I've been dying to see the new horror flick, Orphan, only because I haven't seen a really good, scary film in a long, long time.

While doing some research for a client today, I came across an article in the River Front Times of St. Louis, talking about a news release from an author who came out swinging against the movie.

Author Kim Michele Richardson, an orphan herself who penned The Unbreakable Child, an expose' on abuse in a religious orphanage, was incensed by the film's premise. In the news release, the author is quoted as saying:

I find the premise of Warner Bros. film, "Orphan" disheartening, disturbing and I, too, worry about is effects on future adoptions. …

As a former orphan, I'm qualified to speak on this matter and to say, Orphan is an insult, insensitive and a damaging stereotype movie,
which I fear will only harm children without families.

I will be the first person to tell any author to tie their books to current news, but I found this release a little difficult to take.

This is a HORROR film about an evil little girl who terrorizes people. Period. The public is going to see it as another Bad Seed-type film, watch it, hopefully get scared from it and not regret spending $10 on a ticket, and move on. (According to the review at Pop Syndicate, it might be a rental at 99 cents.)

I realize this author had a terrible childhood and suffered horrible abuse in a Catholic orphanage. I recognize and applaud her for sticking for kids who don't have anyone in their corner. But this news release was way out of proportion with a fictional horror film.

Had Warner Bros. distributed a tell-all film about orphans that was pro-orphanages, well then, this news release would be perfect. The level of vitriol in this news release did not fit with a fictional horror film.

Don't believe me? Let's put this in a different light. what if people who own older homes spew anger against Supernatural or Amityville because they use older homes for haunted houses? What if pet owners decided to unit against Stephen King's Cujo or Pet Cemetery?

That said, I grew up with two parents who weren't perfect, but loved me. Was never abused or neglected, so I cannot put myself in the shoes of anyone who lived in an orphanage or suffered abuse as a kid. Would I feel differently otherwise? I don't know. I don't take a lot of things personally because I have a thick skin from years of journalism, but who knows? Maybe I would react the same way. Maybe I would be organizing nationwide protests outside every movie theater where the film was playing.

To someone on the outside, though, this just didn't sit right at all. This movie certainly would not keep me from adopting, if I wanted to. It doesn't make me think less of children in group homes – or to immediately assume they will be the Devil's Spawn if I bring them into my home.

If you are going to tie your books to a news event, think about how you want to pitch it and how your release could be viewed by people from several different sides of society. You might be surprised at the different ways it could be interpretted.

One of my biggest frustrations as a Virtual Book Tour hostess for Pop Syndicate's Book Addict is never knowing exactly how information will be sent.

Authors send documents in multiple e-mails, sometimes just hours before their tour. Some send part of their tour documents; some send none at all. All but a handful use such generic titles for their items, I have to open multiple downloads on my desktop to figure out which one belongs to whom.

Want to save your host some headaches? Follow these tips when sending your Virtual Book Tour items:

• Use your name in the title of every document, photo, book trailer or other item sent. Do not use a generic phrase, like Q&A or the blog's title. (Do you have any idea how many documents I receive titled "Pop Syndicate Questions?")
• Use a checklist to be sure you have all items needed for your tour. Different blogs have different requirements. Get them up front – not hours before your tour. It is easiest to create new folders for each site where you tour.
• Send all items in one e-mail. Resize photographs so you do not have to send them one at a time.
• When you send the documents, ask your host if they need anything else – and be available in case you – or your host – forgot something.
• Get your items to your host at least one week before your tour. Tours are tedious to plan and post. The more time hosts can work with your items, the better.
• If you have to cancel or postpone your tour, tell your host IMMEDIATELY. When possible, give them plenty of notice to find others for that slot. Better yet, find someone who can fill in and see if that is OK with the host. A good host will make exceptions for family emergencies and natural disasters – and they will appreciate your honesty.

These simple steps will have your host valuable time.