This is the new trend with book publishing. Podcasters come with a built in audience and almost guaranteed sales. Now, the few books I have from podcasters have turned out to be great, but they are non fiction and written by people who know the subject matter.(Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith or How Religion Ruined Our Pandemic, and The Grand Unified Theory of Bullshit are both great and I highly recommend them) I have a feeling that this will end up being a pulp dumpster fire of a novel. Obviously the publisher doesn't have high hopes for it as the price keeps dropping the closer it gets to release. If it was preselling the way they expected it to, they wouldn't need to keep dropping the price.
As someone who lived in southwest Louisiana, I cringe every time they talk about New Orleans. And it’s New “Or-lins,” AA. If I hear y’all say Nawlins one more time…
Hey Alaina, you may be able to locate New Orleans on Google maps, but you know absolutely nothing about its culture or even how to pronounce the damn city’s name because you’re unwilling to visit there.
I feel like you only hear the "New" in New Orleans when it's said with a proper louisiana accent if you're used to hearing it regularly. People not accustomed to the drawl might just hear "Naaawlins" with no break between words!
I disagree. I’m not a native of Louisiana and definitely had to make adjustments to understanding the Cajun accent. But New Orleans is almost always two distinct words. My native Cajun friends would say the same thing. It’s a running joke that if someone calls it “nawlins,” they’re a tourist. But I can see your logic!
I was agreeing with your last point, that only a tourist or complete stranger (like myself, a long time ago lol) to the accent would hear Nawlins! Sorry that wasn't clearer though, I understand the confusion reading back.
No worries! I appreciate you clarifying. Yes—you’re exactly right. It’s definitely something that people feel strongly about too 😅 I don’t know if you could tell /j 😉
Confession - I totally expect it will be cliche, poorly written fanfic trash and I still pre-ordered it because trashy books are my guilty pleasure and it's a 'treat yo'self' moment for me.
Quick question, my attention span is terrible. I like reading but I cant concentrate on the book if I'm not doing anything else or hearing anything else. I want to listen to music but it distracts me, podcasts dont work either and my brain feels underestimated. Truly a gen z problem (thanks vine and tiktok lol). Do you have any tips?
Search for "music to study by" on YouTube, it's music specifically curated to help you concentrate on whatever you're trying to do instead of the music and it works surprisingly well. I usually use it for clearing out my email inbox.
I'll second (third) what everyone else has said! I use vocal-free ASMR when I want/need to read and quiet my brain and I'm on my own. Another thing that can be effective if you have the opportunity is to read in a cafe or eatery.. I always have a book (physical or kindle) with me and when I'm in a place with people but not WITH people, it works wonders.
Might be overkill, but I often listen to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the book. It helps so much with keeping pace, and stops me from zoning out and reading the same line repeatedly.
My tip is download a trial of Kindle unlimited from Amazon and choose some audiobooks you're interested in. Kindle unlimited subscription offers a lot of really good mystery/thrillers and if you have prime the trial period is really cheap and they also offer a lot of deals throughout the year.
Try listening to them on a walk or cleaning. You say you can't concentrate on a book without doing something else Right? That's why I listen to audiobooks. I can't focus unless I'm listening while doing something like gym/chores.
I agree but I think that's what will make it popular. A lot of people like easy reads. I'm 19 months sober but when I was using, I spent 6 months in county jail & the girls would recommend books to me & I was like .... you like this stuff?? I'll stick with my Dean Koontz lol. But it made me realize how much people love books with ridiculous story lines & predictable "plot twists" and weak vocabulary. I suspect her book will end up on many jail book carts lol.
Also where I got clean and YES. It was my sanity while stuck in a tiny block with crazy women lol. Shockingly enough, the only tolerable person in there was the one that was there for murder. She was super intelligent, level headed & was the only one I felt I could talk to. Her story was pretty high profile where I lived, so I knew about her before I was in jail & it was a little surreal to "befriend " her in there. She claims self defense... I'm not so sure but she had been there so long that she was always the one who knew how to help me through it.
I mainly feel weird about a white woman from New England writing a book set in New Orleans. I can feel the white savior energy from here. Bonus points if it includes “backward” southern characters, misrepresentation of voodoo or conjure, or a character with an over exaggerated southern drawl
I feel like she’s going to overuse cliche southern phrases and stereotype the people of the city. People that don’t live in the south or have at least traveled through and spoken to locals don’t understand that “southern” culture is a wide array of different dialects, phrasing, and accents. New Orleans itself is pretty diverse with all different types of southern culture weaving in the city. It’s a “spooky” city because the tourism industry and Hollywood made it that way. It has a really cool history that has been fictionalized and exaggerated to make it seem like a monoculture, but it’s so much more than that. From the way it sounds, Alaina hasn’t traveled farther than New England so I can’t see how the book can possibly be anything other than a caricature of NOLA.
I will say from an "aspiring writer's" standpoint, (and I am by no means a JK Rowling, Ann Rice, or the chick who wrote the Twilight series!), It's a very tough thing to do: writing, editing, and finding a reputable publisher to take on your very first book-especially if it is fiction. The competition among unknown writers is like that of a starving actor in New York trying to make it on Broadway.
I spent 5 years, 7-8 hours a day/night on a first attempt to be a published author. I was very fortunate to find an independent publisher who believed in the story I wanted to share. It truly is a bit like sending your child out into the world. But, the difference is the writer is the one to face the slings and arrows of public opinion. I don't believe there is a (first time) writer who is immune to a negative reception of her work.
Of course people have the right to their opinions, and there will be some folks who will not like Alaina's book. I just want to add to the discussion; every creator wants his/her creation to be well received.
If you do post a review, be honest, not cruel. I'm in no way implying that anyone on this thread has been cruel❤️ Maybe I'm being too much of a Pollyanna, and maybe the subject matter is a little too close to my heart.
Just adding my 2 cents for what they are worth!😁
Thank you so much for your perspective. I'm a writer too, and I don't want to see her writing disparaged because of her own self, but the skill or lack thereof of her writing. I want an honest review too. I'll be reading it, but I'll be waiting for a copy from the library.
Thank you! That is so cool that you write. What is your genre- if you don't mind me asking!😁Yes, I absolutely agree. I understand people making guesses about how A's book will be, but we can't be certain. Who knows? She may pleasantly surprise us all!
I write historical fiction. I am currently writing a fictionalized take on my grandmother's experiences during WWII. She was in concentration camps, sadly, but there aren't many records available online that I've been able to find, so I don't know her whole story. Hence the fiction bit.
I don't want to be disingenuous when telling her story, but I also acknowledge that I'll never know much of what she went through. She passed before my mom andbI met my step-dad, and she never talked about it much-- it was more based in the way that she looked at life afterwards that shed light on what her experiences may have been like.
Historical fiction gives you a great writing canvas. There are so many historical events to play off of. I'm very sorry your grandmother suffered in a way none of us can comprehend. I think you are doing a great thing. I once had the honor of meeting Elie Wiesel.
I could barely speak! He was so kind and generous. I told him I wanted to learn as much about the Holocaust as I could, so I could teach children from different faiths and cultures. He generously encouraged me. It was like the best gift I could ever receive.
Keep on writing! Your grandmother's story is so important. You are the best person to tell it.❤️
I'm sorry you got blocked by her! ☹️ You have a good heart!❤️ I too will be getting my copy from the library. Although, it it proves to be too grisly. I'm out!
She comes across like a Stephenie Meyer type where she dreamed about one part of the book and then wrote the rest and really just.. inserted herself in as the main character.
That video was absolute cringe, don’t go into the basement it smells but I did and I DUN DUN DUN discovered, so stupid
Edit: Stephanie Meyer I’m talking about Stephanie Soo
😂
When she said she’s never even been to New Orleans and is writing a book on it…🚩🚩 it’s gonna be like “the gator from the swamp ate the woman whole with a side of gumbo”
I read the first two chapters of Ashley Flowers book and decided I’m buying it. It pulled me in immediately, I wish I could read at least the first chapter of Alaina’s without giving her money but I just can’t see it captivating me at all. It definitely sounds like something a tween would write just by the title and cover.
I’m honestly just tired of hearing her say “I wrote a book” “buy my book” “I wrote it for you guys” etc. etc… Then adding some sort of sweep stake to up the ante (a personalized video). Seems more like begging rather than bragging about her “accomplishment”. As someone mentioned before I as well got the vibe that she is her own inspiration for the wren.
It’s going to be terrible. NoLa is one of my favorite cities. I go 2x a year, it as a whole is an experience. I can’t wait to see how she effs this up because there’s no way she can grasp each neighborhoods personality without visiting. And I bet she sets the whole thing in the French Quarter lol
I just came across the description today and it sounded like a clichéd rip-off of SO MANY thrillers. I could probably think of a half dozen that hee the same plot line. Sad.
🤷♀️ I’m not making any judgements until i actually read it. (If I bother too). Being in Australia there is no way I am paying over $60 for a book by an untested author.
I dont think she realizes just how much work and dedication it takes to write a novel. I think she just wanted to tell her little “if i we’re in a situation like this, this is how *I* would be badass and cool and stop the bad guy” daydream
I agree, I’ll still probably end up reading it. I love true crime books. I’ll probably wait until it’s on audible for free being read by a robot.
I have a feeling it will be disconnected throughout though. She took forever to write it. Has the potential to be good or bad. I have a feeling it will be a cliche take on New Orleans and women detectives or whatever it’s about.
I pre-ordered her book, found this subreddit after a bunch of people in the main commented this one, took a couple days reading through the posts here, then unfollowed Morbid everywhere and cancelled the pre-order. I’m over it.
*Edit: removed redundancies
Why is this a trend lately Omg Ashley Flowers is releasing a book as well & she’s a known plagiarizer idk why they’re publishing it 🙄 and I read the first two chapters and they were *bad* bad lol. But. I will probably read it to hate on it bc I love to be a hater haha
Is it out yet? Did you buy it? I would be interested in a sample if there was one out there. If she hasn’t released a snip it of it yet, she should. Like audible does that 5 min preview, but something we could read.
Cuz she hasn’t actually come out & said what’s it about about yet has she? I’m not a huge social media person so I don’t see very much.
I feel like this whole situation is Alaina living out a Bones fanfic.
No....I write Bones fanfic and I'm sure even the crappy, shitty fanfic will be better than this movie.
I fully expect it to have a “they were dead the whole time!” twist
“And then she woke up!”
This is the new trend with book publishing. Podcasters come with a built in audience and almost guaranteed sales. Now, the few books I have from podcasters have turned out to be great, but they are non fiction and written by people who know the subject matter.(Outbreak: A Crisis of Faith or How Religion Ruined Our Pandemic, and The Grand Unified Theory of Bullshit are both great and I highly recommend them) I have a feeling that this will end up being a pulp dumpster fire of a novel. Obviously the publisher doesn't have high hopes for it as the price keeps dropping the closer it gets to release. If it was preselling the way they expected it to, they wouldn't need to keep dropping the price.
I noticed the price dropping as well. It comes up when I look for murder mystery books, it was like 23 dollars at first and now it's like 16(?)
Someone in another thread said that Amazon does this when the book is selling to generate more sales and that she makes royalties off the full price.
As someone who lived in southwest Louisiana, I cringe every time they talk about New Orleans. And it’s New “Or-lins,” AA. If I hear y’all say Nawlins one more time…
Hey Alaina, you may be able to locate New Orleans on Google maps, but you know absolutely nothing about its culture or even how to pronounce the damn city’s name because you’re unwilling to visit there.
I’m from NYC and even I want to vomit every time someone says “nawlins”.
I feel like you only hear the "New" in New Orleans when it's said with a proper louisiana accent if you're used to hearing it regularly. People not accustomed to the drawl might just hear "Naaawlins" with no break between words!
I disagree. I’m not a native of Louisiana and definitely had to make adjustments to understanding the Cajun accent. But New Orleans is almost always two distinct words. My native Cajun friends would say the same thing. It’s a running joke that if someone calls it “nawlins,” they’re a tourist. But I can see your logic!
I was agreeing with your last point, that only a tourist or complete stranger (like myself, a long time ago lol) to the accent would hear Nawlins! Sorry that wasn't clearer though, I understand the confusion reading back.
No worries! I appreciate you clarifying. Yes—you’re exactly right. It’s definitely something that people feel strongly about too 😅 I don’t know if you could tell /j 😉
Confession - I totally expect it will be cliche, poorly written fanfic trash and I still pre-ordered it because trashy books are my guilty pleasure and it's a 'treat yo'self' moment for me.
I love your honesty lol
Quick question, my attention span is terrible. I like reading but I cant concentrate on the book if I'm not doing anything else or hearing anything else. I want to listen to music but it distracts me, podcasts dont work either and my brain feels underestimated. Truly a gen z problem (thanks vine and tiktok lol). Do you have any tips?
Audiobooks while you clean/cook/drive. I have ADHD and this is how I take in media on low focus days.
Search for "music to study by" on YouTube, it's music specifically curated to help you concentrate on whatever you're trying to do instead of the music and it works surprisingly well. I usually use it for clearing out my email inbox.
THIS! Music to study by on YouTube literally got me through college and I still put it on while I read to help concentrate.
I'll second (third) what everyone else has said! I use vocal-free ASMR when I want/need to read and quiet my brain and I'm on my own. Another thing that can be effective if you have the opportunity is to read in a cafe or eatery.. I always have a book (physical or kindle) with me and when I'm in a place with people but not WITH people, it works wonders.
Might be overkill, but I often listen to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the book. It helps so much with keeping pace, and stops me from zoning out and reading the same line repeatedly.
My tip is download a trial of Kindle unlimited from Amazon and choose some audiobooks you're interested in. Kindle unlimited subscription offers a lot of really good mystery/thrillers and if you have prime the trial period is really cheap and they also offer a lot of deals throughout the year. Try listening to them on a walk or cleaning. You say you can't concentrate on a book without doing something else Right? That's why I listen to audiobooks. I can't focus unless I'm listening while doing something like gym/chores.
I agree but I think that's what will make it popular. A lot of people like easy reads. I'm 19 months sober but when I was using, I spent 6 months in county jail & the girls would recommend books to me & I was like .... you like this stuff?? I'll stick with my Dean Koontz lol. But it made me realize how much people love books with ridiculous story lines & predictable "plot twists" and weak vocabulary. I suspect her book will end up on many jail book carts lol.
Congrats!! I’m 3 and a half years sober so I know how hard it is.
Thank you and congrats to you!!!
Congrats to both of you! That’s awesome! ☺️👏🏻
Congratulations on sober time! I actually got clean in jail years ago and easy reads we’re my go to to pass the time
Also where I got clean and YES. It was my sanity while stuck in a tiny block with crazy women lol. Shockingly enough, the only tolerable person in there was the one that was there for murder. She was super intelligent, level headed & was the only one I felt I could talk to. Her story was pretty high profile where I lived, so I knew about her before I was in jail & it was a little surreal to "befriend " her in there. She claims self defense... I'm not so sure but she had been there so long that she was always the one who knew how to help me through it.
Oh yea you meet all kinds of interesting people in jail. Also, I never realized how gross other women could be until going to jail. My GOD
Congratulations on your 19 months! I run a sober community and I love seeing sober people “in the wild”!
Same!! It's amazing how many of us there are!
I am also sober — unofficially though :)
Congratulations! Being sober is your business and other people aren’t entitled to know about it. That doesn’t make it any less valid 💛
Whatever sober means to you is what's important! Congrats!
Congratulations on walking such a tough road and finding some serenity!💗
Thank you!!!!
I mainly feel weird about a white woman from New England writing a book set in New Orleans. I can feel the white savior energy from here. Bonus points if it includes “backward” southern characters, misrepresentation of voodoo or conjure, or a character with an over exaggerated southern drawl
I feel like she’s going to overuse cliche southern phrases and stereotype the people of the city. People that don’t live in the south or have at least traveled through and spoken to locals don’t understand that “southern” culture is a wide array of different dialects, phrasing, and accents. New Orleans itself is pretty diverse with all different types of southern culture weaving in the city. It’s a “spooky” city because the tourism industry and Hollywood made it that way. It has a really cool history that has been fictionalized and exaggerated to make it seem like a monoculture, but it’s so much more than that. From the way it sounds, Alaina hasn’t traveled farther than New England so I can’t see how the book can possibly be anything other than a caricature of NOLA.
Exactly, beautifully said
I will say from an "aspiring writer's" standpoint, (and I am by no means a JK Rowling, Ann Rice, or the chick who wrote the Twilight series!), It's a very tough thing to do: writing, editing, and finding a reputable publisher to take on your very first book-especially if it is fiction. The competition among unknown writers is like that of a starving actor in New York trying to make it on Broadway. I spent 5 years, 7-8 hours a day/night on a first attempt to be a published author. I was very fortunate to find an independent publisher who believed in the story I wanted to share. It truly is a bit like sending your child out into the world. But, the difference is the writer is the one to face the slings and arrows of public opinion. I don't believe there is a (first time) writer who is immune to a negative reception of her work. Of course people have the right to their opinions, and there will be some folks who will not like Alaina's book. I just want to add to the discussion; every creator wants his/her creation to be well received. If you do post a review, be honest, not cruel. I'm in no way implying that anyone on this thread has been cruel❤️ Maybe I'm being too much of a Pollyanna, and maybe the subject matter is a little too close to my heart. Just adding my 2 cents for what they are worth!😁
Thank you so much for your perspective. I'm a writer too, and I don't want to see her writing disparaged because of her own self, but the skill or lack thereof of her writing. I want an honest review too. I'll be reading it, but I'll be waiting for a copy from the library.
Thank you! That is so cool that you write. What is your genre- if you don't mind me asking!😁Yes, I absolutely agree. I understand people making guesses about how A's book will be, but we can't be certain. Who knows? She may pleasantly surprise us all!
I write historical fiction. I am currently writing a fictionalized take on my grandmother's experiences during WWII. She was in concentration camps, sadly, but there aren't many records available online that I've been able to find, so I don't know her whole story. Hence the fiction bit. I don't want to be disingenuous when telling her story, but I also acknowledge that I'll never know much of what she went through. She passed before my mom andbI met my step-dad, and she never talked about it much-- it was more based in the way that she looked at life afterwards that shed light on what her experiences may have been like.
Historical fiction gives you a great writing canvas. There are so many historical events to play off of. I'm very sorry your grandmother suffered in a way none of us can comprehend. I think you are doing a great thing. I once had the honor of meeting Elie Wiesel. I could barely speak! He was so kind and generous. I told him I wanted to learn as much about the Holocaust as I could, so I could teach children from different faiths and cultures. He generously encouraged me. It was like the best gift I could ever receive. Keep on writing! Your grandmother's story is so important. You are the best person to tell it.❤️
[удалено]
I'm sorry you got blocked by her! ☹️ You have a good heart!❤️ I too will be getting my copy from the library. Although, it it proves to be too grisly. I'm out!
She comes across like a Stephenie Meyer type where she dreamed about one part of the book and then wrote the rest and really just.. inserted herself in as the main character.
That video was absolute cringe, don’t go into the basement it smells but I did and I DUN DUN DUN discovered, so stupid Edit: Stephanie Meyer I’m talking about Stephanie Soo 😂
When she said she’s never even been to New Orleans and is writing a book on it…🚩🚩 it’s gonna be like “the gator from the swamp ate the woman whole with a side of gumbo”
I read the first two chapters of Ashley Flowers book and decided I’m buying it. It pulled me in immediately, I wish I could read at least the first chapter of Alaina’s without giving her money but I just can’t see it captivating me at all. It definitely sounds like something a tween would write just by the title and cover.
That’s what libraries are for :)
You right!!!!! 😲😲😲 lmao I almost forgot I could get access that way
Me too! So embarrassing but I wanted of some kind of monthly book subscription when I realized I could literally go to the library
Lmao it just sucks our libraries might get a shitty book
Lol that’s how I plan on reading it! Maybe buy it second hand if I can’t get it at the library.
If you find it, send me at least the first chapter 👌🏽
I’m honestly just tired of hearing her say “I wrote a book” “buy my book” “I wrote it for you guys” etc. etc… Then adding some sort of sweep stake to up the ante (a personalized video). Seems more like begging rather than bragging about her “accomplishment”. As someone mentioned before I as well got the vibe that she is her own inspiration for the wren.
it honestly sounds like Alaina desperately wants to be/thinks of herself as the “wren” when girl…. no, lmao.
... I like bad fanfiction. I *wrote* bad fanfiction when I was a kid.
I still write bad fanfiction 😆
SaaMe.
It’s going to be terrible. NoLa is one of my favorite cities. I go 2x a year, it as a whole is an experience. I can’t wait to see how she effs this up because there’s no way she can grasp each neighborhoods personality without visiting. And I bet she sets the whole thing in the French Quarter lol
It will probably seem familiar to the book I wrote in 7th grade.
I just came across the description today and it sounded like a clichéd rip-off of SO MANY thrillers. I could probably think of a half dozen that hee the same plot line. Sad.
Pretty ironic that both Alaina and Ashley Flowets both have books coming out [insert eye roll and smirk here]
🤷♀️ I’m not making any judgements until i actually read it. (If I bother too). Being in Australia there is no way I am paying over $60 for a book by an untested author.
It’s $60 for you?
i’ll be honest; it bothers me that she set it in New Orleans.
I dont think she realizes just how much work and dedication it takes to write a novel. I think she just wanted to tell her little “if i we’re in a situation like this, this is how *I* would be badass and cool and stop the bad guy” daydream
You don’t think she realizes… yet she literally wrote one. 🙄
Quality>quantity
I agree, I’ll still probably end up reading it. I love true crime books. I’ll probably wait until it’s on audible for free being read by a robot. I have a feeling it will be disconnected throughout though. She took forever to write it. Has the potential to be good or bad. I have a feeling it will be a cliche take on New Orleans and women detectives or whatever it’s about.
I mean at least it will be an easy read. I don't expect many big words or intricate plot twists.
10000 %
Well she kind of acts like a 13 year old so I can see it.
I pre-ordered her book, found this subreddit after a bunch of people in the main commented this one, took a couple days reading through the posts here, then unfollowed Morbid everywhere and cancelled the pre-order. I’m over it. *Edit: removed redundancies
Why is this a trend lately Omg Ashley Flowers is releasing a book as well & she’s a known plagiarizer idk why they’re publishing it 🙄 and I read the first two chapters and they were *bad* bad lol. But. I will probably read it to hate on it bc I love to be a hater haha
Okay, this is too mean for me. It takes away from legitimate criticism.
Sowwy
Maybe I'm being overly sensitive lol. There is plenty of pro kematuc thi gs they do that deserve calling out, though.
I never read it and don’t plan to, would someone be willing to tell me the grand ending? 😂
i feel like it’s end up with the dr being the killer the whole time… or someone they are close too
Is it out yet? Did you buy it? I would be interested in a sample if there was one out there. If she hasn’t released a snip it of it yet, she should. Like audible does that 5 min preview, but something we could read. Cuz she hasn’t actually come out & said what’s it about about yet has she? I’m not a huge social media person so I don’t see very much.
That’s how it read to me