Tough questions, answered

Dear Debbie,

I wanted to ask you to comment on a few things and while I realize the questions I have are uncomfortable, I think we all want to hear your answers. I haven't ever seen you answer to your critics and I personally think its time that you do. Whether you like it or not, you are a public figure and like politicians you should respond to accusations.

Here are my specific questions.

1. What is your history with Joyce Reid? She seems to have a major issue with you. This morning she posted something in one of the discussion forums that she has "major concerns" over GBA and Trends and Tips.

2. James Hartier compared your magazine to a "expired candy bar at a dollar store" vs. Rave Reviews being Godiva. What's his issue and why would he insult you like that?

I am somewhat curious as to your response and hope you will answer publicly. I think its time that this gets brought to the surface. As a gift basket designer, reading this type of banter is uncomfortable. I can't even tell you my name for fear of being blasted by them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Whoever you are . . .(and I think I know who you are :))))
You're lucky that my publicist is on vacation. She wouldn't allow me to even read or respond to this but I think you're right. It's time for this to be surfaced. Maybe some good dialogue will get it all over with.

First things first, I've never spoke to, met or had any response to multiple correspondences sent to Joyce Reid. I was a customer of her Gift Basket Network and when it came to that, she was more than happy to respond to my emails. But, when I reached out to her to ask her to join our collaboration efforts for GBA, I never got a single response. Instead, she's been making up stories about me and accusing me of not having any credibility to everyone else, except to me. My last email to her was not a nice one, I'll tell you that - I quickly got tired of hearing the BS that was being spread about me. Its one thing if you talk to me and want to have an opinion, its another thing if you are just completely ignorant. I haven't a clue what her "major concerns" are because she's never brought them to me. And to be even more blunt and honest, who really cares? Having one person out of thousands criticize me without even knowing me is perfectly fine. In the broader scheme of things, it just doesn't matter. I actually find it comical. The best part is when she insinuated in one of her blogs that I was green slime. I actually printed the article and it sits on a shelf with mint jelly (get it - green slime!) above my desk. No joke. It motivates me to work harder and succeed even more.

As far as James, I just talked to him and he didn't mean it in the way you are interpreting.

Is that good enough? I sure hope so because look - it doesn't matter what they think. They don 't know me and if they took the time to know me, they'd really be in trouble because they would appreciate who I am, what I do and why I do it....and then what? Do you really think they'd issue a public apology? Heck no. I have a list of 8 people that have shown their true colors, are disrespectful and will never, ever be a part of any portion of my life. You just named one and no, I won't tell you the rest but I think you can figure it out.

How about the "good" people work together and focus on fixing the problems we as an industry have and work together. If all of the energies that are expended dealing with people like Joyce were put into positive things, we could really do something great. I appreciate all of you wanting to protect me but I'm a big girl and I can handle it. I'm better than all of that...now, let's go have some fun and make some money, OK!

Ok, I'm sure all of this will get me in trouble but I'm in a great mood today!