In the long, long discussion of the fallout from the John Locke debacle, I noted that getting reviews on your work is an agonizing process—that I have books that have sold thousands of copies and have obtained only one or two reviews.
The publishing industry has been giving ARCs to reviewers since there’s been a publishing industry. Official reviewers however, almost all refuse self-published books, and almost all refuse ebooks, and since I’m self-publishing now, and the format I can afford to send out is PDF, I can forget about official reviewers.
At which point, one of my readers suggested that if I wanted to get legitimate reviews of my books posted to places like Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Apple, I ought to create ARCs (the publishing acronym for advance reading copies) and give copies to some of my fans and readers, and let them review the books.
My fans who were quick on the trigger would get free copies, they would not be required to write reviews (though if you do, it will help me out, and anything that helps sales makes it easier for me to pay the bills while writing the next one). And there would be no question of buying reviews, creating fake identities to write their own reviews, or any other sleazy practices some folks are engaging in.
So I’m going to try this out for both Hunting the Corrigan’s Blood and Warpaint.
I’ll send out PDF copies of Hunting the Corrigan’s Blood TODAY to the first twenty-five of my readers who state they’d like to act as book reviewers. Book reviewers don’t review every book they receive, and you will not be required to review this one.
If you spot typos, send them to me as soon as you spot them, and I’ll fix them in any version that is not yet in print.
I’ll email all reviewers for this this book, first to send your your ARC, and then to send you the links to the book page on the various sites when it goes live. If you want a little copy of the book cover so you can also post the review on your weblog (if you have one) let me know and I’ll send one along.
SO… if you want to read the book for review, reply to this post. (I’m NOT CHECKING EMAIL, so don’t email a request). make sure you include your email address in the e-mail address box when reply (it won’t show up on the site) and make sure it doesn’t include typos, or your book won’t arrive.
And thank you for taking the time to consider reviewing Hunting the Corrigan’s Blood.
Important Note for Selected Reviewers
I send the first eight copies via direct email. I THEN notices that the PDF is 13.9 MB.
So if you didn’t get your copy, Please just reply to your FIRST reply, and I’ll resend via YouSendIt, which gives you a link from which you can download your PDF. I apologize for any inconvenience.
I’m sending the REST of the copies by YouSendIt. Reviewers—you’ll need to click a link in the email to download your PDF, but that’s it.
I’ve now sent out all 25 personalized ARC copies to my Official Reader/Review Team #1 :D.
HUGE thanks to everyone who offered to do this.
If you didn’t post quickly enough to make the first 25 this time, there are almost certainly going to be openings for reviewers next month when WARPAINT, the second Cadence Drake Novel, comes out. Folks who who read and reviewed HTCB will get automatic first consideration, but I anticipate openings left by readers who didn’t have time to read HTCB, didn’t have time to review it, and so on.
So if you hoped to be added to the review list, watch your email next month when I ask for additional reviewers for WARPAINT.
Holly, is there a place to buy a copy of Corrigan’s Blood that’s better for you than others? I presume that if I purchase it through your “shop”, then you get more money from the sale. If I buy it through Amazon, it will show up on sales ranks and “Other customers also bought…” lists. Which is better?
Also, will you be doing a “please buy it on [DATE] so it gets into the bestseller list” type campaign? Apparently a big surge in sales in 24 hours is better for climbing the bestseller list than the same sales over a longer period, or at least that is a strategy I have seen other ePublishers use. I don’t know if it still works though.
If you buy through my shop, I make a bit more, but PayPal fees keep the difference down.
From a “this will help people find me” perspective, buying through Amazon would be best, because that’s the highest-traffic point where people who have never heard of me might have a chance to trip over me.
And I’ll be offering a discount to my readers for the first month to encourage early buying. I honestly don’t know whether a bunch of sales the first day is more helpful than steady sales all month. So I’m just going to give my folks a “thank you for buying early” deal, and see what happens.
A games publisher that I am a huge fan of (Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.) recently started publishing electronic versions of their rulebooks. The site they’re publishing through (SJ Games’ e23) has a simple rating system. If a customer buys a copy, the customer can place a star rating. Once a particular product has five or more ratings, it shows up when potential customers search by “most popular”. To encourage customers to remember to rate their purchases, the company set up a thread on their forums where people can post “I rated this”. (Kind of like “I voted” stickers, heh.) The customers receive no reward for this. Just the thanks of one of the forum mods. Of the 100+ downloadable products ADB, Inc. has available, more than 80 have at least five ratings – some as many as sixty. I think this takes advantage of the “public accountability” motivation factor. Or maybe it just reminds people to remember to rate things. Anyway, perhaps a thread on one of your forums where those who rate/review one of your publications on Amazon or wherever can post about having done so may help get you more reviews.
I was away all weekend at a workshop without email and missed the chance.
I will buy one too, and review it on Goodreads.
Cheers
Thanks Holly.
Holly,
I’m not sure where to send the typos I’ve found. What address should we use?
Stephen
Emailed address to you.
I would love to be considered to review your books.
Hi Holly count me in too please I would love to read more of your fiction.
Hi Holly,
Looks like you have plenty of readers. Good idea. If you need a reviewer or an editor down the road–count me in.
D’oh! A day late and a dollar short. Hunting the Corrigan’s Blood will be out on Amazon? Ehhhh, I’ll just buy a copy and post a review there. Perhaps that will get me on the short list for an ARC of Cady #2… but it won’t break the bank either way.
Apparently I am too late for the book. This is great markertiing on your part. Please tell the person who recommended this procedure to you that I would like to hire him/her as a PR person for when I finally sit and write my book.
Great idea and best of luck with your career.
Robert A. DeLena, CFP
Hey Holly,
I would love to read Corregan’s Blood. I love all of your books and look forward to reading this one.
That would be awesome to read for you. Give me something different to do while still deployed out here on the big blue pond; this is the most hectic deployment I have ever been on, UGH!
Looking forward to your response!
Ken
I didn’t include the right email with the first response. This one is correct.
I know I’m too late, but if you need someone to review books in the future, I’m more than willing.
If I’m not too late, I’d like to get one of the review copies. I’ve just been reading non-fiction about Scrivener for some time; I want to be more inspired by fiction for NaNoWriMo 2012.
I am pretty sure I am too late but I thought I would post a reply anyway…Holly, I’d love to review your book!
Holly
I would love to review any of your work I find it interesting and entertaining!
Your site has helped me focus and want to attain a few goals I thought I would not be able to do so please count on me to give you an honest review
Thank you
I’d love to read and review. Sign me up.
I consider myself a picky reviewer, but I think you’ll be fine. 🙂 I’d love a chance to take it look, either way.
I hope I’m not too late!
Please count me in if room!
Count me in! I’d love to review your work.
Thank you 🙂
You more than likely have enough reviewers for this, but, I’d be interested in helping review, if there is a lonely copy left.
I’ve read Hunting the Corrigan’s Blood a year or more ago, but if there’s anything else you’d like reviewed, I’d be more than willing. I love reading ARCs. 😀
Holly,
I’d love to review it, if I’m not too late to get a copy.
Stephen
If its not too late, idlove to review it as well!
Hi, Kelly. You get copy #25—the LAST copy, which will be in your mailbox now. Thank you so much.
Sorry I’m so late, Holly. If you have need of another reviewer, count me in. I’d love to have a crack at it. I’ve been reading your books for so long that Corrigan’s Blood surprised me. I actually hadn’t gotten my hands on a copy and will have to remedy that one way or another.
Hey, Claudette. You made it…barely. You have copy #24 in your mailbox right about now. 😀 Thanks so much.
Thank you so much, Holly. I’m going to enjoy this little task. That’s for sure.
Me too, please.
Hi, Jodie. You’re in with copy #23. Should be in your email now. Thank you. 😀
I would love to review your book, if it’s not too late.
You made it in time. You have copy #22, the link for which should be waiting in your mailbox now. Thank you very much.
Holly,
I would love to give it a read and possibly a review.
Thanks,
George
Hi, George. You get copy #21, and should have it linked in your mailbox now. Thank you so much.
I’d love to help. May take a bit to post one as I’m also an author and business as can be. Would love to help out, however. 🙂
Nice website. This book might not be your cup of tea; the following quote from your “About Me” page suggests you might like my fantasy more that my decidedly dark SF: “I plan on taking over the world with my sparkly ball of warm bubbly sunshine.”
But you got here in time, and you get copy #20, and if you make it past the first page, you’ll probably be all right. 😉
Your copy should be waiting for you now.
Thank you. 🙂 That’s merely my public image. My reading tends to be more well-rounded. Sort of like my music tastes.
I look forward to reading it. I appreciate the opportunity.
Hi Holly, Please count me in on reviewing your book. Thanks, Lee
Hi, Lee. You’re in. Copy #19 should be in your mailbox now. Thank you 😀
Yes, please. I’m happy to provide reviews on books I have read and do so quite frequently. I’m afraid I’m not current on your books due to post-divorce economics but I intend to catch up as I can. Question: do you also want reviews on your older books? I dearly love the World Gates books.
Post-divorce economics. Yeah, those were fun. On the bright side, you got here in time to get copy #18, which should be in your mailbox now.
Thank you.
And reviews on any of my books are welcome. 😀
Yay! Got it! I’ve just left several reviews on Amazon for World Gates books. Thank you so much.
Count me in, Holly, though you might have to wait a while for your review. I’m a slow reader and I’m already in the middle of a 600-page tome. Then I was supposed to be reading Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, but that can wait. I’d much rather read on my iPad anyway.
You have copy #17, which should be waiting for you now. Thanks very much.
I would love to review this book. I really enjoyed “Talyn,” and have been sad that your other books were out of print, especially since you seem so fond of this one!
Hi, Michelle, you have copy #16 in your mailbox now. Thank you so much.
I am in. I have read almost everything you have written.
BJ, you get copy #15. Thanks so much. Should be waiting for you now. 😀
I wild love to review Corrigan’s Blood .
You get copy #14, Wanda. Should be in your email now. And Thank you.
I would very much like to be one of your reviewers.
Hi, Doug. You got copy #13. Should be linked in your email box now. Thank you. 😀
Holly, I would love to read and review your new book.
#12 copy. Has finished it’s trip through YouSendIt and you should have the email now. Thank you.
Holly, I’d like the chance to review any of your books you’d be willing to send me. 🙂
#11 Hi, Ray! 😀 You copy just finished sending via YouSendIt, and the link should be in your mailbox now. Thank you.
I would like to review you book. I love your books.
#10 copy. Thanks, Donna. 😀 Your copy should be linked from a YouSendIt email in your mailbox now.
Started reading it, good as always
I’d like the chance to review and comb over for anything amiss. 🙂
#9 copy. It’s coming to you via YouSendIt. The link should be in your mailbox now. Thank you.
I’d love to read and review your book – and will be happy to let you know about any typos.
#8 copy now sending. Thank you, Patti.
I’d like to review a copy, please.
#7 copy, on its way to you now. Thank you so much.
I’d love to review a book for you.
#6 Thanks, Marissa. Your copy should be waiting for you in email now.
Absolutely! I’d love to review your books!
#5 copy. Thanks, Kari. Check your email for your copy now. 😀
I would very much like to review the book!
#4 copy. Thanks, Bettina, your copy is on the way.
I would like to read for you!
#3 copy. 😀 Thanks, PJ. Your copy is on the way.
I’d love to have a chance to review The Corregan’s Blood. I’ve read just about everything you’ve every published but don’t have a reader if that makes a difference. I can read PDF on line.
#2 copy. Your copy is on it’s way. 😀 Thank you.
I would like to review your book.
#1 copy, and winner of the “Fastest Trigger Finger” award. Your copy is on its way. 😀 Thank you.