When I started off with my Wednesday reads, I made it abundantly clear that they were NOT reviews; rather, they were books I read and appreciated for their uniqueness, writing skill level, storytelling, or subject matter, or just because I like a sappy love story. Shut up. They were never intended to be reviews, as I stated.
Problem is, I've been inundated by authors, agents, and publishers wanting me to review their books. Let me say it again: I'M NOT A REVIEWER. The purpose of this blog is to support my WRITING, not to provide every Tom, Dick, and Harry out there with a frickin' review. To all my author friends whose books I've showcased here, I was glad to do it. To the rest of you, it ain't happenin', so just cut it the hell out. I even had one who had the audacity to pursue me and then ask me what my qualifications were for reviewing. I'm guessing you're thinking, "I know what she said to that," and you'd be right.
So I'm going to showcase the books from series I've already started and possibly do others, but I'm not going to do them on any set time schedule. I'll do them when I do them. That's it - that's all. Sorry. In between you'll get more of my pithy, sarcastic, screw-you attitude - which I know you love.
And now on to the purpose for today's post.
I had a little come-apart earlier in the week and sent a rather lengthy post to my street team, basically asking them if I posted it, would I get kicked off Facebook. The response I got was positive and sad at the same time. So I'm asking you to read this and then post the link all over the place so EVERYONE sees it. This is a message to all the authors and street team members out there who need to hear it.
You see, I've been hearing rumblings all over, and I mean ALL OVER. So here are some of the things I've heard.
I'm on a street team where we have to post ten times a day or we get kicked off.
They made me fill out an application to be on the street team and said, "We'll get back to you." And they never did.
I had to take time off for a family crisis, and I explained it to them and apologized. When it was resolved, I asked to come back to the team. They didn't want me back.
I'm being treated like shit in the street team I'm on because I'm on more than one street team.
According to them (other ST members, admins, or the author), if I'm on more than one street team, I'm being "unfaithful" to the author.
I'm being told that I can't be on this or that authors' street teams by the street team I'm on because that author doesn't like the other authors.
They've got a limit of five (six, three, etc.) street teams that I can be on, and it's a requirement that they're all in the same genres (or the same thing but all different genres).
The author wants me to have his/her tee-shirts, caps, swag, etc., but I'm expected to buy it.
So now I've got a little question for my author buddies out there. It's a simple one, really.
JUST WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
I mean, really? Here's an idea: Dock their pay. Take away their benefits. Cut back on their sick days and holidays, or cut out holiday pay altogether. Isn't that what an employer does?
Wait? You're not paying them? What do you mean, you're not paying them?
Get this now and get it straight: THESE PEOPLE DON'T OWE YOU A DAMN THING. They're doing what they're doing out of the goodness of their hearts because maybe they like you, or they like your books, or you said something clever on a Facebook post once and it made them laugh, or their best friend is on your street team, or your name is their dog's name too. Whatever. Doesn't matter what the reason - YOU'RE NOT PAYING THEM. You have ZERO right to impose any rules on them. No, I take that back: You do have the right to either deny them membership or to remove them from membership if they can't behave in a professional manner or if they are doing something illegal or immoral, such as soliciting drugs from another street team member or using the street team as a hookup ground for cybersex. Not cool - not cool at all. Otherwise, get this through your head - you're not paying them. You have NO RIGHT to impose rules on them.
Are your books so damn spectacular that they should kiss your feet for writing them? Are you so damn special that they should be in awe of you and be glad that you'd even let them on your street team? Are you sure as hell not going to interact personally with them? What kind of narcissist are you? Are you really egotistical enough to believe that the occasional free book or sharing some of your own advertising material with them is compensation? Uh-oh - I just threw up in my mouth a little.
So let me clue you in on a little sumpin'-sumpin'. If you've been in the indie publishing game for three or four years, the playing field is being leveled as I type this. It's unlikely that you'll be getting those big checks anymore. Why? Because there are thousands of people hitting "publish" every day who shouldn't. Their work is crap, and some of them know it, but they're so in love with the idea of being an "author" that they're going to do it anyway, even if they know their work is shit. That puts them out there in the marketplace where YOU have to compete with them. Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners' Lending Library is making that more lucrative for them every day, and people who otherwise would never have sold a book are getting little chips off the Global Fund block for borrows. That's enough to encourage them to keep going. What that means for you, as a seasoned indie veteran, is that putting out a book every one and a half to two years is no longer going to be acceptable. Six months, and they've moved on to another author. Some of our readership doesn't have a lot of discretion, so they'll read crap and think it's wonderful. And you've lost a reader. (Don't tell me you don't care about those people because they don't know good books when they read them. If everyone like that quit buying your books, you'd have to get a job at a convenience store, and you know it.)
Street teams were intended to fill in that gap between the author and the readers out there who've never heard of them. Anyone who knows anything about business - and a lot of you really don't - knows that advertising is the number one biggest expense any business has. Street teams are a cheap, fast, effective way to do some advertising when you don't really have any cash flow.
So why in the world wouldn't you be kissing your street team's collective asses? You certainly should be. They're doing you a favor, dumbass. They're working for you when they'd rather be reading (maybe even someone else's books), or shopping, or watching TV, or any of a number of things, but instead, they're in there glued to the computer screen, pimping as fast as they can go (and sometimes getting put in Facebook jail, right, Tabby?), talking you up to anyone who'll listen, and offering to leave swag all over their town to get people to notice you. And for some unfathomable reason, you think they should reach a daily "quota" of work for you, or buy your swag at ungodly prices, or sequester themselves in your street team and your street team alone (insecure or jealous, are we?), and work like a sonofabitch for you while you watch them in your notification boxes and pat yourself on the back. What the hell?
Don't get me wrong - I know many of us can't afford to pay a street team, and I know I certainly can't. But if I'm not paying them, I don't have the right to impose ANY requirements on them. None.
So here's the deal. I love my street team. The ladies on there will tell you it's more like a family than a street team. I get messages from some of them saying they're going through a hard time and they'll be absent for awhile. I always tell them family first, and I mean that. Yeah, I've got a few I haven't heard from in ages, even though I've tried to contact them. That's okay. Their name on my membership roster isn't costing me money, so what difference does it make? I try to remember their birthdays and when they're having surgery and if they or one of their children has a chronic illness, and I try to be supportive. God knows my memory is crap, but I try, I really do, and I think they'll tell you that I do.
Street team members, if you're not being treated that way, or at least with some respect, GET THE HELL OUT OF THAT STREET TEAM. No author should use and abuse street team members, and if you're in that situation, tell them to go fuck themselves and get out. Want a street team to go to?
Come to mine. I guarantee it's a fun, friendly, family-type place to be where you can promote me to your heart's content, even if that just means one day a week, or maybe once a month. I'm not picky. I'm not paying you. I'll take whatever time you can offer me and be thankful for it.
You authors out there with your noses up in the air, you should probably get yourself an attitude of gratitude and thank your lucky stars that you've been as successful and popular as you have been, because the times, they are a-changin'. In a few months, you may just need those street team members. If you keep abusing them and their time, they may not be there when that happens. It'll be a painful lesson.
So to my street team, I love you guys and appreciate every little thing you do for me. My goal in life is to write great books and live up to your expectations. If I fall down, I expect you to tell me, and to know that I don't blame you. And if I'm successful, it will be because of you, so I thank you in advance.
And authors, if you think I'm talking about you, I probably am. So think about why that might be and go thank your street team RIGHT NOW before they all come over to the dark side to have cookies with me. I serve tequila shooters and craft beer too. Yeah, that's right - I'm way more fun than you are.
Well said Deanndra. I was on a street team that this author said we had to check in 4 time's a week and pimp her all the time and share a new release for 2 weeks or something like that, I left because frankly I don't have that kind of time to devote to just her and her books. Then she decided she was going to make up and bottle some Alfredo Sauce with her picture on it and would gladly give her street team first crack at buying it, oh and one of her last rules was she wanted to rule the world there was no winking face like most of us would put if we made a statement like that. I just quietly left that team.
ReplyDeleteGeez! Don't blame you!
DeleteShe wanted to rule the world . . . that's pretty funny. World domination by an author who thinks she's the shit. Nice. And custom alfredo sauce? Now THAT'S a new one. She sounds like a real gem.
DeleteBut that's exactly the kind of crap that I'm talking about. What in the world is wrong with people? They're so egotistical. I don't want to rule the world. That's a lot of responsibility and I've got better things to do than tell everyone else how they should live their lives! LOL Glad you got out of there. Nobody deserves that kind of nonsense.
I LOVE THIS POST, Deanndra! I couldn't agree more with your comments. I feel grateful everyday that I have anybody on my street team. I mean that. We all have lives with busy schedules. The fact that someone would want to join my team and pimp my books, always leaves me feeling humbled.
ReplyDeleteI've had members apologize for being MIA at times and I always tell them: YOUR life, job, and family comes first--always! Pimp when you can and however you feel comfortable doing so. PERIOD! I only ask that they participate in whatever manner they're comfortable. For some, that may be word of mouth to friends, family, reading groups, or co-workers. For others, it's posting like crazy on FB or other social media sites. I'll take ANYTHING! I'm not picky and always grateful for any support they choose to show.
Like you, I also do not understand the mindset of authors/admins/members who lord over their street teams. I say, "Lighten up folks! There's enough readers, and books, for all of us!"
Peace out! :)
Thanks, Robyn! I'm just like you. I never dreamed anyone would like my books enough to want to tell others about them, and every time I see my name out there and shared by someone, I feel enormously blessed. I've told my ST members over and over that they have a life, they have a family, many have paying jobs, and we have NO requirements - do what you can do and don't apologize for having a real life. Anything they do is appreciated. I really believe that when it all shakes down and runs over, the ones like you and me will still be here when the others are a thing of the past.
DeleteBottom line: I've learned one very important thing.
No one will buy my books just because they like me, but they'll sure NOT buy my books if they don't like me. Nothing turns a reader off more than a snotty, self-aggrandizing author. Heard about one of those recently, and the comment was, "I really liked her, but after the way she treated me at that event, I don't want anything else to do with her OR her books." Hear that, fellow authors? How you treat people DOES make a difference.
Thanks for being a kindred spirit, Robyn! I bet your street team loves you. <3
Over the last few years I've done a lot of work for authors. This year, I've had my eyes opened by a few of them. I'm on quite a few street teams and all authors that I believe have talent and are worth the effort and time it takes to promote them. This last year has been a horrific one for my family. We've had 5 unexpected losses, 3 fatal diagnosed illnesses, and a few other incidents sprinkled in for good measure, and oh yeah, 4 surgeries for me. Some of those authors have dropped me from the street teams, some haven't. I understand that they have books to sell and if I'm not actively promoting them then they need to shift that to another person. What I don't understand is the rants and anger that have come my way because I've failed to live up to the expectations they set forth and have decided they are owed. My opinions of those people have done a very cool shift. I no longer have any faith that they are worth the time and effort. On the other hand we have Deanndra. Deanndra sends me messages if I'm quiet for more than a couple days. She knows what I've faced this year and is just thankful that I'm still standing and willing to give her what I can. She stands up for each and every one of us and makes us feel like family. We don't owe her our promoting skills, but gladly use them to her advantage because she is THAT author. The one we can read and respect. She's that author that believes in us as much as we believe in her. To all of those authors who are only using their street teams as a way to climb up the ladder, you're missing out on something special and I feel incredibly sad for who you really are.
ReplyDeleteDonna
Donna, it doesn't matter if you're active or not - I'd never turn you away. I don't understand authors who think if someone is inactive they should just be cut. A couple of weeks ago I asked Drue if I should start removing people I hadn't heard from in forever, and she just asked why? It's not like they're costing me money. I'm not sure why they want to stay, but they do, and that's fine with me. I told someone the other day that I live by a very simple standard: Be kinder than necessary. Everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle. You never banged on and on about what was going on with you, but I knew it was extreme, and I also knew that YOU knew I was there to support you however I could. This isn't just about me; a lot of you on my team are bloggers, and I have the utmost respect for you. You work hard, don't get paid, and get a lot of crap from authors who think they're somehow privileged. And that's not right. Thanks for the things you said above, and I wish I were more johnny-on-the-spot sometimes, but like you said, I have a real life too! It's sometimes complex and sometimes overwhelming, but life is never too short to say thank you to people who help you. And you, my dear, are a diamond. Thanks for being you.
DeleteYou definitely make The Construction Crew feel like family! You are always happy to talk with us and make time for us that you may not have. Facebook jail is a small price to pay when you have authors thanking you and appreciating you for what you do. I know it means a lot to me. I couldn't imagine being on a street team where demands were made. I can only imagine how that could ruin someone from indie authors if they were just getting into this book scene.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you wrote this, it shows your heart Deanndra. You have such passion and really care. You're not barking b/c too many people like your page so not enough people see it. You're not always bitching about this and that. You stick up for the fans, yours and others. You always mingle with us and when we have our own lives throwing in obstacles, you always have something heart warming to say or make us laugh when we need it. You support us and that is why we LOVE supporting you.
No one should feel pressured on a street team to do more than what you can.
Love you, Deanndra! I'm so happy you brought me into the family. Thank you!!
Awww, Tabby, and I'm so glad you're part of the family that is the Crew! And I'm sorry FB keeps putting you in jail. I keep expecting them to come after me but, so far, I've escaped. But I'm no one special. I just try to treat people the way I'd want to be treated. In my entire life, I've never had anyone to help me with anything or anyone to teach me anything. Everything I learned to do I learned from books. The concept of having people help me is a new one to me, and I'm so grateful that you just can't imagine. There are days I want to quit, but I'd die before I'd let you guys down. No matter how bad things get, I try to keep a positive outlook because you guys have enough going on in your lives to have to come to a street team page that's all whiny, down in the mouth, and gloomy. I want us to have fun! And I'm tired of authors acting like they're divas. They need to get over themselves and remember how it felt the first time they hit "publish" and wondered if ANYONE would ever even see their book. It's a humbling experience when you see that first book sold. I've told Drue and Heidi that I want to be successful and I want everyone associated with me to be successful too. And I'll do anything I can to help any of you reach your goals. That's what friends are for. <3
DeleteRampagers definitely don't have this problem. I've heard about the authors who don't permit their members to even post any else's BOOKS on their personal pages. Insane. I'm going to share this. xx
ReplyDeleteYou know, I haven't heard this as often as the other complaints, but I have heard of it and it mystifies me. Don't they have anything better to do with their time than to monitor their ST members' personal pages to see if there's any other authors they like? Is it realistic to ask someone who's an avid reader to like ONLY you and your books? That's just ridiculous and I'm disgusted by it. Maybe they should do something constructive, like WRITE ANOTHER BOOK, or volunteer at a soup kitchen, or go to a school and read with a child. Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. Frankly, those don't sound like authors - they sound more like STALKERS! LOL
DeleteAs an author, I agree 100%. My street team members are my friends, not my employees!!!!
ReplyDeleteExactly, Elizabeth! You get it! So many others do not. Like I said, if I could afford to hire them, I'd hire every one of them, or at least pay them, but I can't. So I make sure they're appreciated, and I enjoy doing things for them when I can and can afford it. With so many people out there publishing, the deck is stacked against us from the very beginning. I'm sure I speak for most of us when I say I can certainly use all the help I can get. :-)
DeleteI can't believe this is happening. I mean, I believe it because you wrote it and have heard about it but I'm just in shock. I'm shocked that the authors who do this still have anyone on their team. Wow. When I finally get a street team my only rule will be there are no rules cause I'd be happy to have someone on my team. Thanks for posting!!! No one should take that!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adaline! I think maybe the authors in question have been around a while, before there were so many teams, and people were clamoring to get in. Or they've just sold a lot of books and think everyone owes them something. Not cool - not cool at all.
DeleteAmen to that Deanndra! Way to go. I agree with everything you said. I had one contact me to review her book and I had to pay for it $4.99! I can't believe it.
ReplyDeleteThe Construction crew is the most friendliest team I have been on! They make me laugh so much. Sometimes sad when we hear other team members problems. You feel like family! Also Deanndra is always available to answer any questions we have. It might not be in ten minutes but she does respond. Most of the time I can catch her on Facebook I know at certain times.
So authors, take a look how Deanndra does her team and learn how to treat your reviewers the right way!!
Thanks! I try hard. If ever I don't do what I'm supposed to, pull me up short and call me out on it. And it's true - sometimes I'm AWOL, but it's usually because I don't have a choice. But you're right - eventually I turn up! (Just like a bad penny ... LOL).
DeleteWait - you had to PAY for her book? Oh for god's sake. That's ridiculous. Wow. You paid her for the privilege of reviewing her book. She's got a lot of nerve. A lot of nerve.
This attitude toward street teams is why I chose not to call mine by that title. I really wanted a place to interact with fans, and I reward them for being enthusiastic. But actual promotion is 100% voluntary. To me, it's icing on the cookies. I love my Minions. They are my tribe. :)
ReplyDeleteYep, Patti, I know what you mean. I decided to just keep that moniker because it's what people know, but my Construction Crew is exactly as you describe. I want them to feel free to come and go, do what they can, and never feel pressured. And it's a drama-free zone. Had some a while back and I squashed it like a bug. I just won't tolerate it. Life is too short to spend it as a drama queen. That's not to say they're not welcome to share the trials of daily life, though. That's really what it's all about, after all. And we're there to share.
DeleteAs a male romance author, I find that some of the book enthusiasts treat me a little differently than they might female authors. For some reason, some will put up with more bullshit from a guy, and that worries me. I know one male author specifically who does nearly everything on your list, and more. When an author tries to dictate to his street team, and often does it successfully, I get worried. The alarming part of this? Many of these ladies comply with his wishes WILLINGLY, encouraging him to make further incursions on their lives.
ReplyDeleteSo, Deanndra, I find your post incredibly refreshing. Thank you.
Thanks, Aden. And you're correct: I've witnessed this firsthand. It's like they bend over backwards to please the male authors. We've also had a problem lately with one who has done some pretty nasty things. He's taken pictures of his own junk and posted them, and asked his team members to not only photograph theirs, but to photograph or video themselves performing sex acts and post them. He also went to a takeover several weeks ago and gave away cybersex phone calls as prizes for contests during the takeover. At least one male author was appalled and told his street team that if they wanted to be associated with that, he didn't want them on his team - a move I endorse wholeheartedly. But yes, for the male authors, it's a completely different plane of existence than it is for us. No wonder so many female authors have decided to use initials so people don't know their gender. And thanks for pointing this out. For a while I thought I was imagining it, but as time went on, I knew I was seeing a true representation. And someone, somewhere, is going to be terribly, horribly hurt.
DeleteI'd heard of that incident as well, though wasn't aware of all the specifics. And I'm afraid you're right about someone getting hurt eventually. It seems some people look around, see what others are doing, and have to make their own behavior more extreme. Frightening for our society as a whole, not just authors and street teams and readers.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree with you in some aspects on not being able to control their street team members, but at the same time too, no one is forcing them to stay. If an author so happens to choose what type of people he/she wants to stand behind them and their message, then so be it. In some aspects, I would prefer it. Having different regulations on certain things is needed in the real world. If your message happens to be about loyalty and respect, you wouldn't want someone on your team acting the complete opposite.Aden I just have to say, after everything that one author did for you I am ashamed for you. You're being a hypocrite.
DeleteKim, while I agree that street team members can leave if they want, you should remember that writers have powerful abilities to word messages so as to impart shame, guilt, and sadness, and abusing that is the literary version of a doctor violating a patient. That said, there is the necessity for rules. One of mine in my street team is that the members are expected to behave in a manner that is honorable and upstanding (that doesn't include getting wild about some buck-naked pics of guys - go for it!). Respect is one thing; loyalty is quite another. I think Seth Rogan would be out of line to ask those who love his movies to see only his movies, to talk about only his movies to their friends, and to post only about his movies if they are movie buffs. While that sounds ridiculous, that is EXACTLY what some of these authors are doing in theiir street teams. Why anyone would let an author dictate to them regarding what they can and can't do, someone who's not PAYING them, is beyond me. I'd tell said author to stick it up their poop chute and I wouldn't be back. It smacks of manipulation, which is exactly what you just did to Aden for voicing his opinion, an opinion which he has a right to just like you do. So do street team members. I'm sorry that you would think this is okay. It is not.
DeleteI'm an author with a very small, but dedicated street team. Would I like a few more, sure, but the couple I have are so faithful and hardworking that I'm blessed to have them. They post and share for me, they vote on my goodread lists and they make the most beautiful teasers for my books. And all they ask for in return is friendship. And that's the truth. So, I'm sorry to hear that some authors are using and abusing their street team. That's a shame. I couldn't be more happier with mine.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I'm so glad you get it when so many don't. If we can't appreciate the people who love us and support us, we won't last long in this business. You'll be around when a lot of the bigwigs are gone because you understand that, above and beyond everything else, writing is about people. If there were no people, there'd be no one to read the books we love to write. And there'd be no point. So thank, Debbie, for being an author who understands what it's all about.
DeleteI can't even tell you how badly I was treated by 2 specific authors. I work 2 jobs but still came home at night and made sure I admin their street teams. I worked so hard for them and I did it for FREE. At first I loved helping out. I believed in them and their books but that all changed. All I would hear is I'm not selling any books... I contacted over 200 blogs for one author giving them a new release so they could get reviews and promotions. Did I get appreciated? No.. Did I get a thank you? No.
ReplyDeleteI did all that while I had to put down my fur baby. I took a few days off to come back to a new admin who i didn't know telling me I dropped the ball... Uhh hello?? Well I unfriended her after that. I thought they cared about me. It hurt so bad because I put so much time and my own money into these teams. I had keychains specially made which I paid $180 for... I bought their fan swag which was crazy expensive. I went to my local libraries and book stores to drop off their swag. I even mailed swag to fellow book friends with my own money... After all that I still was unappreciated.
I stopped reading and going on facebook for a while.
I am on 1 team right now and it's because this author is different from the other authors she appreciates everything even if I'm not always around. She gives to her team and takes time out of her day to stop by to say hi.
At one point I was on 12 teams some of my favorite all time authors. 3 of them I was admin.
Not anymore though. It's hard finding authors who truly care about their fans...
Dawn, it is hard to find authors who truly care about their fans. Oh, there are lots of us out there, but a great many of us aren't well known, popular, or bestselling authors, and no one really knows what we're doing or even cares. But for the readers who do love us and work so hard to help promote us, the least we can do is be appreciative.
DeleteAnd speaking of releases, I recently released a book. My promo specialist, Drue, set up a cover reveal and a review tour that was AWESOME! As always, after the cover reveal, I took the list of participants and sent a personal note to each of them, thanking them for participating and telling them I not only appreciated it but hoped they'd join in again some time for a tour. Most of them are bloggers, and let me tell you, bloggers for the most part have a thankless job. Anyway, you would not believe how many of them sent me back lovely emails and told me that I WAS THE ONLY AUTHOR WHO'D EVER BOTHERED TO THANK THEM. That, to me, was appalling. I couldn't believe it. What's wrong with these people? Yes, it took some time, but not that much, and, in the end, I made friends with some lovely people who are generous and kind. That happened simply because I was willing to say "thank you." I feel the same way about readers and street team members. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose by simply being a decent human being, including a good night's sleep.
I love this post! It's nice to see an author who gets it. I experienced this first hand a few times this summer for not meeting the "requirements" and it left me never wanting to be part of a street team again or read that author's books if we are being honest.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that happened to you, Sara. Just like any other area in life, there are authors out there who are reprehensible human beings, and others who do things like that because they somehow think they're supposed to. Maybe they were told that's the way it works by other authors, or maybe they're lacking in the self-confidence department. Whatever their reason, it's unfortunate that people like you who want to participate out of the goodness of your heart get treated that way. I don't know these authors, but perhaps you should send them the link to this post . . .
DeleteLove this. And I kind of love you too now.
ReplyDeleteBack atcha, dearie! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Stick around. There's no telling what I might say next. Seriously - no telling.
DeleteOMG..Thank you for your post. I was on a street team that required members to buy all authors books in hard cover Why? I read her books, wrote my reviews ..pimped her..did everything required..then was dropped when I voiced my opinion by the admins. My guess was 'The Boss Lady'' as they called her had no idea what was going in the group. Their team was all about control and support. Their are lots of great authors out there to read and support who appreciate their readers. Thanks again for expressing what needed to be said
ReplyDeleteWow - required you to buy all of the author's books. That's, well, gee, I don't even know what to say about that one. I give my ST members my books (ebook format). If they wanted paperbacks, I'd give them to them, and I do a lot of the time as birthday gifts or whatnot. And "The Boss Lady?" I feel like I work for my team, not the other way around. Some people need to get over themselves. Glad you liked the post and thanks for weighing in!
DeleteThanks for telling it how it is. Some people I've told the following story to think I'm paranoid and some say it happens all the time. As an author I feel I've been harassed by a street team of an author in the same genre. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on when 1 star ratings began popping up in droves within the same few days, bad reviews were suddenly liked by 20 people and good reviews were disliked. Then I realized this happened shortly after a fans of my series began posting the books in the types of posts that say "shoutout your favorite MC romances" Around the same time I realized I had been removed from the fan group of an author who writes in my genre. I'm thinking this is all the head bitch of the group, at least I hope so. It would hurt to think a fellow author had okayed these things, especially one I liked.
ReplyDeleteDeanndra, I have to say that I haven't read your books but after reading this post, I'll definitely read your work. I found this post through a blogger friend that shared it on FB.
ReplyDeleteI've been on many street teams and have come across a few that imposed quotas on us. I've left the street team because of that. I love promoting authors and spreading the word about their books, but when an author only has one or two books, there's only so much you can say and share before you're repeating the same info.
I've also been on street teams that were laid back until the author handed over the reins to someone else to run it, stepped out and never came back, leaving a dictator in place that then imposed quotas and required sharing of certain material.
But thank you for this article. :)