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Blogger Truthiness

Colleen Doran — Sun, 08 May 2016 14:41:16 +0000

Without going into gory details, a feminist blogger whom I used to count among my friends was booted off my private FB page two years ago after I caught her leaking info. The stuff she leaked was often filtered through her truthiness meter, which is to say what you say and what she repeated often had little resemblance to one another. I haven’t spoken to her in about 2 years, and one of her nastier acts of revenge was posting a truthiness article last summer – clearly directed at me – which strongly implied I’d given her an interview. Which I had not. I never gave her an interview about the subject she posted. Ever. Another dirty trick is her spreading the lie that I hate cosplayers because they don’t buy books, and won’t attend shows with cosplayers. This is ridiculous. She paraphrased a conversation on my private FB page and attributed a writer’s comments to me. I simply didn’t make those comments. Here is a screen shot of what I actually wrote on my private FB page. I can’t violate anyone else’s privacy by repeating what they said as well, and would not do so, but my position was simply that some cons are party cons, and some cons are book cons, and some cons are celebrity cons, and you should know your market. Not all shows are going to be good book sale shows. This is, like, Sales 101. This blogger is not trusthworthy in any respect, and I will not speak to her in the future. But this canard got back to me again recently, and I feel I have a right to defend myself. If people want to go to a con to party, what is it to me? Some cosplayers buy books in great honking quantities. Every show is different. Find what works for you and do that. Apparently, making up shit about pros is what some bloggers do, but hey, gotta feed the gossip gristmill, otherwise no one will support your Patreon.

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A Distant Soil Fan Art: Amazing Niniri Doll and Set!

Colleen Doran — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:04:20 +0000

Allen, aka IXIDragonLordIXI has made a wonderful Niniri doll complete with elaborate Ovanan set! This is amazing! LOVE it!!! Looks at those earrings and that hairpiece! Those are real crystals! And Allen made the entire doll head and body himself. Here she is at her console, planning galactic domination in the sweetest way possible. And doing it all with fabulous hair! A girl likes to be well dressed, and this lovely cape is just the perfect accompaniment to the genteel megalomaniac’s wardrobe. Vogueing it, while poised to push the red button! Detail of the back of Niniri’s cape. Just love this, what an outstanding job, Allen! Thanks so much for sharing it with us! And what timing, considering the scene now running on the website! c

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FAQ: The Word on Fanfic

Colleen Doran — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:17:36 +0000

Dear Colleen, I know you have a lot to worry about with your work and how you want it to be used, and I always want to respect the creators and their opinions about their work. So, I was just wondering what you would think if I wrote A Distant Soil fanfic. I would not sell it or anything, I just want to write stories for myself. Is it all right if I show it to people or post it on my blog? I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. I respect your hard work and your opinion, and would not do anything you do not want me to do. Sincerely, Karen French Dear Karen, First off, let me say how kind it is of you to ask! I am so very grateful for your consideration. I have absolutely no problem with people writing fanfic of my work. Write away! I was also a part of fandom and did lots of fanfic and fanart when growing up, so I know how much fun it is. A lot of fan activity exists in a kind of legal grey area. Some authors and artists never want to allow fans to make fanfic or fanart of their work. In all the years I have been a pro I have only had to step in and deliver a legal warning a couple of times when the use of my work got a bit out of hand. Technically, fanfic and fanart are derivative works. Go to FANFIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS for a great website which will tell you just about all the legal stuff need to know about fan activity. I don’t mind it if you post fanfic on your blog and share it with your friends. But please don’t make commercial use of my work. I usually try to not pay close attention to any fan use of my work, because I trust the fans to do the right thing. Please don’t forget my copyright and trademark information. As long as it stays “fannish” in nature and doesn’t stray into commercial enterprise, or as long as it doesn’t threaten the viability of my copyright and trademark interests, I will do nothing to interfere with your fun. The only serious action I have ever taken against anyone in this area was when a former editor of A Distant Soil was found to have been writing and selling A Distant Soil fanfic some ten years after I stopped working with her. Due to the nature of the confidential information on my book to which she had had access, and the breach of professional boundaries, as well as the copyright and trademark concerns, we had to send her a cease and desist notice. It might interest you to know that the first mainstream comics job offer I ever got was because I was working on a Legion of Superheroes fanzine when I was in high school. The fanzine was always sent to the DC offices so the pros could see it. Keith Giffen, the Legion artist, saw my work on that fanzine and called me on the phone one day! Most pros I know support fan activity and would really prefer to NEVER take action against a fan. It is so good and kind of you to ask, and I am glad to have this opportunity to share this information with other fans. Enjoy your writing! c

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