Yesterday was not a good day in the social media department. I received not one but three separate nasty-grams—communications from people who went out of their way to say what a terrible writer and awful person I am. That’s fine. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but just because they think it doesn’t mean I have to read it or respond.
For the past several months, my spam folder has been alive with AI generated letters that begin by giving me effusive praise for one of my books and inviting me to to participate with their various book clubs — the European Book Club, the Seattle Book Club — and offering me an “opportunity” (for a certain price, of course) to interact with their hundreds or thousands of members who would then post comments on the book in question on the web and thus raise its profile. Hello. Paying people to write positive reviews may not be illegal, but it’s certainly immoral.
When the first one of those came in, I followed up on it. Bottom line, I finally figured out it was a scam. Since then I’ve received dozens of almost mirror image emails about any number of books. Yesterday I hit the wall and wrote back: This is a scam. Shame on you.” Nasty-gram número uno soon followed.
A little later in the day, someone who is one of my regular correspondents let me know that the bio on my Wikipedia page had been altered by an unauthorized individual in a way that was designed to undermine me publicly. That comment has since been deleted, but I know who sent it. It was the same person who sent me an email a month or so ago demanding information that was none of her business. But since the website says I respond, I did so, answering her question honestly and saying that I hoped we could agree to disagree. Evidently not!
As for number three? Yet another woman wrote to express her “dismay” over the misogyny exhibited in The Girl from Devil’s Lake which clearly showed my contempt toward Indigenous and Latina women, claiming that my story had set human rights back decades. That’s when I hit the wall. I did NOT respond. I hit the delete key instead.
So yes, I broke my own rule. I will continue to reply to the SERs—the sharp-eyed readers who point out errors in my books. One of those came in yesterday, too. Someone mentioned that Gelert, the wolfhound mentioned in a poem my father used to read to us, was actually from Wales rather than Ireland, and that I had it wrong in one of my books. I’m going to correct that error as soon as possible, but since all the wolfhounds I’ve ever met were called Irish Wolfhounds as opposed to Welsh Wolfhounds, I can see how I made that mistake. That writer, by the way, received an immediate response expressing my appreciation.
So this is my official notification that, from now on, I will NOT be responding to ALL correspondence. The ones that cross the line and are written with evil intent will be sent into the great beyond of my Spam file.
While my first husband and I were teaching on the reservation, our washing machine was literally struck by lightning. At the time, I told Jerry Janc that if God had wanted me to wash clothes, He wouldn’t have struck the washing machine with lightning. From then on, once a week, we dropped our dirty clothes off at the laundromat in the reservation in Sells once a week and picked it up after school washed, dried, folded, and ironed.
In my book this is the same thing. If God had wanted me to respond to ALL messages, He wouldn’t have given me a delete key.
I absolutely agree with the “delete key” option! There are so many people on the internet who have no filter. The web has been a blessing, but also a curse, in that it distances people from one another. Thus, people tend to think their words have no consequence. I pray you never run afoul of anything more nasty than ignorant words from inconsiderate people. (as the saying goes: “sticks and stones…”) Just hit “delete” and carry on! Bravo!
It’s sad that so much rudeness and downright nastiness has permeated our society. People are entitled to their opinions but some civility needs to be there as well. You are a successful doer which tends to promote jealousy and insecurity in some people.
I think it was Lou Holtz that said “when all is said and done, much more will be said than done”.
Keep up your most enjoyable writing. You have certainly enhanced my (and countless others) life with your books. Rest easy knowing that your hateful critics are probably speaking to themselves rather than you.
Those bad comments happen to all. You are doing the right thing by deleting them. They come from jerks
I am so sorry to hear of your “attacks” – it upsets me to hear. I was one who had emailed you about your books and was amazed to get a reply back from you. It saddens me that your openness has had to be tempered because of those attacks. And the difficult part is that there is no winning in a battle if one chose to take them on.
Please never change the way you are or the way you write.
My wife had an interesting term for what to do with things such as them, put them in the “bit bucket”
You should not have to put up with nastiness. Be sure to block them as well as delete them. The internet has emboldened people to say things they never would in person, I think you are great.
You are doing the right thing. Keep it up
Good plan. Now if you could avoid having to read this crap it would be even better – I don’t have a plan for that stage of the process.
This last week I re-read “The Girl from Devil’s Lake” but must have missed the misogyny. Or else it’s not there? Either way, it was wonderful the second time through also.
Cheers, Ceci
Good for you. From a fan who loves your books and has great respect for you.
I am so sorry that you have to put up with all of that “crap!” I have read all of your books for years…and even reread them. You are a brilliant writer, and since I have lived, or visited most of the places your characters live in, I always feel at home in the settings. I am just reading The Girl from Devil Lake, and there is no misogyny…I know that when I see it….especially with our current administration! (Please excuse my politics!). Just remember how much joy you bring to all of us. Helen Dempsey-Tennent
Good for you, J. A.
with three teenage boys–one of them very untidy–and remains so today, I was fussing about the status of his room. My husband instructed me to close the door–not quite a delete key–but same effect.
We, your fans, know what a wonderful person you are, and no one who knows you would ever think otherwise. However, we also know there are people out there who love to be nasty, just for the heck of it. Best to ignore and delete. Nowhere is it written that you must answer garbage.
Blessing to you and Bill
I, for one, have enjoyed every book you have written in all 3 series. I have gotten my son hooked on Beau.. We are looking forward to his next adventure with his Wolfhound……of what ever origin.
I owned restaurants for nearly 30 years…..wished I had a delete button many times!
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Oh, man! What kind of sick-o gets his or her jollies out of writing those nasty-grams? Yes, the “delete key” is the best option for such messages. Sort of like the “hang-up” for the many scams that come in by telephone. Usually I can hang up before getting into the conversation, but one time I didn’t realize it was a scam, so when I finally did, I asked, “Does your mother know you are doing this?” The caller was immediately angry, and shouted, “You leave my mother out of this!” So I knew he was–subconsciously, perhaps–ashamed of what he was doing. Another time, once I recognized a scam, I said, “You need to get a REAL job!” and hung up. I think people who feel the need to send you nasty-grams have too much time on their hands, or don’t feel secure about their worth in the eyes of God. If anyone calls you a terrible writer or an awful person, yes, hit “delete,” because WE know better.
Don’t waste your time reading all of those negative reviews.
I love all of your books! One time I wrote you a couple of critiques on a book and you responded kindly, which I appreciated!
I agree. Nasty deserves no reply. Good for you.
God bless your humor and God bless the delete button. Sorry to say that there are people that get up in the morning and think to themself “who should I be wicked and untruthfull to today”. What a sorry life they live. Have loved all your books.
Absolutely right…I agree and I do not waste one precious minute of my short life w/someone who does not have my best interests at heart.
Keep on deleting. You are a great writer and I have read all of your books and when I finish one I eagerly await the next. In my opinion the ones who edit the books should take care of the editing. Another favorite author once had a new book released and there were so many mistakes that I concluded that they printed and sold the draft by mistake. It was awful.
I used to consider the Delete key one of my favorites until I discovered Block.
When I Block, I know it goes into my Spam folder. I figure if my computer can follow directions and put something into Spam, there is no need at all for me to open my Spam folder. Gosh, that has made my life so much simpler and stress-free.
Try it because I LOVE what you write and want to keep your stress at a minimum so you’ll outlive me. BTW, I am 84 also.
I need to learn how to block an email…so many “offers” marketing items that are gross and not what I want to see when I open my laptop…
I block phone numbers…now, to learn how to do the same w/email…I am inspired.
Thank you.
I’m totally in agreement with your decision!
There are people who are jerks all over. You do the right thing by blocking them
Your approach is very even-handed and sensible.
I wonder if there is a way for YOU to get notified if someone makes a change to your Wikipedia page.
As others have said, you spend your time interacting with your faithful following. But others who decide that slander and other nonsense are definitely not worthy one iota of your time.
You go girl.
I love this! The internet and AI have opened up a pandora’s box of unwanted and unsolicited comments from people who would never have made a comment at all. I am with you, thank God for a delete key!
Keep up the wonderful writing you do, I enjoy your works and the weekly email.
I read because I like good stories and not to pick them apart. I’ve read all of your books and enjoyed each one. Keep deleting the people who have nothing better to do. And please keep writing!
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Live this….. and all of your books which I read and re-read. My only criticism is that, as prolific a writer as you are, your books just don’t come out fast enough. I’m always eagerly awaiting the next update on all of your incredible characters.
I’m sorry AI has struck you! I’m glad you are breaking your rule and not responding to AI’s attacks!
Continue being you and I’ll continue reading and listening to your audio books!
A long time reader and fan!
It’s hard to comprehend mean people. And I must say, I feel a bit protective of one of my favorite authors and people! Your response to this malice highlights the character I deeply admire. Your writing and your voice are a gift. They bring pleasure, enjoyment and LIGHT to millions in this world. I hope you feel the support of all us who admire you and are so grateful for the goodness you share. Agree on Block/Delete … Life is too beautiful and short to give energy to contemptuous and vindictive. Can’t wait for SEPT #27 Beaumont THE TAKEN ONES!!
Love it!
YAY ON YOU!!! As a public figure you are wide open to all the crazies out there…and now they’re artificially generated too…but yes, protect yourself and your sanity. When they go low, you go high. Blessings all over you.
How very correct! You needn’t respond to all comments – I certainly don’t expect a reply as I know you are busy with the next excellent book!
Good for you!!! There’s A LOT MORE of us who adore you and your books than the “other kind”! There’s a saying, ““Surround yourself with love, not negativity.” The delete button can help with that and, when you need to feel the love a little more, just let us know – we’re here for you!!
Good for you!
Good for you. How frustrating. My son has a garage door business and and has had some poor reviews listed from people he hasn’t even done any work on their garage door–figures it is the competition doing these reviews.
We can get hundreds of compliments, but it’s the nasty remarks that we can’t get out of our heads. Wouldn’t it be nice if our brains had a delete button?
My feelings were hurt by a horrid remark when I was in junior high. Carol Ann, the girl who sat behind me in home room, leaned forward and said, “Do not dignify that remark by a reply.” And so I pass along the words of wisdom of a 13-year-old from 1959….in the event that the “DEL” key isn’t working next time. It’s easy to criticize another’s work, especially when the critic has not done any work of notice. Thanks for your words of wisdom and the hours of pleasure you have given your readers throughout your writing career.
I love it!
I enjoy your weekly updates immensely and thank you for taking the time to do them. I’ve read most of your books and still have a few to go, but I’ve never sensed misogyny in any of them. It’s appalling what issues these jerks come up with! Keep being you…the world is better for it!
Good for you.
Ms Jance, I read your blog every week & forward it to the friend who introduced me to your novels which I thoroughly enjoy. I attended one of your book signings in Sun City West a couple of years ago. That experience got me started. Your blogs are so entertaining & informative, often providing “food for thought.”
FYI, I’m an 84 year old, single woman with no children or grandchildren, having retired in 2002 from the IT industry. I grew up in Milwaukee, WI, lived to Chicago, St Louis, San Francisco, CA wine country & now AZ which is my “toe tag”. home. And I usually don’t comment, just enjoy your writing. But this blog contents has me riled up.
I am appalled that you receive nasty e-mail & social network comments. Shame on all who do it. Keep on keeping on. I look forward to reading your blog every week!
Hahahahahaha! Good on you! You’ve always just said it like it was. Glad to see you still at it!
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Judy,
I already shared with you how I was so horribly hurt by some supposed “friends” last week. I bent over backwards trying to be good to them and then they forgot all about me. So I have deleted them from my life.
Now, I am enraged when I think of all the research, brain work, hours upon hours of writing to bring hours, days, weeks, years, of reading pleasure, and then some jerk tries to find something to pick about or criticize. The nerve!
Judy, do you remember what you told me to do about my “friends”? Please, take that same advice as you deal with these so-called fans.
Thank God for the “DELETE” key!
RIGHT ON !
I love the
“if God wanted me . . . ” best response ever!
If you were “not a good writer,” tell me why my sister and I keep reading your books over and over again? I know we are not alone in this. So listen to us, and put those AI trolls out of you mind. Save that brain of yours to think up more great plots and interesting characters who feel like family to us.
Dear JAJjudy/Mrs. Jance,
My sisters and I were headed back from the reservation where we had picked the last few boxes of O’othahm material left there from when my Dad lived there after our Mom died. (Boy, that was a long sentence.) Marty said, “Why don’t you read us Judy Jance’s letter, so I did. (I had to reread one of your sentences. I had read it with the wrong intonation – it landed with the wrong meaning and I had to correct it.)
Anyway, we all laughed at the end and agreed you were right. God didn’t mean for you to do the laundry. Then we discussed where in the world the laundromat was….. Connie suggested that it might have been near the post office, maybe in the same building as Marj Puella’s hair salon? It threw us for a loop.
Back then we were just glad to get rid of the old wringer washing machine with its accompanying clothesline. We got a wonderful washer and a dryer, too … and that retired quite a bit of the ironing as well. We had to build an attached shed for our new acquisitions.
Sisters trapped for an hour reminiscing about childhood…. it’s the best!
We were closing down an epoch, our father’s final period of time on the Rez.
Well, I’m not sure if this is the kind of thing a person is “supposed to” write in response to one of your blogs/posts/emails????? But there you go – I’ve gone and done it!
So we’ll end with a laugh: We were so relieved to be done with the wringer, line and pins and to be slipping into the wash and wear era! Next = leave it all at the laundromat!
Good for you! Unfortunately, there ARE “trolls” out there, and the BEAT way to deal with them is to delete them. I happen to think you are a GREAT writer, and I love your books. I just wish I could get them here. Since the one bookstore we had in town closed, the only places to buy books locally are the grocery stores and Walmart, and they don’t carry your books.
Try library book sales, senior center sale shelves, thrift shop sales, and even ask friends if they would consider passing along or selling you the books,
once they have read them. I’ve even seen them in the Menard’s book section! Pick up a do-it-yourself building or repair book while you are at it!
It makes me sad and angry to hear people have done this. It also reinforces my belief to never trust positive reviews on any product as you never know what an actual or paid review is. Your experience did teach me something new. I have been going to negative reviews of products, believing those would be from actual people and experiences to decide on whether or not to buy a particular product or use a certain company. I never thought that someone would post a negative review to hurt the sales of product to get back at someone, that is despicable. Now this has me thinking that companies might pay people to write negative reviews on their competitors’ products also. My new mantra is, do not trust ANY review. You go woman and use that delete button God gave you! 🙂
Unfortunately. I think in this day and age not responding to all emails is probably the best thing. Ever since Covid it seems to be a no holds barred for many people.
I applaud you for your dedication to writing, answering emails, attending book clubs, and last but not least accomplishing your 10,000 daily steps!
I enjoy reading your blogs and your books.
One of many fans,
Lisa
You rock! I hope you didn’t chip your nail polish when you mashed that key.
I recommend you regularly to friends and aquantences when discussing great authors! The people you mention apparently weren’t taught as my mother told me -if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Hate to hear how scams continue to get through to us. Delete, don’t respond, great tools!
I am a long time reader. Thank you for being you!
I am a male, 76 yrs old. I am not sure when I first discovered you. I go to the Berea branch of the Greenville County Library because I simply can no longer afford to purchase books. Sometimes I just reach blindly for a book and I have found some very good books that way. Thank You!
Good for you, I was angry right along with you. I read all your novels and each one. You are the author not the readers and the books are your ideas not them. I may not agree with something but I would not argue with you about YOUR writing it. You have no obligation to answer someone else just do what I do delete delete. Keep on writing your good books. I enjoy them and have for MANY years.
I’m at 71-year-old Canuck writer living in Vancouver . Writer as in market commentary. Not the Brilliance of creative fiction. But writing nonetheless. We both know how much America Has Changed, particularly Seattle and our little corner of the world . Vancouver too for that matter . And there are just a lot of very angry and unhappy people out there. And social media has devised many platforms for those people to vent. But never lose sight of the fact that you’re writing is extraordinary . Never lose sight of the fact that there are many times in the course of my week where when I’m reading about bow or Joanna I wonder how they’re doing. How they’re making out. Wondering when I will meet them again. Last bring I was terrified to utilize a ticket that I had purchased on a whim to see favorite musicians at Jazz Alley. You told me what I needed to know about coming to Seattle these days and so I did not. It was i lost of $140 Canadian ticket but I saved a fortune in travel, gas accommodation and more importantly parking . Not to mention the fact that I would be probably stepping into something very close to downtown east side in Vancouver had I come down there . You didn’t have to take time out of your very busy day to respond to me and to make me feel comfortable about any decision I would make based on your response. But you did. We have corresponded here and there over the last 20 years and I have always loved your characters, respected your writing and point of view. Nothing has changed. Except the evolution of your opinions as it is with us all when life changes. I heard a quote that was supposedly attributed the Queen Elizabeth but I’m not so sure. It says that things will have to change if you want things to stay the same or maintain the status quo . All too true n’est-ce pas?
Hang in there Wonder Girl I know that you are loved throughout the world for bringing love and warmth and family to so many of us out here flapping in the breeze alone . But not, because of you!
J
I am shocked and disappointed that anyone would send you mean comments! I love your books and praise your writing whenever the opportunity arises.
Well then I think it follows that if God didn’t want you to delete stuff, there wouldn’t be a delete key. I’m with you on that all the way.
Good for you!! It’s hard for me to believe that someone thinks they can criticize another’s work, especially when you have accomplished so much. I’m pretty sure I have read all of your books,, and I’m currently searching for an author that I could enjoy as much. So far, no luck. I really enjoy the research that you put into your work.
Good for you. I believe everyone should have to use their real names, not a handle. Maybe then people would think before they post
I am so sorry you are getting such awful posts. I enjoy reading your posts, but can certainly understand you wondering if it is worth it. I know you have more fans than jerks. Hang in there and keep blogging.
I am so sorry this happened to you. Can’t wait to see how you use this nightmare and spear it in your books. Would eviserate be a better word?
Delete indeed!!!
Thanks for sharing this spam element. Once again you bring light to help your fellow man.
I’m so sorry to hear about these nasty communications. No one deserves to have so much hate sent to them. Sadly, there is too much anger and hate in our country.
I love your books and frequently recommend them.
You cannot control haters or those who envy. You are funny and I love your books. I have read and reread all of your novels. I introduced my Mother-in-law to your books, and she loved you as well.
Good for YOU, JA. I’ve always sort of pitied people who like to rain on others’ parades. Their lives must be miserable.
Remember the good old days when if the phone rang you didn’t have to answer it and there were no answering machines? That was also a time when you went to town and had to make sure you locked your car. If not,you faced the danger that somefriends would fill the back seat with an excessive amount of zuchini!
Oh Geez. What is wrong with people? Do they just enjoy trying to make others as unhappy as they are?
In the immortal words of Forest Gump “Stupid is as Stupid does”
You go girl!! Ignore and….. DELETE, DELETE, DELETE.
When I am confronted with something like this, I write a response filled with all the nasty horrible things I want to say – and then delete it along with the original. It gives me a sense of relief to get it off my chest without giving the sender satisfaction. As you know, our friend, Janice, recently experienced a similar situation. Hope she can resolve her anger and frustration.
Keep deleting – and may you never have a reason to delete me!
You are beyond cool! Good for you. There will always be the uglies out there. Hang Tough! We LOVE you AND your books.
Thank-you for your weekly e-mails. they make my Friday.
When the world is hard, it does my heart good to hear from you.
Thank you for every book you have written!
I’ve read them all. I even have your poetry book and I’m not much into that. 😉
Chris
Yes, responding to negativity almost always turns into a back and forth tit for tat that you just can’t win. Frustrating, I know, because my instinct is to put those people in their place. The outright scams are a whole other pain in the rear.
Keep up the excellent creative work you do!