Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #RWAShitshow
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Hoo boy.
So here's where we're at. The structure of the #RWAShitshow book which I'm probably still going to call The Implosion of the RWA, because I'm all out of imagination at this point.
Yes I use Scrivener dark mode, what of it.
So here's where we're at. The structure of the #RWAShitshow book which I'm probably still going to call The Implosion of the RWA, because I'm all out of imagination at this point.
Yes I use Scrivener dark mode, what of it.
It's almost 100k words and 60k is the Appendix, which contains the original timeline, all the public statements by RWA and the chapters, comments by Nora Roberts about Reno
I haven't even added the complaint docs, the audit report, and the Loveswept analysis.
I haven't even added the complaint docs, the audit report, and the Loveswept analysis.
Stupidly unwieldy. This thing only works as an ebook. The actual text of stuff I put together is maaaaybe 40k, so y'know, it'll be a nice quick read if you don't need to reference all that extra stuff.
But it's sort of ready to read? So that's nice.
But it's sort of ready to read? So that's nice.
Big problem with the #RWAShitshow book: do I include the documents or not? Can I include public statements or not?
I quote a lot of people. A LOT. Snippets with reference links, mostly.
I have to go back over the whole book soon and either get permission or start cutting.
I quote a lot of people. A LOT. Snippets with reference links, mostly.
I have to go back over the whole book soon and either get permission or start cutting.
Almost everything I quote is publicly available in some form. But will it remain so?
I'm covered under fair use in the US and fair dealing in Canada, because this is commentary and criticism.
There are a few things I think I should absolutely include in full:
I'm covered under fair use in the US and fair dealing in Canada, because this is commentary and criticism.
There are a few things I think I should absolutely include in full:
The complaints.
The response.
RWA public statements.
The audit report.
...still think I might get sued.
The response.
RWA public statements.
The audit report.
...still think I might get sued.
Random thing this morning: I’ve been kinda quiet because I’m just about wrecking my brain with either work or the #RWAShitshow book.
Latest thing = contacting every RWA chapter and getting their statements, if any exist. I’ve emailed or contacted all but three, I think.
Latest thing = contacting every RWA chapter and getting their statements, if any exist. I’ve emailed or contacted all but three, I think.
Those are probably defunct? I’m going off the list on the RWA website.
The work is long, exhausting, very boring, and necessary to get an accurate read on the RWA membership as a whole.
The work is long, exhausting, very boring, and necessary to get an accurate read on the RWA membership as a whole.
Fun fact: I’ve got at least a couple of emails already asking “who TF are you” and the absurdity of me replying “just some random fantasy author with pretensions of journalism” is kinda looool
Welp, more #RWAShitshow silliness, because I’m just OCD enough not to let this go.
I can’t find out where Glenfinnan Publishing is registered as a business. Suzan Tisdale‘s complaint was all about the fact that Courtney Milan harmed her business.
I can’t find out where Glenfinnan Publishing is registered as a business. Suzan Tisdale‘s complaint was all about the fact that Courtney Milan harmed her business.
Side note: I still can’t figure out whether she’s even allowed to do that as a publisher? Can publisher members of the RWA file ethics complaints against an author member? The policy isn’t clear.
Anyway - Glenfinnan doesn’t seem to exist as a legal entity anywhere. It should be registered in Tisdale’s home state but they’ve no public record of it. I even emailed the county registrar and asked, they’ve got nothing.
Lovely people btw, very helpful.
Lovely people btw, very helpful.
Okay so here's something interesting for the maybe 2 people still following the #RWAShitshow
Yes this is what I'm doing with my time during the pandemic in between stress-baking and yoga, IDGAF
/thread
Yes this is what I'm doing with my time during the pandemic in between stress-baking and yoga, IDGAF
/thread
One major point in Tisdale's complaint was that Courtney Milan was mean about Davis' book on Twitter. She says that she "lost three of my Glenfinnan authors—not because they agreed with Ms. Milan and those of her ilk, but because they are afraid of any backlash from Ms. Milan."
The timeline here is... kinda making me raise my eyebrows.
Tisdale posts defense video of Grimshaw: Aug 24th
Milan posts her critique of Davis' book: Aug 25th
Tisdale files the complaint: Aug 27th
Tisdale posts defense video of Grimshaw: Aug 24th
Milan posts her critique of Davis' book: Aug 25th
Tisdale files the complaint: Aug 27th
Okay I’ve got some theorycrafting for anyone interested in the #RWAShitshow.
I’m going through the complaints right now and the one from Kathryn Lynn Davis has got me thinking.
/thread
I’m going through the complaints right now and the one from Kathryn Lynn Davis has got me thinking.
/thread
Bearing in mind that a big chunk of the complaints hangs on Courtney Milan’s trashing of Somewhere Lies the Moon and Davis’ defence of it, the details matter here.
Tisdale’s complaint says Davis immersed herself in “the Chinese culture” for 6 years. Davis herself says “over 7 years”.
But I can’t quite figure out WHEN she did this study. So I went looking.
But I can’t quite figure out WHEN she did this study. So I went looking.
Okay I’m going to call it now.
If the former Board talks, they risk being sued by literally everyone involved for defamation of some kind - Suede/Ritter because they’ll say they lied, or Milan because they’ll have to talk about why they accepted the complaint #RWAShitshow
If the former Board talks, they risk being sued by literally everyone involved for defamation of some kind - Suede/Ritter because they’ll say they lied, or Milan because they’ll have to talk about why they accepted the complaint #RWAShitshow
Milan is ready to release them so they can talk, as far as I know.
The RWA is not, or they would have done so already.
My opinion: the RWA knows that whatever comes out once the former Board talks is going to finish them.
The RWA is not, or they would have done so already.
My opinion: the RWA knows that whatever comes out once the former Board talks is going to finish them.
We will discover that the RWA mislead the Board into convicting Milan on a frivolous charge.
Further opinion: this has to do with the “extra material” that was supposedly considered. The stuff that Carolyn Jewel alluded to, that wasn’t part of the original complaint.
Further opinion: this has to do with the “extra material” that was supposedly considered. The stuff that Carolyn Jewel alluded to, that wasn’t part of the original complaint.
This is an important thread on understanding how the #RWAshitshow really started. I also watched this unfold on Twitter since Aug. Ask yourself, why is Courtney somehow seen as this "destroyer" or "instigator" when this was really about how white fragility tore down RWA?
Everyone who was there from the beginning knows that this was more about some stupid book from 1999. It was more than liking some racist and homophobic tweets. This started from authors of color and others speaking out on a PATTERN of behaviors from Grimshaw that are bigoted.
When behaviors like this is called out, the typical response in white fragility is to defend and deflect. And to dictate what is and isn't racist. You must understand that YOU are not in the position to determine that. You never were.
We received more information from a confidential source that show more directors pushing Damon's false narrative. #RWAShitShow
Transcript to follow.
Transcript to follow.
Melanie Szereto: In addition, it's my understanding that if the President's office is vacant, along with the Executive Director's, RWA would cease to function.
Melanie Szereto
RWA Board of Directors
melanieszereto.com
Melanie Szereto
RWA Board of Directors
melanieszereto.com
And another from the same board member, trying to backtrack and to course correct...
Just dragged my sorry, nap-taking, flu-day-22-or-is-it-23, feverish ass to my computer to write to board@rwa.org, the email for the remaining board of @romancewriters. Here's what I wrote. (And it took every ounce of self-control for me to use SNAFU instead of clusterfuck.)
@romancewriters Please, RWA members, take the time to write to the board! #IStandWithCourtney #RWAShitShow
@romancewriters Transcribed email to RWA for screen-readers! #RWAShitShow
To the remaining board of directors of RWA, elected and allegedly appointed:
I’m a twenty-six year member of RWA, having joined as my first book was published in 1993. I’m also a recipient of
To the remaining board of directors of RWA, elected and allegedly appointed:
I’m a twenty-six year member of RWA, having joined as my first book was published in 1993. I’m also a recipient of
