My name is Johnny Mains and I'm the one who started the post at the VoE forum. It's been interesting to see how that initial post has evolved, encompassing three threads and has filtered into blogs etc. Not my intention, but these things happen.
I run a website. It's
www.allthingshorror.co.uk. On it are some reviews. So for want of a better word, I call myself a reviewer. Doesn't make me a particularly good one, but I try to the best of my ability. I've reviewed a few books, a few films. I pick and choose what I want to, and review it when I want to. My feelings on Allyson Bird's collection, have up until that post, been kept private.
I had toyed with the idea of reviewing the book for the website, but thought that my comments would be left best unsaid after the incident on the VoE forum where people, including myself were having a pop at Allyson and others for blatant and excessive self-promotion of new works - when the site was predominantly aimed at all the 70's and 80's crap that I love so much. The situation resovled itself when Allyson and others left the forum. The site has evolved since, and newer works have filtered in and have a place.
As stated on the other thread, I met Allyson at the BFS
Poe shindig, where I had a small chat with her, with the understanding that the incident had been put to bed, and by way of smoking the pipe of peace bought from her a copy of
Bull Running. I started reading it on the train home that day with aims to writing an honest review on the book and finished it a couple of days later.
I was sad to see that a lady with clearly a lot of drive and energy had put more effort into her promotional skills than into her writing skills. Sure, the book a couple of nice bits to it, but my main feeling of the book is now known. And I stand by that, and will stand by that. The book, is now no longer in my possession - I gave it to someone to read with the words 'You Have Been Warned.' I still haven't heard back from him if he's read it or not.
When the book was shortlisted I gave myself an all-knowing smile and said to myself, 'Ach, she'll never win.' Then she did. I was shocked, but not really that surprised.
She should be applauded for winning with her debut collection, but only if that win WASN'T due to excessive promotion, back rubbing and all of the other love-in's that go hand in hand with incestuous forums - (we all make 'friends' on these places and we like to feel we can help out whenever. It's that little selfish gene in us that makes us feel good by helping out someone else. And maybe getting a little favour returned in the future if the need arises) if that is the case, then
Allyson should apologise to the BFS for bringing the awards into disrepute.
But why should I care? I'm not a member of the BFS, granted - but have given serious thoughts to joining it. What I have seen though - through months of watching this forum are people who tiptoe past each other, scared to say something out of place unless they are tagged as being 'not one of us'. Do you want characters here? Do you want diversity? Then let them have a voice, even if you don't agree with them. Instead of calling them 'unprofessional' - understand that they obviously feel very passionate about a genre that they are very heavily invested in, and only care about where the genre is going.
Who wants to be a part of a clique that only applauds sub-standard works of 'horror' or whatever other banner you care to put it under? I want to be involved in a clique where only the finest works are recognised and applauded, and on the day Allyson's collection was not that finest work. Nepotism is great and good when it works well. When it goes wrong, you end up with this middle class, pretentious outrage that we currently find ourselves in.
I could be wrong. Allyson could break out into the mainstream with her talent and prove to the world that she has what it takes. I wish her every success in doing so, but when you stand her work alongside noted female writers such as Sarah Pinborough, Tanith Lee, Mandy Slater, and going back to luminaries such as Mary Danby and Catherine Gleason- it is woefully lacking in style and substance and I feel that she will struggle.
Oh, and as this is my first post - hiya everyone.
