Colleen,

For what it's worth, I understood from the onset what your intention was. I think you were clear, professional and objective.

The downside to the Internet is that we can conveniently argue that someone isn't clear, mean-spirited and we can be far more confrontational than we would ever dare to be in person.

Sometimes, when the smoke clears, some of us look at the mess, and realize that some of the things said do apply to us. In the moment though, we're reeling from the sting.

I'm of neither wave, but like you, I've been around a long time, and I've seen the unnecessary wringing of hands and accusations go wild. I don't know what was said about you but if it was anything like I've what've been called, let it roll off.

I haven't been reading you long, but I was impressed when I got here, and I have even greater respect and admiration for what you try to bring to the space.

Peace.

Honestly, I think the whole thing has gotten way out of hand although I must admit that the conversation has been really interesting. I don't think this they think, we think is very constructive because honestly I don't know what you think just as you likely don't know what I think. We've emailed a couple of times so I hope we're good.

Regarding the panel, the only solution that I have come up with is to have no panel at all. If it's impossible to have a panel that represents every blogger then, is it better to not have one at all? Is no conversation better than some conversation? Is silence the only solution? I hope not.

Susan: I know who you are! In fact I was going to email you after you posted at the Guys Lit Wire Book Fair so I could see about getting some of my girl ARCs to you guys. I'm glad you commented - you just reminded me to get in touch!

Natasha - you know I don't know the solution either. Partly I think they need to realize (meaning BEA) that there would have to be a dozen different blogger panels - genre panels/lit/book clubs and on and on. But more importantly I just think the industry needs to realize the size and diversity of what they are dealing with and I haven't seen that yet.

It's just too much me on this right now though. I'm the "pro lit blogger that was dissing everyone" (the part about being against stay at home moms just really really bothers me)and that is where a lot of people have stopped listening. The conversation can continue but in smaller ways I think. And yes - we are certainly good.

Colleen: I'm not certain who you're reacting to specifically. But as someone who has been shit on over the years for stating fiery and informed and often controversial opinions, please don't let this stop you from expressing your viewpoint. Your viewpoint is very important.

I've been reading too many blogs, Ed. It's made my eyes bleed. (I think that was my first mistake, actually - reading other people's commenters.)

Actually, how do the panels get set up? I think really that Jennifer just thought...hey I'd like to have a panel on this and they said okay. I think anyone could have organized one..am I wrong? Who is this BEA entity?

But I'm going to email you...I think you may have misunderstood a few things on my post and I just want to clear it up. :) Good luck with your new project!

Oh, I want to cry. Here are my friends—Colleen, Amy, others whom I respect. All of whom have in their minds and hearts a desire to do right by their own thoughts, their own convictions, their own ideas. I have been heartbroken, watching all of this play out. I have been reminded of how difficult it can be to say just the right words. I have thought about all the times that I have failed in that endeavor. Heck, I failed just 24 hours ago. And I will no doubt fail tomorrow. And I'm supposed to be an author.

I would be deeply saddened if Colleen didn't keep being Colleen, and if Amy didnt keep being Amy, and if bloggers didn't keep blogging about books.

We—the authors you have privileged with your thoughts—need all of you. Publishing needs you—and publishing knows it needs you. From where I stand, any conversation about books is a beautiful thing. It is minds engaged, opinions being stated, dialogue. It is life, and it is friendship.

I want to throw a party, and invite you to my deck. Where we would sit and talk and get to know the true good of one another.

For there is true good. Everywhere.

Hi, Colleen. Sort of wishing now that I'd waited for the discussion to develop before posting my airheaded-sounding comments on your original BEA post.

Anyway, it was interesting to watch the discussion (here, at least--I haven't been following it elsewhere) because I organized and took part in a panel of bloggers at the SCBWI conference in LA a couple of years ago. It was me, Little Willow (Bildungsroman), Kelly Herold (Big A little a, Cybils), Tanita, and Gina Ruiz (AmoXcalli) and was by no means intended to be exhaustive, but rather inclusive--a means to tell children's/YA writers, readers, publishers, etc. about the growing kidlit bloggers' community, mention some sites we personally enjoyed and were significant to us, and invite other bloggers in the audience to join the discussion. Mostly, I did it because I felt--at that time, a few years ago--that the blogging community was relatively new and exciting, just starting to self-organize into various group events, and something that the more traditional "fixtures" of children's/YA publishing might be interested in knowing about.

I feel like it was such a naive venture now, with how things have changed in such a short time. With the proliferation of sites and the logistical difficulty of keeping track of them, not to mention the can of worms that is the subjective judgment of site quality, I sort of cower at the enormity of it all. Rather than a feeling of community, I often feel burnt out. Then again, like Jen Robinson I'm extremely conflict-avoidant, so I generally avoid even thinking about where my blogging lies in the general scheme of things. If I kept thinking about it, I would probably stop blogging...

And, Beth (whose comment appeared as I was trying to post mine and failing!): I'm so grateful for you and your words, as always. :)

I don't know about planning a panel at BEA at all, Amy. But as the moderator was with HC then I think the pubs must have the basic planning control over there (it's their show after all) and your moderator must have reached to each of you on her own. Someone at my original post commented on this - and it sounded like it was kind of that way. But I don't know anything about this specifically at all.

And Beth and Sarah....well, you know how I feel about you guys! It's just a crazy subject that has blown up and that happens sometimes. It's actually not the posters so much but the commenters who seem to go crazy sometimes. Either way...I just don't plan to post on it anymore and will be writing on something totally different for tomorrow. (That Beth knows about.... :)

I was so sad to see this develop over my feeds, but I can't say that I'm surprised. I've joined so many book groups, nings, Twitter, etc... trying to find where I fit in with everyone. It is a vast, unnavigable sea of bibliophiles.

I'm going to be VERY honest here and hope that everyone won't pounce upon me because I subscribe to 95% of those that will read this: The day the BEA book blog panel was announced, I went to each member's site (all of which I already subscribe to) and wondered how they were chosen. I wondered why I was lacking.

I have a masters degree in reading education, am entering a PhD program in the fall, just got a review published in a literary critical review anthology.... and still my blog goes unread. How do we determine the "experts"? Is is post frequency? Is it only librarians and booksellers who are serving potential customers? Are the book bloggers and lit bloggers really so different? What criteria could the BEA folks use? Is a criteria needed?

We're all here because we have a love of literature. We're seeking conversation about what we read, validation for our thoughts. We're really not different in this aim. Being divided into sections of "experts" vs. "laymen" serves what purpose?

...And if I'd been chosen by the magical BEA powers that be??? I'd have gone and left my family vacationing without me. I understand both sides of this awful equation. I wish we could all come together to figure this one out instead of letting resentment and nonproductive comments fester.

I know you said you're done with this topic. Good riddance! But, I think the undertone of it will continue to fester until there is some sort of organizational database.... The kidlit folks seem to have it a bit better with the Kidlitosphere Central database, but even then it's not sorted into target audience/genre specifics/profession/etc... Perhaps some sort of database would serve the publicists, authors and readers with a way to find the type of blog best suited to their needs.

(Thanks for the soapbox arena. Even though I said nothing new & offered no solutions.)

Tasses, just one quick thing about the KidLitosphere Central. My goal was to get the site up before the winter SCBWI and have it up for BEA - even though I didn't think there would really be interest there.

A new sorting of the bloggers is coming, but had to wait until summer for my own reasons. We're also working on a database, but pretty much had to wait for summer for that too. We'll also be rolling out the sessions for the Fall Conference, and I hope more articles of resource for book bloggers and blogging authors.

Also, Anastasia Suen's database of blogs and sites is REALLY comprehensive, if you're looking for a truly exhaustive resource.

Aquafortis,

I've looked at Anastasia Suen's list, but it seems to be KidLit bloggers. What I believe is needed is a comprehensive list of bloggers (more like a wiki) that lists ALL book bloggers (at least those that want listed) and sorts them by type, goal & expertise. I'm reluctant to take on such a task, but sure would like to be part of assisting with it.

Pamela,

I hope you didn't think I was dissing the Kidlitosphere. I love it! I know you must have worked extremely hard on it and I am thrilled to be a member. Your email explaining the sorting to come (and the conference I hope to attend) excites me even more :-)

Tasses.....I can't imagine how big a project that would be!! Wow!

How many bloggers do you think are in the lit blogosphere - thousands, right? If you include every single one, regardless of size (which clearly you would have to do.)

Exhausting! ha!

I really don't know that there are experts here - I was looking at this from a publisher perspective wondering how on earth they were all sorting it out. And there are so many genres to think about. The mind whirls....bringing order to chaos might not even be possible in this case.

Susan, Pam, Tasses and Aquafortis have covered my thoughts, from the day the panel was announced to the event itself.

If it's any consolation, yours is the conversation I'm following on this subject. Who the others are, don't know. Don't care. I've always found your posts (no matter what the subject) not only thoughtful but educational and an honest look (without being snarky).

Can't wait to hear more about the new project and the success of the Books Fair for Boys.

wow. i've had my head down for the past couple of weeks with school and... this happens?

i feel like i'm missing a huge chunk of information here and feel reluctant to comment except to say that i think publishing isn't just scared, it's frantic. i would have thought that BEA, or any other convening entity organizing a panel on blogging, would have cast a wide net looking for "representative bloggers."

i certainly didn't see any male bloggers involved, unless i was looking in the wrong place.

perhaps this is something to be addressed at the annual kidlitosphere conference in october? dunno. reading this has made me a little sad...

I agree with your use of the word "frantic" David and for good reason. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.

And I would have liked to see some guys involved as well.