Malinda Lo

After writing my last blog post on reviews, I realized something kinda funny: I’m old-school, people!

I like newspapers! (I realize this is a doomed love affair.) I think that critics have stuff to say that’s important! And I also think authors should stay in their isolated garrets and stay the hell away from reviewers!

OK, I’m sorta joking here. But only sorta! Basically, it comes down to this: I believe in keeping advertising and editorial separate. I don’t think that any reviewer/critic/book blogger/random person on the street who happened to read my book should worry that I, the author, might happen to read their review and be offended or pleased by it. I think that reviewers should write whatever the hell they want — and I should stay over here and not influence them in any way.

The primary joy of the web — the fact that it brings us all into closer communication — can also be the downfall of my sanity. I love hearing from readers who like what I wrote, I really do. But I also have to make decisions and take actions that allow me to have a private headspace in which I can write stuff, without hearing the voices of readers reacting.

So, sorry for the sorta repeated post here. There will be new, non-review-related material coming to this blog soon. In the meantime, I’m working on an essay about lesbian vampires, and to do it, I’m going to retire to my isolated garret with an ink pen and a bourbon.

(Kidding. I’m bringing my Macbook Pro.)