To not want to buy friend's book?

[Pluvia]

A friend of mine recently completed an MA in Creative Writing and has self-published a short book. I have a background in publishing and writing and have been consulted regularly over the course of her study. I've also read parts of the book at various stages of development. It's genre fiction and not something I would choose to read or buy.

She's been telling all her SM contacts that when the books arrive we all have to buy one. I started out by assuming she was joking and responded that I'd wait for the reviews before deciding to buy or not. It turns out it wasn't humorous and that she really does expect everyone to buy a copy at £10 a pop. She's intending to gatecrash an event she hasn't been invited to this weekend in order to sell books and has let me know that she'll be there and I'll need a £10 note.

I know people will say 'It's only £10, what's the problem?' but it's the principle of the thing that irritates me. Not just the fact that I've given her several hours of my time and she still expects me to pay for the book, but that anyone should think that force-selling to friends is a good position.

I know lots of people do these writing courses: have others encountered this? What did you do?

For a good friend, I'd feign an interest and buy the book.

I would always buy a book. If a friend had written one, but I don't the way your friend put it - I'd be tempted not to because of that.

It is only £10, which isn't huge in the overall scheme of things. But she is a cheeky mare to be telling you that you HAVE to buy it and telling you to bring your money to an event she isn't even invited to.

I might say "I will happily buy a copy to support you - but remember I have pretty much read it anyway, so concentrate on selling it other people who haven't read it, so don't put one aside for me. If you have any left in a couple of weeks then let me know" Then emigrate.