Free and bargain romances in July 2013

[laurla]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Wow talk about family discord! I never seen an author on Facebook do anything but promote one another and be positive about other authors. ME thinks Alex has issues with her cousin! Instead of just simply explaining who Stephanie is she dissociates herself from her own cousin!

What do you think about it?

Looks to me like she (Stephanie) is using her maiden name professionally creating 2 not so subtle links to Janet... Shared last name and Janet's most famous heroine. Stephanie Gaspich or Stephanie Evanovich... which one are you more likely to click on (assuming you are a JE fan, of course, and to be fair, SE was probably named before Ms Plum was born)?

Right? Wrong? Good marketing, for sure. It also sounds like JE and/or daughter aren't happy that she's doing it. Perhaps there were family discussions where they asked her not to but she did anyway which is why they don't like it... we'll never know. And families are complicated, so who really knows the reason why JE/Alex are unhappy. They weren't really rude, just not forthcoming about the relationship. They didn't disparage SE in any way just made it very clear that not only are they not the same person, but that JE has not collaborated with SE on her writing. But if you go and look up SE after seeing the JE response, it does make you go, hmmm

JE's response doesn't really bother me. In truth, I don't like it when people try to make a name for themselves using someone else's fame. But that's me. Most people will use whatever connections/means they can to get something in life and don't see a problem with it. I think it's fine if a) you're forthcoming about it and I'm not sure SE completely is... she doesn't hide it when asked outright, but she doesn't reference JE as her aunt in her bio, though supposedly JE has *inspired* her and b) the person whose connection you are using has given permission for you to do so. Doesn't quite sound like that's the case, either.

Sooo didn't mean to write an essay.... oops. Shutting up now

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Wow talk about family discord! I never seen an author on Facebook do anything but promote one another and be positive about other authors. ME thinks Alex has issues with her cousin! Instead of just simply explaining who Stephanie is she dissociates herself from her own cousin!

What do you think about it?

I agree it's rude. She could just say she is my niece by marriage.

Spoiler:

No need for the "not related...by blood" part

They are each entitled to use the last name. I mean the niece is using the name she has had her whole life. (Not sure if she's married, but there's no need to use her married name even if she is). It's not like she's some random stranger who selected the name as a pseudonym to piggyback on Janet's fame. Whatever.

ETA: I see from Laurla's post she is married. But I still don't think there's an issue with her using her maiden name. Yes it will get her shelved next to her aunt. But there are just as many people who would probably never give her book a look because they don't like Janet's books as there are people who would pick up her books out of curiosity due to the relationship (or lack there of).

[NixLapi]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Wow I just don't know what to think. I now think Janet Evanovich or at least her daughter Alex is rude. Why?

There is a new author out called Stephanie Evanovich. People are trying to figure out if they are related.

{snip snip}

Wow talk about family discord! I never seen an author on Facebook do anything but promote one another and be positive about other authors. ME thinks Alex has issues with her cousin! Instead of just simply explaining who Stephanie is she dissociates herself from her own cousin!

What do you think about it?

Who needs soap operas when you have authors?! lol I think: who knows what goes on with families behind closed doors. Definitely not a polite response by Alex/Janet, kind of sad really that she just can't say they are related and leave it at that. She certainly doesn't have to go out of her way to promote, but unless Stephanie is lying about the connection it does make her look badly. Good 'ole social media - authors get no slack these days!

While organising Calibre yesterday I cam across two books that had been removed from Amazon since end of June - because of really bad ratings. In one of them the author decided to use the GR names of some of her critics and kill them off in a battle near the end of her book. Couldn't make this stuff up!

[FizzyWater]

RE: The two Evanovich's. To be honest, the fact that JE's site comments on the co-authoring, I have to wonder if she misunderstood the question at first (or tried to re-direct it) by stressing they're not working as a team.

And the cynic in me can't help but think this Stephanie E could be lying. But after reading about the woman who signed her father's house over to herself when she had power of attorney and then sent him eviction papers, you never know what family members will do to each other!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I agree it's rude. She could just say she is my niece by marriage.

Spoiler:

No need for the "not related...by blood" part

They are each entitled to use the last name. I mean the niece is using the name she has had her whole life. (Not sure if she's married, but there's no need to use her married name even if she is). It's not like she's some random stranger who selected the name as a pseudonym to piggyback on Janet's fame. Whatever.

Exactly! Her marriage name is a little odd. It's Gaspich I mean it doesn't exactly say romance so I can see why she used her maiden name. She's not trying to piggyback as you say off her Aunt. As I read her stuff on her page. She only mentions her if asked.

I can't say it's how JE feels though Alex is the one who posted it. I really hope they don't wind up hurting her cousin career posting something like that.

[library addict]

We have our fair share of family drama goodness knows, but my aunts and uncles are all aunts and uncles. I don't refer to my Dad's SIL as Aunt-by-marriage

If she was lying, I think Janet's response would be justifiably more forceful along the lines "This writer is falsely claiming to be related to me and using a last name that is not her own." But since she didn't deny they are related (just not related by blood) I don't get the impression the niece is lying.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

RE: The two Evanovich's. To be honest, the fact that JE's site comments on the co-authoring, I have to wonder if she misunderstood the question at first (or tried to re-direct it) by stressing they're not working as a team.

And the cynic in me can't help but think this Stephanie E could be lying. But after reading about the woman who signed her father's house over to herself when she had power of attorney and then sent him eviction papers, you never know what family members will do to each other!

I think they are related. SE's response was posted months ago. JE's just today address this issue. I knew about SE for a couple week's now but had no idea Alex would post something like that. Her book is by a big name publisher. HarperCollins it's not a self published book.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

We have our fair share of family drama goodness knows, but my aunts and uncles are all aunts and uncles. I don't refer to my Dad's SIL as Aunt-by-marriage

If she was lying, I think Janet's response would be justifiably more forceful along the lines "This writer is falsely claiming to be related to me and using a last name that is not her own." But since she didn't deny they are related (just not related by blood) I don't get the impression the niece is lying.

I totally agree. I just don't understand why she just didn't say. She is my cousin and my mother's niece by marriage or something like that. It's distasteful.

[library addict]

FWIW, I had heard a while back that the niece was going to be publishing a book. I think there was a "blowup" about this last year. It was rather mild compared to some others.

[Blue2u]

Originally Posted by Blossom

On Sale @ Amazon (possibly other stores.)

$0.99 till Sunday

Michelle A. Valentine's Black Falcon series.

They are rock star books I believe. I have book one on my Kindle.

I have "Rock the Heart" by her rated a 1 star in my library. I don't remember anything about the book other than thinking it was a very, very poor imitation of The Mighty Storm, and I put the author on my DNBuy list!
Side story: This was back when I was rating books at Amazon and someone emailed me blasting my opinion, and 2 days later came back and told me she ended up agreeing with me. Anyways, it was JMO, but in case someone was wondering, I did not enjoy it at all, doesn't mean someone else might.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by NixLapi

Who needs soap operas when you have authors?! lol I think: who knows what goes on with families behind closed doors. Definitely not a polite response by Alex/Janet, kind of sad really that she just can't say they are related and leave it at that. She certainly doesn't have to go out of her way to promote, but unless Stephanie is lying about the connection it does make her look badly. Good 'ole social media - authors get no slack these days!

While organising Calibre yesterday I cam across two books that had been removed from Amazon since end of June - because of really bad ratings. In one of them the author decided to use the GR names of some of her critics and kill them off in a battle near the end of her book. Couldn't make this stuff up!

I know right! JE's a favorite of mine so it really bother me what she allowed her daughter to post that. Just because she is a huge author doesn't give her a right to be rude.

@ the two books. Now that is funny! There is saying on FB that goes something like this. Do not ticked this author off. I may just put you in a book and kill you.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

FWIW, I had heard a while back that the niece was going to be publishing a book. I think there was a "blowup" about this last year. It was rather mild compared to some others.

I only found 3 articles using the reference of their relations nothing major though and nothing about a blowup.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by laurla

Looks to me like she (Stephanie) is using her maiden name professionally creating 2 not so subtle links to Janet... Shared last name and Janet's most famous heroine. Stephanie Gaspich or Stephanie Evanovich... which one are you more likely to click on (assuming you are a JE fan, of course, and to be fair, SE was probably named before Ms Plum was born)?

Right? Wrong? Good marketing, for sure. It also sounds like JE and/or daughter aren't happy that she's doing it. Perhaps there were family discussions where they asked her not to but she did anyway which is why they don't like it... we'll never know. And families are complicated, so who really knows the reason why JE/Alex are unhappy. They weren't really rude, just not forthcoming about the relationship. They didn't disparage SE in any way just made it very clear that not only are they not the same person, but that JE has not collaborated with SE on her writing. But if you go and look up SE after seeing the JE response, it does make you go, hmmm

JE's response doesn't really bother me. In truth, I don't like it when people try to make a name for themselves using someone else's fame. But that's me. Most people will use whatever connections/means they can to get something in life and don't see a problem with it. I think it's fine if a) you're forthcoming about it and I'm not sure SE completely is... she doesn't hide it when asked outright, but she doesn't reference JE as her aunt in her bio, though supposedly JE has *inspired* her and b) the person whose connection you are using has given permission for you to do so. Doesn't quite sound like that's the case, either.

Sooo didn't mean to write an essay.... oops. Shutting up now

There is no reason Stephanie can't use her own name. Like you said it was her name first. You have to read the comments under the first post. Some are not nice. JE's could have had Alex clear the confusion instead she distances herself from her niece which will only cause people to stay away from SE's books. On Facebook authors promote one another this is the first I have seen something like this.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I only found 3 articles using the reference of their relations nothing major though and nothing about a blowup.

I think it was on Twitter when news of Stephanie's book first came out. Someone wondered if they were related or of this new author was using a made-up name and somebody else said she was her niece. I don't recall either author themselves being involved in the matter at that time. That's why I put the word blowup in quotes. It didn't rank very high at all on the kerfuffle scale.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I think it was on Twitter when news of Stephanie's book first came out. Someone wondered if they were related or of this new author was using a made-up name and somebody else said she was her niece. I don't recall either author themselves being involved in the matter at that time. That's why I put the word blowup in quotes. It didn't rank very high at all on the kerfuffle scale.

Ah that's why I can't find it. I like what one person commented on the post that they must be estranged because if she was an author and it was her niece she would have promoted her and said how proud she is of her niece.

As a aunt who has a 6 nieces I tend to agree. While I'm not as close as I once was with them I still am soo proud of their accomplishments. So yeah it really bothers me to see this even an issue.