Topic: Recent tension between 'professionals' and book bloggers at conference exhibits

[Christine B.]

Amaris, I had the same anxiety about whether I was doing the right thing for the ARCs I took. I did not take many -- only those I knew I would read. And I tried to also purchase another book from the author or publisher when I took an ARC, when possible.

I am sharing some of the ARCs with my critique partners tonight, many of whom are involved in the kidlit scene and are around a lot of children and teens. And I'll be doing word of mouth at SCBWI this summer! Anyway, I am glad you asked the question because I was so excited to read the ARCs but also wanted to make sure I was doing something valuable for the books and their authors. I don't think I can part with my signed ARCs, I love them too much. But any suggestions published authors have on how I can help create buzz, I'd be glad to do!

[yarnspinner]

I've been giving the ARCs I'm not madly in love with to my library.

I agree with Amaris about The Raven Boys.  For some reason, the character of Calla reminded me of Libba Bray. I kept hearing her voice saying those lines.    

Christine (yeah, another one in CA   )

[L.E. Falcone]

I was thinking about the library option; I know they can't put arcs on the shelves but they do have events where arcs are given away and also, isn't that how they decide to order books a lot of the time? Based on the arc? I know they don't need Maggie's book (and let me start the buzz here: y'all, THE RAVEN BOYS is sooooooo good. The writing is lovely and to the point, and the characters (Noah! Ronan!) and the 3rd pov and the entire weirdness of some rich kid looking to wake a really old Welsh king and the somewhat-chaotic family of psychics...it's all just so weird and lovely.) (and this is why I tend to avoid writing actual reviews; I'm too full of gush and not enough detailing why) since she's done at least one event there, so they are already fans and will surely order her next book, but maybe they could use the others I got. And I have some blogger friends who do giveaways; I'm sure they would love to get a fancy arc and help build some buzz, too.

Okay. I feel better. I'm not just some greedy book hog. Thanks, guys!

Ask the Youth Services librarian to see if they need anything for their summer reading program.

[Natalie]

My local indie hosts ARC reading clubs for various age groups (as young as 8-years-old up to teens). They meet once per month and they each choose a different ARC to read and review (on a note card) and then bring it back to share with the group. If you have a local indie, it might be a nice gesture to see if they have such a program and donate your ARC once you've finished. Even if they already have a copy, more than one kid could read the same ARC and then discuss it.

[anonymous]

You know what drives me crazy about ARCs? There were a good number of ARCs distributed of my book. Only a very tiny number of people actually read and reviewed the book, consequently there was very little buzz about it before it came out, and I suspect the lack of enthusiasm influenced certain factors around the release.

Now, several months post-release, a few people who have been sitting on this ARC for over a year have heard that the book is good, and they have announced that maybe, just maybe, they might read the ARC, after all... You know, because they didn't before. It didn't interest them in the least, even though they were glad to grab copies for themselves when they were being given away at conferences (intended for booksellers and librarians).

So, to sum up, these people just had the book sitting on their shelves, unread by anyone, and they're only now giving the ARC (not the real book) a shot because it's getting good word of mouth. This ARC could have been grabbed by a bookseller, by a blogger, by anyone who would actually read the thing. I don't care, even, if someone grabbed the ARC, tried to read it, hated it, stopped at page ten, and then posted a blistering review-- at least that person TRIED to read it, which is the reason ARCs exist. To be read. NOT to be hoarded so someone can get a thrill at the sight of a huge number of unreleased books sitting on her bookshelf.

The whole hoarding of ARCs pisses me off more than people selling it on ebay (because at least a reader buys it), or people immediately giving it away on their blogs without reading to drum up traffic (because again, people who get it in the giveaway are likely to at least try to read it!), or even people pirating it (because at least people who pirate it actually READ it, and they don't cost my publisher the expense for the ARC). When you grab an ARC you have no intention of even reading, and just squirrel it away from everyone else, then you are actively screwing me over.

I feel strongly about this because sometimes I even get tweets telling me they're going to read my ARC now that the got at event X over a year ago. How am I supposed to respond? Great. So you didn't buy a copy, you sat on a promotional item that never got to fulfill its purpose, and you're only reading because other people who actually did read told you it was worth checking out... Am I supposed to be grateful?

[MaryWitzl]

Yes! 

The industry doesn't run on a love of free books. It runs on a love of books, period . . . The biggest way I can show my love for that book that I loved, apart from blurbing and recommending it, was putting my money where my mouth was and making sure that that author gets paid for writing a book that I loved.

[Tabitha]

I think no one except those in the industry knows how authors get paid. It is a fairly complicated process, and an assumption is often made that an author is filthy rich if a book hits the bestseller list once. I'm not sure where this came from, but I hear it often from non-industry folks.

Anon, I would feel the same in your shoes, for many reasons. I think those who are finally getting around to reading the ARC do think you'd be grateful to hear that they are reading it. And I think it's because they don't have a clue how the industry works. Which is irritating and frustrating, and these people are hurting when they think they're helping.

I wish there was a way to educate those that snag ARCs, show them the purpose these books serve, and that the author can suffer if the books aren't used for their purpose. But I don't know how to do that...

[217mom]

I don't care, even, if someone grabbed the ARC, tried to read it, hated it, stopped at page ten, and then posted a blistering review-- at least that person TRIED to read it, which is the reason ARCs exist.

Wow, Anon. Would you really prefer a terrible hateful review from someone who stopped at page ten? I couldn't agree less. That’s something that could really set your book’s sales back.
It is the publisher's responsibility not to disseminate a gazillion copies indiscriminately. When something is given for free it is more often not valued. IMO publishers should be sending these ARCs thoughtfully, not giving away heaping piles at gatherings open to the public.
I'm glad for you that your good book is getting a buzz anyway, despite some of the unread give-a-ways. This will pay in many ways.

[Whizbee]

I feel strongly about this because sometimes I even get tweets telling me they're going to read my ARC now that the got at event X over a year ago. How am I supposed to respond? Great. So you didn't buy a copy, you sat on a promotional item that never got to fulfill its purpose, and you're only reading because other people who actually did read told you it was worth checking out... Am I supposed to be grateful?

That sounds really frustrating.

At the same time, even though it would be great it they had used their ARCs to promote the book when it first came out, it is still filling a good purpose. It's continuing the word-of-mouth hype that your book is now getting. Is it naive of me to think that now these ARC-grabbers are going to finally read the ARC, they will spread the word to their friends and blog-readers, who will then buy the book?

It's not great that this word-of-mouth marketing is coming so late, but it is great that it's coming. Isn't that how many books find an audience--slowly?

[Benjamin Martin]

Its kind of an interesting process  Its been a few months since BEA where ARCs first started going out for SA.  Now that a bit of time has passed, the first reviews are finally starting to pop up around the net.  It will be interesting to see how the next two months go before the release, and how many ARC recievers actually review it.

[Elaine (aka sweetpea)]

I went to BEA this year for the first time, representing the library I work for. FWIW, I came home with less than a dozen books.

I went with a strategy. I was there to find book titles that I hadn't already heard buzz about to order for our library. We don't have a YA librarian and our children's librarian is busy building the collection for the younger readers, so I was there with an agenda and I wasn't going to get that done scooping up ARC's that we can't add to our collection. Also, I have neither the time or the patience to wait hours in line for a high-profile ARC of a book I know I'm going to order anyway.

I took pictures and wrote down book titles I wanted. I grabbed a few catalogues. The only time I scrambled and risked being run over for a book was when I attended the MG Buzz. I wanted physical copies so that I could share them with the children's librarian who didn't attend the session. I was almost pummeled to the floor, but mission accomplished.

I only took three books with selfish intent. The latest Captain Underpants for my son (handed out on the bus), a second copy of Maggie's book for my son (they were handing them out on the bus, too and there were extras and I thought we could read it simultaneously). Last, when I popped in the Librarian Lounge for an afternoon snack, I was asked if I would like to meet Patricia McCormick and get Never Lie Down in a real hard cover, signed. I said yes and tried not to swoon or act like an idiot.

I saw people with huge wagons and suitcases, but I'm not a blogger and I don't feel the need to grab an ARC just for the opportunity to read the book before the masses. I'd like to think that people who had suitcases loaded had the intention of promoting or increasing the sales of the book, but more than one person seemed like that might not be their agenda. 

But I succeeded in my first BEA experience. I ordered each title that I selected to take home, as well as most of the titles I listened to at the YA new author buzz session and every MG buzz title I heard about. Not bad for a part-time library employee who is seriously underpaid.

[andracill]

It's a tough thing.  I still have about a dozen ARCs from the ALA conference I attended mid-winter 2011 -- but I've given away all of those I hadn't read that I knew I wouldn't.  I gave them to either our local elementary school (to the teachers and librarian) or the public library (the children's librarians were thrilled).  If it helps at all, I have heard from a couple of authors that even buzz well after publication still helps -- sometimes it even adds a boost because the initial excitement is dying down.  I blog about every book I read, ARC or not, so I try to go back and forth between the ARCs and library books which have just been released.  I've simply gotten behind, that's all. :/ 

Of course, there's not much anyone can do about those who take tons of ARCs and never blog about them or give them away to someone who will.  *shrugs*  As others have mentioned, we have to trust that the publishers know what they're doing and have historically seen enough reward for this process to justify continuing.

[CynJay]

I've been gone for awhile and missed this whole thread! I run a book club for about 30 9th graders at my high school and get ARCs about ever six weeks or so from a local indie. I let the kids take whatever they want and they almost always pre-read these book and talk up the heck out of the ones they love to all of their friends. Last year, many of them read I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga and Grave Mercy by Robin LeFever's ARCs. When the two of them came to town to do a signing, we took 15 of the kids to the bookstore - all of them bought the finished copies and got them signed, saying it was the best time they'd ever had. These kids are fans for life of both of these authors and talk them up any chance they get. They don't have a platform, but they have a lot of passion.

As an aside, there was a pretty big change between the ARC of Transcendence and the finished copy, and I can tell by the review which one they read. There's a reason that they're not FINISHED copies.