Borrowing once again from the folks at All About Romance… Here is another favorite (interim) list from the Reader Poll and my thoughts as to each:
Author You Gave Up On in 2005 (as of February 4th)
Amanda Quick – Her alter ego JAK is one of the reasons I started reading and eventually writing romance. I still buy her books – in hardcover even – but don’t rush to read them quite as fast as I once did. I chalk this up to being busy, but I’m not so sure.
Christine Feehan – I’ve read one novella. That’s it.
Diana Gabaldon – Never ever read one of her books. I’m sure they are brilliant but from the plot descriptions they just don’t sound like my thing. What I hear many folks say is that they loved the first two books but have fallen out of love with the series since then.
Janet Evanovich – I admit I envy her career. Can’t lie about that and I’m betting I’m not alone.
Julie Garwood – Along with JAK, she’s one of the reasons I read and write romance. I’m somewhat heartbroken that she stopped writing her older stuff. She may be ready to move on. I’m not.
Katie MacAlister – Keep meaning to buy her books. The covers are always cute.
Kinley MacGregor – No idea.
Mary Balogh – See her name everywhere but have never read one of her books.
Mary Jo Putney – Read something about a rake once. That’s all I remember.
Sherrilyn Kenyon – I know everyone feels the love about her (well, not everyone or she wouldn’t be on this list…). I haven’t connected with any of the back cover blurbs. Will keep trying.
Stephanie Laurens – Hmmmm. People seem to love her or hate her. I’ve never read her, so I can’t say where I fall on that debate.
Susan Johnson – Been a long time. She’s one I’ll pick up again now that erotic romance is all the rage.
Suzanne Brockmann – Even if I hated her stuff, I’d read her books. She’s a dynamic speaker and lovely person to chat with at the RWA conference – doesn’t care if you’re published or not. Very cool lady.
Vicki Lewis Thompson was on the list but has been crossed off. Guess she’s an alternate. Guess that also means people can’t decide whether or not they like her nerd heroes.
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Is it just a coincidence that all the authors on this list are white? What? The work of a black romance author isn’t worthy enough for folks to read and (gasp) dare I say enjoy?
That’s terrible.
by Bestselling Author, Pontif. February 3rd, 2006 at 11:42 amKinley MacGregor is the historical (mostly anyway) pseudonym for Sherrilyn Kenyon.
by May February 3rd, 2006 at 12:36 pmI can’t think of an author I have given up on in 2005. I guess the closest one for me would be Laurell K. Hamilton (I know not romance) but for some reason, I still feel compelled to buy the Anita books….
Like you, I love Suz and will always still buy her stuff.
by Shelly February 3rd, 2006 at 11:57 pmI liked the first of Thompson’s Nerd books, but haven’t tried the other ones. I think they seem a little too hokey for me (which says a lot, since I’m pretty forgiving of hokey).
by Jay February 4th, 2006 at 4:49 pmBestselling Author – I’d guess that black authors – any author – wouldn’t want to be on this AAR list since it’s the list of authors readers stopped reading in 2005. But your point is a valid one. You don’t see many (maybe any – I have to go check that) black authors on the AAR list in the positive categories. I fear that is a statement on how many white readers read romances by black authors. We can blame marketing, racism and a host of other ills, but the result is the same and it’s not good.
I can’t really think of an author I abandoned in 2005. I grew less fond of a few, but I also found a few I hadn’t read before so I probably have a net gain.
by HelenKay February 4th, 2006 at 6:09 pmI don’t think I abandoned anyone last year either. I’ve never read anything by any of the authors on this list, though. I do have one or two by Evanovich in my TBR mountain.
by Millenia Black February 5th, 2006 at 11:36 amI believe that L.A. Banks (an African- american) was in the running in a positive catagory for one of her vampire huntress books for a while. The results of that poll change daily.
It takes about three to four real duds in a row to give up buying an author, if they have previously been an auto-buy for me. Even then, if I used to be a big fan I’ll buy at the UBS, or get it at the library.
by Samantha Wesley February 6th, 2006 at 4:49 pmThanks for the reply, Helen. I really didn’t expect one.
I am glad you see the validity of the point. Not bitter, just trying to bring about more awareness and hopefully some change for the better. Thanks!
by Bestselling Author, Pontif. February 9th, 2006 at 11:02 am