I did not have sex with that woman . . . oh, wait. I did! Yes, I am the Bill Clinton of the blogosphere. I have adamantly denied knowing what I know, doing what I’ve done. I’ve lied to many people, many of you, and now, because the time is right, I’m here to tell you the whole sordid truth.
I *am* one of the publishing professionals behind Romancing the Blog. There. It’s out. No thunder, no lightning . . . whew, I’ll go on.
Back in January, I emailed several friends and said wouldn’t it be fun if we came up with some sort of blog contest. I had NO idea what I was thinking to do or talking about, but wanted to brainstorm something fun that would bring a lot of publicity to the romance genre and the blogs popping up everywhere. I was reading dozens of thoughtful posts and wanted everyone who loved the genre to know these brilliant observations were out there. One member of the group threw out the idea of a hub, and columnists, and a schedule, and RTB was born. I asked one of my design partners to help with the technical side of things. And we collectively tossed around ideas for weeks before coming up with what is the current incarnation of RTB.
That out in the open, I’d like to clear up a few misconceptions and answer the questions I’ve seen repeatedly asked.
1) The blog was never intended as a promotional tool for anyone, and the information that went out to the columnists was clear on that. The hub was designed to bring romance bloggers together to discuss the genre from every angle – reading, writing, reviewing, etc. A deep love of romance – not personal gain – was the driving factor.
2) The concept of “the best of the best” is nothing but a marketing ploy, one ruthlessly borrowed from a good friend who works in advertising and is a firm believe in “if you build it, they will come.” Many bloggers were invited. Many declined to participate. Many loved the idea as much as we did and signed on. Many were set aside to invite at a later date when we felt it was time to expand. The tag line and mission statement were in place long before the columnists. One had nothing to do with the other.
3) The columnists were chosen by secret ballot. One of the developers would submit a name through an anonymous polling feature. The others would anonymously vote. To this day, no one involved knows how anyone voted.
4) All of us involved ARE Kate & Charlie. And we’ll continue to be Kate and Charlie. Up until now, we’ve remained anonymous for several reasons. One being the issue of sparing feelings of bloggers not invited. None of us had any individual control over who would be approved. No one was ever purposefully excluded. We started off small, and have always intended to grow. In fact, this has been a discussion subject for weeks. Who out there did we miss? Who have we since discovered? Who might we get to change their minds?
Additionally, we wanted to run the blog like a publishing business, to approach columnists in a businesslike fashion, something harder to do as just a group of online friends. We would never have been taken seriously as ourselves. We weren’t taken seriously by many as it was. We did seek to get a variety of columnists and regret we weren’t as successful as we’d hoped. We wanted to create a place for readers and authors and reviewers to enjoy. And we thank all of you who’ve been sending us private emails that you’re loving the site. Those of you who’ve made suggestions for improvement, we thank you as well.
We’re proud of what we’ve done, and see a lot of potential as we continue to grow. I, personally, will be taking a break for awhile. After my column on Saturday, I’m back to working behind the scenes. This is a venture we’re all proud of. And I know several of us wouldn’t change a thing about how we went about it. The possibilities on where the site can go are amazing – if everyone continues to work with us.
I humbly apologize for any hurt that may have been caused by this deception.
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Please, you’re way funnier than Bill Clinton. ; )
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ha! then I’m glad I said my bit about liking it over at LLBs. (Although I would have said it even if you’d been an archnemesis like ummm. . .er. . the dog next door.)
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Color me naive. Somehow, I just don’t get used to being lied to, especially by someone who acts like she hates that kind of shit herself.
The longer you live, the more you learn, eh?
Goodbye.
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Has something happened on RTB? I guess I’m not following as closely or my place outside the reading/writing industry has shielded me from some chaos.
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hey, but I’m a real Kate and I’m not involved. (although I do notice you took my suggestions about who to sign up)
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First, I don’t really get the need for the secrecy. I would have taken the collective “you” seriously when it came to creating this site—after all, we all blog on our own anyway. Doing it with a group of others once a month is no big leap. And in terms of others (readers?) taking this site seriously? They all read at least some of our homey little blogs already—another blog central to romance blogs and the industry seems to be a natural, no matter who started it. So I’m still not clear on the reasoning behind it.
That said, your blog is very well-read, Alison. Airing this issue in this forum seems strange, given the way you say RTB was conceived—dirty laundry out for all to see, I guess. But that was your call to make.
I’m still enthusiastic about the site and its potential, but I think it does need more focus. Again, that includes admitting that my own columns may not have been as sharp, provocative, or interesting as they could have been. The site doesn’t need more bells and whistles necessarily, but right now the opportunity for every columnist to write about whatever she wants to doesn’t seem to be producing the kind of content readers want overall. I’d be happy to make more suggestions, because there’s nothing I love better than brainstorming, but that’s probably better saved for another forum (and an invite, I guess).
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Amy – My post gives the main reasons for the anonymity. Basically, we figured as nobodies we’d get turned down by everyone we invited! Secondly, airing my dirty laundry is good for the soul. Since I have been dishonest in public, I wanted to be honest in public. And email me or Kate *g* with ANY suggestions! Seriously! We’re into our “second wind” at RTB and wanting to ramp it up!
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Oh man, I was right! And you let me think I was wrong the other day…
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So…do we get to know who all “we” is?
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Aha! I knew it!
Okay, no I didn’t. ;)
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“We would never have been taken seriously as ourselves. We weren’t taken seriously by many as it was.”
Who said you’re a nobody?! That’s absurd. And I still don’t get why some who were invited wouldn’t take you seriously even as “Kate” and “Charlie” (who I had decided was a charmingly bookish, leanly sexy editor type — hee). Not to belittle it, but it’s just a website, folks, not a national monument. Not something you asked us to invest money in. The only way to find out if *readers* take it seriously is to go ahead and try it, and I think you’ve succeeded on a lot of levels.
And I did read the whole post, I swear! I still think you could have gone ahead with this as Alison and…whoever else the powers that be are. I’m really not upset by the deception — it’s more of a not telling the *whole* truth thing.
And I will email some ideas…maybe not tonight, though. I have to
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Amy, if you’d seen some of the rejections we DID get, I think you’d understand why we wouldn’t be taken seriously. We approached a lot of “high profile” names, and yes, a lot turned us down because they thought it was beneath them.
So wanting to present a more “professional” image really IS a part of the reason for anonymity. And that is the truth! Whether we had a reason for our paranoia is another matter entirely. :D
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Amy – LOL on watching 24. I’m watching it on my monitor TV while filling out art sheets online for Harlequin! And it is just a website. One I LOVE. And we will press on!!!
kate – you crack me up!
Shannon – Once you go blog hopping, you’ll find more posts. :)
HK – I’M SORRY! This is all your fault! You made me feel guilty! LOL!
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Oh, that didn’t come out right. We *felt* we had a reason for being paranoid. Whether it was justified is another matter.
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I saw a couple. There was one name in particular I was looking for, but I guess I’ll know eventually. In the meantime, I also have to
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Shannon, I’m sure you’ll know eventually. There are definitely more than 3 of us who were involved at whatever levels. *g*
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When my link went up on RTB and you linked to me on your site at the same time. Seemed kind of suspicious. When you responded to my suspicion with a “not me” I figured I was wrong. You can make up to me by giving me free ARCs of your books for life. Then we’ll be even :)
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“We approached a lot of “high profile” names, and yes, a lot turned us down because they thought it was beneath them.”
Wait! I want to be high-profile! Clearly, I should have declined. :-) Well, their loss.
I do think you all have done a fantastic job getting this site up, and I love it, too. And I will bombard you with ideas for its further development soon. Like, when 24 is over. And I’ve finished my book, which is…late. :-( Again.
Such women of mystery, I tell you…:-)
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HelenKay, Alison really linked to your site on her own blog and on RTB at the same time? Ohmygod, that’s too funny. *giggles*
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Emma/HK – I’m not so sure I did. I don’t remember adding it to RTB! I added to my site and commented on it, but anyone can add things to RTB!
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Amy – Don’t even TALK to me about being late. I’m writing a simple novella and it’s killing me!
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Yeah, Alison gave herself away…then insisted it wasn’t her… so then I had to tell Wendy I was wrong in my assumptions, which made me grumpy… grumble, grumble. Really, I wouldn’t have figured it out except for the timing. It’s always the small things that trip us up. Sorry for making everyone come out of hiding, so to speak.
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Ah, well, yes, that’s true. Anyone could have added it to RTB!
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I’m not surprised at all, and I can understand your reasons for keeping it hush-hush. I mean, which three people were recently surveying and writing about authors with successful blogs??? I love RTB and check it out every day. Some articles I read more closely than others, but think it’s a great way for writers and readers to all get together and promote romance. If nothing else, we’ve had a few lively discussions! Kudos to the creators and I hope RTB grows with leaps and bounds.
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This is too fun. I love it when people out themselves! Although, I do feel bad for those folks who got their feelings hurt or feel betrayed. That’s not so much fun.
As for being dishonest in public, there’s dishonest and then there’s DISHONEST. I work for lawyers, can you tell? ::grin:: All teasing aside, I don’t give a rat’s tail who came up with RTB or who is in charge. All that matters to me is that someone did and that someone continues to do so.
As for making it better. . .who knows? But if I think of something, I’ll be sure to let Alison/Snoopy/Charlie/Larissa/Kate/Scooby/Emma/Smurfette know. Yep, I’m having fun with this!
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Tracy – There will be people who feel slighted or betrayed even though secrecy was paramount to members of the group who don’t wish to speak out. I respect their reasons, and am confident from all the responses we’re getting that *most* people will hold no ill will. I’m sure there will be exceptions, and we can only hope time takes care of that!
As far as suggestions go, email away!!
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Geez, this stuff is better than Lifetime TV. All for naught were my fantasies about a top secret subversive romance group, SkanksBlogging2ScrewPublishers.
In the scheme of things, it’s not a biggie and I think Alison was cool to out herself.
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LOLOL Monica! Oh, I’m dying here! Thanks! I wish I could take credit, seriously, for the hub idea – but it totally belongs to one of the members of the group who has decided to stay the course and not share in our outting party. :)
But we do have all our original brainstorming emails! Like Larissa said in the comments at her own blog, neither she nor I nor Emma were responsible for the hub idea at all! Wish we could take credit. I was just trying to do something – and all I came up with was a contest! Blech!
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Well, yes. Alison’s idea was originally organizing some sort of writing contest, using our blogs. A collective blog wasn’t even in question. Then one of the others involved threw out the collective blog idea.
And, ha! Yes, we do have the emails. I have all my deleted emails dating back to August 2003. No, I’m not kidding. *g*
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You are a sick puppy!
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Well, Alison, I have to admit I can understand the position of the people who are hurt and/or offended about your lying. When I see posts you’ve made online that are all about denial, like the following which you posted yesterday at another blog:
“I posted at my blog a long time back when RTB first started that I *had* been contacted by the p.a. to the founder. They knew I blogged and yammered on a lot and was quoted all over the place. And they did ask me for input on designing and hosting – which makes no sense when they obviously have techs of their own. I guess since I’m part of a design firm that specializes in authors as opposed to corporate sites? Who knows! So, yes. I had that brief contact and then referred my design partner to them. But, yeah. If I was in charge, I’d wouldn’t be sitting still for the slams, LOL! And I sure wouldn’t be sitting back waiting for the PTB to change things!!”
It’s hard to take what you say seriously. On one hand you commiserate with everybody, and on the other you lie and hide the truth for reasons which seem fairly silly. As a reader, not a writer, I just wonder about the motivation for hiding the truth. Clearly you want people to read RTB. Why does having the names of real people, real authors who are read by tons of people online hurt RTB? If anything, having your names attached helps. No, you’re not Nora Roberts, but then RTB isn’t the kind of idea I’d expect from her anyway.
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I’m all ROFL. You mean there’s secrecy and deception on the net? Occasionally some anonymity can be a powerful and freeing thing. I like RTB, and just recently got my blog listed there. Good luck with the second wind Alison. I’ll be reading. ;)
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Yep, Beverly, I said that. Said it, in fact, on Sunday over at Wendy’s place. And I came out today and admitted that it was 100% false. Reasons for anonymity may seem silly to you from this side of the fence – I have no problem with that. The motivation is stated above, and reiterated on other blogs with others who were involved. All I can do it put it out there. We never said having our names attached would HURT the project. We said NOT having our names attached MIGHT give it more credence. And Nora wouldn’t need RTB. She has ADWOFF!
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LOL, Danni, on the secrecy and deception!!
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In all honesty, I would think that most people who go to RTB have no clue that there was an anonymous owner. I only knew because of a blog and even then, I didn’t give it much thought.
I’m not a writer, just a reader and I *do* tend to avoid author blogs because they blog about writing while I prefer blogs that review/discuss books.
If I had heard that the owners of RTB were all authors I may not have dropped in. I may have thought it was a vehicle for self-promotion (which I haven’t found RTB to be in the least) and avoided it.
I do like the idea of RTB and I am one of those who looks forward to the reader/reviewer/editor blogs as opposed to the writer ones.(just giving honest feedback)
I’m sorry that there seems to be a backlash and I think it was brave of you to come out. I would have buried myself so deep they would have never found me – only because I like to believe when something is anonymous it will stay that way – yep, I like a good mystery.
Good Luck
CindyS
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Cindy – Thanks for the feedback!! I’m glad you’re enjoying RTB! The columnists there have been great, and I’m anxious to start slipping in more guests! Look for a special post, in fact, later this week!
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Alison,
I guess what confuses is WHY did you say it (and other comments like it) over at Wendy’s on Sunday? Clearly you’ve already rationalized the whole thing in your mind (that sounds rude but I don’t know how else to put it). No, this isn’t really a big deal, but you could have avoided most of the hurt feelings by not saying anything. But then, you’re not the type to keep your mouth shut.
Anyway, I really don’t care. I’ll still read your blog, and I’ll still read RTB. I care more about whether you listen to the things some readers have said about RTB in general.
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Beverly – If you read my blog then you’ll know I’ve said several times that I wasn’t involved in RTB. What I posted at Wendy’s was only a reiteration of what I’d said since the beginning.
However, since there was SO much discussion these last few days, those of us involved talked and decided the time to “come out” was at hand – something we’d always planned to do. It wasn’t just me. Do some blog hopping and you’ll see for yourself. :)
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Yep, totally understand the need for anonymity, if for different reasons. I’m an admin on a message board I frequent, and people treat you differently, and don’t have as honest responses to you when they think you are in a place of power, whether that ‘power’ is real or not. I wonder if as many people would have responded negatively to that post you made on your reading preferences if they’d known you were part of the RTB powers-that-be…or if their responses would have been hidden deep in e-mails and other blogs. And, as frustrating as the responses must have been for you, I felt that it was very eye-opening, and the start of something very *true* that might not have been there before. I like honest discourse, and if it takes a bit of dishonesty and deception to create the place for that discourse, that’s alright with me.
So I’m sorry that you had to come out, but now that you have, I’m glad to hear that TPTB are thinking of changes in order to reinvigorate the page. The hub is such a fantastic idea, and I know not every post will be for me, but I had been saddened that I’d lost some enthusiasm for it.
I particularly appreciate the site itself — I’ve found so many new voices in the columnists and comments…so I’m glad I now I have someone to thank for that!
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I’ve already seen most of it (because I’m a nosy bitch!). I was just using that one post as an EXAMPLE (because it was so recent) of the type of thing you have said, and the type of thing some seem to take exception to, not the end-all-be-all of what’s going on.
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Well, since everyones talking, I’ll throw my two cents in too. I don’t really care who thought up RTB, or who runs it, or who invited the columnists. I’d stilll like to see more reader oriented posts, and I liked someone’s suggestion I read this weekend (can;t remember who or where it was) about the columinsts developign a niche or voice of their own, like newspaper ones. As a reader of the blog, it doesn’t matter to me. :)
That said, the deception does seem a bit un-needed, but that’s just my opinion. It deosn;t offend me, adn I don’t hold any ill-will to any of you for it, but I also won;t deny that part of me is disappointed that you all felt the need to hide/decieve/lie. It denies the sense of friendship I’ve thought of as part of my blogging circle.
If I was a close friend of yours, and I’d asked you striaght out if you knew who TPTB were and you lied. I’d be upset too. BUt, I never asked any of you. *g*
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Well, considering the nice old tradition of saying “no comments”, it seems kind of insincere to tell outright lies in order to keep things undercover.
But am I surprised by the whole brouhaha?
Not exactly.
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Let me get this straight: It’s okay to suck up to editors and reviewers who hide behind pseudonyms and trash authors right and left, but it’s unforgiveable that Alison tried to stay anonymous in order to create and maintain a site that promotes the genre.
This is exactly the kind of crap that made me quit RWA.
I understand why Alison tried to maintain privacy about her involvement. I was approached to write for RTB. I seriously considered it, because I love romance and do whatever I can to promote the genre, but I was worried about my rep and my mouth, both of which I felt would cause more problems for RTB than help it (which we’ll all agree, they would have.) I said no. Now I wish I hadn’t.
I’m sorry, Alison. You don’t deserve this.
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Sorry, I didn’t read this last night (yeah, I was busy watching 24). Let’s see, I don’t think I’ve wondered about TPTB at RTB since it began. It’s a great idea, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. And thanks to the group that came up with the idea.
And for everyone who doesn’t understand the reasons for the “deception”, just read these comments. Romance is a very “personal” genre. Readers and writers seem to take everything about it very personally.
Other than my very boring blog being linked on the site, I have no connection whatsoever with RTB.
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Uhhh….who cares? *g* You’re entitled to your privacy, Alison. I cant believe people are making such a big deal out of this. Then again, I don’t know why some things in our industry continue to surprise me. You’d think I’d have learned by now that where there’s drama to be had, there will be a flock of squawking seagulls surrounding it.
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Why DO I care? It’s be they’re talking about, and I care more than I can say. And I don’t think that I’m either stupid or neurotic.
This is what I said on Larissa’s blog, and I’ll say it here, too:
I don’t hate you. I am upset because one reason for anonymity–and the ONLY reason that was explicitly stated until this whole this blew up–was to decieve your friends. No one has yet agreed that lying to people and decieving your friends is **wrong.** A simple, “I can’t say,” would have been more than sufficient to meet every single admirable goal that you might have had. And it would have been honest.
And you never would have hurt my feelings.
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Lydia, I don’t know any of you personally. I’ve been involved in some very bloody disagreements over critique groups, writing, RWA chapters and even RWA National. So I understand your position. But from the overview of a person who just reads RTB (and most of the blogs involved), it just doesn’t matter. I think it would be more productive to contain the personal disagreements to private e-mail.
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If I had a problem with the anonymity, I wouldn’t have agreed to be a columnist.
I love the idea of RTB and think there’s a lot of potential. I enjoy reading the columns every morning. I’ve skimmed all these comments and think it’s a great idea to try to focus on readers a little more. I had a great idea for my next column that will (hopefully) appeal more to readers.
No one is perfect. We live, learn and move on.
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Lydia? Sweetie? That whole “waaahhh…you hurt my feelings!” thing you’ve got going on there? Coming from YOU, after what I’ve seen you say in your blog about other authors?
Do the words “what goes around comes around” mean ANYTHING to you? Or doesn’t your world view embrace the concept of Karma?
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I’m with Jaci. Who cares?! I like RTB. It’s a cool idea. It’s a neat place to read about what’s happening in romance from lots of different perspectives. Sometimes it’s controversial. Sometimes it’s not. I don’t blame the creators for not wanting their specific names attached to it in any way other than as columnists. As far as it being yet another way to promote: again, so what?! I don’t care if an author promotes their work. In fact, I want them to! Especially if they’re giving me great info or topics to think about or even just a big laugh.