Free and bargain romances in July 2013

[laurla]

Originally Posted by Blossom

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.

You are exactly right. She can use whatever name she wants and she chose the one that will get her immediate notice.

I'm obviously in the minority here thinking she did it for the link to JE and not because she feels an affinity to her maiden name... but I guess I'm more willing to give JE the benefit of the doubt that *something* went on about it that caused a rift or estrangement or whatever because she is the author I know and trust... I don't know this niece and so her motives are suspect to me. JMO Should JE be the bigger person, probably, but she didn't put SE down or bad mouth her either... she just very carefully distanced herself for whatever her reasons - which she also has a right to do.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by laurla

I'm obviously in the minority here thinking she did it for the link to JE and not because she feels an affinity to her maiden name...

Oh I am inclined to agree she used her maiden names so she'd be shelved next to her aunt's books. But like I said this has as much possibility of negative impact as it does positive impact in my opinion.

The book was published by HarperCollins so it has been in the works for a while. I would have thought even if there is some some of family estrangement Janet and her daughter would have worked out a better response to what they had to have known would be a question.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Oh I am inclined to agree she used her maiden names so she'd be shelved next to her aunt's books. But like I said this has as much possibility of negative impact as it does positive impact in my opinion.

The book was published by HarperCollins so it has been in the works for a while. I would have thought even if there is some some of family estrangement Janet and her daughter would have worked out a better response to what they had to have known would be a question.

Yeah at first Alex sounded like she never heard of her cousin. They don't sound like a close knit family.
I agree on using her maiden name could make or break her career.

[laurla]

Originally Posted by library addict

The book was published by HarperCollins so it has been in the works for a while. I would have thought even if there is some some of family estrangement Janet and her daughter would have worked out a better response to what they had to have known would be a question.

I agree with that too

I wanted to add that while I think she did it on purpose, so to speak, and I'm not a fan of riding coattails, it really isn't a big deal to me. In fact, SE's book looks somewhat interesting and I might give it a try... if it comes down in price (waaaayyy down). So I guess whether she meant it to or not, the fact she's got the same last name worked in this case. She got noticed and got me looking at her book

[library addict]

Oh, I am not liking the way Amazon has redone the book listings. You have to click eleven billionty times to get to another edition. And the book covers uploaded by users seem to have disappeared

They were always a last resort but sometimes the ONLY place to find adequate copies of the original covers. FictionDB usually has them all, but they are so small.

I like to use the original covers whenever possible in Calibre.

[Blue2u]

First world problem: I cannot for the life of me decide what to read next!

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Blue2u

First world problem: I cannot for the life of me decide what to read next!

e-reader roulette: open Kindle/nook/whatever to library, roll dice, forward that many pages, roll dice again, select down the menu that many times to the next book you're going to read. If it is REALLY something you're not in the mood for, repeat!

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Joykins

e-reader roulette: open Kindle/nook/whatever to library, roll dice, forward that many pages, roll dice again, select down the menu that many times to the next book you're going to read. If it is REALLY something you're not in the mood for, repeat!

I use random.org to give me a number in Calibre. I know Calibre has a choose a random book feature but it's buggy.

Some of my best reads were from doing this.

[NixLapi]

Originally Posted by Joykins

e-reader roulette: open Kindle/nook/whatever to library, roll dice, forward that many pages, roll dice again, select down the menu that many times to the next book you're going to read. If it is REALLY something you're not in the mood for, repeat!

Well now that is genius!

I saw a challenge on GR where someone else chooses your to-reads for the month based on certain criteria. I was SO tempted, at the very least I'd have more time to read cutting out that half hour or so spent choosing what to read next! lol

[Critteranne]

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.

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).

There is a long tradition of women authors writing under their maiden names. Many do it because they prefer their maiden names, or because their maiden names sound cooler, or because their married name is hard to pronounce. Others do it because if they get divorced, they won't have to keep using that crazy so-and-so's name after they are no longer together.

OK, I'll admit that I'm not crazy about relatives using a famous last name when they become writers. I've lost track of how many Tolkien relatives are writing. But heck, it's still their last name, even if it's a maiden name. I also don't blame a publisher for deciding to use that name to get people's attention. (We don't know if this was more the publisher's idea to start with.)

If I became famous, and one of my "nieces by marriage" (what a phrase!) published a book, I'm pretty sure I'd be happy for them, unless it was called "That Crazy Chick with the Messy Basement." Anyway, don't many people simply call them "nieces by marriage" their ... nieces?! My father refers to my mother's nephew as his nephew. It's less awkward that way. Maybe it depends on the family.

[apesmom]

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[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by NixLapi

I saw a challenge on GR where someone else chooses your to-reads for the month based on certain criteria. I was SO tempted, at the very least I'd have more time to read cutting out that half hour or so spent choosing what to read next! lol

This sounds interesting! I'd have to be careful who I'd give that power to, though. Might have to try this in the Mobileread Book Challenges Group.

Originally Posted by Critteranne

Anyway, don't many people simply call them "nieces by marriage" their ... nieces?! My father refers to my mother's nephew as his nephew. It's less awkward that way. Maybe it depends on the family.

This is what I've been thinking the whole time. It's like saying, "Well, yes, we're related, but we're not *really* related". The statement, "not related by blood" seems like a slap in the face, regardless of the situation, because while she / they may know if there's family discord, the general public does not, and that statement just screams "drama!" especially coming from Alex and not JE.

[Blue2u]

Originally Posted by Joykins

e-reader roulette: open Kindle/nook/whatever to library, roll dice, forward that many pages, roll dice again, select down the menu that many times to the next book you're going to read. If it is REALLY something you're not in the mood for, repeat!

That's a great idea! I had actually thought of rolling dice, but then I'd have to spend time finding some! LOL So what did I do? I read around a couple of blogs, added even MORE books to my TBR pile and watch/wishlists!

[laurla]

Originally Posted by Joykins

e-reader roulette: open Kindle/nook/whatever to library, roll dice, forward that many pages, roll dice again, select down the menu that many times to the next book you're going to read. If it is REALLY something you're not in the mood for, repeat!

I love this idea! Probably less complicated than what I do (but I don't have to hunt down dice )

My version when I can't decide on the next book is no roulette...I put my sort on Title and alternate between the next book alphabetically from A, then the next time reverse alphabetically from Z. I guess it's a little roulette-ish since I don't have my books categorized by genre - just single titles and series - so doing the 'next' in line could be any sort of book. I also alternate this between a single title book and a series book(s). Yesterday I read a single title (in the Z's (Zeph Undercover if anyone's interested - very good read)) so today I will sort my series (collections) by title and pick the next A series and read the first book in the that series. If I like the series, I'll move on to the next one. If I'm not in the mood for that, then I'll go to the next A in my single titles and come back to the series after that.

If I start to feel like I might be missing out on gems in the middle of the alphabet, I go to the Ms and read the first one there.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Critteranne

There is a long tradition of women authors writing under their maiden names. Many do it because they prefer their maiden names, or because their maiden names sound cooler, or because their married name is hard to pronounce. Others do it because if they get divorced, they won't have to keep using that crazy so-and-so's name after they are no longer together.

OK, I'll admit that I'm not crazy about relatives using a famous last name when they become writers. I've lost track of how many Tolkien relatives are writing. But heck, it's still their last name, even if it's a maiden name. I also don't blame a publisher for deciding to use that name to get people's attention. (We don't know if this was more the publisher's idea to start with.)

If I became famous, and one of my "nieces by marriage" (what a phrase!) published a book, I'm pretty sure I'd be happy for them, unless it was called "That Crazy Chick with the Messy Basement." Anyway, don't many people simply call them "nieces by marriage" their ... nieces?! My father refers to my mother's nephew as his nephew. It's less awkward that way. Maybe it depends on the family.

I have a nephew by marriage and I sure refer to him as my nephew.
I really think it's just crazy! I was raised Family is Family. You can't pick them but you stand by them no matter what.