Attacks on Slovenian writers with fake profiles or cheap PR trick?

Several actors on the Slovenian literary scene have warned on social networks the alleged « sabotage » of some Slovenian writers on the Goodreads platform, a platform where users evaluate books. For three anonymous user accounts, which have only been presented by Slovenian authors, only one of the five possible stars, according to individuals, the well -known writer and translator, whose identity should be no doubt. This one, however, strongly denies any connection.

« The person we all know about who is, in my estimation, attacks only women – writers, poet and translator, » she wrote in a public announcement in the Facebook group editor Nina Kozar. « This is therefore not only ordinary malicious malice and fovši, but also an underestimating, humiliating and hostile attitude towards women (domestic misogyny), » she added.

Accuse Harry Potter translator

Asked who this person is is Kozar’s for Work Explanation that her post “refers to a translator and writer Jacob J. Kendo,«, Which is known to the public mainly for translations Harry Potter and the travelogues Appalachi Trail, Transversal and Europe: North, northwest.

« Lately, there have been two authors on Facebook, who have noticed on the Goodreads platform that more fake profiles are badly evaluated by their books, » explained Nina Kozar, adding that « criticisms were not argued or justified on the wrong assumptions. » It is clear that three user accounts are Kendo because « click on false profiles reveals that they have poorly evaluated the works of authors such as Manca G. Renko, Mimi Subkriznik and Irena Cerarand all profiles were evaluated by Jacob J. Kende’s work with the highest possible rating.  »

However, Kozar points out that « this was not the only indication that he was about. Jacob is in the circles of readers who are active on social networks, known for his attacks in comments, and many times through private messages, « she added. She was already the target of Kend’s » attack « . Because of her praise of the book The shrines of nature Irene Cerar, supposed to write her Kenda, “I have no idea what I read to have to thank for my success the fact that Miha Kovac Her partner, and that it may once be devoted to me that the book sucks, « she complained. She added that she had heard from several people that Kenda was mostly attacked by a female writer and expressed hope that « the public disclosure would stop these attacks and force him to reflect. »

“I think using fake profiles online is not uncommon, but of course, it is a slipping false profile to use to muddy your resident colleagues and to elevate your own work. However, slimming and harmfulness, as far as I know, are not illegal, so it’s hard to talk about sanctions, « he is for Work Written by writer and translator Manca G. Renko, whose book Animal city has received a negative criticism of an allegedly false user account by name Kiky.

Kenda: It is most likely to be the PR trick of writers

Jacob J. Kenda, when asked for comment on such allegations, denied any connection with false profiles. « If anyone was coordinating false profiles, I would say earlier that they were accused, » he said. In accusations of writers and other actors on social networks, « these are probably PR trick, how to promote books that may not be sold best, » the writer estimates.

Jacob J. Kenda denies the allegations. Photo: Jože Suhadolnik/Work

« Even if these books really gave a bad grade, we are so far away today that it would be problematic? » Kenda wonders, adding that his books have ever received some offensive criticism on Goodreads, but « does not occur to him to be burdened with it. »

Poor platfrome regulation

The mutual accusations of writers on the controversial actions on Goodreads are neither nor a Slovenian specialty. Finally, at the end of 2023 echoed an example of a writer Cait Corrainwho gave bad estimates to other writers before the release of her debut with several false accounts. The recipients of the negative estimates revealed Corrain’s because false accounts wrote positive criticism of her novel before his outcome, reports Guardian.

The writer initially denied the allegations and then admitted them and repented publicly. Due to the affair, she lost a literary agent and publishing house, and her novel currently has a grade of 1.7 stars on Goodreads, although it has not been released at all due to the disclosure of its unethical activity.

The Goodreads book recording and evaluated platform was purchased in 2013 by Amazon, which is The New York Times At the time, he commented that it was « the consolidation of Amazon’s power in determining which authors will be exposed. » Amazon has since been the target of allegations of poor platform regulation since then.

Goodreads was considered a battlefield before the acquisition, where individual writers in a sharp battle for the visibility of their works did not think of low bumps, such as attacks on competing colleagues with false profiles or public calls to their fans, which novels to attack with bad grades.

Despite the difficulties, Goodreads, especially due to the disappearance of professional literary criticism from the media, is one of the rarer readers of how to obtain new readings for many readers, which is why the evaluations, albeit unverified and unpublished, are increasingly important for authors and publishers, as they can influence the sale and rental of novels.