Meanwhile, on Goodreads

[rynling]

Scandal Rocks Publishing as Debut Author Is Linked To Fake Goodread Accounts That Review Bombed Peers
https://www.themarysue.com/cait-corrain-goodreads-controversy-explained/

What’s particularly baffling and infuriating here is that Corrain seemed set up for a successful debut prior to the review bombing and deflection coming to light. Crown of Starlight had a strong marketing push behind it and a lot of buzz and positive reviews for early ARCs. Corrain has a two-book deal, the May Illumicrate pick, and by all accounts was headed toward success.

Holy shit. This is horrifying.

I think this is what happened: A debut author who had a large following from the Reylo fandom was in a Slack group with other SFF authors whose novels were also set to debut in 2024. They created "more than nine" sock puppet accounts to leave one-star reviews of the other authors' work on Goodreads. It seems that they specifically went out of their way to target women of color.

Thankfully, the author has been dropped by their agent, their publisher, and various promotional organizations, all of whom made social media announcements this afternoon. Still, the writers targeted by this author had known what was going on for months (since February), and they were told by professionals in the publishing industry to keep their heads down and not say anything. Jesus Christ. What the fuck.

What's so scary to me is that, as mentioned in the passage I excerpted, this author had everything going for them. Why would they do something like this? And, if more than a dozen people hadn't made a concentrated effort to call them out, they would have gotten away with it.

Comments

[lassarina]

And at least one of the people she bombed had written a lovely blurb for her book, and also pretended that it was a fake Reylo who did all this instead of herself, thereby unleashing Fandom Detectives.

I'm glad everyone dropped her, but good gods.

[rynling]

Oh man. Fandom detectives are powerful. On top of that, if there's one fandom I wouldn't want to set loose on anyone, it's the Reylos. I'm not excusing anyone's behavior, but I feel bad for everyone involved. If I ever make it as a writer* I think it might be nice to grow tomatoes and raise chickens and never touch social media again.

* I'm not sure what it means to "make it as a writer," but hopefully I will know it when I see it.

[lassarina]

yeah, I absolutely do not want to be on social media as a writer. Or in general, honestly (yes I realize DW is technically social media but it's not social media like that.)

The only fandom that might be worse to set loose on people is Leverage, honestly. And I say this as someone who enthusiastically enjoys the show, but the kind of people who are deep in that fandom are very deep in casefic and research, lol.

[rynling]

Leverage? Like the tv show about con artists from ten years ago?? Damn...

Literally every day I learn something new about internet subcultures, and the wonders never cease. 🙃

[lassarina]

Yeah. When the sequel series came up, the showrunner joked on Twitter that he'd have to be careful with it or people would figure out his AO3 name.

Which the fandom promptly did.

[rynling]

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well... If I ever get famous, I sure hope people like porn about Ganondorf and Bowser.

[lassarina]

I mean I am 100% sure he knew what he was getting into when he made that joke, so it was intentional, but still amazing. (I recently got into Leverage - I watch it with Sev - and it's just. Robin Hood competence porn with hot people? Yeah. I'm here for it.)

Really, who doesn't like that?

[rynling]

I like that!! And I was actually just looking for a show to watch over the winter break. Thanks for the recommendation!

...and, based on your description, I also got the feeling that the showrunner wanted people to find his account on AO3. Good for him.

[lassarina]

I am told that the DVD commentary on season 1 is a masterclass in writing. I haven't gone back to watch it yet, but I'm excited.