Theresa waves...and talks about the Triskelion drama

In case you haven’t heard, my book, which would have been on the shelves in 10 days, is not coming out. It’s a long story, trust me.

And by now you’ve probably heard an earful about RWA’s recent choice to dis-invite Triskelion Publishing from the national conference. (and no they have not lost their approved publisher status). If not there are plenty of links to help you catch up.

As someone from the inside looking out, I’ve seen a lot of comments ranging from personal attacks, to Nora Robert’s classic response on SmartBitches about how ridiculous it is when people are resorting to calling every one who doesn’t agree with them “f**kheady bitchipants.”

But the truth is that something big happened this week.

A lot of authors, including myself, had their dreams and their futures shredded. Contracts were pulled, and other print books were delayed until an unspecified time in the future.

Did the company have a right to do what they needed to in order to stay financially solvent. Of course! Did it still mean that I’m out thousands in promotional dollars, without a first book on the shelves to show for it? Yes. Did it hurt? Hell yes.

My first signing was supposed to be on my birthday, of all days. I had already announced and made plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to a breast cancer prevention group in memory of my mother, and found out the book wouldn’t happen a few days before mother’s day. I had to cancel multiple signings, speaking engagements with my alma mater, and ads. It was a whammy of a week.

But the one thing that came through no matter if you read the posts on Dear Author or the award for Biggest RWA Drama of the week, or even tried out Mrs. Giggles blog drama drinking game, is that professionalism counts.

So without further ado, here’s my guide to professionalism for all you writers out there:
1.) Do not put anything in writing that you’re not willing for everyone to read!
2.) Sign your name to what to you do write, because you should be responsible for it.
3.) Remember that anger and hurt last a moment, but the Internet is forever.
4.) Sticks and stones may break bones, but words can make you infamous and shred your credibility.
5.) Treat your publisher, no matter what happens, as if you’d like to return someday. In this industry, you never know who’s moving where in the future.
6.) Be specific. Be honest. Be factual. Emotional outbursts in blog posts are a license for ridicule and dilute the point of your post.
7.) Stick with what you personally know, not what you’ve heard and you’ll be safer.
8.) Share your agony with your few close friends, don’t broadcast it.
9.) Remember, this is one incident, not your career.
10.) There is only one hard and unchangeable rule: everything changes.

So things happen, and it hurts. But this is a business, and if you want to stay in business, you really have only one choice: pick up and forge ahead no matter what.