In which I make my mum proud...

Ah, with you @Parson. Do you have tabloids in the US or is it a British term? Basically we have certain newspapers that use salacious headlines to get people reading (and often salacious content, too.) this was one such paper. I had a good idea it would be around the darker elements of my story so wasn't too surprised (and had a good giggle) but yes, it bears little relevance to the actual story of sf writer's debut. But the readers know that - it's sort of a style thing that's accepted. And yes, exactly like National Enquirer. :)
 
It works pretty well as a hook. I'd certainly read the article because of that, if I saw it in a paper.
 
"Hm, isn't that type of headline like something you would see on the National Enquirer?"
Now you understand!
Jo is probably lucky it's not worse innuendo!*
On the theory there is NO bad publicity in Marketing ...

* There is a very popular UK tech site that loves Sunday World style headlines (which are very British in style)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/28/sourceforge_accused_of_shackling_gimp_in_kinky_adware/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/05/31/apple_watch_irregular_heart_rate/

Oddly they recently started reviewing books, often SF.
 
Aren't headlines supposed to be descriptive?
Headlines in most of the UK national press (I shrink from calling them newspapers**) are designed to catch the eye, even at the expense of clarity or truth. And once you look inside our rags, it becomes worse. Someone writes a sensible commentary (not that this happens often) that wouldn't get people typing responses*** and either the headline or, worse, the standfirst (which most people assume is taken from the text of the article) state something that isn't supported by so much as a single word or phrase**** in the text.


** - In the UK's national press, there is little or no separation between straight news and comment, although some papers claim to separate them out. But what they're separating out are news stories chosen to fit a particular agenda (often news that doesn't fit the agenda is simply left out, even when***** it's on the front page in other papers) and written with a bias, and comments where (too often) facts are completely missing, replaced by illogical and untrue assertions.

*** - Unless dealing with matters of law, most of such articles are open to comments from the "readers", i.e. they're there to be, potentially, click bait. (I say "readers" because often those responding have read no further than that standfirst, and begin attacking the original author of the commentary for something they haven't said and don't believe.)

**** - Gone are the days of simply taking a comment out of context, although this does still happen, if only because it saves the writer of the standfirst from having to make something up from scratch.

***** - A certain major "serious" title in the UK completely omitted to mention (at all) a major financial scandal as it had a financial interest -- well, it had an immediate one, but also a much larger one that went, mostly, unnoticed (a huge loan from the institution in question) -- in the story going away, although how they expected it to not be noticed elsewhere, including broadcast news, goodness only knows.
 
I shrink from calling them newspapers
I've occasionally bought them over the last almost 40 years, purely to look at job adverts or accommodation. My dad got a couple of Sunday papers (maybe Observer was one) often. I must ask him why. Though perhaps the reason is lost in the mists of time.
 
Thanks one and all for the clarification. But I still feel hopelessly naive not to have seen that it was a "tabloid" (and yes we have that term) from the beginning. :oops::oops:
 
Good work Jo (y)

Although my cookie blocking program deleted 56 cookies set by that website. Most of which came from 30 different domains :(
 
Well of course the torture scenes are an important part of the book, but the article does rather make it sound like that's what the whole book is about, and of course there is so much more.
 
Well of course the torture scenes are an important part of the book, but the article does rather make it sound like that's what the whole book is about, and of course there is so much more.

It was always a danger and it is frustrating when I did all that I could to make it all non gratuitous, but the reviews on Amazons and Goodreads give a fairer reflection, I think, and hopefully anyone tempted will see that. Hopefully. But there's little I can do about it if people want to hone in on that aspect. Sadly, I think any torture bunnies will be disappointed with what I do with it and the significant lack of blood and guts.
 
That's great, Jo. This is the second article in the papers, isn't it? I loved the title of the other one. And I'm sure my own husband can relate...I've had Falion in my life since I met James. Told him pretty much two things when we met. He had to like guinea pigs and reading unpolished MSs.
 
That's great, Jo. This is the second article in the papers, isn't it? I loved the title of the other one. And I'm sure my own husband can relate...I've had Falion in my life since I met James. Told him pretty much two things when we met. He had to like guinea pigs and reading unpolished MSs.

I've had a couple but I think it's the same one you're referring to. I preferred the other headline too.
 

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