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
Egmont USA
Today's blogger/publisher interaction questions are from Flux!
What should I include in my review copy request?
We consider courteous, professional emails containing the following information: your full, real name (not blog alias); blog Web address; mailing address; email address; title and author of the specific book requested; blog stats (followers, unique visitors daily/monthly, date the blog began); links to previous reviews from the same publisher or of similar titles.
When is the best time to post my review?
The best time to post a review is as close to the release date as possible, preferably the week or two preceding the release date or the week or two immediately following the release date. All FLUX books officially release on the first of the month.
Do you want to be sent reviews of titles I've bought?
Certainly! If you review a book that we sent you or pick up a FLUX title at the library, local bookstore, or online, we’d love to hear your thoughts. To help us spread the word about our books and your blog, you can always post the link to your review on the FLUX Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FluxBooks) or tweet the link to @FluxBooks on Twitter.
Do you want to be sent reviews of titles that have been on the shelves for a while?
Publishers (and authors) are always thrilled when a reader finds their books. While the primary purpose of a review is to get the buzz going about books in their infancy, reviews/media hype for backlist books can breathe new life into a title or introduce it to a new generation of readers—take the Beezus and Ramona craze right now! However, if the title is older than one year, you need not share your review with the publisher. Remember, you can always post the link to your review on the FLUX Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FluxBooks) or tweet the link to @FluxBooks on Twitter, too.
Is it okay to run a contest for an ARC (or review copy) that I've gotten from a publicist
Absolutely! FLUX considers the review copies that we send to bloggers to be their property. You can use them to build your personal library, donate them, or host a giveaway for your readers. We find that the last option is an especially great way for bloggers to build their reader loyalty and spread the word about good books.
How many months do you like to see someone blogging before they can request an advance readers copy?
We like to see blogs that have been established and reviewing relevant titles for at least one year.
What criteria do you look for before you will send a blogger an advance readers copy?
Since FLUX is a small indie press, and since ARCs are expensive to produce, they are often unavailable to online venues. We do, however, regularly send review copies (a.k.a. finished copies) of our books to bloggers and other internet media.
Before we can commit our resources to your blog, we take into consider all the following elements: courteous, professional communication in your request, blog stats (followers, unique visitors daily/monthly, date the blog began); blog appearance; cogency and relativity of previous reviews; the title(s) requested; our history with the blog/blogger; and blogger involvement in the industry (i.e.: are you connected to other YA book lovers online or otherwise, are you a librarian or bookseller, is your blog affiliated with traditional media, etc.).
When you send a copy for review, do you like us (bloggers) to let you know it arrived?
That’s not necessary, but do let us know if it doesn’t show up.
Do you want us (bloggers) to send you links of our reviews that are negative?
Of course! We’re most concerned with your genuine reaction to our books.
What if I can't get into a book that you sent me for review, do you want us (bloggers) to let you know that we won't be reviewing it?
It’s not necessary if this happens once or twice, but if it happens quite often, you might want to let us know so that we aren’t wondering where our books are ending up! You may also want to ask yourself if another style, genre, or press might be a better fit for you. FLUX is an alt indie press generally known for publishing progressive, thought-provoking titles, and those may not be for everyone.
When is the best time to request an ARC, 3-4 months before the publication date?
Again, since FLUX is a small indie press, and since ARCs are expensive to produce, they are often unavailable to online venues. For FLUX books, bloggers can submit requests for review copies one to two months prior to publication date.
Do you like sites that promote sharing advance readers copies? (EXAMPLE: ARC Tours)
The round robin ARC model is very cool. We are open to it in certain cases, but we do have a limited supply of ARCs, so simply being part of a round robin ARC exchange will not always guarantee you an ARC (especially if the criteria mentioned in #7 is lacking). We may also offer a finished copy instead. Either way, it is very helpful if you provide the information in #7 for all the blogs participating in the exchange.
Is it better to contact an author for swag (bookmarks, postcards, etc.) or should we ask the publicist?
At FLUX, promotional items (bookmarks, postcards, etc.) are generally created for our imprint as a whole, rather than on a title-specific basis. These materials are more appropriate for large trade shows or events at bookstores/libraries. The real boon is the book itself. Some authors choose to create their own promo items. If you’d like to know if promo items are available for a given title, mention it at the time of your request and the publicist will check with the author. Or, if you’re already in contact with the author directly, seek them first.
Anything else we need to know?
Just one more thing, what to do if a publisher tells you that they are unable to send you review copies.
FLUX loves the grass-roots techno hype from YA book lovers like you, but the blogosphere is vast and few publishers are able to fulfill every request.
When drafting your request, it’s good to remember that some presses will have a more resources than others. FLUX is still young, and while we’re growing, it’s necessary for us to set certain parameters, imparted here in the fast-talking, fine print reading, TV commercial guy style:
Currently, FLUX is unable to send books to bloggers overseas. We require that all bloggers have a history of regular posts dating back at least one year. We limit the number of books per season to no more than 4. Our top priority in determining if your blog is a viable review outlet is how much Web traffic your blog receives. Final decisions on distribution of materials adhere to these policies and are not based on personal preferences.