Comments on: Why aren’t publishers getting back to me?

By: Bookfool, aka Nancy

Bookfool, aka Nancy — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:53:56 +0000

Very nicely written. I didn’t attend BEA and seldom seek out galleys because I get so many offers that I have to be extremely selective, although I did write to Peachtree Publishing and received no response. You’re so right — there is no such thing as a free book. If you accept a galley, you’re also accepting a commitment to review.

By: Alexia561

Alexia561 — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:45:53 +0000

Great discussion! I admit that I get a little jealous sometimes when someone receives an ARC I’ve been drooling over, but it would never occur to me to write them a nasty email. Why not be happy for them, while hoping you’ll get the next one? What goes around, comes around, and no one should have a sense of entitlement. Thought we all started blogs to share our love of reading, not to get free books? *shakes head*

By: blueicegal

blueicegal — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 05:32:53 +0000

i have a army on the way!!!! i think… feel our wrath bad emailing person muwahahahahhaa!!!

By: blueicegal

blueicegal — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 05:19:58 +0000

oh my god!! how dare they say such a thing what a pitiful selfish thing to say what has what you receive got to do with them, i hope you gave them a piece of you mind the nerve! emily i feel the same lol when i look back at old reviews i literally cringe! btw i love your comment system very pretty :)

By: Serena

Serena — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:34:15 +0000

Great advice

By: Emily's Reading Room

Emily's Reading Room — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:43:32 +0000

I looked at the reviews that I wrote a year ago, and they sucked! At this point I am comfortable in my writing and my following enough to request review copies. I make my pitch clear and to the point. And I’ve begun establishing a relationship with publishers. But, I’m so glad I didn’t do that early on.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:12:36 +0000

Thank you for posting this! I only this week gathered the courage to address a publisher directly for an ARC rather than go through Shelf Awareness or some other first read program. I’m not certain whether I will be successful, but I do recognize the importance of writing a “good pitch” if you will. It might take me some time to perfect it, but it is one of the reasons why I took so long to write. I wanted the followers and the portfolio that warrants attention from publishers.

By: J.T. Oldfield

J.T. Oldfield — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:00:36 +0000

My problem is that lately any of the pitches I’ve been getting from publishers (and usually these are small, independent publishers) are uninteresting to me. Nothing has grabbed my attention.

By: Gwen

Gwen — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:46:34 +0000

Wow, I think that a your poison email writer has issues. Maybe they should be looking for a free shrink as opposed to free books;)

Many of us have worked hard at developing relationships with publishers and publicists. I have dealt with a few of mine for years, even before I started a book blog. It is seldom an overnight or one email and you are in the secret club thing and I don’t think that new book bloggers realize that.

Very nice and gracious response on your part. I might have lost it.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:26:22 +0000

I’m just about to hit my one year anniversary in July, and it wasn’t until I went to BEA and had publishers take my contact information in person, that I felt okay about receiving ARCs. I’ve gotten one galley since BEA and that was because I emailed the publicist I met at BEA who told me she’d send me one since they’d run out on the floor. I still wonder if I have much of an audience to support the endeavor, but I hope the fact that it worries me means that I won’t take advantage of the system.