Piper Nuelle

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Hello and welcome back to another ‘episode’ blog post of – Am I The Author A-Hole… This weeks entry is a little different to our previous two entries… This one is from a reader not an author as such, but it is still under the ‘umbrella’ phrase of ‘AITAA’…

If your new here, hi… Welcome… Am I The Author A-hole is a play on the popular trend that circulates online, but this is not about Monster Mother In-Laws, Bride-Zillas or Cheating Partners… Oh no, this is all about A-holes within the writing industry and their stories.

If you have a story you wish to share please comment in the comment section or email it in to me at pipernuelle@gmail.com But, enough pleasantries, let’s get to business…

Hi, I’m Jenna (F28) and my older sister Georgia (F36) has just written and self published her first ever book. I just want to know if I am the A-hole… because I don’t want to read or review her book!

As a child Georgia was the black sheep of the family, and I was as Georgia likes to say ‘The Apple of everyone’s eye’. Our parents divorced when we were younger, our mum took it bad and went out partying a lot, our dad ran off with another woman… Georgia ended up being like a second mum to me. As a teen she got pregnant young and left home, leaving me feeling abandoned and we lost contact.

A couple of years ago we met up for coffee and we got close. Now her child has grown up and is at college and my sister has gone back to work part time she decided to write her book, a book she has been planning since a teenager.

She decided to self publish as she said she only had one book in her and with her job she didn’t want to spend days or weeks or months looking for a publisher or agent. She seemed so happy with herself but I can’t help but feel a little jealous.

I know it sounds wrong but when growing up my aunts and uncles always said I would be the author as I read so much. My sister read a lot too but they didn’t see it as she was always running around after me. And now she has become an author and I haven’t I feel deflated, like she beat me to it. I have also been writing stories, but I am wanting to go the Traditional route.

She gifted me a copy of her book the other day and asked me to review it when I’m done. I told her no, that it should have been me to get published first and that she’s not even properly published so it doesn’t count. She is now refusing to speak to me and her son, my nephew has blocked me on all socials.

I feel bad, and I think I’m the A-hole… But… Am I maybe a little bit in the right?

Ok, in my opinion you are being an A-Hole! Your sister gave up a lot for you as a kid, it seems she also didn’t get the love and care you received from everyone else in your family. She went off and made her own little family and now feels it is time to do something for her. To me it feels like you are jealous, because although she has had a lot of responsibilities she still went ahead to tick off something on her bucket list and made one of her dreams come true.

You mentioned that you write too! So, why can you not both write? You heard of the Bronte’s right, the sisters that all published books and stories? Well why can’t both of you? And with the whole Self Publishing route and Traditional Publishing route, I think you need to be less harsh with her on that. Self Publishing now is a very viable way of publishing, getting published Traditionally is very hard and maybe the route she took was best for her, and if it’s not the route you wish to take then, you do you, babe. You want to publish traditionally, then do it if you can… But don’t bring someone else down because it’s not what you would have done. She’s your sister, be happy for her, support her, lift her up. Yes, you may be feeling jealous, we all do at some point… But maybe one day you will publish a book and you may need her as your biggest supporter, but if you burn bridges it may come back to bite you in the ass!!!

That’s my opinion on this subject, do you agree? Let me know.

Take care, xo Piper xo