Comments on: Blogger-Author-Publisher Relationships

By: admin

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:32:11 +0000

@katiebabs As a fellow bookaholic, I can sympathize! Thanks for the informative post. For someone unable to attend, it makes for interesting reading. @Shannon C. I checked out your blog. I like it, especially your opinion pieces. Are you the same Shannon who reviews for 'The Good, The Bad and The Unread'?

By: Shannon C.

Shannon C. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:43:11 +0000

I agree with much of what you’ve said. I’m still trying to figure out what my blog is supposed to be. I do know I don’t turn up my nose at free books, but after holding a couple of contests I’ve decided I’m never doing that again, and I’m that rare reader who doesn’t find them useful–the whole blindness thing sort of makes that hard.

I agree with your thoughts on twitter. I have a lot of romance industry people on my twitter feed, but I don’t think I’d enjoy twitter at all if I were trying to use it to network rather than, say, to have random conversations about odd topics, which is what I prefer.

And I don’t really need author love, either. It’s flattering when an author comments on one of my posts, but since I write for other readers, I really don’t care whether the author of whatever book I’m talking about reads what I have to say.

Lastly, I agree with you about blog tours. I tend to skip those posts when I see them.

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:35:12 +0000

I think it all comes down to what a person has planned for their blog.I have slowly evolved from writing very short reviews to now full blown ones and have a great deal of interaction with authors, publishers and both readers and others involved in the publishing world. Some bloggers want the attention from authors and publishers. At first I wanted books, because I have a book sickness (lol). Now I just love everything involving the process from a person sitting down to pen a story to how another person is able to have that work of art in their hands.
I am so glad many have been discussing this. It makes for great reading

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:34:21 +0000

@Jane Thanks! I was thinking more in terms of how interesting I would be to New York publishers. As I said, unless they have digital ARCs, I doubt I'd be top of their list to approach for reviews. I think the blog has already changed without me realizing it. I find myself writing a lot more opinion pieces that I'd anticipated. But it's fun, which is the main thing.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:29:09 +0000

That’s how I started! I bet it will evolve. I know DA has. All I am saying is don’t discount the importance of your opinion just because you are new. New opinions are the lifeblood of the community.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:24:20 +0000

@Jane I didn't interpret your posting your stats as competitiveness at all. You've worked hard, come far and deserve to be successful. But I don't mind saying your numbers scared the crapola out of me! My only purpose when I started this blog was to write about what I read. I didn't think it through any further than that. Maybe this will evolve over time.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:15:31 +0000

One of the reasons I hate posting stats is to prevent the idea that we are in competition. Dear Author started out with just myself and a friend of mine. I agree with your take that the purpose of the blog is very important in determining what and where a blogger wants to take it. No one direction is more or less valid than the other.

Also, as for small blogs (although how we determine small, I’m not certain), I think these blogs can have a greater effect than some large blogs because of how they influence people.