The usual yearly question: there is still need for me to be here?

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I really enjoyed the retreat in New Orleans, and among the reasons one is that I realized the genre has grown to be independent. And that is a marvellous thing. Yes, it's not I'm searching for compliment, but when I opened this blog 5 years ago or so, I was almost an exception, and more or less, all the authors, and readers, of M/M romance came here (and to the other 2 or 3 blogs reviewing M/M) to search for info. Now there are plenty of blogs, and groups and publishers and authors, and you can find recommendations almost everywhere.

What I noticed at New Orleans was almost an opposite thing: there were readers and authors who have never heard of me (and that is fine, I'm only yet another blog), but there were readers coming to me saying thank you, and I love your blog and what do you do is awesome... and I didn't know them. If I have to be sincere, I receive so few comments that I know almost everyone who has left them. They are friends, or authors, I'm in good relationship; but I didn't know most of the people coming to say hi and sometime I have the feeling to be in an island with a paper journal, i.e. no communication with the outside world.

So I'm applying a suggestion someone gave me at the retreat, ask a direct question. I know you are there, there are many hits, there are the Amazon referrals, always growing months after months, there are even some authors telling me they saw the increase in sellings once I post a review. But that is not why I'm doing this, the only reason is that I love books and I'd like to share this love. So yes, I need, once in a while to know that if I decided tomorrow to close down this journal, someone will miss it (me). Probably in a week or two they would find another blog, but at least they would wonder what happened. Will you miss me?

(PS: I'm not closing the blog tomorrow, there are the Rainbow Awards that will last until December... half-joking, half-not-joking)

Comments

[delibby.livejournal.com]

So yes, I need, once in a while to know that if I decided tomorrow to close down this journal, someone will miss it (me). Probably in a week or two they would find another blog, but at least they would wonder what happened. Will you miss me?
Yes

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, tonight I was really in the mood I needed to "feel" you

[starsinshapes.livejournal.com]

I'd miss you. :(

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, I know you are among the few commenting so I know you are sincere

[misslucyjane]

I'd miss you. You've led me to some great movies and books, and getting a review from you is like Christmas.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

and like a Christmas gift, it is becoming more and more difficult to decide what to pick up... that is sometime also the reason I'm unsure, sometime it's scaring to navigate the unknown

[eevereon.livejournal.com]

I don't like looking at other blogs - I like yours. So yeah, I'd miss you.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, I like it too, but sometime it's good to hear there are others other than me

[hpstrangelove.livejournal.com]

OMG - don't even say that as a 'what if'! I'd be lost.

Sure, there are lots of places to get m/m related info from - but that's the problem. There are too many places, spread out all over the Internet.

I don't have time to read all sorts of different blogs and visit websites to get my news. All I have to do is come here - everything is here, and then some. I've found more new 'old' writers because of your posts.

Please, don't even think about closing your LJ down.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

the new "old" authors are the one I prefer, but sometime I wonder if I'm the only one. good to know I'm not

[vorvolaka.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would. This is one of the first places I visit when I want some book recommendations and THE first place I visit for films.

I do hope that you are not about to close down but if you are, I can totally understand why as it must take such a chunk out of your life to keep it going.

Do you still enjoy doing it?

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

sometime yes, sometime if I have to be sincere no. Sometime I spend a awful lot of time preparing a post, doing research, putting the heart on it, and then, like that, it's posted, 0 comments, and it seems no one has ever read it.

[helenajust.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would miss you. The other day I was trying to work out how I became aware of M/M, and concluded it was through your blog. I think I happened upon it through your sister-site which focuses on book covers and illustrators. You opened up a whole new world, and I still regard this blog as key and authoritative. But I imagine that it is immensely time-consuming!

If you decide to cut down (I'm not even contemplating that you'd stop altogether), please could you focus on the books and the book reviews? I wouldn't miss the Awards but I would very much miss the reviews. That is a selfish view-point - I am sure others have different priorities!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I mostly abandoned the other blog since it was really impossible to manage two. I will re-start the behind the cover appointment here on LJ as soon as the cover contest is wrapped up, managing all the covers for the contest was quite an huge task, but I loved that serial on the vintage illustrator.

And yes, I need to find more time for the reviews, both of books than movies, that is probably what is really important

[aileenfan.livejournal.com]

Of course I'd miss you. I don't read other blogs reviewing M/M books and movies because I like yours best.

Your taste is similar to mine and I know the thing you recommend is worth reading/seeing and even if you don't share your direct opinion I think I can tell if you enjoyed a book or not.

Keep going:))) Please:)))

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, I know we have similar taste and I know my friends can "read" my true feelings even if there is not a rate atop of the post.

[elena-62.livejournal.com]

Cara Elisa,

One of the things on my to do list this week end was/is to have a look to the pics you posted and to what you wrote about the retreat - and comment! Plus leave some other comments about books.

I'm sure that the people reading and finding your blog useful are much, much more than those leaving comments. But I suppose you get statistic about visitors...

I suppose general shyness and problems with English may play a role. And of course, lack of time: for ex. in my case I get so many notifications and links to interesting articles and to reviews that sometimes I read something and think: ''Oh, this is interesting, I should comment'', but then if I don't do it at once, I don't do it anymore.

I admire you for managing to be so active here and have a job and a life outside the blog ;-), so I suppose if you need to slow down a bit we would understand it.

But be assured that you do an important work.

Buona domenica!

Antonella

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I need time for my private life, but I also don't want to leave, it's like trying to stretch a short blanket

[hawk-soaring.livejournal.com]

Absolutely, I would miss you. Your blog is the best. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, also for thinking I'm the best, it's probably very generous thinking

[treva2007.livejournal.com]

Of course we'd miss you. Not only do we like what you tell us, we like the love you have for the genre.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, it's a simply love to give and share, books seldom disappoint you and they are always there, waiting, when you need them

[(Anonymous)]

I would miss you! I've loved every single book I've bought because of one of your reviews so far. I'm trying to leave a comment whenever I finish one of them but my reading time is limited and so it takes a while before I'm able to. Sometimes it's weeks or months after your review and then I'm shying away from commenting because you've moved on to dozens of other books in the meantime.
Your blog reaches a lot of people and makes them happy, that's for sure!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you. shyness is something I know, so don't worry, whenever you want to comment, even in a post that is not related to the one you are referring to, I will always enjoy it

[cathalin.livejournal.com]

I'd miss you!

One thing I'm sure you're aware of but just amazed me... do you check your stats on lj stats? I write fanfic and it's reasonably popular but it's not in the most-popular category or anything, and even so, the number of hits I get far FAR exceed my wildest estimate prior to lj stats, based on comments. I had always been told that there were nine lurkers for every comment, but I have found it to be far far greater, like one hundred lurkers for each comment. On stats you can find hits, but even more importantly, unique users. Increasingly, many of those don't even have ljs at all. Have you checked yours? Because I would imagine your readership is very high. Check your visitors per month also, if you haven't. I was astounded.

I think there are lots of reasons people don't comment. The thing I hear most from lurkers is feeling shy, and like they have nothing of value to say. Then also of course are time constraints, something I feel very much myself.

Anyway, I'm sure you have a large number of readers like me who enjoy your posts very very much! <3

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

yes, and even if it sounds strange, sometime they are making me even more "sad": there are days with more than 1.000 unique visitor (and more than five time page views) and no comments at all, my worst month was april and the worst day had "only" 523 unique visitors and 6 comments, so yes, the average is 1 comment 100 lurkers, but now there are days with 1 comment. That made me wonder if maybe people had found somewhere else what they needed.

[marygriggs.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd miss you and your posts.

I wish I had known you were in New Orleans--I would have liked to stopped by and meet you in person!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You weren't at the retreat Mary, weren't you? I know a lot of authors are living near or in New Orleans but I mostly spent the time at the convention, it was at the Bourbon Orleans in the French Quarter

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

Don't go anywhere! ::hugs you::

And here is a compliment to you today on a review of mine :-)

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/226332569

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Oh Jane, thank you! I didn't know about that comment, and well, I didn't know about Tom, I don't think he has never introduced him and well, reading I'm his favorite reviewer of ever is humbling but so heartwarming

[moniqee.livejournal.com]

it would be really sad if you close this LJ coz that's where I get the action ( really nice introduction to US trip ), drama ( contests and top MM books ) and reviews other than goodreads and a few other blogs.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

you made me smile saying the contests are "drama"... you don't know half the drama these contests indeed are...

[eroticjames.livejournal.com]

I'd miss you very much indeed. I don't comment much anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't read your blog everyday.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you a. yes I noticed you are less online than before, but I also remember you are one of the first to friend me on LJ so it's nice to know you are still there. Actually I think people should complain about me as well, I'm the first not commenting much around. Probably that is the trigger, if you comment you will probably receive more comment back

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

If you weren't here I would definitely miss you!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you, and I know that, you are among the loyal commenters

[qbeeqt.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Please don't go! Yes, I would miss you...a lot! So many people are disappearing around me on-line and it's breaking my heart. Please don't be another one!

While I comment only occasionally, I read each and every post. You have introduced me to new authors and your reviews have occasionally tipped the scales when I've been waffling over purchasing a book. I really respect how fair you try to be when reviewing, giving me the opportunity to make an informed decision. Yes, I would miss you and your blog very much!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

that is what I'm trying to avoid, to deprive someone of a place they frequent, it's good to know that, even if there are no comment, my posts are something people like to read in a comfortable environment

[annabirmingham.livejournal.com]

I'd miss you! You are the only m/m blog I follow.

I'm guilty of not commenting as much as I should, but I really appreciate your book reviews. Many a time I have read a review of yours, liked what I heard, and gone straight to Fictionwise to buy it. I've never been disappointed.

Remember the screenplay I wrote a year or so ago? I asked you for some advice regarding contacts? You helped me enormously and a certain actor/writer in LA was fantastic about giving me some feedback. I would never have contacted him without 'knowing' you here. I owe a lot to you and this blog :)

Anna x

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

so good to know Anna, and for me it was the minimum I could do. I hope that certain actors gave you better advice than me and that you will manage to find a place for your script

[gaycrow.livejournal.com]

I would miss you. I always look forward to seeing your posts, even though I rarely comment. I often struggle to post comments, especially at the moment, when I have a lot of stress in my life, and I'm very sorry about that.

*hugs*

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

as I said to others, I don't want to stress people with real life issue for comments, I know what they are and I'm the first to forgot when my real life is calling. and actually I remember that you comment quite "often" (often considering the number of comments). thank you

[egret17.livejournal.com]

YES. I would miss you! Your historic posts are fascinating! The Rainbow Awards are an amazing achievement!

I only met you briefly on the riverboat and I was a bit too "zOMG, Elisa Rolle" to be coherent. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I remember you in New Orleans, and I hope I didn't give you bad vibes. I don't talk much, but it's more related to the fact I don't trust my English so much. And I too love my historical posts, those are the once I spend quite a lot preparing and mostly got out without comments. But it's really good to know there are people reading them other than me.

[(Anonymous)]

Elisa

Don't you go anywhere. There needs to be a good reviewer. It's sorta balances us evil ones you know.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

i think I don't have the shell to be evil, I will not be able to manage the incoming tornado if I turned into one

[tessanoil.livejournal.com]

I would miss you a lot. I love you reviews and summaries. Your updates help me to keep up with new relieses. You introdused me to so many new authors.
Thank you!!!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

nowadays it happens not so often that I read new authors, but it's always my point to give to them a privileged chance on the reading list

[kirby-crow.livejournal.com]

Your blog is the "go to" place for me. Whenever I want to find a new book to read, there are only 2 places I go to look: John Scalzi's "Big Idea" posts (for fantasy and scifi, mostly non m/m, alas), and your blog, for everything m/m.

I think your blog is the only place I've been getting recommends for m/m reading, film, art, and magazines for years.

Please don't vanish. So many of us would be lost without you. :) *hugs!*

And remember the rule of commenting: For every 1 person that posts a comment, at least 100 people read it!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you Kirby, as for others I know you like my more "artistic" posts, again sometime wonder if I have to post them, if they are not a bother more than an interest for people reading. But I love them and they are part of me, so until I'm here, they will be too