Author Introduction

Greetings everyone. My name is Van Tellfaster and I am happy to join this group. I'm an author who has published two books, both thrillers, and I'm excited about working on a third novel. I also look forward to meeting as many of you as possible to dialogue with you and learn from you as well. By way of background, I am a Philadelphia, PA, native, and retired Air Force officer, who has served in assignments in the CONUS, and in several overseas assignments. I must say, my experiences in the military, and later working as a contractor, and for the U.S. government, have given me lots to work with in crafting my first two novels.

Please read https://www.librarything.com/about/authors

>1 ThrillerReaderman1: Hello! Welcome. :) I haven't been here long but I can tell you Library Thing is a big place. A fantastical labyrinth of everything books, including a place for authors. I'm sure that's what @MarthaJeanne here meant to say.

The link she provided will give you some great information to get started with. Wishing you the best of luck with your books and you WILL meet a lot of friendly people here that love reading and writing as much as you do.

This group is called "Welcome to LibraryThing!"

Whoever it is flagging a message like this, go and read that again.

It is likely that this was the first interaction this chap has had with anyone here. Think about the impression you have made. Do you think he feels welcome?

I shouldn't have to say how much you don't know about how the site works when you are brand new to it!! If you can't show people the way it works in a WELCOMING manner then you DO NOT have any place commenting here.

(apologies to all innocent parties who witness this, but enough, it's horrible!)

>4 TonjaE: The TOS, which everyone has to agree to when joining this site, expressly prohibit authors from advertising their books. I believe the OP hasn't quite crossed the line into self-promotion, but it's close. If @MarthaJeanne hadn't helpfully posted the link to the author tips page this entire thread would have been flagged out of existence.

I like @TonjaE's welcoming approach. Shouldn't that be the norm along with the guiding link? It would match the ethos of even that linked page that has a welcoming, helpful tone toward authors. And yes, reiterates the rules.

A standard few words of welcome could go on to create new enthusiasts of the site. Authors also very well might be readers and book lovers and enjoy LibraryThing in that capacity.

For what it's worth, I did not flag the OP. He did not quite cross the red line for this group. He has also not been written up in Spam Fighters. But he does not seem to know what sort of site he has landed in. I provided the information he needs to know if he wants to be here as an author.

>6 DebiCates: Sometimes people are a bit more welcoming, but this kind of blunder happens just about daily here - look at the title of his post - Author Introduction indeed. This screams "I have not read anything about this site", as does the fact that not one book is cataloged, but we have his bio (in the 3rd person no less! LOL). Ugh. It's been done here over and over and over and will continue no doubt. People can write apparently, but they cannot read. So yeah, sometimes we don't hand these people a cocktail and a puppy, but it is out of bounds here to do this and it is so tiring to keep telling people who probably won't participate fully in the site, but only want to flog their books. I didn't flag him because he skated right up to that line, but didn't cross it.

>6 DebiCates:

Authors also very well might be readers and book lovers and enjoy LibraryThing in that capacity.

Unfortunately, that has not generally been our experience. It is far more common that authors look upon the site as a place to advertise their books (and themselves). Perhaps they are used to sites like that, and assume that LT is just another promotional opportunity. So we are wary.

>8 Bookmarque: LOL, "hand them a cocktail and puppy," I would love to go to a party like that! When does it start?

I promise, I read the comments here. We know he broke the rules. And they'll keep coming, as you say. Why not send a good message with the response.

Copy and pasting a few canned welcome words that tout LT as @TonjaE did, as well as that link, is what is being suggested.

It might send the author over to that page with the idea that LibraryThing is a great place to do also some cataloguing, some chatting, ask some questions.

Or it might not.

If they continue to break the rules, then of course flag. Meanwhile a hearty welcome (even for the willfully or negligently obtuse) is continuing good PR for LT.

>10 DebiCates:

Why not send a good message with the response.

In general, we do send a message, just not on the promotional thread*. We use the message system to send it directly to the authors, pointing them to the "How Authors Can Use LibraryThing" link. The post/thread is flagged, not the author profile.

* The reason for that is that responses to the thread keep it alive. If there are no responses, four flags to the post will eliminate the thread.

>10 DebiCates: Booze and puppies! What could be better? LOL. I'm going to a party this afternoon, but alas, have no puppies. Booze, though, I'm bringing!

But seriously, what BAD message was sent? None. The absence of cocktails and puppies is now considered rude rather than neutral, which the reply definitely was. It's like the proliferation of total strangers hugging. Ugh. Save it kids, you just met me, you don't need to fawn all over me, I'll be fine. The response was neutral with a whiff of condemnation, but that's all. Reading more into it just leads down rabbit holes like this, which can be a learning experience and maybe, just maybe the OP will chime in on his own thread, but probably not. It's pretty much the norm.

Just wanted to drop a reminder that if anyone is unsure if a message is spam or not, they can post about it in the Is this spam? thread in the Spam Fighters! group.

And misuse of flags is also a TOS violation. If anyone feels that a post is improperly flagged, they can counter-flag it and, if they feel it's warranted, contact staff about their concerns.

>11 lilithcat: I see that scheme is well thought out. You want to get rid of the message (and messenger). Time, too, will do that, won't it? Floats down to the bottom of the very deep pile.

Which, of course, in this case is not happening because of our comments.

>12 Bookmarque: Cocktails and puppies is now going to be in my lexicon. I love it.

I didn't say it was a BAD message. I also don't hug strangers. I do, though, prefer courtesy as a way to handle even tiresome rule-breakers. A tiresome "anyone," really. I guess curt is okay to deploy in one's own life if that's one's preference, but doesn't seem like the better choice when representing a whole site, one that tirelessly strives to be a force for good in a world of crap.

I agree, likely he isn't even seeing any of these messages, a dude interested in promoting his book and when that's not a possibility moves out and on. Wandering the wilderness. Of his own making.

I think what we are experiencing is the difference between how we each weigh efficiency with opportunity. I believe there could be both (copy and paste makes it extraordinarily easy). But I am not going to be the one answering those posts. Still, I shared an opinion, and was unsurprised by the lack of love for it. Hey, look at me, I'm feeling a little weary as well.

I still firmly stand behind a booze AND puppies as being the best party.

>13 amanda4242: Good info, Amanda, thank you.

>14 DebiCates:

I still firmly stand behind a booze AND puppies as being the best party.

Nah, booze and cats.

Time to try the new add poll feature!

>17 amanda4242: This poll is biased to puppies as objectively only kittens can compete ;)

How about neither?

>19 MarthaJeanne: Because you asked. :)

@amanda4242 you nut. What fun!

>21 DebiCates: I've been looking for an excuse to try the new polls. :)

>22 amanda4242: You found the perfect opportunity. I'm on pins and needles seeing how they turn out.....in 7 days. I don't know if I can stand the wait.

Team Booze and Puppies with the optional choice of Kittens.

>23 DebiCates: Have a cocktail while you wait. I recommend a martini with 4 parts gin and 1 part dry vermouth. (Martinis need vermouth or it's just gin in a fancy glass. Yes, I'm prepared to die on this hill.)

>24 amanda4242: That sounds heavenly and I certainly wouldn't want you any dying on a hill on my behalf. I don't think I ever made a martini. I'm more of a connoisseur of puppy breath myself.

>11 lilithcat: Ahhh, it would never have occurred to me to send a private message to a stranger, in part because after 6 months I still don't think about the private message aspect of LT interactions.

>13 amanda4242: Hmmm, do not remember ever bumping into the existence of an "Is this spam?" thread. The learning curve has been steep, and has to compete with my desire to get all our books catalogued to my satisfaction in less than a decade.

Thanks to you both for continuing my education!

>26 LeslieWx: Hey Leslie!! So that's where you are, under stacks of books that need cataloguing. It sounds fun, even if daunting. Hello. Glad to see your name today.

>17 amanda4242: LOL x

This is better :)
Ha!