I would imagine that all the notoriety will only help anything she's written already. People will be curious to find out if she really is as good a writer as those who have read and admired her writing say, so that while some will avoid her work on principle, others who would never have heard of her otherwise will run out and buy whatever she has out at the moment. I agree with Toby that the language of many of the articles about her is boring (beyond belief) and hard to get through if you're not part of the crowd who understands what they are saying. You have to wade through a lot of stuff about the "narrative" before you get to the parts about what she has actually said and done. So I think a lot of people won't read them all the way to the end (I couldn't) and those who are particularly curious and want to be able to be part of the discussion will turn to her fiction instead.
The problem will come with the next thing she writes. If agents and publishers don't want to be associated with her, if the novelty of reading something by such a notorious character wears off, the ill-will she's gained for herself could damage or even destroy her career.
But that doesn't really matter, does it? Her award-nominated writing persona is apparently as false as the others. Nobody knows who she really is. She could reinvent herself with a new name in a year or two, send out her stories, and if she such a good writer she'll probably sell them. As far as the effect on her life and career, all this nastiness will be as though it had never been ... for her. How quickly others recover from the trauma is another matter. And then if anyone notices similarities in background, similarities in style, I am sure that people will (rightly I might add) criticize those who imagine they see RH in any new female writer with a Thai background who comes along. She has protected herself very well, while doing all the damage to others.
As for her public apology, I didn't notice any contrition as far as the people she's abused, no apology to them. The apology I read (it may not be the only one, but it's the one that seems to be getting the most publicity) seems to be aimed at the people who supported her, the people she "disappointed," and how ashamed she is for letting them down. It gives them something to point to, to say, "See, she's apologized. She's learned her lesson. She's not so bad." Very gratifying to them, I am sure, but nothing — no closure, no anything — for those she has traumatized and abused. Just the fear that she can come back at any time under another name and do the same harm, but perhaps next time with greater subtlety. Because she may have learned that lesson, at least. Are you all reassured by that thought? I'm not.
The problem will come with the next thing she writes. If agents and publishers don't want to be associated with her, if the novelty of reading something by such a notorious character wears off, the ill-will she's gained for herself could damage or even destroy her career.
But that doesn't really matter, does it? Her award-nominated writing persona is apparently as false as the others. Nobody knows who she really is. She could reinvent herself with a new name in a year or two, send out her stories, and if she such a good writer she'll probably sell them. As far as the effect on her life and career, all this nastiness will be as though it had never been ... for her. How quickly others recover from the trauma is another matter. And then if anyone notices similarities in background, similarities in style, I am sure that people will (rightly I might add) criticize those who imagine they see RH in any new female writer with a Thai background who comes along. She has protected herself very well, while doing all the damage to others.
As for her public apology, I didn't notice any contrition as far as the people she's abused, no apology to them. The apology I read (it may not be the only one, but it's the one that seems to be getting the most publicity) seems to be aimed at the people who supported her, the people she "disappointed," and how ashamed she is for letting them down. It gives them something to point to, to say, "See, she's apologized. She's learned her lesson. She's not so bad." Very gratifying to them, I am sure, but nothing — no closure, no anything — for those she has traumatized and abused. Just the fear that she can come back at any time under another name and do the same harm, but perhaps next time with greater subtlety. Because she may have learned that lesson, at least. Are you all reassured by that thought? I'm not.
