A little advice would be cool

[JoannHBuchanan]

I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere...ugh I miss my city.
About three years ago, my first book, a novella was published. YAY! Or so I thought.
Since then, a few people in this town have sent me what I deem as hate emails every time I get a book published, when I post a small excerpt from one I'm working on or what have you.

So far I have been called a demon worshiper, a cat killer, an abusive mother because who else could write horror...and the list goes on. For the most part, I stay to myself because I have no idea who the people are sending the emails. They are all anonymous. My question is how do I make them stop? I am not an evil person, I don't worship the devil and of course I don't hurt cats or my children. If any of you have gone through this, please tell me what you did. I plan on moving in a few years after the house is paid off, but not until then. For the most part, I ignore them, still it's getting harder to do that. I'm just a writer. I'm even thinking about going under a Pen name so I can stop these people. This town is weird to say the least. What I don't plan on doing is quitting. I love being an author. I don't really care what they think...I just don't want it to start messing with my children. So any thoughts would be nice.

Thank you all for everything. So far the experience here has been AMAZING!!

 

[Moderator]

I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere...ugh I miss my city.
About three years ago, my first book, a novella was published. YAY! Or so I thought.
Since then, a few people in this town have sent me what I deem as hate emails every time I get a book published, when I post a small excerpt from one I'm working on or what have you.

So far I have been called a demon worshiper, a cat killer, an abusive mother because who else could write horror...and the list goes on. For the most part, I stay to myself because I have no idea who the people are sending the emails. They are all anonymous. My question is how do I make them stop? I am not an evil person, I don't worship the devil and of course I don't hurt cats or my children. If any of you have gone through this, please tell me what you did. I plan on moving in a few years after the house is paid off, but not until then. For the most part, I ignore them, still it's getting harder to do that. I'm just a writer. I'm even thinking about going under a Pen name so I can stop these people. This town is weird to say the least. What I don't plan on doing is quitting. I love being an author. I don't really care what they think...I just don't want it to start messing with my children. So any thoughts would be nice.

Thank you all for everything. So far the experience here has been AMAZING!!

You could report the messages to their and/or your ISP. They have ways to track them down.

 

[JoannHBuchanan]

I took them down to the police station here...I was told unless they are literally threatening me they can't do anything about it. I am supposed to forward them to the local DA every time I get one now. So that is something.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Or tell them the voices in your head sometimes have good ideas. And right now those voices are telling you to find out who these people really are.

 

[Moderator]

I took them down to the police station here...I was told unless they are literally threatening me they can't do anything about it. I am supposed to forward them to the local DA every time I get one now. So that is something.

Even if they can't do anything about it now, it's a good idea to have it on record.

 

[Shasta]

Why do you think it's the people in your town? If you are published, couldn't they be anywhere?

 

[JoannHBuchanan]

Why do you think it's the people in your town? If you are published, couldn't they be anywhere?

The first email said they were...they signed it "A concerned group in town."

I thought the first one was a joke from a friend. I laughed about it until I asked and was told no. They don't come all the time, but dam when they first started I wanted to scream at them. Now for the most part I ignore it and pass it along. I was just hoping to hear that others had been through the same thing...I wanted to be a typical girl and hear don't worry about it.

 

[Shasta]

I haven't dealt with this particular thing but if it were me I would mark them as spam so they just come to my junk folder. But first I would respond with "Don't you have anything better to do?" And then I'd walk around like nothing bothered me. Because I'm quite sure there are good people there as well.

 

[Bryan James]

To me, those are badges of honor. Print them out and start papering a wall.

My favorite "review" was from my Mom...she puked.

I did not put that on a wall.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

have never been published. I spin my wheels, mostly. But being self-employed affords me the opportunity to go to the airwaves (and other media) to drum up business. That has been fun, at times, petty politics aside. But one successful commercial that I made generated one snail-mail hate letter. Anonymous, of course. It also generated conversation from strangers--who saw the advertising on the side of my truck...they liked my song. Heh! Now, if I could sing maybe I'd be a rock-star. I'd become proficient in the use of small arms or buy a pump shotgun no shells and practice racking the pump back and forth. But then, maybe the same group of gun-phobes and you'd be incurring their wrath...heard it through the grapevine so forth so on. I suspect the world is populated with people...suspect? naw...know...that the world is populated with quirks who think as these people do. They have simply worked up enough false bravery to send an anonymous email. I've no doubt as I type and as others read there are those judging me worthy of an Inferno Update, one of the lower rings, politics, religion, whatever, race, social status. There's someone who isn't in tune with the blue. This is our world. Keep your focus.

 

[Neesy]

have never been published. I spin my wheels, mostly. But being self-employed affords me the opportunity to go to the airwaves (and other media) to drum up business. That has been fun, at times, petty politics aside. But one successful commercial that I made generated one snail-mail hate letter. Anonymous, of course. It also generated conversation from strangers--who saw the advertising on the side of my truck...they liked my song. Heh! Now, if I could sing maybe I'd be a rock-star. I'd become proficient in the use of small arms or buy a pump shotgun no shells and practice racking the pump back and forth. But then, maybe the same group of gun-phobes and you'd be incurring their wrath...heard it through the grapevine so forth so on. I suspect the world is populated with people...suspect? naw...know...that the world is populated with quirks who think as these people do. They have simply worked up enough false bravery to send an anonymous email. I've no doubt as I type and as others read there are those judging me worthy of an Inferno Update, one of the lower rings, politics, religion, whatever, race, social status. There's someone who isn't in tune with the blue. This is our world. Keep your focus.

Walt - wishing you nothing but love letters in the future and no hate mail - poison pen letters are so cowardly! (especially those from that evil bugger "Any Mouse")
(((Walter Oobleck)))

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Walt - wishing you nothing but love letters in the future and no hate mail - poison pen letters are so cowardly! (especially those from that evil bugger "Any Mouse")
(((Walter Oobleck)))

All told...positive feedback from others...the one hate mail...all is well and all manner of things are well. I've also come up with a couple more "songs"...just need to get to the recording booth and record my commercials. heh! that is a blast. it's amazing what they can do...you can watch. they have this screen shot of your voice, your recording (you know)...and they can highlight a small section of it, say like when you gasp for breath? cut that out. all for a 30-second commercial. if that don't teach you to make it count, not much else will that I know of. Now if I could actually sing, maybe I'd get the...works. heh! could fly stuff from the aerial.

 

[JoannHBuchanan]

All told...positive feedback from others...the one hate mail...all is well and all manner of things are well. I've also come up with a couple more "songs"...just need to get to the recording booth and record my commercials. heh! that is a blast. it's amazing what they can do...you can watch. they have this screen shot of your voice, your recording (you know)...and they can highlight a small section of it, say like when you gasp for breath? cut that out. all for a 30-second commercial. if that don't teach you to make it count, not much else will that I know of. Now if I could actually sing, maybe I'd get the...works. heh! could fly stuff from the aerial.

I have a recording booth...you are welcome to use it. We could do it over Skype or something. I used to run a radio show called The Eclectic Artist Cave. I loved doing it and had a pretty packed chat room toward the end. I just got burned out a little. I needed a break...lol. With all the kids going to school in the fall I'm considering doing the show again. But I would be happy to set up a time and get your stuff be it commercials or what have you recorded. It could turn into something fun.

 

[JoannHBuchanan]

To me, those are badges of honor. Print them out and start papering a wall.

My favorite "review" was from my Mom...she puked.

I did not put that on a wall.

My mentor Jack Remick said I should post them on my blog...lol. I decided against that, why feed the flames.

 

[JoannHBuchanan]

I haven't dealt with this particular thing but if it were me I would mark them as spam so they just come to my junk folder. But first I would respond with "Don't you have anything better to do?" And then I'd walk around like nothing bothered me. Because I'm quite sure there are good people there as well.

There are wonderful people in this town. Lots of them. I just happened to rub a few wrong because I write horror. I think they might be jealous because I chose not to conform...but I have never conformed to anything...lmao.

 

[Bryan James]

Document everything and copy the police constantly.

They don't want more work.

Catch my drift? Squeaky wheel it.

 

[HMW]

The Internet is great in many ways, what is not so great is that it allows the weakest vermins to spew hatred anonymously.

I have no solution, but I hope you can take some comfort in the fact that none of these people have told you this to your face. They are weak and cowardly, hiding behind a keyboard. You are not.

 

[blunthead]

I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere...ugh I miss my city.
About three years ago, my first book, a novella was published. YAY! Or so I thought.
Since then, a few people in this town have sent me what I deem as hate emails every time I get a book published, when I post a small excerpt from one I'm working on or what have you.

So far I have been called a demon worshiper, a cat killer, an abusive mother because who else could write horror...and the list goes on. For the most part, I stay to myself because I have no idea who the people are sending the emails. They are all anonymous. My question is how do I make them stop? I am not an evil person, I don't worship the devil and of course I don't hurt cats or my children. If any of you have gone through this, please tell me what you did. I plan on moving in a few years after the house is paid off, but not until then. For the most part, I ignore them, still it's getting harder to do that. I'm just a writer. I'm even thinking about going under a Pen name so I can stop these people. This town is weird to say the least. What I don't plan on doing is quitting. I love being an author. I don't really care what they think...I just don't want it to start messing with my children. So any thoughts would be nice.

Thank you all for everything. So far the experience here has been AMAZING!!

My first thought in response to hearing about this "concerned group" is that you're in in good company; a host of artists past, present and future, who can never be ruled except by their own creative need. My second thought is what is intended - fear. My third thought, after the fear subsides, is to remember my first thought, then proceed to save all subsequent emails for a paper trail, in case one is needed one day (paper trails are aways helpful, if for no reasons other than for the sake of feeling organized, and as a reminder of the fire of determination they start). Then, determine never to reply to any of them.

I'll bet the "group" totals one, perhaps hyper-religious or otherwise radical, individual only. It feels safer and is easier to threaten someone as a phantom posse than a loner. If there are more than one of them, your plan should be the same, because, as long as the authorities are aware, no one can do anything of much consequence without regret.

If your children are aware of the emails, I'd reassure them that these things sometimes happen to an artist or anyone who expresses a personal view not necessarily shared by common thought.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I have a recording booth...you are welcome to use it. We could do it over Skype or something. I used to run a radio show called The Eclectic Artist Cave. I loved doing it and had a pretty packed chat room toward the end. I just got burned out a little. I needed a break...lol. With all the kids going to school in the fall I'm considering doing the show again. But I would be happy to set up a time and get your stuff be it commercials or what have you recorded. It could turn into something fun.

Thank you. There's a local radio station, "wimple radio" (WMPL) in Hancock and another in Houghton, the WOLV/WCCY (pronounced wolf) where I've advertised/recorded commercials. Wimple radio in Hancock is located in this ancient building and although I'm familiar with hammers and shovels, their equipment smells like ancient ozone, has the look of being rode hard non-stop. I dunno what it is, but their room where they record commercials produces a different sound than over at the WOLV. Maybe because I recorded standing up at WMPL and sitting down at the WOLV? Something. I like how they can change a word, the way it sounds, stretch it out or install background noise. For some reason it reminds me of comics. The short bursts of energy maybe? What I need to do is to get busy writing up a couple new ads...Vicki over at the WOLV keeps calling to remind me I have a credit there--I'd overpaid a bill over a year ago guess I ought to use it up. What I do is Oobleck a popular song and since I can't sing that gets peoples' attention and they remember it. My buddy the rock star thinks it's a hoot but he never answered me when I asked when I could sing in his band. I need to rake the yard, too.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....set up dozens of plastic pink flamingos in your yard-the tackiest truckstop types you can find....and tell everyone like you-they can go get "flocked"....