Why did Nora Roberts get into a spat? Author 'fansplained' about publishing industry, claps back in comments
Nora Roberts, author of more than 225 romance novels, had to comment on her own website in response to a fan who accused her of releasing her latest trilogy of books only as a marketing strategy. A Twitter user posted the conversation with the caption that said, "When you're such an asshat on the Nora Roberts discussion thread, insisting you know more about publishing than Nora Roberts, and then Nora Roberts shows up to handle you. **Note to self: Find a way to work, "I have personally explained the process to you, Debra" into anything."
You can read the exchange between Roberts and the fan below.
When you're such an asshat on the Nora Roberts discussion thread, insisting you know more about publishing than Nora Roberts, and then Nora Roberts shows up to handle you.*
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) December 3, 2020
*Note to self: Find a way to work, "I have personally explained the process to you, Debra" into anything. pic.twitter.com/QfgiaE5hOI
The author's name started to trend almost immediately on social media with one user saying, "Listen, at least you aren’t the person who’s arguing with NORA ROBERTS that you know how publishing works better than she does," while another, posting more screenshots, wrote, "i had to screenshot this for Twitter, because IMAGINE EXPLAINING PUBLISHING SCHEDULES TO NORA ROBERTS NORA ROBERTS WHO IS ALSO JD ROBB I AM LOSING MY MIND."
A different user, terming the whole episode 'fansplaining', said, "If mansplaining is a term, fansplaining should be one as well. Where fans try to explain a writer's own character to them or how writing a book or TV script works," while a different user wrote, "Next time you Tweet something and realize there's a typo in there four hours later, take a deep breath and take comfort in the fact that you're not the woman who tried to explain how publishing works to Nora Roberts." One more said, "Saw Nora Roberts was trending and I got nervous .. but it turns out all is ok. It's actually just a another example of 2020 being, well 2020. Some dumbass trying to explain publishing to, oh only one of the most prolific writers of the past 30 years."
Listen, at least you aren’t the person who’s arguing with NORA ROBERTS that you know how publishing works better than she does.
— Chelsea M. Cameron (@chel_c_cam) December 3, 2020
i had to screenshot this for Twitter, because IMAGINE EXPLAINING PUBLISHING SCHEDULES TO NORA ROBERTS
— Elizabeth May (is away and writing) (@_ElizabethMay) December 3, 2020
NORA ROBERTS
WHO IS ALSO JD ROBB
I AM LOSING MY MIND https://t.co/JpCEVYvWNi pic.twitter.com/7BM5Y8FhK1
If mansplaining is a term, fansplaining should be one as well. Where fans try to explain a writer's own character to them or how writing a book or TV script works.
— Ana-Ztyllablintz07-Kerie (@Crampedsultana) December 3, 2020
Next time you Tweet something and realize there's a typo in there four hours later, take a deep breath and take comfort in the fact that you're not the woman who tried to explain how publishing works to Nora Roberts.
— Gabino Iglesias (@Gabino_Iglesias) December 3, 2020
Saw Nora Roberts was trending and I got nervous .. but it turns out all is ok. It's actually just a another example of 2020 being, well 2020. Some dumbass trying to explain publishing to, oh only one of the most prolific writers of the past 30 years. #NoraRobertsFanForever
— Liza (with a Zed) (@Lizaland) December 3, 2020
Nora Roberts is the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. As of 2011, her novels had spent a combined 861 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list, including 176 weeks in the number-one spot.
