tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post7680231424371038897..comments2024-03-14T18:09:09.667-05:00Comments on Do Some Damage: Welcome to Blurb CountryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-47660127943151480692014-03-27T11:41:55.986-05:002014-03-27T11:41:55.986-05:00Can't wait to read the new one, Holly! Glad th...Can't wait to read the new one, Holly! Glad this post helped somewhat.Alex Segurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07173378562449185812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-28173346969423381022014-03-27T11:12:22.818-05:002014-03-27T11:12:22.818-05:00I asked three people to blurb my book and only fol...I asked three people to blurb my book and only followed through on one. Why? Because I'm lame and shy and didn't want to bother anyone. I need to be a lot more outgoing with my next book.Holly Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08910436592791818527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-82501161799521341642014-03-27T10:04:17.925-05:002014-03-27T10:04:17.925-05:00Kristi - you're too kind! And I'm sure you...Kristi - you're too kind! And I'm sure you handled yourself perfectly well when looking for blurbs! I wrote the above as a bit of a reminder for myself, heading into the same phase for DOWN THE DARKEST STREET. Like I said, I made some of the same mistakes - being too pushy, not taking the hint, etc. But live and learn!Alex Segurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07173378562449185812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-42172304493643484792014-03-27T09:59:17.942-05:002014-03-27T09:59:17.942-05:00Great stuff, Segura. Only wish I had read this bef...Great stuff, Segura. Only wish I had read this before I went out and asked for blurbs. (The agony!) Luckily, most writers are incredibly gracious about this horrible aspect of getting your book published. It has blown my mind how wonderful this mystery community is. So supportive and encouraging. Thanks Alex for being one of the most gracious ones out there! You are a class act.Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01724127668983231150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-11116071811791974092014-03-27T07:18:19.294-05:002014-03-27T07:18:19.294-05:00Great points, Thomas! Thanks for reading. I defini...Great points, Thomas! Thanks for reading. I definitely agree that blurbing - or selecting blurb targets - is a lot like an agent hunt. You have to be mindful of how many people you reach out to and why you've chosen said people.Alex Segurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07173378562449185812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-60570364017238295832014-03-27T06:35:20.748-05:002014-03-27T06:35:20.748-05:00I take blurbs with a grain of salt (nothing is wor...I take blurbs with a grain of salt (nothing is worse than an unseasoned blurb) but they do influence me, and I can tell from experience that a good blurb does sell books. The more of them you read, you begin to see patterns, and what seems heartfelt and what seems like a sort of boilerplate. I agree that it is bad form to ask for a blurb and then not use it, so authors must take care in who they approach; they should have a readership who is sure to enjoy your book, they should know how to write a concise blurb from which taglines can be picked, and ideally, they should be familiar with you and your work beforehand. Not so you can impose on friendship, but so they can make a decision whether they want to invest the time in reading your book. It is not something to be asked lightly. Like choosing agents, keep a list and work down it. You don't want to ask 10 at once and then have to tell 7 writers their blurb won't be used, "but hey thanks for wasting your time for me."<br />And be prepared for No, and for no response, and for those who say yes and then never get around to it. With luck, you'll learn just how busy those writers are after your book sells a bundle and you have contracts and deadlines to contend with.Thomas Pluckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008022962076648740noreply@blogger.com