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I want to take a minute and sent out a huge thank you to the teachers & librarians who are purchasing authors' books as a way to say thank you for all the free & low-cost resources we've been providing. And I also want to talk about a not-so-great email I got today. (thread)
Many of you know that Christina @soontornvat & I teamed up to offer a super low-cost virtual author visit for schools & kids learning at home this week. We had such a great time with everyone who took part in this, and the kids were amazing.
Our registration page stated up front that each $15 registration was good for login on just one device for the live event but that the video replay could be shared with remote learners and viewed multiple times. That replay is available for almost two months.
Today I got an email from an educator who was upset because her students were unable to all log in from home. When I replied, I explained (again) how the webinar was set up and that she’d be able to share the replay if she wanted, or if not, I’d be happy to offer her a refund.
She replied by telling me that she hadn’t read the registration page before signing up. She was sure I’d understand that because she’s teaching fully remote and is super busy.
I absolutely do understand that – and I have so much empathy for educators who are overwhelmed right now.
Then she went on to say that all the other author events she was sharing with her students were free. And that's how it should work.
Then she went on to say that all the other author events she was sharing with her students were free. And that's how it should work.
She told me I should check out (male author) who wins awards and DOES NOT CHARGE FOR HIS TIME. She made it clear that she does not believe that authors should be paid for their work, at least during the pandemic.
She expressed her disappointment with me in a dozen different ways and then went on to ask again for a refund.
So I refunded her registration fee. She’ll still get the video replay link. I don’t want her kids to miss out because she sent an unthoughtful email.
So I refunded her registration fee. She’ll still get the video replay link. I don’t want her kids to miss out because she sent an unthoughtful email.
But I cannot begin to tell you how soul-crushing this email felt today.
Christina and I spent weeks preparing this 45-minute, in-depth author visit for our readers. We spent $400 on a tech assistant, ASL interpreter, and Zoom webinar license.
Christina and I spent weeks preparing this 45-minute, in-depth author visit for our readers. We spent $400 on a tech assistant, ASL interpreter, and Zoom webinar license.
We charged $15 for a live webinar AND a follow-up video recording that could then be shared with every family in the whole school and viewed from home over the course of almost two months.
And then I got an email scolding me for not working for free.
I understand that this note came from a good, hard-working teacher who’s probably in tears today, too. Too much is being asked of educators right now. Every teacher I know is at the breaking point.
I understand that this note came from a good, hard-working teacher who’s probably in tears today, too. Too much is being asked of educators right now. Every teacher I know is at the breaking point.
Educators, as authors, we truly see how hard this year is for you. Many of us have been teachers, too. We are doing everything we can to try and help. We really are listening.
Please understand that when we ask for a small fee to cover expenses and pay us for our time for an event, it’s not because we don’t value your time. It’s because we also value ours.
Today’s email was by far the exception to the rule. Our in-boxes and social media feeds are also full of thank you notes, and people have been ordering our books from my local indie, where they have signed bookplates. We appreciate all of you so much.
So really this thread is just meant as a reminder for my teacher & librarian friends.
Authors are on your side.
We know you’re doing your best in an impossibly difficult situation. We're doing our best, too.
And we can’t wait to visit you in person again when this is over.
Authors are on your side.
We know you’re doing your best in an impossibly difficult situation. We're doing our best, too.
And we can’t wait to visit you in person again when this is over.
