Monday, May 11, 2009

small annoyances

One of my authors emailed Robert the Publisher and asked if they could take him out for lunch.

I was copied on the email. So I shouldn't feel betrayed or annoyed. Right? Right?!

32 comments:

LindsRay said...

Um...no. Feel betrayed and annoyed and even ANGRY.

moonrat said...

Oh good. Cuz I kinda DO. Harumph.

Gina Black said...

grrrrrr.

Christa said...

I suggest skipping "annoyed" and just stick with betrayed and angry. That's how I feel about it, at least.

JES said...

It boggles the mind that anyone would think this wouldn't offend you. (You mentioned annoyance and betrayal, I threw in offense for free.)

What would be funny if R the P could reply with something like, "I'm sorry, my lunches are booked way in advance and I won't be able to take you up on this. I've asked Moonrat to stand in for me. I trust her implicitly." :)

moonrat said...

Which... is probably what will end up happening. But... this is MY author! Never asked ME out for lunch!

I'm thinking about calling the agent and crying a little bit. But first I'll placate myself with some delicious sushi or bibimbap.

Anonymous said...

Okay, I'll apologize in advance for being so completely clueless, but can someone explain why this is such a betrayal? I'm not being cheeky, I just don't know why (see, this is the advantage of reading agent blogs before you even start the query process).

-Christina

Anonymous said...

woops, sorry I meant industry type blogs, and not just agent blogs...

-Christina

moonrat said...

Christina--the truth is (sniff, sniff, wheeze) I acquired this author's project and have worked on it for a long time. I'm a little upset that s/he reached directly over my head and invited my boss out for lunch. I understand why s/he would want to meet RtP, but s/he could have coordinated it through me. I always want my authors' loyalties to lie with me, since I often take their part, even against other people in house. I'm their warrior here. It makes me sad when they give that credit to someone else.

Rebecca Knight said...

The only way the author can gain forgiveness is to bring you amazing meals for the next week in your office. Now that's service! :)

But seriously...wtf?

Elle Parker said...

I can see why you'd be annoyed. What was the point of that?


Elle Parker
http://elleparkerbooks.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Oh, okay. Wow, yeah, that makes total sense. Sorry that happened. Thanks so much for explaining, though!

-Christina

Susan Adrian said...

You are totally right to feel that way. Sometimes people are clueless. *sigh*

(btw, I would totally ask you out to lunch, moonie! Even *shudder* sushi!)

moonrat said...

no prob, Christina! i exist solely to perpetuate my own viewpoint :) so i love explaining my thoughts and feelings :)

Brian F. said...

You're going to hate me for saying this but if it happened to me, I would laugh. I would laugh long and hard. And I would think to myself, "You have no idea what you've just done..." And then I would laugh some more.

Jane Smith said...

I think it's completely inappropriate for this to happen, and reminds me of a post you made ages ago about an author you took out to lunch who asked to see more senior editors than you...

http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-important-is-your-book-or-top-ten.html

It wasn't the same writer, was it? Pah. It's so rude.

moonrat said...

Jane--no, don't worry. Not the same! The first writer didn't make it past proposal stage. Alas, this one's under contract.

Christa said...

Moonrat, would truffles help to placate you? I made some over the weekend. You can have a whole tray to yourself for this betrayel!!

grrrr...took a picture of a tray of truffles, but can't figure out how to upload a pic to the comment section. Hmph...don't think I can.

Sorry! No pic, but you can still have some! (it's the thought that counts, right?)

editor out west said...

I’d be miffed too. It’s like rubbing in that you’re excluded. I’d guess either:

1) The author wrote a poorly worded e-mail inviting you BOTH to lunch (thinking it was crystal clear, of course).

2) Author intends to talk you up and sing your praises to RtP, and s/he wants you to know.

3) Author feels you won’t budge on some editorial aspect and is going over your head for satisfaction (guessing this isn’t the case, as it’s pretty obvious when there’s tension).

I think you should pretend you misread the e-mail and respond, “I’d be happy to join you for lunch. See you there!”

H. L. Dyer said...

That's awful. I can't decide if copying you on the email makes it better or worse.

But it certainly sucks and I'm sorry.

Anna Claire said...

Boo. You have every right to feel annoyed. Author is either dumb or a leeetle too calculating. Obviously not a reader of industry blogs of he'd/she'd know better ;)

Hilary Wagner ~ Writer said...

You could jokingly send the "what am I, chopped liver?" email and see what the author says. It sounds like they just wanted to keep you in the loop, nothing sinister, but my feelings would be hurt too. Hopefully, the whole thing was an innocent misstep.

Janet Reid said...

Oh Moonrat, darling, you've missed the obvious. Your author is trying to get into RtP pants. It's a coy dropped handkerchief.

Your response is obviously to email the author with something akin to: since this is clearly a personal email (because you'd have included me in a professional email) please use RtP's personal email in future.

Then call me up so we can go spy on them at lunch and howl with laughter.

WV: Nexarier!!!!

Jill Myles said...

No good can come of your author asking RtP to lunch, no.

It's either a total suck-up-fest (which is insulting to you) or they're going to bitch about how mean you are (which is again, insulting to you).

I'd be offended too! Why on earth would you want to piss off your editor?

JES said...

OT: saw -- even HEARD OF -- bibimbap for the first time on Iron Chef America last night. (Mario Battali was making it.) Yowza!

moonrat said...

dude, bibimbap is just truly wondrousness. next time you come to ny, let me know, and i'll give you a list of my 5 favorite bibimbaps.

Rick Daley said...

I think it all depends on where they are going for lunch.

Chris Eldin said...

Extremely bad manners. I'd feel hurt and angry.

Bill Peschel said...

Don't be too hasty. Maybe the author will save you a doggy bag when they're done ....

I_am_Tulsa said...

When you get to take that vacation to Japan I promise to take you out to lunch AND dinner!

Oh, and kind of like what Brian F said, I would probably laugh too, but in a very wicked way...

Anonymous said...

Bad form. Very bad form. The author needs a course in common sense courtesy. Hope he/she is a better writer than they are at being decent, considerate, and aware human beings. Oh what the hell, why mince words: they suck

Ulysses said...

You may feel annoyed and betrayed and angry.

However, you may NOT "take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing, end them."

The police take a very dim view of such things.

Worst six-hour stand off in my entire life.

(kidding, folks... just kidding.)

Wordver: epturies - a long span of time during which no one inept messes up anything important.

 
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