If you've visited The Story, you might be familiar with a feature I do occasionally called "Dear Story Siren." If you not familiar with the feature, basically readers submit questions... personal questions, questions about blogging, author interview, publisher interaction, reviews, etc. It's my way of sharing some of the things I've learned during my blogging adventure. That being said, I am in no way a blogging expert, but I'd like to think I've picked a few things up along the way.
A lot of the questions I get have to do with publisher interaction. This is something that I think is very important for a blogger that is actively receiving review copies from publishers. I know that at a blogger myself, I want to continue to improve those relationships and be as beneficial to the publishers and authors as I can. The majority of the time I don't know the answers to these questions. I have my assumptions, but who knows if those are correct.
In turn, I was inspired to do something a little different with "Dear Story Siren." I'll be doing a special edition of "Dear Story Siren" geared specifically toward blogger/publisher interactions. I've contacted several publishing houses with a set number of questions to be answered, and I'll be featuring a different publisher each post.
Past Dear Publisher Posts:
Penguin
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
HarperCollins
Bloomsbury & Walker
Today's blogger/publisher interaction questions are from Egmont USA!
What should I include in my review copy request?
Many times bloggers forget to include their address with their request. We try to keep our records updated as best as we can but it’s helpful when you include your complete contact info in the email.
When is the best time to post my review?
The best time to post a review is around the publication date.
Do publishers want to be sent reviews of titles I've bought?
Publishers and especially authors like to receive reviews, so please send all!
Do publishers want to be sent reviews of titles that have been on the shelves for a while?
Any book of ours that you review, we would love to see!
Is it okay to have a contest for an arc that I've gotten from a publicists?
Sure, feel free to have a contest. On occasion we can offer other promotional items that can be added to the mix.
How many months do you like to see someone blogging before they can request an advance readers copy?
There are a number of variables that we take into consideration including uvm, number of followers, enthusiasm for title or author, among others.
When you send a copy for review, do you like us to let you know it arrived?
Sometimes we like to follow up and make sure that it arrived but more importantly we want to know if you never received it!
Do you want us to send you links of our reviews that are negative?
Yes, any and all feedback is appreciated!
What if I can't get into a book that you sent me for review, do you want us to let you know that we won't be reviewing it?
Definitely. All feedback is appreciated.
When is the best time to request an arc, 3-4 months before the publication date?
3-4 months is perfect, and if we don’t have it yet we will let you know.
Is it better to contact an author for swag (bookmarks, postcards, etc.) or should we ask the publicist?
The publicist is your best bet as he or she is likely to know what promotional materials are available from the publisher and author. But feel free to contact the author as well.