Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 09:28:52 -0500
From: "Michael Walsh" <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
To: <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: How to sell books.....
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

> dicconf at radix.net 1/17/2006 9:01:35 PM >>>
>
>On Fri, 13 Jan 2006, Ted White wrote:
>
>> samlubell at verizon.net wrote:
>>
>>>> From: Ted White <twhite8 at cox.net>
>>>>
>>>>> You haven't read about how the latest book she's featured has
>>>>> turned out to be fake?
>>>>
>>>> "Fake" fiction?
>>>
>>>  Sure, why not? For instance, alternate histories in which the
>North
>>>  won the civil war.
>>
>> *All* fiction is "fake," or not real.  That's what the word
"fiction"
>> means.  In this instance, the book, a fictional memoir, was a
little
>> more fictional than some people expected.  Nu?
>
>However, it purported to be a _non_ fictional memoir.  Apparently
>the
>author (and presumably Oprah) intend to brazen it out.

Both have a lot riding on the book, and unfortunately when people
discover they've painted themselves into a corner, their reation may not
be the most reasonable. I suspect Oprah in particular doesn't want to
admit being fooled.  It's a fairly natural reaction to ignore the truth
after it's sunk it's teeth into your ankle and is hanging on like a
mongoose.

"Mongoose?  I see no mongoose.  Nope... no mongoose here..."

mjw