See Something? Say Something: What Happened When a Reader Spoke Up
Ten days before the release date of Forrest for the Trees, I was passed a note written in by an ARC reviewer named Julie. She had let my publisher (Smartypants Romance) know that I’d mentioned a problematic brand. Like my character, Sierra Betts, I am a huge fan of bourbon and a bourbon mixed drink connoisseur. I had projected onto Sierra the drink I order when I myself go to a bar: something my local bar calls a Persian Cowboy (a cross between a Pink Cowboy and a Sidecar).
In the book, I used a bourbon that I’ve treated as a staple for years. Bulleit Bourbon is available at most bars I visit. What Julie was upstanding enough to mention is that Bulleit has been embroiled in some accusations of homophobia, and that the collective we (me, my publisher) should be aware. I knew nothing about these accusations, but checked them out immediately. Publications like Forbes, Slate, and the Kentucky Herald Leader all reported the story. And Kentucky ought to know. That’s where 50% of all bourbon is made.
To make a long story short, here’s what happened next:
I immediately wrote to Julie to thank her for making me aware of my mention of the problematic brand. I myself am Queer, and even if I weren’t, I want nothing to do with putting the spotlight on a homophobic brand.
My publisher had already asked whether I wanted them to remove references to Bulleit. Mind you, this is ten days before publication. This is after the audiobook has been recorded; after all the files have been uploaded to every single retailer; after books have gone to print; this is also during a major seasonal release cycle (for my publisher) that involved dropping multiple books. I took them up on their offer to change all of this. Obviously. But the point is, this was not a fight. They were proactive in offering. Sooooo many publishers would have ignored something like this.
Julie wrote back to let me know about a different brand of bourbon called Uncle Nearest. This is not only non-problematic bourbon—Uncle Nearest was founded by, and is owned by a Black woman! That’s right, folks, a reader spoke up and I discovered BLACK WOMAN BOURBON!!!
I tried Uncle Nearest bourbon myself (which is ah-MAY-zing) and now Uncle Nearest, not Bulleit, features in my book and is my new bourbon of choice.
The result of all of this is that my story was revised. Unless you ordered a very early print copy or read an ARC, you received the new version. Our narrators, Eboni Flowers and Chris Brinkley immediately re-recorded some parts of the audio and that was also available on time. Pennyverse staffers changed every version of the book. People rallied to do the right thing. And I discovered an amazing new whiskey.
Thank you, Julie, for speaking up.
