I think about stuff

[stacia_kane]

Okay, lots of stuff to cover and get through and all of that.

First, the other day I cam across this cool blog/site called Best Fantasy Books.com. Another site had a link to this post about ARCs and reviews that I thought was really interesting.

Most of my thoughts on the subject are covered in my comment, which is the fifth comment down:

I

Comments

[micheleis]

Whew.. okay, here goes

[stacia_kane]

Okay. :-) I've gone through and read the whole discussion, so I have a better idea how to respond

[micheleis]

Yeah, for all my words I really am only irritated at non responses, and I only consider compatibility when I'm sitting here making a query list for the next book, or when I'm adding a response to my notebook. See, all the other times I'm not sitting around waiting for a response (and can't usually tell you what is where, that's what I keep the notebook for.) After I send something out I move on to something else. It's in part because I don't want to sit around waiting because that sets me up to be irritable (and who likes that?) and because a writing career is not one book or even one series.

Remembering that I write because I enjoy it really helps balance out all the frustrations with trying to get published.

[micheleis]

Actually, I do try to avoid agents who have that policy because I wonder how compatible we are. But some don't state this is their policy, or state that they do respond, and don't.

I've been querying said book for a year now, and did initially requery the nonresponsive agents who said that they reply to make sure that my query arrived. I think by this point a second nonresponse indicates they're not interested, but it irks me that they say they respond, and then they don't.

Right now I have three partials out that have not been responded to in a year (or more). I may not be paying the agent, but I did pay to print and mail the partial. I know I'm a bit emotional about this, but it makes no sense for me to waste my time, energy or stamps on someone who isn't going to bother even sending me a form rejection.

[micheleis]

I feel the need to make it crystal clear (cause this is the intarnets and all) that I disagree with no-response policies, but on a surface, business choice level. But agents who say they respond and don't come off as rude and I automatically reconsider if I'd accept an offer from them or if I'd be too worried that they'd abandon me for not being big enough.

[macbeaner]

**eye roll** We have the conversation quite frequently over at the bittenbybooks reviewers forum about people who post things like this person did. I think they need to check their facts a little more closely.

We give fair and honest reviews and as far as I know, are not "shut off" from receiving books. Yes, there are a few authors who can't handle the honesty and don't submit again, however, we still receive books from many sources.

And if a review site is receiving a book for review, they should review it-regardless of who it is by or who it is published by. They've made a contract with that author or publisher.

Smart Bitches had a similar post today....just must be the subject of the day.

[anonymous]

Hey Stacia!

First off, excellent topic. BBB actually has terms of review that we give the authors to read and if they agree to our terms, they submit their work. If not, we don't hear back. It really helps set a boundary up front. Now of course there is still the occasional hate mail we receive.

Secondly....
We have nominated you for the I Heart Your Blog award here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?page_id=1040

Thanks for having an awesome blog!

Rachel

[stacia_kane]

Thanks! :-)