Blogger Anonymous: All ARC'd Up

Hey, y'all! It's been a while since I did a Blogger Anonymous post (a post in which I not so anonymously post about an issue that's burning my biscuits so we can chat about it), and something happened last night that totally set me off.

I was perusing my Instagram feed as one does and what should I see but this:

An ARC for sale. By a blogger. Upon further looking I saw that this wasn't the first time this blogger had sold an ARC.

Giving this poster the benefit of the doubt (even though every ARC has "NOT FOR SALE" stamped across it in multiple spots), I commented on the thread and reminded her it was illegal to sell ARCs.

She deleted my comment and sold the book to another commenter. I commented again to both of them and told them both it was illegal. 

And I was blocked. 

It floored me that both the buyer and seller are bloggers. As bloggers, you know the Rules of the ARC:

1. Thou shalt not sell thy ARC
2. Though shalt abide by Rule #1
3. When thou is in doubt, thy will refer to Rule #2 for instruction about thy ARC

I mean, seriously - I says NOT FOR SALE all over it.

A few months ago there was a scandal over at eBay where people were selling ARCs of highly coveted books that had been gotten at BEA (Passenger by Alexandra Bracken and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo to name a few).

Maybe you're a newer blogger or new to the book world or new to ARCs, so let's go over a few things.

1. What is an ARC/ARE and what does it do?
ARC = Advanced Reader Copy
ARE = Advanced Reader Edition

Same thing, just different names. These are produced in limited quantity by a publisher or authors for the sole purpose of reviewing. These copies are distributed to media outlets, magazines, libraries, and (yes) bloggers and booktubers in hopes they will be covered on that particular publication.

Media coverage and reviews = sales = $$$ for publishers.

With me so far?

These books often contain imperfections that are worked out by the final bound publication, such as grammatical errors, spelling errors, formatting issues, and (in some rare cases) entirely different endings/plots/passages.

2. Why it isn't OK to sell them:
Publishing is a business. It's a career. From writers to editors to cover designers to the publicity and marketing teams, it is a real life job - the same thing that you or someone in your family does to make sure you have a roof over your head, clothing, food, and all the necessities. When someone sells an ARC, none of the people mentioned in the production of that book get a cut from it.

So basically it would be like getting your paycheck and it being $100 short because a few people decided to take a few dollars at a time from your check just because they can. Not because you didn't do your work (you totally did your work and kicked ass at it) but someone else decided that your work was also their work so why shouldn't they get a chunk of it?

See how that makes absolutely no sense? And how selling an ARC is basically taking money directly away from an author? A publicist? A company?

3. But I never asked for this ARC and I need to get rid of it - why should I have to pay to get rid of it?!
Oh, poor you. Poor, poor you. Someone sent you a book for free that you didn't ask for because they hoped you would enjoy it.

What is the world coming to when people get random, free bookmail?

If you receive an unsolicited book for review, you have a few options:

1. Read it and review it
2. Read it and don't review it
3. Pass it along to another blogger
4. Pass it along to friends and/or family
5. Donate it to your local library/school
6.Recycle it

See how none of those options involve selling it?

YA Highway actually did an excellent post about what to do with an ARC when you're done with it that I recommend checking out if you need options. I'm really blessed that I have YADC around me and I can usually pass my books along to another blogger when I'm done.

I can't afford to randomly ship books to people, but if people are willing to pay shipping, I will happily send them a book or 20. But note, I am not selling these books - I don't make a profit on them. It's one thing to be reimbursed for shipping. It's another thing to make a profit off something that isn't yours.

4. But I asked for a gift card ... not actual money:
Still counts. A gift card can be the same thing as money. A $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble spends the same as a $10 bill.

5. Digital ARCs don't count because they aren't real books, right?
Look, Pinnochio, that's not how this works. If anything, selling/sharing digital ARCs is worse. Once a digital file is uploaded in to the interwebs, it's out there for anyone to see and pirate. 

An author's pre-book launch is usually:

10% excitement
10% freaking out
30% planning launch events
50% playing 'Whack-A-Mole' reporting links to illegal copies of their books

Martina Boone's debut COMPULSION was up for illegal download on multiple web sites six months before release.

Would you photocopy an ARC and upload it it for people to read? It's the same thing.

6. So #BooksForTrade is evil?
No. Not at all. Trading an ARC for another book (finished or not) is OK and actually encouraged by publishers. I've actually spoken to a lot of publicists about this and it's bonus publicity for them.

It's simple math (and I suck at math). Let's say the average blogger's post reaches 500 people.

1 ARC + 1 Blogger = 500 people
1 ARC + 3 Bloggers = 1.500 people
1 ARC + 6 Bloggers = 3,000 people

See how the more you share, the more chances a book has to be review/featured? 

Trading a book for a book is one thing. Trading a book for a form of currency (money or gift card) is not OK.

7. How do we stop the madness?
Before you go grabbing your pitchforks, take a breath. I was so mad last night that I was tempted to throw this person's identity out there and just let the chips fall where they may. But what good would that do?

I did report what I saw to the publisher who was publishing those titles I found for sale and what they do now is beyond me. 

Publicly crucifying and shaming someone just stirs a lot of people up and leads to more drama. Which is why I'm not going to publicly share the bloggers that inspired this post.

If you're unsure about something, ask. Ask a publicist. Ask another blogger. As both. Ask 20 bloggers. Pose the question for all of twitter. But willful ignorance isn't a defense, especially when a book plainly says NOT FOR SALE on it.

ARC Essentials with Candlewick

Welcome back to ARC Essentials! This is where you find all the ins and outs for how to request advance review copies from publishers. I am so excited to welcome CANDLEWICK to the blog today!

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)? 

Be as thorough as possible! Here is what we’d like to see: 1) your name and your blog information 2) social media links 3) if you review on Goodreads in addition to your blog 4) titles you are requesting (limit of 3 titles per request and new or upcoming titles only) 5) monthly page views 6) mailing address or indicate whether you prefer receiving e-galleys through NetGalley.

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

Having 6 months or more of content is our general guideline for new-to-us bloggers. Also, your blog must have been updated within the past month.

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies?

Send your requests to publicity@candlewick.com or to your regular Candlewick contact.

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist?

Send your request to us directly.

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for?

We expect reviews for books sent but understand it’s not always possible. If you decide not to read the book, we encourage you to pass the book or galley onto someone else for example to another blogger, a young reader or donate it to your local library, school or charity.

6. When is the best time to post a review?

For new titles we’d like reviews to be posted within 3 months of publication (before and after). If you can, post your review on the on sale date or another date that works with the book (holiday, anniversary, etc.).

7. Where can I send in review links?

Send your link to your regular Candlewick contact or to publicity@candlewick.com .

8. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative?

Yes. We appreciate your honesty and will want to know whether you liked the book or not.

9. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy?

No. We have limited supplies of physical galleys and a limited time frame on our e-galleys through NetGalley. So either way ask for a title as early you can to increase your chances of receiving a review copy.

10. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy?

The ideal time is after we release our catalog (we have two per year, a Spring-Summer catalog and a Fall-Winter catalog).  You can also wait until you receive a pitch from us or 3-5 months before publication of a particular title.

11. Do you have a catalog mailing list for bloggers that I can request to be a part of?

We do not but we have a blogger e-mail distribution list and we contact bloggers regularly about our new titles. We post our full catalogs on our website Candlewick.com, on our Scribd account and we announce new catalogs on our social media. We also create a bookshelf on our Goodreads account based on the upcoming season’s list of titles.

12. If I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly?

Your best bet is to contact publicity@candlewick.com and we can coordinate an interview with the author.

13. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know?

Candlewick loves bloggers! We love to hear what you like to read. Ask us for a recommendation.

Be sure to check out Candlewick online:

Follow E-Volt on Tumblr http://e-volt.tumblr.com/

Follow E-Volt on Twitter http://twitter.com/evoltbooks

Subscribe to E-Volt’s Monthly Newsletter http://e-volt.tumblr.com/subscribe

Giveaway:

A prize pack for 4 upcoming Fall ARCS from Candlewick! US/Canada Only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Essentials: Penguin Teen

ARC Essentials is a series I've posts I've done wherein I interview publicists about how bloggers (new and old) should go about requesting those beautiful ARCs for review. I am so freaking excited to have Rachel Lodi, Digital Associate Publicist for Penguin, here today to talk about Penguin Teen. 

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)?

When asking for a review copy, please use the forms on our Penguin Teen Tumblr page located here: http://penguinteen.tumblr.com/bloggers. There are 2 forms—a blogger registration form and a galley request form. Here, you can enter your stats (most important are Unique page views per month and social media reach). There is also an explanation section where you can elaborate. If you have registered your blog, the galley request form should be super easy, and you won’t need to enter much new information.

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

We’re less concerned with the length of time that you have been blogging and focus more on the consistency of posts, social presence, and reliability. If you’re a new blog, it definitely doesn’t hurt to request!

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies?

You should use the galley request forms on the Penguin Teen Tumblr first. I am the digital publicist, monitor these forms daily (almost obsessively!), and add all requests to separate spreadsheets that are specific to each book. When the time comes to begin a campaign, I will first look at these spreadsheets when deciding who to reach out to, so I highly encourage you to use the request forms.

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist?

I don’t recommend emailing the author since I would prefer you go through our channels (so nothing gets lost). If you do email the author, they will likely pass it on to the publicist or to me, but we wouldn’t want anything to slip through the cracks!

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for?

If we send you a book that you have not asked for, it usually means that we have looked at your past interests and preferences and thought that you might like the book. We do these kinds of mailings when we are looking for review coverage, so yes, we would love you to review it! However, if you don’t want to, you are not obligated.

6. When is the best time to post a review?

Right around the pub date is best. We like reviews to come out when the book is on sale, but coverage in the few weeks prior is okay too. If you review in advance, it would be great if you could mention that it is available for pre-order and then do another post (or social media mention) at the on sale date and say that the book is out now.

7. Where can I send in review links?

You can send them to me at rlodi@penguinrandomhouse.com.

8. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative?

We always love positive reviews J. But you should definitely be honest in all of your reviews. If you feel uncomfortable giving a negative review and would rather do an interview with an author or run a giveaway instead, that is certainly fine.

9. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy?

That doesn’t really make a difference. It’s certainly helpful for me and cuts down on the number of things I have to mail.

10. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy?

When you’re using the forms, I can see the date that you have requested the book (and you only need to do this once!). It depends on the book when the campaign will begin/when I will begin contacting people, but I would say that you can feel free to request as far in advance as you would like, but note that I still won’t be contacting people about that book until about 2 months in advance.

11. Do you have a catalog mailing list for bloggers that I can request to be a part of?

We have a digital catalog mailing that goes out. Some bloggers may already be on this list, and we are not going to be doing printed catalogs in the future. I am compiling a list of bloggers who should be receiving this seasonal mailing. The fall 2015 one is next, so look out for that. If you are not on this mailing list, you can still request the pdf link.

12. If I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly?

It is best to contact me, and I can help facilitate. Generally when an author gets a request, they will forward it along to the publicist or schedule it themselves, but we always want to be kept in the loop about these kinds of things!

13. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know?

We very much appreciate all that you do, and keep it up! I look forward to working with you all in the future.

Thanks, Rachel!!!

And now, time for a giveaway! Want to win a package of 5 Penguin Teen books including:

Kalahari ARC

Mosquitoland ARC

The 5^th Wave pb

Half Bad pb

Dove Arising ARC

Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Winner must have a US mailing address / Must be over 13 to enter / The Irish Banana Review is not responsible for any unsent, damaged, stolen or lost prizes sent by a third party*

ARC Essentials: HarperTeen

Since I started ARC Essentials a few months ago, this has been, by far, the most requested publisher to get an interview with. So, here it is. I had a chance to talk with Stephanie and Booki, two amazing publicists at HarperCollins about ARCs and their work with bloggers.

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)? First and foremost, we absolutely love hearing why you’re so excited about this particular book! Chances are, we are too and we can geek out about it together. Aside from that, it’s great to see a link to your blog and social media pages at the bottom of the email, as well as your most recent stats if you have them handy. That way, we can get a sense for your personal reading taste and blogging style!

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

We don’t have an experience requirement for bloggers. If you love the sound of a book, it never hurts to ask us for a copy!

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies?

We have a digital publicist who serves as the main point of contact for bloggers and will be able to help with any galley requests. We also offer many titles on Edelweiss, so you can request digital review copies there as well.  

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist? Also, if I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly? It’s better to contact our digital publicist directly with any review copy requests. Same goes for interviews and guest posts. Authors get a LOT of emails every day, and we want to make sure you don’t slip through the cracks!

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for? No! We love seeing coverage for our books, but you should never feel obligated to read something you’re not interested in. Take a quick look and if it’s not for you, don’t worry about it.

6. When is the best time to post a review?

Typically, within 1-2 weeks of the on-sale date. It’s best if reviews are posted as close as possible to the date the book is released so that your readers can get excited and go get ahold of the book right away!

7. Where can I send in review links?

Reviews can be sent to the same digital publicity contact that handles galley requests. If at all possible, we prefer to receive reviews and requests in separate emails. That way, we can easily keep everything organized!

8. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative? We do! We want to hear all of your thoughts, no matter which way they lean. It’s also very helpful if you include a rating or impression of your review within the email next to your review link.

9. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy? Not necessarily, but we do have a limited supply of physical copies, so those always tend to go faster.

10. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy? The best time to request is 4-5 months in advance of the on-sale date. Of course, whether we’ll be able to send you one depends on supply, but we’ll try our absolute best!

11. Do you have a catalog available that lists all your upcoming books?
We don’t have a physical catalogue, but you can find our digital catalogue on Edelweiss here (http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/HomePage.aspx?pubOrgID=HC) where you can see all of our exciting new titles!

12. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know?
We absolutely love book bloggers! Building a strong reading community with you all is one of the best parts about our job and we really do appreciate the work you put into promoting our books. Your enthusiasm and passion is incredible and we look forward to continuing to work with you!

*Because the digital publicist job changes hands occasionally, they did not include the current email address for their digital publicist. Comment below if you would like her email address*

GIVEAWAY:

Stephanie and Booki are letting me host an EpicReads themed giveaway to go along with this post. Here's the thing ... it's a mystery. They will ship you a package of HarperTeen titles - might be ARCs, might be finished copies, could be a little of both. 

*Winner must be over 13 & have a US/Canada mailing address*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Essentials: Disney-Hyperion

I know, I know - it's been awhile since I posted one of these! Sorry for the delay. The time just slipped away from me! But today I am so excited to welcome my friend, Cassie, onto the blog to talk about Disney-Hyperion!

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)?

Good question! It is always helpful to include information about your blog like the number of unique visitors, social media followers, and mailing address. A sentence or two about why you are interested in the book is always great to see!

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

Even if you are new to blogging, everyone has to start somewhere. It never hurts to request a book and you may get a copy!

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies?

Each company is different. Usually there is a general email address that receives review request. Otherwise, NetGalley is a great resource to request books and to see the different titles that companies have coming up!

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist?

If you know the author personally, totally! If not, it may be easier to go directly to the publishing company.

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for?

No, but I would love it if you would! Blogger buzz is such a great way to get the word out there about a book and get people interested.

6. When is the best time to post a review?

I think that the best time to post a review is a month or two before the book goes on sale. It helps spread the word about a book and can make a big difference in a release!

7. Where can I send in review links?

I love to get reviews! Please send them to whoever sent you the book or any contact that you have at the publisher.

8. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative?

Absolutely!

9. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy?

I look for the same things no matter what form of a book you are requesting.

10. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy?

It helps to get us the request several months before the release.

11. Do you have a catalog mailing list for bloggers that I can request to be a part of?

Stay tuned! We are always coming up with new ways to stay connected with bloggers.

12. If I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly?

I think that it is always great to email the publicist and here is why: if they are organizing some sort of blogger cover reveal, giveaway, or tour, then they know that you are interested in the book.

13. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know?

Hmmm… just that, for me, the best blogger request is enthusiastic, concise, and fun which makes them stick out! We love working with you and getting to know you.

*Note: All comments are my own opinion and not official statements or views of The Walt Disney Company.*

Giveaway:

3 Copies of THE RULES FOR BREAKING
by Ashley Elston

-Open to US/CA residents

-Must be over 13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Essentials: Little, Brown & Co.

I know, I know - it's been awhile since I posted one of these! Sorry for the delay. The time just slipped away from me! But today I am so excited to welcome my friend, Faye, to the blog to talk about Little, Brown & NOVL. 

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)? 

List unique visitors, page views, followers—any site analytics would be great. Social media accounts, links to previous reviews, guest posts, Q&As, event promo, etc. are also useful.  (Not useful: Amazon or Goodreads links.)

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

This answer will vary, but generally until you have a committed following. This could be six months to two years, or anywhere in between. For instance, you can tell me why you love books, but also what you’ll do to help spread the word about them. Maybe you don’t have a huge number of followers, but your commenters might be very engaged, or you’ll post about an event or do an event recap. Mostly, I’d like some reassurance that your blog won’t go inactive if you get too busy with work/school/parenting.  I know blogging is a lot of work, and sometimes life gets in the way, but if we establish a blogger-publisher relationship, it’s a business relationship first.

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies? 

Me. You can reach me at publicity@lbyr.com and I’ll reply from my work email. Please note that my workload can be very intense, but when considering a new blog, I click on every link you provide and think about it really hard—and that can take time! I want to give everyone a thorough once-over.  If you don’t hear from me for two months, please feel free to send another email!

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist? 

Please don’t do this. It puts us in an awkward position of having to decline you if you don’t satisfy the requirements for our blogger program, and then the author knows about it.

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for? 

No, but the hope is that you’ll take a look! If you ever get a book in a mailing (perhaps a marketing mailing?) it is yours for consideration only. To be honest, I get wary of bloggers who feel compelled to review everything they receive—it signals that they don’t have discerning taste. As bloggers, you know best what you like and what your readers want to hear about… and I sure hope it’s not everything!

I also don’t expect you to review every book that you did ask for, if you somehow never got around to it or felt that it wasn’t quite to your taste. But sometimes I’ll follow up and ask about it. :)

6. When is the best time to post a review? 

For librarian bloggers, about three months prior to the on sale date (when librarians are placing book orders). For everyone else, when the book is on sale. If you post it too early, people are unable to purchase it or get it from their libraries. (And the goal is definitely to get books in the hands of readers!)

7. Where can I send in review links? 

Same address as above. I’ll usually forward it on to the publicist.

8. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative? 

Yes, I appreciate all reviews. A review doesn’t have to be negative, just as long as it explains why it doesn’t work for you.

9. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy? 

We have a limited quantity of physical ARCs, and those we mostly give away at conferences like BEA—otherwise, we run our entire mailing list through NetGalley. Our blogger review program is open only to residents of the US. This is because some books may have foreign publishers—and foreign publicity departments—that book their own media and events.

10. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy? 

Usually two months before publication.

11. Do you have a catalog mailing list for bloggers that I can request to be a part of? 

We have our mailing list that has a 6-8 week lead time.

12. If I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly? 

This really depends on the author (some interact a lot with bloggers and fans directly!), but we prefer the request to come to us first. You never know if an author is under deadline, swamped with a million projects, or on vacation. Sometimes, an author feels bad having to decline, so it usually gets forwarded to us anyway and then we decline on their behalf. If they’re up for writing or being interviewed, we’d also like to know about it!

So short answer: it’s easier for everyone if you contact us first.

13. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know? 

One of my first projects at Little, Brown was organizing and streamlining our blogger program, so bloggers are very dear to me. There’ve been a lot of changes since then—both internally and in the publishing industry—and I think more and more, getting blogger buzz will be a key marker of success in any book launch.

With that said, there are as many different bloggers are there are people, and it’s people that make up a business. It’s true that not every blogger will meet the standards for our program (again, not everyone is cut out to be a blogger, either). I’m not just looking for book enthusiasts, but people who are part of the YA book scene in their local communities. If you’re buddies with your local bookseller or public librarian, if friends and family come to you or refer you when they need a suggestion for what to read next or what to get their kid or teen, I want to talk to you!

Giveaway:

Faye has graciously donated a fabulous pack of 10 ARCs of upcoming titles for one lucky winner!

Wildflower by Alecia Whitaker

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Lies My Girlfriend Told Me by Julie Anne Peters

The Prince of Venice Beach by Blake Nelson

Since Last Summer by Joanna Philbin

Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Summer State of Mind by Jen Calonita 

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones

Secrets & Lies by Jacqueline Green

A Blind Spot For Boys by Justina Chen

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*US Only
Winner must be over 13

Want more ARC Essentials: CLICK HERE

ARC Essentials with Simon & Schuster

First off, so sorry for the delay, guys! I took a bit of a break for the holidays and to recoup, but we're back with this feature everyone seems to love!

ARC Essentials is a feature here on the blog where I have interviewed several publishers about the process for requesting review copies and then what to do once your review is written and posted. Each publisher has their own way of handling things, so what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

Today we have:

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)?

Yes, please include a link to the blog, page view stats, follower count, and all your social media accounts.

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

It doesn’t matter how old the blog is as long as the content is geared toward the appropriate audience for our books.

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies?

Please e-mail the children’s publicity inbox (ChildrensPublicity@simonandschuster.com)and each request will be forwarded to the appropriate publicist for the titles requested.

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist?

No, please e-mail us directly for requests as that will expedite the process.

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for?

We would appreciate if you review such books but it is not expected.

6. When is the best time to post a review?

The ideal time is at least a month before publication and in the weeks leading up to publication. But any time after that is fine if you still would like to.

7. Where can I send in review links?

Please send review links to ChildrensPublicity@simonandschuster.com

8. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative?

Yes, we would like to see all of them.

9. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy?

Yes.

10. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy?

Any time is fine to request it, but please note that review copies are sometimes not available until a few months before publication and we have them in limited quantities.

11. Do you have a catalog mailing list for bloggers that I can request to be a part of?

Yes, we have a digital catalog link you can use to browse. Please feel free to request it at any time and we can send you the link.

12. If I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly?

If you have an established relationship with the author, please feel free to contact them directly, though it would be helpful for us if you CC the children’s publicity inbox (ChildrensPublicity@simonandschuster.com) Otherwise, please contact that e-mail address with your request for interviews with specific authors and we will handle.

13. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know?

Please note that review copies are intended for review only and should not be resold. 

ARC Essentials with Random House

ARC Essentials is a new feature here on the blog where I have interviewed several publishers about the process for requesting review copies and then what to do once your review is written and posted. Each publisher has their own way of handling things, so what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

Today we have:

1. What should I include when asking for a review copy (Page view stats? Follower count? All social media accounts)?

UVM stats are VERY helpful, as well as social media accounts. It’s also nice if you note one or two that you’ve heard something about or why you’re requesting them, instead of a just a big list.

2. How long should I be blogging before I ask for a review copy?

Depends! We certainly wouldn’t turn down a new blog that has an impressive following.

3. Who should I contact about receiving review copies?

Feel free to contact individual publicists if you know they are working on the title, but if you’re not sure, we check our rhkidspublicity@randomhouse.com inbox daily, and those emails get forwarded to the appropriate person.

4. Should I email an author about obtaining a review copy and have them forward my request onto their publicist?

If you have a relationship with the author already (via Twitter, etc), this is fine to do. In most cases, it’s just easier to go straight to the publicist, though!

5. Do you expect me to review books I never requested, such as an ARC or finished copy I was sent but never asked for?

We never feel like we are OWED a review. If you receive ARCs that you didn’t ask for, it’s probably because we think you’ll really love it!

6. Where can I send in review links?

Usually, best to send them to the publicist working on the title. Again, if you’re not sure, the general inbox is best! rhkidspublicity@randomhouse.com

7. Do you want to see all reviews I’ve done—positive and negative?

I appreciate seeing them all, with a heads up that maybe you didn’t love the book. It’s good for us to see that you still took the time to read and review.

8. Am I more likely to get approved if I request an eARC of a book instead of a physical copy?

Definitely. It’s just a numbers game—we only print a limited quantity of galleys, but e-galleys are infinite.

9. When is the best time to request a book or be asked to be put on a list to receive a review copy?

I would say 3-4 months before publication.

10. Do you have a catalog mailing list for bloggers that I can request to be a part of?

We actually don’t make a printed catalog anymore! All info can be found on Edelweiss.

11. If I want to interview an author or ask them to write a guest post for my blog, is it best to contact the author directly?

See question #4!

12. Anything else you would like to add that you think bloggers should/need to know?

We appreciate the work you do! Bloggers are such a crucial part of building buzz for our books and introducing/recommending them to new readers. Thanks for writing!

Giveaway:

Random House is giving away a fabulous prize pack of ARCs and finished copies this week! Fill out the rafflecopter to enter!

AND WE STAY by Jenny Hubbard

BEING SLOANE JACOBS by Lauren Morrill

GATED by Amy Christine Parker

DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT by Sarah Mlynowski

LOVE ME by Rachel Shukert

THE MIRK AND MIDNIGHT HOUR by Jane Nickerson

TOXIC HEART by Theo Lawrence

THE TRAGEDY PAPER (paperback) by Elizabeth LaBan

THE TYRANT’S DAUGHTER by J.C. Carleson

WE WERE LIARS by E. Lockhart

a Rafflecopter giveaway