Currently I
(Of course if you think your book might be an exception, read on.)
I may make an exception for this if I’ve read your work before and love it to absolute bits and pieces and would move to your country, if I could afford it, and this would make getting a free book more likely. Or if I’ve expressed previous interest somewhere.
But chances of that happening are fairly slim and you probably don’t want to be dealing with the shipping costs because I don’t accept ebooks. I live in the Netherlands, Europe. While I’d like to think that’s not a huge issue to any author living in Europe, the sheer amount of giveaways I see on blogs that are publisher-sponsored and US/Canada only suggest that shipping costs to Europe aren’t very desirable.
If you do decide to take the plunge and ask me whether I’d be interested in reviewing your book for you, know that I give my opinion for good or bad. Also, please, please, please include the reason you’re offering me this chance and tell me yes, shipping to Europe is fine with me because that’ll be my first question to you. If only to show me that yes you’ve read this. (This is especially true if your book isn’t a genre I usually read. Just — why? I don’t get it.)
Have a mini-FAQ of things I could think people might be curious about.
But every book blogger would jump at the chance for free books, surely!
Many, maybe, but not everyone. I have a growing Mt. TBR like every other book blogger out there and, like many of them, I read because I enjoy it. I’m not in this for the free books. I’m in this for me and if others find something useful in what I say then good for them. ^-^ Makes me happy to know I’ve been able to help someone in a small way.
I can offer you my book in ebook/pdf format. Will you read it then?
Sorry, no. This would be an ideal format if you want me to rip your story to utter shreds, but I can’t read this format for my enjoyment. I go into editing mode and I am mean and picky like you wouldn’t believe when I can just point at the passages I have issues with without having to type them all up. (Unless I can’t find anything wrong with it. It happens.)
Of course if you’re looking for a proofreader/beta reader (and have money to spare), ask away! I enjoy doing that and might have time for it.
Will you post my press release?
Maybe. If what you’re releasing sounds like the kind of thing I’m interested in, go ahead and email me the press release. I won’t guarantee I’ll post it, but I’ll certainly think about it.
Why do you have to think about posting something you can copy/paste?
Because as I said before, this blog is mainly for me. It’s a place for me to record my thoughts and feelings on the reading of a book. Everything else is secondary. If a project looks interesting to me, I’d be happy to spread the word to others. But I’m not in this for advertisement and I don’t want that to be the majority of my blog. Even if I were to move away from book reviews, I don’t want my blog to be a collection of press releases or news bulletins. There are other, better ways to get that than from a personal (book) blog. Besides, there are many people out there who manage to juggle news-collecting with personal blogging far better than I could.
How about hosting a giveaway for us?
Unless it’s a book I’ve already read and loved and you’re capable of offering a worldwide giveaway, this is a ‘no’. I appreciate the fact that publishers do this on other people’s blogs. It introduces me to books I’d otherwise probably never hear of. But most of the time they’re US/Canada-centric and no amount of explanations about publishing rights and whys makes me less sad about that. If I’m going to host a giveaway, it’ll be for a book I like(, for a special occasion,) and open worldwide.
Will you do author interviews?
No. With a potential exception for friends. Interviewing was part of my secondary school experience several times. I was never any good at it. At least with friends I know them and feel comfortable bugging them. (Also, knowing they write awesomely, I’ll probably want to pull out all the stops to get it recommended to people and that includes venturing out of my comfort zone.)
I’ll consider guest posts by authors or publishers if the topic strikes a chord with me. But even that’s a scary thing to contemplate. (I’m a coward, really.)
My question isn’t answered here! What do I do?
First off, if it sounds even remotely like it could be grouped with any of the other questions, check to see if it’s not answered there. I might have grouped them together because they fit nicely.
If that’s not the case, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at libritouches*at*gmail*dot*com!
