Jenny
xxx

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Nancy Goodman link
1/28/2013 10:09:56 am

I always look upon reviews that are mean-spirited as suspect. I saw one that talked about head hopping and I thought "Oh you are so busted!" Who else but a writer would even know that term? I didn't before I started writing. i always need to make my own decisions; I never listen to movie critics and I'm going to lump book critics in with them. I need to read it myself. i have read some books and thought, why did they get good reviews, or even get published? But I wouldn't post that. Shame on these people

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 06:02:12 pm

Hi Nancy
How right you are! I shall watch out for these 'authorisms' in future. Anyway, what do critics know? There are rules about grammar which you need to adhere to or risk being irritating, incomprehensible or both, but there are NO rules about style. The people who made up these 'rules' are trying to modify bad writing with artificial restrictions. (Another of my bugbears).
Never listen to critics, Treat bad reviews with the contempt they deserve! And I join with you in saying "Shame on these people!"
Love
Jenny
xx

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Lee Rowan link
1/28/2013 10:29:34 am

I've had a few nasty reviews myself, but... I also know there are plenty of people who see anything but 100% praise and "best story I ever read" as "flaming." When a story is published, that means "to make public." And if a story is really awful, I think it deserves to get a bad review. I've only posted a few negative reviews, and when I do so, I do it under my personal (non-author) account because then it's not an 'author review,' it's just a personal opinion. (And no, I don't think I've posted any reviews in the m/m or romance genre; the low marks I've given have been for mysteries that fell short of an author's better work.)

Censoring is generally the sort of cure that's worse than the disease. If someone starts a smear campaign on an author or a genre, that's generally obvious because it's a lot of reviews that mainly say the same thing -- like the right-wing louse who reviewed Mark Probst's "The Filly" and used it as a tirade against gay romance (odd, since that's a YA book and I'd say it's G-rated.)

People who post a critical review and give their reasons for not liking the book may be doing readers a service. People who deliberately set out to trash a writer are not worth the powder to blow 'em away. Better to ignore and not raise your blood pressure!

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 06:10:54 pm

Hi Lee.
I know you're right, really, but I can't bring myself to do it. If I don't like a book I just don't review. Well, to be fair, I probably don't even finish it. Life's too short!
I love your remark that censure is a cure that is worse than the disease. And your last sentence sums up my own opinion perfectly.
Love
Jenny
xxx

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Rebecca York link
1/28/2013 10:51:05 am

Great post. You've got a lot of comments, and there's not much I can add. I have never posted a bad review anywhere. If I don't like a book, I don't comment on it. I have to wonder what Amazon is thinking. They don't want authors reviewing each others' books, but they allow reviews that are going to kill sales. Sounds counterproductive to me.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 06:15:19 pm

Hi Rebecca.
You have put your finger on the problem exactly.
Amazon needs to reconsider its approach.
SO nice to meet you
Love
Jenny
xx

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Su Halfwerk link
1/28/2013 11:18:58 am

Hi Jenny,
As usual, a very relevant post that touches on an important topic. I was surprised to see that single negative review of your book. I even went back and re-read the book, came back shaking my head. It's obvious you've been targeted and there isn't much that can be done about it. As you mentioned, confronting that person is a lost cause.
One of my books got a one star rating on B&N, without an actual review, 3 days after it came out! Without any recorded purchase on that website.
Few days ago I found a 1 star review of a great book I read, care to guess the text of the review? It was because the book wasn't available as print!!! The person hadn't even come up with a plausible reason.
I used to write a review, thinking that even if it's not all positive it would help the author. Now if I don't like a book, I don't write a review. Most people aren't writing a review to help, but to belittle and damage others' chances. I refuse to belong in that group.
Thanks for sharing this post, and know that [Jenny Twist + writing= bad book] can never happen. It simply isn't possible in my world.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 06:40:52 pm

Dear Su. I know your comments are always worth reading, but I found this one incredibly useful because you actually took the trouble to go back and read the book again to see whether you thought there might be anything in the criticism. I feel very reassured by your opinion.
I've given up being surprised by the poor reviews received by authors I have great respect for. I haven't read all your books, but those I have read are indisputably 5 star. I can't imagine you could suddenly write something so bad it would merit a one star.
It looks like these trolls are running out of ideas if they mark down because a book is not available in print. That has nothing to do with the quality of the story!
The response to this post has really got me interested in the psychology behind these trolls. I imagine it gives you a tremendous sense of power being able to destroy somebody's reputation and indeed livelihood so easily. One of my respondents had a horror story to tell (not in the comments here) of vicious cyber stalking. There's a whole thesis here. Maybe we should write it?
Thank you for your kind and considered comment.
Lots of love
Jenny
xxx

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Danita Cahill link
1/28/2013 01:10:18 pm

One of my first reviews on my first novel published came from a woman named Sunny who I'd met at my husband's uncle's celebration of life. I chatted with this woman, liked her and told her about my newly released book. Two days later a horrid one-star review appeared. There was no badge to say she'd actually bought the book and she tried to write the review under a false name, but her real name still showed up. She said cruel things like "I hope this author never writes another book."

Why would you leave a bad review for someone who is a relative of friends? And without even actually reading the book? I don't know. It hurt. On many levels. And it shook my trust for a while, too.

Thankfully, I've gotten many good reviews since then, which has lessened the sting.

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Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 07:05:26 pm

Hi Danita
That is really weird! And perfectly demonstrates how very peculiar some of these people are. I'm not sure you had a real troll there. She sounds seriously deranged but doesn't obviously belong to an organised group. I wonder what other deviant behaviour she exhibits. I'd keep well away if I were you (as if you needed me to tell you). Thank God you didn't let it stop you.
We should publish some of these horror stories. And we should petition Amazon to kill the trolls. That'll teach them!
Love
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Linda Banche link
1/28/2013 11:37:39 pm

Danita,

I know of someone this same thing happened to. The culprit was a member of her family, sister-in-law or something. The author found out who it was and complained to her brother, the woman's husband, and the reviews came off.

I suspect this woman was jealous. Writing a book is very hard work, and there are tons of people who want the results without making the effort. They're too lazy to do the work, so they want to tear down those who have done the work. Twisted, but very human. There are lots of slimeballs out there, and unfortunately, they make a lot of noise.

What to do? Ignore them, otherwise you'll get yourself into trouble. And then ask people you trust for an honest review.

Reply
Danita Cahill link
1/29/2013 03:44:36 am

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Jenny and Linda! I agree, we have to just hang in there, trolls and all.

Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 05:20:07 pm

Linda
How awful for your friend! What a nasty thing to do to a member of your own family.
So glad she managed to get it removed. And I hope it taught the would-be troll a lesson and that she has refrained from doing it again.
Love
Jenny
xx

Laurey Buckland
1/28/2013 06:10:03 pm

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-ey'd monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on!

I released my first novel six months ago and (touch wood) have not yet had a bad review. I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their own opinion - we are all individuals after all. But to think that people (and authors) out there, target books specifically to bring them down is disgusting.

I believe in karma and agree with the comments that if you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I actually think that's a quote from Disney's Bambi but never mind.

Constructive criticism, not destructive is the way forward.
I hope the people who are destructive literally get green eyes and turn into actual trolls that sh*t their pants, like Jenny said.

My final quote, which I hope will keep me positive when I do get a bad review is to remember that: "You can please some of the people some of the time all of the people some of the time some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time.”

Best of luck to everyone in their writing endeavors. Never stop, otherwise the trolls win.

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/28/2013 07:27:38 pm

Fab comment, Laurey. Love the quote.
It IS Bambi. Thumper says something unflattering about Bambi and his mother asks him what the rule should be, to which he replies, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." A precept I have tried to hold to all my life.
I actually think ALL criticism is destructive. I can't take it and I won't dish it out. When I was teaching and students got things wrong I would ask them whether they could think of another way, rather than telling them they were stupid. Then I praised them to high Heaven when they came up with the right answer.
As for quotes, here is my quote for the trolls (taken from Monty Python's "Life of Brian").
"Nail them up! Nail some sense into them!"
I don't think that's too harsh. Do you?
Love
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Morgan K Wyatt link
1/28/2013 11:30:21 pm

Hi Jenny,
I am shocked other authors would leave such vicious comments. They should know how hard writing can be. They should also know you can read a passage twenty times and still miss a comma fault. I got a one star review because my book cost too much. The reviewer admitted she would have given it many more stars if it was 1.99 or free. I doubt anyone read past the one star.

I think it comes down to people are becoming self centered, and refuse to recognize everyone else has the same rights as they do.

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 12:57:29 am

Hi Morgan,
Nice to meet you. I agree that it's particularly shocking if it's another author. They should know better. The comments I've got on the blog + as many more on the social networking groups seem to bear out my theory that the really nasty ones are themselves authors. One of these trolls apparently claimed that a famous author owes her her success, due to her hard-hitting critical reviews (which she presumably took to heart). There are some seriously deluded people out there!
Love
Jenny
xx

Reply
Mysti Parker link
1/28/2013 11:33:01 pm

Wow!! What a response to this post :) Obviously, any idiot who leaves you a nasty review is just that, Jenny! You're one of my fave authors.

You're well aware of my recent nasties. I can't say it's affected sales, since they weren't good to begin with, but I like to turn the sourpusses into lemonade with my blog. :) Plus, I can take heart in the many GREAT reviews I've gotten and even the constructive critical ones. I'm actually very appreciative of those.

I'm so glad you'll be taking part in my "Nickel-Nasties" series in Feb! Great post as usual, my friend. ~Mysti

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 01:05:23 am

I must say I'm very impressed with the response. Most I've ever had, I think. I just goes to show what an important topic this is.
It was your own horrid experience that inspired me to write this in the first place. Nobody deserves troll reviews, but you especially. You are so kind and supportive of other authors. It made my blood boil.
So glad you know how to make lemonade when life passes you lemons. You are one of MY fave authors too (as you know) and deserve all the great reviews you get.
Looking forward to being on your lovely blog again on 25th.

Lots of love
Jenny
xxxx

Reply
Jane Toombs link
1/28/2013 11:45:34 pm

I've had just one or two of these nasty reviews, but even one is too many. My advice to reviewers like this is that they should get a life. Because obviously they are troubled people who try to hurt others in any way they can. Jane

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 01:12:06 am

Hi Jane
Nice to meet you. I'm making a lot of new friends on this blog, I must come again!
You wouldn't believe how insane some of these people are. I thought they were just unpleasant people who liked to make other people unhappy but some of them are psychopaths, Seriously! I've had people writing to me about being stalked, about being reviled on the authors' blogs and one who claimed responsibility for the success of a great author (by giving her the necessary criticism).
This is a MUCH bigger issue than I at first thought
Love
Jenny
xx

Reply
Megan Hussey link
1/29/2013 01:31:38 am

Hi Jenny, great article! As for Internet critics, I got one that beats 'em all. I wrote a novella, Behold the Beauty, that was sort of like a reverse version of Beauty and the Beast, with the woman in the beast role (she really wasn't a beast, just a healer with otherworldly powers and a very strong persona) and the man as the beauty. The story addressed issues like classism and domestic violence, and also told a very tender story of two wonderful people who find love under unusual circumstances.
An Internet blogger who also happened to be a devout Beauty and the Beast fan posted about the story, saying it was "insane" and "retarded" and that I deserved to go to the Hell for Bad Writers for penning it. Now, just to supply some context, this woman stated openly in her blog that she found sex boring and was against feminism--so she was reading my book in the first place, why?
Now I can take constructive criticism but personal attacks are off limits--so I suggested in a post that she retreat to the Hell for Amateur Self Important Critics Who Have Too Much Time on Their Hands for Blogging. Oh, I know I shouldn't have--but I did.:)

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 04:23:27 pm

Unbelievable! Where do they come from these people?
I honestly believe they deliberately pick a book they know they won't enjoy (wrong genre, for example) just to give themselves an excuse to slate it. Your correspondent clearly doesn't have a life. I hope your curse was effective and she is right now roasting in the ASCWHTMTOTHFB department of Hell. Hah!
Loads of love
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Megan Hussey link
1/30/2013 02:26:57 am

Haha! Brilliant Jenny, I agree; thanks again for a great article; it's time someone stood up for the authors!

Miriam Newman link
1/29/2013 01:46:29 am

I'm sorry about your stinko review, Jenny. And your books are so fine. I've had only one weird one and that was a one-star review with absolutely no comment. Everything else was a five. That really does cause you to wonder.

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 04:34:36 pm

Hi Miriam.
Thank you for your kind words. I had one like that on Goodreads once - from an author who had promised to review it. No review, just a 2 star rating. I thought that was so rude. If she didn't like it why didn't she say why? And why commit herself to reviewing it and then not even apologise for not doing so? I won't ever send her anything else.
Baffled!
Your experience - all five stars then just one stinko is typical troll behaviour. They go for the high star ratings and try to bring them down.
I hope their knickers fall down next time they're walking past men working in a manhole!
Love
Jenny
xxxx

Reply
Helen Henderson link
1/29/2013 04:20:07 am

great topic. Thanks everyone for sharing. I know of a teen-age reader who flamed a book because he wanted Harry Potter and got King Arthur. Even though the blurb and tagline all made it clear what kind of fantasy the book was. The author went on to get an enthusiastic five-star on their next book. There is hope for all.

When a saboteur strikes, don't respond to the troll. Have an adult beverage or calming mantra, then as an earlier commenter said, Keep Writing or the Trolls Win.

Helen

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 04:38:58 pm

Hi Helen
What a sensible approach. I'm off to have one of Mr T's special gin and tonics right now.
Love
Jenny
xx

Reply
Herbert Grosshans link
1/29/2013 04:34:58 am

Hi Jenny. There isn’t much I can add to this blog that hasn’t been said by others. Nobody likes to be badmouthed and nobody should badmouth anyone. But that is in an ideal world. We don’t live in an ideal world. They only exist in our fantasies. That’s why we create them in our minds and our writings. When I was still with Midnight Showcase our books were sold through FictionWise. They had a system where the books were given stars by readers. One for bad and five for excellent. Something like that. These stars were visible to anyone and sometimes I went through the list of all the authors to check out how their books were selling and rated. I was baffled many times. A book would get one star from one reader and five from another one. It happened to mine. Apparently, there are people out there who make it their life’s ambition to give bad reviews. Pretty sad but a fact. We can shrug it off, but unfortunately a bad review can kill the sale of a book, and that is the worst part.
I write travel reviews, because I like to inform other travelers if I enjoyed a place or if I haven’t, and I will write a negative review if it is warranted. People pay a lot of money for a one or two week holiday. Once you’re there you are stuck. However, the hotel or resort has to be pretty bad before I will give it a bad review. Most have something good to say. I will never write anything out of spite if it isn’t true. Before I go on a trip I read reviews from other travelers. They help to make up my mind. If I read too many negative reviews I won’t go to that place. But I’ve been to resorts that were nice and yet, some traveler who, apparently, was there at the same time will write a negative review, and I wonder if that person is talking about the same place.
Much is all about taste, especially when it comes to books. Some readers love SciFi and fantasy, some like romance, some like action, some like sex in all their different forms, and some don’t like it (I’m talking about sex in books ^-^). Why anyone would even read a book that is not in the genre they prefer is something one might ask.
Words can hurt as much as a physical blow and one wonders what kind of person wants to hurt another one on purpose. Criticism can be constructive if it is done correctly, but tearing apart something that is the lovechild of a writer, even if it isn’t good, is a spiteful thing to do. Only a person with some kind of mental problem will do that.
I’ll leave it at that before I am accused of hurting the feelings of somebody who writes negative reviews. After all, the Trolls have feelings too…or do they?
Herbert

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 04:43:58 pm

Herbert,
I loved this comment. It sums up the situation perfectly. And I think we SHOULD consider whether trolls have feelings too. Do you think we've gone too far?
Lots of love
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Starfox Howl link
1/29/2013 07:58:52 am

Hi Jenny; yes, we get bad reviews. Sometimes the criticisms are justified from a technical standpoint (in my case several of them), some are just a matter of opinion. Some reviewers think they are trying to be helpful, other take a page from the New York Times reviewers check sheet and just rip the writer for no reason.

Don't know why they want to trash something they've not read, or a particular author. Maybe it's a feeling of power that they get to be heard by everyone that comes to that page.

Or, maybe it's like Alfred said in one of the Batman movies, "Sometimes they just want to see the world burn."

Oh, and the book that I got the bad review on? I'm writing the sequel now.

Y'all have a good day now.

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 04:46:48 pm

Starfox!
I haven't spoken to you for ages. How are you?
Yeah, I think they just want to see the world burn!
Love and hugs
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Diane Craver link
1/29/2013 09:46:25 am

I have gotten one star reviews with nasty comments since my previously published books are now self-published and I have them in the KDP -Select program. I'm sure the one star ones are trolls or also called sock puppets - sorry I didn't read all the comments so might be in other comments. They used fake names and fake accts. Both times it was after my free book went high in the rankings because of the no. of downloads. I have written Amazon about this problem but they won't do anything about it. I'm hoping people will see the good reviews from review sites and realize my books are still well-written.

Reply
Starfox Howl link
1/29/2013 10:10:34 am

Diane: Whenever I check the reviews on a book, I always click on the one star reviews (if any). You can usually tell right away if the commenter is saying something valid, or pushing their own agenda of trash. If it's a valid complaint, they will usually back it up with an example. Otherwise, they're just contributing to global warming.

Reply
jenny
1/29/2013 04:53:57 pm

Well said, Starfox!
xxxx

Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 04:52:29 pm

Hi Diane
It's interesting that you got yours after a free download. That's how I picked mine up. It makes me wonder whether they trawl the giveaways to see who's doing well and choose their victims that way. Sorry if I sound paranoid, it's because they're all out to get me!
I like sock puppets. I think I can use that!
I'm sure most readers discount these rather obvious trash reviews, but it is irritating and upsetting.
Let's do a petition!
I'm Amazon can do something to control this and it's worth it if they want to maintain a reputation for being honest and fair.
Love
Jenny
xxxx

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 06:18:03 pm

Posted on behalf of Sarah McNeal

If I can't do anything about something, I let it go. We've all had our share of snarky reviews by those who just seem bent on discrediting us. I find that, unless a bad review sites specific areas where the story fell sort of wonderful, I disregard it, whether it's my book or someone else's. It just says to me that person didn't read the book and posted the review out of malice.
Celebrities go through this sort of thing all the time. If they can handle it with grace, so can I. Any response to this kind of ill intended review will be unwise.
Sarah

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/29/2013 06:21:29 pm

Couldn't agree more, Sarah.
But I think Amazon needs to act responsibly and put in controls. Not all of us have the experience and maturity to treat these things with the contempt they deserve.
Love
Jenny
xxxx

Reply
Susan Roebuck link
1/29/2013 07:22:47 pm

Hello Jenny and Susan, it's great to link up with you both. I think everyone has said what I think about these reviewer trolls. Whenever I see (or get!) one I usually click on the reviewer's name and then I see that the person either gives out only 1 or 2 stars anyway, or has no other reviews under their name. I'd like to link to this post on my blog today. I hope that's OK with you.

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/30/2013 12:13:42 am

Hi Susan. It's fine by me. I'm flattered.
The more comments we get the clearer the pattern becomes.
Very pleased to meet you
Love
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Tara Fox Hall link
1/30/2013 12:46:18 am

In keeping with Jenny's comment about the feelings of those reviewing and those being reviewed, I wanted to add in my two little articles I wrote on the subject of being both the Reviewer and The Writer Being Reviewed. Bravo Jenny! This was a fab idea of yours!

ONE LAST LOOK: A WRITER’S PLEA (TO THE REVIEWER)

It’s a given fact that all writers will get bad reviews in their lifetime. Some of those will be deserved; a work unpolished, a first effort not reworked sufficiently, or simply bad grammar, etc. But some of those won’t be. The crux hangs, of course, on the reviewer. It is their opinion which flavors the review, making it either praise or condemnation. That is as it should be. Yet I make this plea on behalf of all writers, everywhere: Take one last look, and make sure that you meant all that you said.
There is no age limit I know of to be a reviewer for most review sites. If you run your own blog, there is no criterion at all that must be met. Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying that blog sites are less than qualified to judge what books are worth reading, or that they aren’t entitled to speak their views. I’m saying that anyone and everyone can be a reviewer, or post a review. This is not a bad thing, in and of itself. The more reviews any item has, the more information those looking to buy have at their fingertips. But when anyone can say anything about anything with a few clicks, it makes for almost no responsibility on what is said, or the fallout that will follow because of the review that is written.
I admit to being guilty of “passionate reviews” in the past. I have read books that were awful. Who hasn’t? I have been angry at writers that wasted my time, or led me up to a climax that fell flat. Not all books are of five star quality. Part of the reason I began writing was because I longed for a story that no current writer provided. But there is a fine line between being honest, and being cruel, just because you can. Please know the difference.
No writer I have thus met throws together a piece, and sends it off. Some writers spend years perfecting a novel, or just a short story. We attend workshops, we join critique groups, we do whatever we can to hone our talent, to make what we produce the best it can be. We are always trying to improve, to write a better story with each new idea. Why then, is there so little respect given to an author who has spend countless hours giving you that book you have spent, at most, several hours reading?
Publisher writers are not amateurs in any sense of the word. I haven’t chosen this often grueling career with the sole intent to get rich. My goal is to give you, the reader, a tale to hopefully make your life a little more exciting, a little more romantic, or a little more thrilling. If I disappoint in that lofty goal, I apologize. It certainly wasn’t my intention.
This is my plea, dear reviewer: take one last look, before you hit enter and seal my success or my doom with your words. Think about how you would feel as you read the words you have written, if they were aimed at your work. I’m not asking for you to give me a five star review, or change your opinion. Just give one last look. There are ways to critique that encourage, not discourage. If your goal is simply to warn potential readers concerning inadequacies in my work, push send. If your aim is to not only give your opinion, but also to motivate me to do better, then take one last look. Give me not just correction, but inspiration.


Reply
Jenny Twist
1/30/2013 03:37:37 pm

Hi Sweetie!
What a comprehensive reply! Dead impressive! I think that just about covers it!
Love
Jenny
xx

Reply
Celia Yeary
1/30/2013 09:16:17 am

Jenny--I wish I had time to read all the comments, but I do not. I do understand everyone's frustrations.
One difference between getting Amazon or Goodreads to remove a one star review is if it is a personal attack.
Last year, I and some of my author friends became the targets for those nasty girls on the Amazon Forums. I call them The Mean Girls..and I mean "girls" because they sound and act like teenage girls who have a vengeance for someone. There's not one nastier. A boy cannot match them. (I taught high school students.)
Anything these people do on Amazon, they also carry over to Goodreads--one reason I have not utilized Goodreads as much as I could, for it is a good site.
So, these Mean Girls took great offense to something, and listed several of us as "Bratty Authors" and gave us all one stars on Goodreads--on one or two--whatever.
I escaped, but I saw these on several of my friends. I notice the Mean Girls used pronouns such as "you" or "she"as though she were talking to the author...and also calling the author some name...and using language that sounded much like revenge-"I'll get even with you."
So, I found that it was easy to report on Goodreads, saying it was a personal attack, not a review of the book....and that she did it out of some kind a revenge. I got several one stars taken down for my friends.
This is the only way you can fight them.
I read a great article this week titled "why we should be okay with bad reviews," and she had some great points.
But she omitted the fact that some "reviewers" are out to get even or slam an author--NOT REVIEW A BOOK.
That's the big problem.....and Amazon will not do anything about it.
I and others stay off those Amazon Forums...I don't care what they are or what they're doing...I'm not using them.
Whew...talk about a rant! Good article, Jenny.

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/30/2013 03:48:48 pm

Hi Celia.
This is exactly what my friend thought was happening, That it was an organised group.
I am so pleased with the response to this blog, as it has produced so much evidence that it can hardly be denied that this is indeed the case. I think what you have to say about you and your friends' experience is very good ammunition.
Given the phenomenal interest in this problem, I intend to write another blog, summing up the evidence received so far and putting together a petition to send to Amazon.
I shan't name anybody as I don't wish to attract more attention to those who have already been victimised.
Thank you so much, Celia, for this
Love and hugs
Jenny
xxx

Reply
Tori L. Ridgewood link
1/30/2013 08:30:30 pm

Excellent blog, Jenny, and excellent comments by all. I'm not sure how much to add, except to agree that I can't in good conscience leave poor reviews. It's just not right to tear apart someone else's work in public, unless it's invited directly. Having been on the receiving end of sometimes biting criticism in my job for over twelve years, and very sensitive, I do find it hard sometimes to let it go and see it for what it is. Not looking forward to the nickel-nasties when my first full novel comes out in April. But I will bookmark this blog and come back to it for a lift when I need a reminder to thicken my skin and ignore the trolls -- send them scurrying back under their bridges with my mighty roar!

You are fabulous, Jenny Twist!

Reply
Jenny Twist
1/31/2013 12:30:09 am

Dear Tori,
What a sweetheart you are. You always cheer me up. You are so kind and generous.
Together we will vanquish the trolls!
Loads of love
Jenny
xx

Reply
Keta Diablo link
2/6/2013 02:25:25 am

Nasty stuff these trolls. Here's another EXCELLENT article on R. Guthrie's blog about this exact subject. A Must read for authors! http://robonwriting.com/2013/02/05/i-want-to-review-the-reviewer-personally/#comment-2470 (Don't know what can be done about these trolls since Amazon seems to be in their corner. Ignore them, I guess.

Reply
Jenny Twist
2/15/2013 04:08:33 pm

Hi Keta. Sorry to be so late replying. I didn't expect to get any more comments! Thanks so much for the link.
So nice to meet you
Jenny
xx

Reply
Jenny Twist
2/15/2013 04:11:18 pm

Hi Keta. Sorry to be so late replying. I didn't expect to get any more comments! Thanks so much for the link.
So nice to meet you
Jenny
xx

Reply
Jenny Twist
2/15/2013 04:11:26 pm

Hi Keta. Sorry to be so late replying. I didn't expect to get any more comments! Thanks so much for the link.
So nice to meet you
Jenny
xx

Reply
Megan Hussey link
10/14/2013 08:46:16 pm

Good article, thanks!

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read stories online link
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