I don't see the "you're misinterpreting/reading my book wrong/too stupid to understand it/being mean/it's only fiction (I can make up whatever I want)" arguments working well, especially when mixed in with "my poc friend said" and the default to white people as normal. (Although I have heard the term "Eurasian" before, but no poc I know refer to themselves that way -- maybe it's different outside of America or Canada. 'Course, I don't refer to myself as poc either, outside of race discussions.)
The only author I can think of who has responded without failing to a not-so-favourable review of her book is Nora Roberts (http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/review-tribute-by-nora-roberts/#comment-167008), who did *not* argue with the reviewer or commenters to try to change their minds.
But then, possibly there's also a difference between a bad review in the sense of poor plotting or unbelievable characters or "this book did not work for me buti'mnotsayingitsabadbook" and calling an author out on their privilege (not that authors can't or haven't flailed around and insulted their audience based on the former type of review alone)... (And Nora Roberts is an author who seems to like the word "exotic" to describe non-white people, so either she has not been called out on it yet or chalks it up to a "difference of opinion", which, well.)
Has it ever helped that author look like a better person, improved their sales?
I don't know about the better person part, but I seem to recall Elizabeth Bear bragging posting that her book sales increased after the initial round of racefail09.
no subject
The only author I can think of who has responded without failing to a not-so-favourable review of her book is Nora Roberts (http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/07/12/review-tribute-by-nora-roberts/#comment-167008), who did *not* argue with the reviewer or commenters to try to change their minds.
But then, possibly there's also a difference between a bad review in the sense of poor plotting or unbelievable characters or "this book did not work for me buti'mnotsayingitsabadbook" and calling an author out on their privilege (not that authors can't or haven't flailed around and insulted their audience based on the former type of review alone)... (And Nora Roberts is an author who seems to like the word "exotic" to describe non-white people, so either she has not been called out on it yet or chalks it up to a "difference of opinion", which, well.)
Has it ever helped that author look like a better person, improved their sales?
I don't know about the better person part, but I seem to recall Elizabeth Bear
braggingposting that her book sales increased after the initial round of racefail09.