And, I already got a response from Tara Quinn. I'm sure it's form, or formish, but I'm impressed they're actually taking the time to type people's names rather than "Dear Concerned Member."

There will be a letter sent out later tonight that will clarify things. Please hold on! Your perceptions from the loops aren't correct - most of what is being said there isn't correct. This has nothing to do with content of books. This is graphical - and only in conjunction with RWA service marks. I didn't say the things I'm being quoted as saying, and I'm taking time to figure out the best way to respond to that part of this situation. Other things that are being passed around are likewise not true. This whole situation kind of reminds me of the game of telephone we used to hear as kids.

The board is working almost 24/7 this week to rectify the misinformation and to clarify policy as succinctly as possible.

Erin, insent!

Small space drabble. It started as verbal bloodletting, and ended up sort-of thrillerish. Or really vague, I'm not sure. (eta: This is terrible, and I was going to delete it, but I'll leave it up for posterity.)

"It’s because you’re useless, you know."

The voice booms in the tiny space. She draws inward, defense her only weapon. "I am not useless. It’s not because of me. It’s all circum—"

The laugh is sharp, like shards of glass. “You’re more pathetic than I thought. Even deluding yourself out of your responsibility. All of this is your fault, and no amount of sniveling will change that. You’re so weak. So predictable.”

If she were able, she would run. If she were stronger, she would attack. But she is neither, and she knows here is where she will die.

Susan, I find myself completely unimpressed with Ms. Quinn's quick response. If she had an ounce of nous, she'd have been upfront six weeks ago; failing that, instead of gasping and telling everyone concerned that it's lies! Lies, I tell you!, she ought to be issuing the clarification she and her board member buddies presumably have had in place since deciding they didn't want to offend anyone with real live human body parts and/or actions.

I'd thought about joining RWA, since the new book - hopefully to be a series, if my soul can take the weight - is absolutely a love story. But now I'm damned if I'll give these people my money or my time. Pass-a-dena.

Oh, I'm definitely not satisfied as it stands now, but since I'm far from alone in my dissatisfaction, I'm standing back to see how the dust settles. I'm very frustrated with the national organization, but I'm getting enough help, support, and all-around writerly fellowship from the Seattle and Regency chapters that it's worth it to me to stick with it for now. (You have to be a member of National to belong to local and special interest chapters.)

I'd thought about joining RWA, since the new book - hopefully to be a series, if my soul can take the weight - is absolutely a love story.

The thing is, you don't have to be a member of RWA to submit the book to Romantic Times for review. Or any of the romance review sites out there. There's plenty of overlap between romance and mystery already (my book certainly was), and mystery sites took it for review. So I don't see why romance sites wouldn't take the rock mystery. And a lot of those sites generate really decent traffic. Getting it into Romantic Times could really increase readership, too.

I haven't come across anyone satisfied with it as it stands now. The general impression I'm coming away with is that RWA, with its tiers and layers and pro memberships and whatnots, is trying to be too many things to too many people, and it's time they crystallised down.

But, not my problem. Not a member and now? Not going to be.

If I sound cranky, I am, and in pain too. Severe bacterial infection in both eyes. I look like the fucking Blair Witch.

OTOH? I am now at 180 words or so shy of 50,000. Tomorrow is R&RNF's third-week birthday.

And if the antibiotic ointment they gave me kick in, I can actually write tomorrow, too.

For tonight? Ouch.

Amy, I wasn't crossing Romantic Times off my list. For one thing, Marlene would nag me into my grave and beyond if I dared...

No, just the RWA membership. My professional memberships are the Authors Guild (lifesavers, they are, with the health insurance), MWA (with Sisters in Crime, NorCal chapter, as my beloved local), and Persephone, the "renegade " (read: fed up with the "Why GURL write horror?!?!?!" testocrap from the boys in the genre) womens' horror collective.

Romantic Times, you betcha. RWA, I don't think so.

RWA, I don't think so.

Most of the time, I feel like I joined only because I had to. I used to be an editor, it's the girls' club, people (read: other romance authors) look scantways at you if you don't, blah blah. But they don't do much for me professionally.

Except...with this move up to Syracuse, I looked up the Central New York chapter. And it's small, and the members look great, and it will probably be a lifesaver just in terms of meeting people and getting out of the house to talk writing from time to time. So there's that.

You've got no need to join, I agree. But pulling in those romance readers will be great with this book, where and when you can.

We're assuming it sells - but Jenn informs me that "books about rock and roll stars are a tricky sell", according to the few editors she pinged dueing BEA.

Publishing? Weirdo business, it is.

Oh, and I need to hook you and Jenn up about the existing series, because she wants to talk to the nice lady at St. Martins and formulate a plan of action, and then she thinks a phone call from you would be a splendid thing, and so do I...