A self-published author sent me a generic email asking me to read his book and blurb it. I’ve taken out his name, and the title of the book, as a courtesy:
I am about to launch the XYZ novels, which are
legal/crime thrillers. I would love to get a blurb from you for the first novel
in this series, XYZ. I have attached the first few chapters for
your review and will be happy to send the full book upon request. I
thoroughly believe that you will find this book compelling and will be proud to
have your name associated with it, otherwise I wouldn’t intrude upon your
valuable time.
As compelling as his personal endorsement of his own book is, that’s not a good enough reason for me to read his novel. In fact, this solicitation is a classic example of how to not to get an author to read your book. For instructions on how to do it right, check out author Gregg Hurwitz’s checklist of dos-and-don’ts for blurb pitching.
Holy Remainders!
I got the very same email. Honest to God. From the lawyer guy?
He must be mass-emailing… or is spamming?
Yeah, it was the lawyer guy in Denver. How did you respond to it?
Wasn’t this the one Sarah Weinman posted on her web site?
I received the same e-mail. I feel so used.
I told that I was a screenwriter with no published books, so my blurb would probably not help him.
He wrote back something like “You don’t have to play football to know a good team.”
I feel left out. I didn’t get one.
I don’t know… but if so, I’d love to read her post on the subject!
More on the fanfiction leagal scene.
http://scrivenerserror.blogspot.com/2005/05/fan-fiction-part-viii-undiluted-envy.html
There’s clearly some sort of mutual thing going on amongst novelists as regards the exchange of blurbs. As a reader of popular / genre fiction I’ve learned one thing the hard way: Never be taken in by blurbs by other novelists in the same genre – or novelists in general I’d say. Even world famous ones. It’s totally meaningless.
Another thing I’ve learned: Treat excerpts from reviews with the utmost caution. There’s some publication called ‘Publisher’s Weekly’ – or something like that. I never buy a book with a blurb that orginates from Publisher’s Weekly. It’s a sure sign that the book is a pallid affair.
Yeah, I put very little stock in blurbs. Some of my favorite authors have blurbs some of the worst books every written.
Oh yeah you never want Publisher’s Weekly blurbing your work.
I didn’t get it that email. Should I feel left out?
We should all blurb the guy.
We should all blurb the guy
THIS is a great idea! I’m in.
Lee,
This is so funny – Everyone should know you are above helping any self published author. My goodness we all know we are the eathlings and you are the writing GOD!So many literary contributions you have made –
Travis
“Eathings”? Did the Dalaks fight them on “Dr. Who?”
Then again, “We are the Eathlings” would make a great album title for a DEVO-like group.
I heard from the lawyer also.I feel annoyed that I wasted even five minutes of my time telling him why I couldn’t.
Are the comments above about Publisher’s Weekly serious?
PW is a very important trade mag. They review almost all published books. Bookstores and libraries order according to these reviews. You want to get a good review from them. As for using their review as a blurb there is nothing wrong with it. Far from it. You’ll be very lucky to have it.
I was being fascitious. PW is the top nod.
I got this email today from the lawyer guy (name removed to protect the clueless):
Dear Mr. Goldman:
I recently discovered that you and others had quite a bit of fun at my expense in a Blog dated May 20, 2005 and in the associated Comments. Hope you all had a great laugh and were able to share a few momenents of looking down your collective noses at someone. I’m glad I provided a good bonding opportunty for you all. Regards, [LAWYER GUY]
I heard from him again, too. He also outed himself on my blog. I wouldn’t have named him, since I wasn’t trying to embarrass anyone, but apparently he doesn’t care.
What’s clear from his response to us both is that he hasn’t learned anything from mistakes. He still doesn’t get it. In many ways, he epitomizes the misguided thinking that motivates so many self-published authors…and, sadly, reveals why he hasn’t made it as a professional novelist. You can just imagine how he would react to an editor’s comments on his manuscript…