Comments on: Galley Ho! http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:51:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Larramie http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70961 Fri, 09 May 2008 16:46:32 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70961 The blow-in cards are a terrific hook, particularly with the "what if" factor connected to the book. It should have ARC readers thinking, talking and even wishing? ;) Also, I always purchase the Hardcover even after reading an ARC...actually pre-order more than a few as "just because" gifts. My feeling is that ARCS are not freebies but rather a special invitation to preview. And, yes, this sounds very exciting, Allison! The blow-in cards are a terrific hook, particularly with the “what if” factor connected to the book. It should have ARC readers thinking, talking and even wishing? ;)

Also, I always purchase the Hardcover even after reading an ARC…actually pre-order more than a few as “just because” gifts. My feeling is that ARCS are not freebies but rather a special invitation to preview.

And, yes, this sounds very exciting, Allison!

]]> by: manic mommy http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70881 Fri, 09 May 2008 02:09:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70881 Ooh ooohhh ooooohhhh meee meeee meeee! (Raising hand wildly and obnoxiously in the front row like the obnoxious kid in class we all couldn't stand!) Cannot wait to read this one! Ooh ooohhh ooooohhhh meee meeee meeee!

(Raising hand wildly and obnoxiously in the front row like the obnoxious kid in class we all couldn’t stand!)

Cannot wait to read this one!

]]> by: Jess Riley http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70879 Fri, 09 May 2008 01:29:01 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70879 Allison, what a neat idea!!! How wonderful that Shaye Areheart is doing this for you! And I think you are SO right about word of mouth being HUGE for a book's success. I've gotten a few ARCs directly from the publisher, but I do confess I didn't buy the books later (because I'd already read them)...BUT those ARCs did entice me to purchase backlist and future novels by those authors. Allison, what a neat idea!!! How wonderful that Shaye Areheart is doing this for you! And I think you are SO right about word of mouth being HUGE for a book’s success.

I’ve gotten a few ARCs directly from the publisher, but I do confess I didn’t buy the books later (because I’d already read them)…BUT those ARCs did entice me to purchase backlist and future novels by those authors.

]]> by: Jen A. Miller http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70828 Thu, 08 May 2008 17:04:16 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70828 I've never seen blow in cards for galleys, but I've gotten other PR stuff with a book. I just used one such beach towel a few months ago when my toilet overflowed :-) Seriously, though, galleys are expensive but I think important, at least for someone like me who had to get books way in advance to pitch them to magazines. That's what was so frustrating about doing PR for my book -- no galleys. But my publisher was great enough to print out the book and bind it for the few big magazines that wanted to pick it up. But I think even better than galleys for word if mouth is going to be your blog. I learn about books via blogs, and I'm seeing right now what kind of buzz a blog can do. It's because of my blog that my book was already on the radar even before review copies got sent out. I think you're doing great! I’ve never seen blow in cards for galleys, but I’ve gotten other PR stuff with a book. I just used one such beach towel a few months ago when my toilet overflowed :-)

Seriously, though, galleys are expensive but I think important, at least for someone like me who had to get books way in advance to pitch them to magazines. That’s what was so frustrating about doing PR for my book — no galleys. But my publisher was great enough to print out the book and bind it for the few big magazines that wanted to pick it up.

But I think even better than galleys for word if mouth is going to be your blog. I learn about books via blogs, and I’m seeing right now what kind of buzz a blog can do. It’s because of my blog that my book was already on the radar even before review copies got sent out. I think you’re doing great!

]]> by: Robert Low http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70827 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:55:06 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70827 Congrats on your progress - those first signs that you actually have a 'real' book are brilliant and, hopefully, the thrill never fades. The downside of spraying gally-proofs all over the place is that they end up for sale on eBay. My publisher, HarperCollins, does not do blow-in, or lob proofs about lightly, but copies of my first book The Whale Road, were on eBay before the publication. I don't mind people making a buck (though it hacks me off that 'respected' reviewers seem to take it as read - no pun intended - that they can flog the uncorrected proof on the Net) but I can't believe readers want the warts-and-all version, with typos, continuity errors etc etc. It isn't value for money as far as I am concerned. Besides - who wants people to see what an arse you were before someone competent got involved? Robert Low Congrats on your progress - those first signs that you actually have a ‘real’ book are brilliant and, hopefully, the thrill never fades.
The downside of spraying gally-proofs all over the place is that they end up for sale on eBay. My publisher, HarperCollins, does not do blow-in, or lob proofs about lightly, but copies of my first book The Whale Road, were on eBay before the publication. I don’t mind people making a buck (though it hacks me off that ‘respected’ reviewers seem to take it as read - no pun intended - that they can flog the uncorrected proof on the Net) but I can’t believe readers want the warts-and-all version, with typos, continuity errors etc etc. It isn’t value for money as far as I am concerned. Besides - who wants people to see what an arse you were before someone competent got involved?
Robert Low

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70826 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:41:54 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70826 Some of the ARCs I've seen recently have had "extras" like bookmarks and tour dates, but no blow-in cards. That's an interesting idea. I think what it does, too, is help you hone in on your market via someone who's already read your book. That targeted thinking can spread like wild fire if you find someone who's, say, in a book group. I think if I was a marketer, I might plant that seed on the blow-in: "Do you know of anyone in a book group who might like this novel?" ...something like that, or a list that includes that as one option, just to be certain the idea's working as hard as it can for you. Just my two unvarnished cents. Yay on your galleys, Allison! I just adore the cover of this new book, and I can't wait to read it for myself. Some of the ARCs I’ve seen recently have had “extras” like bookmarks and tour dates, but no blow-in cards. That’s an interesting idea. I think what it does, too, is help you hone in on your market via someone who’s already read your book. That targeted thinking can spread like wild fire if you find someone who’s, say, in a book group. I think if I was a marketer, I might plant that seed on the blow-in: “Do you know of anyone in a book group who might like this novel?” …something like that, or a list that includes that as one option, just to be certain the idea’s working as hard as it can for you. Just my two unvarnished cents.

Yay on your galleys, Allison! I just adore the cover of this new book, and I can’t wait to read it for myself.

]]> by: Miranda http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70822 Thu, 08 May 2008 16:26:48 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70822 This publicity thing is generally over my head, but that seems like an excellent idea! This publicity thing is generally over my head, but that seems like an excellent idea!

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70803 Thu, 08 May 2008 13:39:54 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/05/08/galley-ho/#comment-70803 I'm as clued out as you, Allison, because I've never heard of stealth marketing via the galleys. We get ARCS to prepare our author interviews, but I've never seen them utilized in word-of-mouth campaigns. But whatever works! I'll be interested in hearing what your experience with it will be. Love the cover, btw! And hey, it's the face, not the back of the head! :-) I’m as clued out as you, Allison, because I’ve never heard of stealth marketing via the galleys. We get ARCS to prepare our author interviews, but I’ve never seen them utilized in word-of-mouth campaigns. But whatever works! I’ll be interested in hearing what your experience with it will be.

Love the cover, btw! And hey, it’s the face, not the back of the head! :-)

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