Girls, Will Be Girls...

Apparently, an oversensitive playwright is trashing author, Alisa Valdes Rodriguez.

Valdes-Rodriguez writes on her blog:

"So, tonight I came across a quote from playwright Linda Nieves Powell, author of two plays that I have not seen but which I have wanted to see because they get great reviews and look interesting.


I'm not sure the quote was aimed at me, but I have a sinking suspicion it was. Why do I think this? First, because shortly after THE DIRTY GIRLS SOCIAL CLUB was published, I got an email from Linda hinting that she thought I had stolen the idea for the book from her play, which I had never seen or heard of. Second, because I've heard this sort of thing before, variation on a theme as it were, and I know exactly where it comes from."

This is the quote by Linda Nieves Powell that bugged Valdes-Rodriguez:

"I don't understand why a Latina writer...who writes Latina characters would be offended when she is labeled a Latina writer. I am proud to be called a Latina writer...you know why? Because when you're good...none of that really matters, does it?"

Anyway, Powell reacted by telling VR to remove her name from VR's blog, or else she’d sue her.

"Regarding your La Queen Sucia blog: remove my picture and any references about me immediately or my attorney will do that for you."

Oooh er missus. Remind you of anyone? *g*

In return, VR gave her some great pearls of wisdom, obviously learnt from her years as a pubbed author:

"Let me give you some advice. As you enter the fray as a published novelist next spring, and an increasingly visible person, you should work on thickening your skin.


There are lots of people who will say things about you that you don't like. They do it to me every single day. There is even a blogger who pretends to be me, and posts hateful "parodies" of every blog post I've ever done. I have stalkers who want to kill me. Tons of people who hate me.


For a time, I reacted exactly as you have here. Then I realized, after a couple of fruitless lawsuits, that there was nothing I could do. I will post your request to have me remove you from the blog. I will also ask that you carefully read the wording of my original post, in which I said I am not sure you meant me. That covers me, legally. I'm not sure you meant me, but I'm PRETTY sure you meant me. ----


Prepare for much worse. Not from me. I like you. I like your work. I will read your novel, and if I like it I will blog about that. When I say prepare for worse, I mean to tell you what lies down this path. Neo-nazis. Envious women who can't write. All manner of people who hate women or Latinos.


Get tough, Linda. If you don't, you'll make yourself sick."

Great response huh?

I particularly liked this excerpt from VR's post:

You know that old adage, "be careful what you wish for"? It's absolutely true for writers. You want to be published? You want people to know your work, to know who you are? So many of us wish for this because we are certain everyone will like us. Everyone won't.

Damn, she's good.

Via GalleyCat