New here!?!

Okay so I am new here, and I was told to join this group because really the one main reasons I even joined this website was to get this book (Anathem) and I joined after it was to late to receive a Advance Copy. So I am wondering how do can I get my hands on one (I really want to keep it because I think I would re-read it many times).

We can't tell you how to get Anathem for sure, but I would recommend emailing the publisher and telling them that you would like to read the book and review it on LibraryThing. Publishers particularly like to send review copies to people who have book blogs that get a fair amount of traffic.

Take some time and read through the existing threads to learn about ways other people have gotten ARCs beyond the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.

Okay thanks. How would I go about contacting the publisher email? If so were could I find that?

Find out who the publisher is (check the book details here or on Amazon), google search the name of the publisher, find a contact email on that page.

Perhaps read the beginning of the "Cold Requests" thread to see how other people have gone about it.

There's a link in the Cold Requests thread that lists the contact info for review copy requests.

Thanks a lot. I just email the company.

Also, join HarperCollins Canada First Look. They have Anathem up as a book to request.

Okay, I did contact the company (how long does it take before they reply to you, also how long on average till they send it to you if they do send you one?)

Only thing with the HarperCollins thing is it needs to be reviewed before the 30th of August, I take a while to read my books so I understand them and so I can re-reread certain parts.

Some companies get back to you, some don't. Sometimes you just find a book in the mailbox one day.

As for HarperCollins, all they want is a minimum of 30 words or so on if you liked it, didn't like it. You don't necessarily have to be finished to know that and you don't have to write an essay for a review. They're not looking for anything in depth.

The publisher may not respond, sometimes they just send the book. you are asking for a free book, unfortunately there are no guarantees.

Okay thanks. Does naybody know if William Morrow Publishing will reply back? Also if I requested to get one from the publisher and I get it will it come with the CD with music on it?

There is no way to know the answer to either question. Some publishers reply back, some do not. Sometimes they send ARCs which are not the final copy and would not be likely to include a CD, sometimes they send the final product.

The important thing to remember is that you're asking for a free book. They need to feel that they will be getting a return on their investment. Many of us are considered good returns on investment because we have book blogs, so lots of people can see our reviews, and the industry is really trying to connect with bloggers right now. Whether or not William Morrow will consider it a good investment for you to post a review on LibraryThing is not yet known.

Well I sent three emails out to three different places, all three of them ended up being HarperCollins Canada First Look, and the person who emailed me back saying that they only have a limited supply and will only give it to people who are well known for writing reviews, that being said they asked for all of the places I write my reviews,

so I just ended up replying; "I guess I don't qualify then because, I just started doing this whole thing, but if I were to write reviews it would be on LibraryThings, Amazon, I am also starting up a book blogging website, I would also tell my friends and family. But maybe next time sorry for bugging you, and wasting your time"

Kinda drops my hopes for evening doing this whole thing.

Other than LibraryThing Early Reviewers, it was probably at least 2 months before I started getting ARCs from other places. If you expect to get stuff right away and get everything you want, you'd might as well stop now. If you're doing it because you love books and want to share your opinion, then you have to work hard and, eventually, people will see that you are a good investment, as I said earlier.

That being said, check out some of the other threads in this group to see where you might be able to get some ARCs from places that won't ask so many questions, particularly with the blog you are starting up.

P.S., when you do get your blog, be sure to put it on your librarything profile so we can see it and visit.

I have yet to mention to any publisher that I have a blog (because I only just started one) and yet I've received 7 books to review so far (not counting the ones I've received as an Early Reviewer). All I did was mention that I was an Early Reviewer with LibraryThing. So it's not strictly true that you need to have a book blog that gets a fair amount of traffic in order to receive books...

Avisannchild...is that true for your cold requests as well or just Shelf Awareness ads?

I have to say that having a blog has been extremely helpful in getting books. I have been asked by a few authors directly to review their books - but I have also asked authors if I could get copies of their books and I ALWAYS include my blog address. Interestingly enough, quite a few of the authors have told me they visited my blog and have actually bookmarked it - which tells me that having a blog is a HUGE plus.

I agree Nitestar. Also, so far for cold requesting from publishers, I've had no problem. I've also had some direct requests from authors.

I was just curious if reviewing on LT alone is sufficient for a lot of publishers.

The Shelf Awareness ads are such a great place to get books. It's really a goldmine.

o.neill, I'm sorry you're disappointed, but unless you're providing something to the publisher (publicity, a review in a well-trafficked place) then you're really just asking for a freebie. All of us like free books, no doubt about it, but if you're really only considering starting a blog to get one particular book, I can't really blame the publisher.

O.Neill,
I'd recommend starting your blog anyway if you regularly review books here that way if something comes in the future you'll be all set to go. The book blogging community is such a fantastic place anyway, it's fun. ;)

>17 lovemybooks: I've requested two books more or less directly from the publisher (not through Shelf Awareness). I say "more or less" because in both cases I found a page on a website that indicated that the publisher was open to sending out review copies, but in both cases I requested them late (either after the deadline or after the book was published). I received both books.

I'm certainly not suggesting that having a book blog, especially one that's popular, doesn't increase your chances of receiving free books to review (I'm sure it does!). I'm just pointing out that it's not a prerequisite, as I've done fairly well without one!

Okay thanks a lot everybody and lovemybooks.

Would having a book blog were I can review books, and the readers submit there reviewed books be good?

O.neill, go for it! You could do a group blog, too, if you have friends who like the idea of writing reviews too. If a young adult is posting quality reviews of books publishers are hoping will appeal to your age group, I'm guessing they'd eat that up. Even if you only did a few a month. Try signing up on HarperCollins website, too, if you haven't already. (http://www.harpercollins.ca/firstlook/) The American First Look site has a section especially for teens, I'm not sure if the Canadian one does.

Great thanks.

I am not sure if this is aloud or not but here is my first attempt on a blog, let alone a book blog. There are no reviews on it yet but just the bones of the site. http://socialbookshelf.wordpress.com/

Looks like a great start (love the name)! I'm sure you'll have people you don't know submitting reviews in no time. For now, I would put up a couple of reviews of your own, and ask a few of your friends who like to read as well to submit some for you,

Okay thanks. Really the main focal point of the site is for me (duh) and members to post there reviews (duh) but I couldn't find a way for people just to submit there reviews so they have to go to the comment section of the Member Reviews Section and leave the name of the book they reviewed and there email and I would then email them for there review and put it on the review section of the blog.

If anybody has reviews that could help start up my website please email them to me.

O.Neill, I'd be willing to contribute. Click on my name to get to my profile, then click on my tag "young adult"--most of them have reviews. Take a look, if you see one or two you'd like let me know and I'll be glad to re-work them to make them blog-friendly. All I would ask in return is that you include my blog address in the post.

Couldn't find your email or anything so I will just post it here.

Any of the ones I listed below would be fine to have you can pick a few if you want, I would really like the first one though.

The Stand by Stephen King
Sins of the Fathers by Chris Lynch
Traveler by Ron McLarty
Ordinary Ghosts by Eireann Corrigan
Dream When You're Feeling Blue: A Novel by Elizabeth Berg
The Amateur Marriage: A Novel by Anne Tyler
A Son Called Gabriel by Damian McNicholl
The Lost Language of Cranes: A Novel by David Leavitt
The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Banks
Flesh and Blood: A Novel by Michael Cunningham
Specimen Days: A Novel by Michael Cunningham

You want The Stand? Hee. You can have The Stand. I think that one could be posted as is, go ahead and copy it from there, crediting me and including my blog address: www.worducopia.blogspot.com

I'll take a look at the others and send some to you within the next couple of days.

#27 i agree that the more exposure that you can promise is important to many publishers. so if you have a blog with a good deal of traffic and they know that, no doubt that is helpful.
but, if you don't have a blog or if you have a brand new one with barely anything posted yet {{who? me?? wink...wink..}} don't think all is lost o.neill!

i have been requesting ARC's for about a month, only promising a review here on LT and on Amazon and of the 10 i have requested, as of today i have received 4. and who knows, a few more many show in due time.

or not.
but even if not, it's not bad for a few minutes reading Shelf Awareness and here and sending off a few e-mails.

if i ever get that blog going, who knows what the future may hold! :-)

I haven't done any cold call requests, but I have requested through FirstLookBooks (canada) and minibookexpo for Bloggers, and this month received notification that I would be receiving books from both (yea!!). Although I do not have a blog, minibookexpo claims the following:

Blog it.
* Post something about the book within a month of getting it
* include a link to the publisher and the author if possible
* if you don't have a blog, send me your review & I'll post it here for you

I'll post my review here on LT of course, and let them know that, and post on their site. We'll see if its enough to get a second book.

Well I am unsure about getting Anathem because for like the fiive or six emails + I have sent out a few say no, and a few say I will talk to the Canadian people, so I am still unsure but I just contacted The Ten Thousand by Paul Kearney (Solaris) Publishing and said he would send it right away.

WTG, o.neill.kid, you're batting .500!

Thanks. Just got word from one of the people from the publishers for Anathem they talked to the there Canadian people, they will be sending me a copy soon (I heard it takes them about two weeks but what the heck I am still getting it) and should get The Ten Thousand by Friday (Hopefully).

I just found out that it The Ten Thousand is coming from the UK, so it should be here in a week. Hopefully. Still not completely sure of Anathem yet.

Well after 11 days since I requested directly from the publisher I got The Ten Thousand, I will not be getting Anathem because they do not have anymore ARC copies which sucks but I can deal with this book for the time being.

I hope it's a good one! Good luck on Anathem. You can still review it when it comes out, if nothing else.

I received Schooled but I received no reply, it just showed up. Do I notify Hyperion when I do the review? Do they want me to fill out the reply postcard that comes with the book? Do I notify anyone at all or do they assume I will read and review it? I gave no info, it was just a click here and we'll send you one to your address thing.
Same questions for Bostick and Shelf Awareness etc.(assuming ARCs start arriving). If no one requests a link or notification, who do I notify or do I notify them in every case? Anyone?
Thank you for helping out a newbie.

If an ARC doesn't come with a response email address I'll usually email the person I emailed my original request to.

If you don't have a point of contact, you can usually go to the publisher's site and find one. Or email the author directly. I typically send them an email, let them know how I obtained the book (cold request, Shelf Awareness ad) and I include my review, and a link to my blog.

I've seen regular features on certains days called "carnivals" I think. Where would I find the central location for these groups. I understand that each blogger discusses the topic on their own blog for that day but somehow they are coordinated? Could omeone explain this to me please? Thanks.
While you're at it could you explain what "meme" means. You wouldn't believe the gobbledy-gook I got when I looked it up in the online dictionary. Thanks so much.

Usually for carnivals there's some sort of graphic button or a link in the post that takes you back to the site of origin. Or if there's a particular carnival you want to know the origin of, chance are somebody here could give you the link.

Meme is the word I picked for my least favorite word when I was doing a meme, LOL. The idea is that it's passed on (sort of like a chain letter) to other blogs so that the same questions are being answered by increasingly more people. I believe the actual word comes from genetics--the passing along of a characteristic gene through generations.