Readers are the key to being a successful author. Without the readers, there is no career. So it would stand to reason that authors would be kind, appreciative, and respectful of their readers.

Apparently that’s not the case with some in this industry. Recently, a very successful author publicly insulted an entire group of her reader base on her blog. Granted, the blog post was removed rather promptly, no doubt AFTER her PR person had a conniption. But once you post to the internet, what you posted stays on the internet. I read through the whole thing today via screenshots of the horrible blog post. I found it very insulting and was appalled that anyone would post something like that about people that actually paid for her books.

I’m all for stating one’s opinion. I have a blog and a lot of people don’t always agree with me. But I certainly don’t go around insulting those that buy my books. That just seems…I don’t know….stupid.

I’ve had personal encounters with these kinds of asshats myself, both as an author and as a reader.

Years ago I ran an online writing community called LoveRites. We had an e-zine where successful authors like Susan King wrote articles of inspiration and support to the aspiring author community. Not all authors were like Susan King, however, and one in particular, in response to my email to her said "I couldn’t possibly write an article for a group called LoveRites" – really? You couldn’t possibly?