Steal it like you mean it!

And, most importantly, unlearning/undoing racism is a lifelong process that is never fully complete.
there’s no such thing as a perfect state of being Not A Racist. There’s always more to learn.

I think I would summarise the lessons like this, and try to internalise them:
- be prepared to sit with discomfort, don’t dismiss it
- listen to people and don’t assume bad faith
- good intentions can lead to bad outcomes

And I hope that, if something similar ever happens to me, I will handle it with more grace and compassion.

I am, like Clanchy, a classic Middle Class Middle Aged Well Meaning Liberal White Lady, and I am trying my best to absorb the lessons she has been unable/unwilling to learn from this debacle

I guess I find this so fascinating and frustrating (in more or less equal parts) because I can see myself in Clanchy a bit and I really want people like her/us/me to Do Better

Anyway, it’s a good series. Give it a listen if you’re at all interested in publishing and online culture

The whole thing was a bit of a bin fire and the way the publisher hung Clanchy out to dry was Not Cool, but I also found it teeth-grindingly frustrating how Clanchy doesn’t seem to have learned *anything* from this mess and simply persists in self-pity

The series starts with an interview with Clanchy herself, then goes on to interview her detractors, supporters, former pupils and (new) publisher.

Oh, I thought you could quit a job as eg a teacher after publishing one book!

A discounted sale is still a sale. A 99p sale on Kindle still counts.
Requesting a book at your local library makes a difference.
Suggesting a book at your book club, recommending to friends and enemies, leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, shouting about books online...
it all helps

The best way to support authors is by buying their books, especially through pre-orders, full-price sales, and sales through indie book shops.

BUT!

If you're counting pennies, there's still things you can do!

This sounds great except I feel the croissants should be served on nights with a crescent moon 🌙 🥐

Just to clarify: I didn’t think publishing a single book would provide you with a lifelong income, but I thought you’d be able to quit your day job and write full-time after getting your first advance. Hah!