I am finding blurbs less and less important to me as a reader because they are (mostly) over the top and give me no information about what the blurber actually thought. After awhile, they all sound alike and are often from the same blurber as every other book in the genre.
Your bouncy wit made this go down easily, but respectfully, I think your take is bollocks. I’m not a bougie international bestseller, but I do get asked, and when I do, I’m honored. I can read an 80k-90k word thriller in about four hours, and I read a book a week anyway, why not a new voice? When my name and book title go on an author’s cover, website, socials, I get exposure to all their readers, which for a midlist author like me, has value. I also feel like I’m giving back to a community that has given so much to me.
As for asking, are you doing the asking or do your people do it for you? Because asking is an art, and if you do it with grace and gratitude, it can be very rewarding. If I were to ask you for a blurb, I would start by reading your books. I would get specific about what I love about them and blast it out to my followers. I would attend your book signings and introduce myself and tell you that the plot twist in "The Paris Diversion" rocked my world. And in the process, I would grow as a writer and a human being. And might even earn your friendship – or at least your respect.
Being an author can be isolating. I relish opportunities to connect with other writers in a meaningful way. Getting and giving blurbs is part of that. And when an author I worship says yes (Gregg Hurwitz I’m looking at you) Wow. What a feeling.
Great post, Chris. I love learning about the publishing biz from you. I always thought that most of the blurbs were favors & that at least some of the blurb writers hadn’t read the book.
I never gave a damn about them due to that. I MIGHT start reading them now. I’d rather read any of your books for the third time, however. 😊
My thought while reading this, is there ever circumstances were famous authors want to blurb a book? Maybe they reach out to offer a blurb. Or, is this just something one asks for?
Another thing I notice is the books that have comments re the author, but not that particular book. When I see this I wonder if the latest book isn’t as good as the previous ones, but maybe it’s simply that the publisher figures that the writer is now well known and it’s not so important to have comments on the latest. 🤷♀️
I hope that you have plenty of writing time ! Looking forward to your next book! Margie
Yes that’s one reason: people may just not want to do it anymore, and think it’s unnecessary. Another is a time crunch: some books end up on tight schedules, leaving no time to get blurbs.
I am finding blurbs less and less important to me as a reader because they are (mostly) over the top and give me no information about what the blurber actually thought. After awhile, they all sound alike and are often from the same blurber as every other book in the genre.
Your bouncy wit made this go down easily, but respectfully, I think your take is bollocks. I’m not a bougie international bestseller, but I do get asked, and when I do, I’m honored. I can read an 80k-90k word thriller in about four hours, and I read a book a week anyway, why not a new voice? When my name and book title go on an author’s cover, website, socials, I get exposure to all their readers, which for a midlist author like me, has value. I also feel like I’m giving back to a community that has given so much to me.
As for asking, are you doing the asking or do your people do it for you? Because asking is an art, and if you do it with grace and gratitude, it can be very rewarding. If I were to ask you for a blurb, I would start by reading your books. I would get specific about what I love about them and blast it out to my followers. I would attend your book signings and introduce myself and tell you that the plot twist in "The Paris Diversion" rocked my world. And in the process, I would grow as a writer and a human being. And might even earn your friendship – or at least your respect.
Being an author can be isolating. I relish opportunities to connect with other writers in a meaningful way. Getting and giving blurbs is part of that. And when an author I worship says yes (Gregg Hurwitz I’m looking at you) Wow. What a feeling.
Ah, yes, it's hard being asked, it's much harder asking.
My favorite part of your post is the information. My second favorite, Wally!
The whole newsletter is really just a complex ruse to get people to compliment my dog
Great post, Chris. I love learning about the publishing biz from you. I always thought that most of the blurbs were favors & that at least some of the blurb writers hadn’t read the book.
I never gave a damn about them due to that. I MIGHT start reading them now. I’d rather read any of your books for the third time, however. 😊
I would like a blurb from Wally :)
Thank you. Wally is a very discriminating reader.
Thanks for this post. I'm going through this process now. <grinds teeth>
My thought while reading this, is there ever circumstances were famous authors want to blurb a book? Maybe they reach out to offer a blurb. Or, is this just something one asks for?
Thanks for the question! I’ll address this next time.
Another thing I notice is the books that have comments re the author, but not that particular book. When I see this I wonder if the latest book isn’t as good as the previous ones, but maybe it’s simply that the publisher figures that the writer is now well known and it’s not so important to have comments on the latest. 🤷♀️
I hope that you have plenty of writing time ! Looking forward to your next book! Margie
Yes that’s one reason: people may just not want to do it anymore, and think it’s unnecessary. Another is a time crunch: some books end up on tight schedules, leaving no time to get blurbs.
Gathering blurbs is like taking out the trash. Nobody likes it, but it's necessary.