It appears Jenny Crusie is seriously considering doing away with her blog. This can be firmly categorized under Things NOT Okay With Selah.

On the topic of Vicious Posses in the Romance Blogosphere and how they’ve already run at least one good author (Tess Gerritsen, for those who didn’t follow that steaming shit-fest) out of town, Jenny says this:

“So my pal quit blogging, not because she was intimidated by the threats -– this is one tough lady -– but because life was too short and she didn’t need to blog, it had just been her way of giving back to the writing community. Of course, after that some people said she was wimpy for not staying around so they could kick her again, evidently missing the point that sticking around to get insulted by a bunch of people with no sense of humor had no upside for her.”

And:

“I think most people just file the disappointment away under Things I Know About That Author without going after her as someone unclean who must be eradicated from publishing blogs or books. But there are some whose disappointment is so great, whose sense of betrayal is so strong, that they stoop to name-calling and vituperation and cornering innocent writing partners at conferences and telling him that he’s guilty by association. These people, I would argue, need to take a step back. I feel strongly that anybody who evaluates the rest of the people in the world by how closely their attitudes and statements agree with her worldview is in danger of structuring a life much like the Alberto Gonzales Justice Department. We don’t learn from the people who agree with us, we learn from the people who make us say, “Wait a minute,” and that learning goes both ways. I learn a lot from the critics who intelligently analyze my books and find them wanting; I’ve also learned a lot from the people who have thoughfully and calmly disagreed with me on this blog. Haven’t learned a thing from the shriekers and condemners, though. And the only thing my pal learned was that blogging was just too expensive a hobby in the balance of her life. I think a lot of people miss her blog; I doubt that she does.”

The “no sense of humor” thing? SPOT. ON. I’ve seen better senses of humor on an oncology ward than on some romance blogs where Very Important Topics Relevant To The Future of Romance are discussed almost daily. (And the Alberto Gonzalez crack? I’d like to think it’s an Easter Egg for those of us in the know, but I doubt it. And I love it anyway.)

Don’t go, Jenny. I don’t agree with everything you say, and I sometimes think you’re two catfish short of a coatrack, but I love your sense of humor and your guts. I’d miss you like BURRRRRNING.

To those individuals who’ve emailed me to ask, “WTF? And where?” Thank you. It’s nice to know somebody misses me like burning, too. I’m here, banging away at the final revisions on the novella that has graduated from “would not die” to “living dead,” with a full serving of BRAAAAAAINS. Plus, there was the Jersey shore, and now there’s cheerleading camp and football practice. So very middle American, n’cest pas? But school starts in three weeks. I’ll be back with a vengeance then.

In the meantime, my publisher has informed me that July was the highest selling month in history for Amber Quill Press, spurred on by excellent sales from the Allure imprint. And…

1. Under My Skin II – M. L. Rhodes (Gay / Contemporary)
2. Warm Rush, Book I: Chasing Winter – Rowan McBride (Gay / Paranormal)
3. Wild Horses – Selah March (Gay / Western)
4. Light My Fire – Lee Avalone (Gay / Paranormal / Horror)
5. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Vivien Dean (Gay / Vampire)
6. Calendar Boys—July: Vintage – Jamie Craig (Gay / Contemporary)
7. Strangers In The Night – Christian France (Gay / Contemporary)
8. (Just Like) Starting Over – Pepper Espinoza (Gay / Contemporary)
9. You Were Always On My Mind – Deirdre O’Dare (Gay / Contemporary)
10. Nowhere Man – Jamie Craig (Gay / Contemporary)

Guess I can start putting payments on that shiny new hat I saw in the window at Macy’s. What Ricky doesn’t know won’t–

Luuuuuucy! You got some ‘splainin’ to do!

WAAAAAAAAAH…