I am a published author. I WRITE books for a living. I love my job, I love writing, I love working from home in my pajamas with a caffeine drip in my veins. Other than my kids, there is nothing I love more than writing.
I am NOT a reviewer. I have NEVER reviewed a book on this blog. I have on occasion recommended books that I have read and enjoyed, but I have never reviewed them.
“I love your blog, you review so many great books on your blog, I’m hoping you’ll take a look at TITLE. Here’s a bit more about my book: SYNOPSIS. Email me and I’ll be happy to send you a complimentary copy for your review.”
Really? You’ve been to my blog? You see that I review a lot of books and want me to review yours?
I DO NOT REVIEW BOOKS. I never have.
This blog is MURDER SHE WRITES, not MURDER SHE READS.
I’m the she, and I write about murder. End of story.
I wouldn’t even bring this up except that over the last month I’ve received nearly a dozen emails through the contact form on this blog asking me to review their book. ALL of these requests came from self-published authors who claim to LOVE my blog and think that I should add their book to my review pile. So I’m not picking on self-published authors. Really. Only that EVERY ONE of these requests come from self-published authors.
What frustrates me is that they clearly have never read my blog. Did Murder She Writes find itself on some site that says I review books? Did people click through to the contact form and just write “please review my book” without actually checking the blog or the blog guidelines?
If you are an author–self-published or traditional–let me make this clear. I DO NOT REVIEW BOOKS. However, I DO often offer a quote for a book that I love. If you would like a pre-publication quote, you MAY email me and offer to send me an advanced reading copy for possible endorsement. If I have time, I will read it. If I like it, I’ll give you a quote. If I don’t have time, I won’t read it and that doesn’t mean it’s not good or that I don’t like you, it just means that I have five kids and write 3 books a year and don’t have time to read and endorse a book in your timeframe.
If your book is a debut novel, TELL ME. I will always try to make the time to read debut novels because I know how hard it is in this business, and I’ve always found that debut novels, even when a little rough around the edges, are fantastic because they are the first love of the author.
For endorsements, I read romantic suspense, mysteries, thrillers, and anything in those general genres. Why? Because that’s what I write, and my endorsement isn’t going to help sell your epic high fantasy or historical romance.
I primarily read traditionally published books, but I have read and endorsed a few self-published books by people I personally know. I’m not opposed to self-publishing, but I’ve found that most of the people who contact me aren’t ready to be published. I don’t believe that you’ve read all my books. Telling me that your character is a better Jack Reacher makes me laugh. Telling me that your book has been professionally edited doesn’t inspire confidence … why? Because it’s PRESUMED that your book would be professionally edited. And attaching the book to the email? Not cool. Hit delete, don’t reply.
Yes, I’m a little irritated right now. I haven’t been consistent in writing for this blog because, well, those five kids and three books. But it’s still my blog that I talk about things that interest me: reading, television, kids, writing. That’s pretty much it.
So let me repeat. I write books. I do not review books. Do not ask me to review your book. If you have a book that you want a pre-publication quote, I’m happy to consider it if I can fit the read into my schedule.
Clear? I hope so!
But I suspect I’ll still get those emails … “I notice you review books, here’s mine …”
Allison Brennan is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly three dozen romantic thrillers and mysteries, including the Lucy Kincaid series and the Max Revere series. She lives in Northern California with her husband, five children, and assorted pets.
I think I’ve reviewed one book for your blog. One. It was a very special book so accommodations were made.
Clearly these people are not paying attention. 🙂
I have read all your books, except the last Deadly Sin book.
But that was your blog post … MSW isn’t a review blog. I think it’s because I get so many emails about this that my tolerance level just exploded.
I did tone down my rant just a bit … My husband thought I sounded mean. I’m not mean. Really.
No, you aren’t mean. 🙂 I think you were perfectly acceptable in your rant.
OMG, I would never presume to ask any blogger to review my book unless they had specific guidelines listed somewhere on their blog related to reviewing books. And even then… I have a devil of a time asking for reviews anyway. If someone likes my book and wants to review it, awesome. I get hives just thinking about asking.
I have read almost all your books. I missed the last Max Revere because Wallyworld sold out before I got there and I haven’t placed an Amazon order lately. I might’ve missed the last Deadly Sins, too. I have to check that…
I…
Uhm…
Wow…
Some people are just…yeah. I guess that’s why marketing is not my forte. I don’t have the chutzpah to just do “blind sales calls” because that’s basically what they’re doing. And frankly? That’s totally uncool. And uncouth. So…Ugh!
I will always review for you! 🙂
Awww! You rock my world, Toni! 😀
Allison, this post is a hoot. Like you I have been asked to review several books, unlike you, I am a mid list author. It surprised and somewhat honored me that authors would think that a blurb from me might help their book. Really, I hope it does, but my name does not carry the weight and credibility that your name does. Each time, I was glad to help, although I have never once said on any of my social media sites, or anywhere for that matter, that I review books. Hmm.
I don’t mind reading books for blurbs — reviews are completely different. Reviews are like, “This is the synopsis of the book, and here’s what I liked and didn’t like.” I don’t do that. I’ve posted maybe 3 reviews on goodreads — one of them was for a JD Robb book that was, “After 40 books in the series, I can’t believe she can still knock one out of the park. My favorite.” LOL. But blurbs are different. I love blurbing books, like a one line quote that people use on the cover or inside jacket or something.
Man … I think maybe I did ask once, when I first publishing a couple years ago, after Phoenix. But I didn’t ask because of the blog, I asked because of Firefly, Supernatural and coffee. Now I feel really bad I did. I didn’t know I was crossing lines. I’m sorry about that. Sincerely.
Allison, not only do I hear you, I can hear “you” in every word. Makes me miss seeing you at TW this July even more ( but you know that lil’ GH thang had to take precedence! Lol). I commiserate– I get a lot of the same regarding the new TV show BookSmart and its blog. I talk about books, but I rarely review and I certainly can’t do reviews at the rate I’m being approached– and I’m not you with three books and five kids etc. But you are always a supremely generous person. Thank you for that and for being so good to so many of us. Big hugs!
Good luck in San Diego! I wish I could go — I’d planned on it, then my daughter’s softball tournament was changed to Incline Village.
I can’t imagine being that bold! I was nervous the time I posted a comment on the blog. People are just pushy and obnoxious sometimes…
I feel your rant. I thought I’d made it clear I don’t do reviews or promote books on my blog, yet I get requests all the time. I even got one from someone wanting me to review a tome on economics.
I host guests on my blog. Once a week. They answer interview questions. Yet people don’t read the blog to see what I do there.
Know your audience before you ask for anything.
But do you review, tho?
*flees*
I feel your pain. I seem to only get “will you review” or “will you pay US to review” emails lately. I’m not sure why there’s been such a sharp uptick of the want-to-be-paid bloggers lately, but I suspect there’s less reviewers recently. I’m actually interested enough about the changes in reviews that I started a survey to ask readers whether they even read reviews anymore. I only have 165 responses so far (just started it Friday) but the answers have been really interesting!
Good rant. I enjoyed it and you get to… 🙂
These pieces really set a standard in the indytsru.
You do realize though, that the people you are talking about…..don’t read your blog, so they will never see this post, and will continue to contact you.