Never, NEVER respond to bad reviews like this

[Tabris]

An author goes unhinged at a bad review: http://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html

Read the comments.

[Beckahrah]

Jeez, that's crazy.  That review wasn't really that bad; I thought it was pretty professional, actually.  Didn't attack the author or say anything insulting or anything like that.  Some people just don't want to improve; they just want to be told how awesome they are.  I've come across people like that in some of the other forums (never this one, thank goodness).  People who only want compliments and have coronaries if you dare point out what needs improvement.

At least the author's unprofessionalism is only hurting herself,

[Philly3]

Yes, saw this earlier today on Twitter. What was she thinking! 

[bodwen]

Her sales are probably skyrocketing.  When it comes to selfpublishing, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

[violet]

Saw this earlier.

Train wreck. 

[lisarogers]

WOW!!!!!!!

[eallen99]

This had to be one of the longest bashing threads I've ever read. And yeah, I read it like one is compelled to look at the car accident as you creep by and hope you don't see the gory severed head. Tried to comment but it's closed to comment. Here's what I would have said:

Wow. Dangle a little meat and the wolves come out in force for a bloodfest. I don't agree with what Jacqueline did or her compulsive need to defend and lash out, but it seems to me most of the participants on this thread have done a thorough job is disemboweling her. Sadly, she has not learned to take the good with the bad. As a self-published author myself, I have received glowing reviews and scathing ones which made my mascara run. The funny thing is, every time I get a horrible one-star review,( and I keep my mouth shut and my fingers away from the keyboard) my sales go through the roof!
BTW, one of many anonymous'said earlier "self-publishing means it wasn't good enough for traditional publishing". I do find that a gross generalization. Some of the best books I've ever read were self-pubbed and some of the WORST ( esp. from Oprah's Book Club) were completely unreadable!

[Kimmy]

Wow, this girl is nuts!

[bodwen]

I agree with Liz.  Two or three people telling her she's overreacting is constructive.  Dozens of people saying that she's overreacting is a beat-down.

[MarvaD]

Liz is right. I've especially seen this pack mentality on Absolute Write. Don't get me wrong. I believe AW provides a great service for writers, but sometimes the participants go for mob rule. I've said something mildly nice about a couple of small publishers and felt my hamstrings being shredded with sharp teeth. I guess it's the mobsters way of justifying their own lack of success with the majors.

In regard to the author flipping out, I feel her pain, but she has to learn that lashing out at perceived criticism is a lousy idea. It's childish and won't win her any friends or fans.

Sometimes you just have to bite your lip and shut up. Go pound on the couch pillows until they burst open. Then clean up the mess and go on with your life.

[Elizafaith13]

crazy lol

[stephcamp]

Saw this earlier.

Train wreck. 

exactly. made me cringe.

[JenniferS.]

Oh my, talk about anger issues! 

[mickip]

I read all the comments, initialy I thought it was a publicity stunt.  If I was the author, I would rewrite the books, give them a different title and a pen name. Her other books about the Twins also got just as bad reviews. Her behaviour was uncalled for.  She should have gratefully accepted the criticism and bowed out.

[Nostrabuttus]

Even bestselling authors occasionally get a harsh review. The authors normally ignore them and certainly never challenge a reviewer like that.

Unbelievable. There is not a single upside for an author to challenge a reviewer in that manner. And to use the F word. What was she thinking?

Note: Should anyone wish to offer any review, harsh or not, of my prose, I would like to thank you in advance for actually taking the time to read my prose. Writers like me cannot be picky, when it comes to reviews. 

My all time favorite review of my first manuscript: You started out bad and tapered off, but you have a couple of scenes near the end I kind of liked.

At least he read the whole thing in three days. I will forever be indebted to him, and to all of my other supporters who continue to plow through my prose without the aid of a mule.