Pondering the nature of reviews and promotion.: seanan

Pondering the nature of reviews and promotion.

With Rosemary and Rue [Amazon]|[Mysterious Galaxies] approaching its official release date, and with my evenings spent neck-deep in The Brightest Fell, aka, "Toby five," aka, "the book I am writing partially as a form of informing the universe that it really needs to give me the sales to sustain a long series," it's only natural that my thoughts should be turning to reviews and promotion. I have Google spiders set to tell me whenever my name or the title of my book get mentioned—they aren't perfect, but they do pretty well—and I try not to let myself obsess too much about my Goodreads ranking or Amazon sales number. (These are not easy things to avoid obsessing over. I admit that. But a girl can still try.) This has led, of course, to contemplation.

Do I like reviews? Well, yeah. What author doesn't like reviews? Especially since I'm a shiny new author, which means reviews will have a genuine impact on my sales—I'll read the new Kelley Armstrong regardless of what the reviewers say, because I know she does what I like, but I didn't pick up Jeri Smith-Ready (who is also made of awesome) until I started hearing people I trusted saying good things about her. I especially appreciate the fact that, now that we have the wonders of the Internet, everybody can be a reviewer. I mean, yes, that means that people like me, whose credentials are questionable at best, are allowed to express our opinions with apparent authority, but it also means that there's a range. I'm a lot more likely to trust a product whose reviews have a range than I am a product only discussed in the most glowing of terms. At a certain point, the "does your book cure cancer?" blinders kick on.

Which brings me to today's actual topic: what constitutes "going too far" where reviews are concerned? I regularly solicit the readers of this blog to post reviews, and while I'm not going to hunt people down and make sad eyes at them if they post something really negative, the odds are pretty good that if you're here, you're well-inclined to like my writing, or at least play nicely. (Not always, mind you. No one is nastier to my favorite authors than I am when I feel like they've lost the thread. At the same time, because they're my favorite authors, even before I adopted my "post no negative reviews" position, I was likely to not say anything at all.) Now, I don't think this is being uncool. It's not like I'm paying people, and it's not like I can actually force anyone. Also, I told my mother she's not allowed to post a review. I have done what I can.

At the same time, there are ways that some people really abuse the review system. Let's take a hypothetical book called Mary Sue Goes to Mordor. It's published through a small press, but it has Amazon distribution, and the author—like all authors—has the understandable desire to see the book succeed. Without a major press, it's very unlikely that there will be many review copies kicking around, and almost certain that there won't be a big press campaign. So it's all word-of-mouth and Amazon reviews. It's natural that the mind might turn to thoughts of upping those numbers, just a little...just to even the playing field, as it were.

So now Mary Sue Goes to Mordor has fifteen reviews, all of them five-star, all of them heaping praise on the book in a glowing manner. Often mentioning not only the author in superlative terms, but also praising the publisher for "doing it again," perhaps in hopes that this will lead curious readers to click through to other titles by the same publisher. Where does the line lie beyond which the reviews are simply impossible to trust? How many "reinventing the world of fantasy" comments can be taken before the book crosses the line into "not with a ten foot pole"?

No, Mary Sue Goes to Mordor isn't the title of a real book, although it sounds like it would be similar in concept to The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey, which was a disturbing amount of fun. So if I saw Mary Sue Goes to Mordor on the shelf, I'd probably give it a read. This question basically comes from a combination of a) chasing my own reviews around the Internet, watching to see what critical response will actually be, and b) seeing several books take the hypothetical approach above—the one where half the reviews just read like they were written by the same guy changing accounts as quickly as he could.

There are lines. The lines are funky. I'm going to quote David Edelman here, and say: "Don't post glowing reviews of your books on Amazon under assumed names. Don't start up your own fan websites. Don't go through the phone book and call bookstores anonymously asking if they stock this amazing new book you've just heard about. In fact, any time a marketing activity involves the use of pseudonyms, that should raise a red flag."

And now I'm going to link to his fantastic essay, A Guide to Ethical Self-Promotion.

And now that I've thought my thinky thoughts for tonight, I'm going to go to bed.

hoppytoad79

August 27 2009, 06:19:01 UTC 7 years ago

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Anyone who doesn't like to hear they've done well has issues. There are limits and lines and I'm with David Edelman.

seanan_mcguire

August 31 2009, 15:46:13 UTC 7 years ago

He's got a very nicely balanced approach.

the_gwenzilliad

August 27 2009, 07:18:42 UTC 7 years ago

I recall being seriously embarrassed at a review of a CD I was involved in. I don't remember where it was posted, but the person who wrote the review made it very clear that he was reviewing the harpist, not the CD, as he hadn't actually heard it. He went on to talk about an event I'd played at which he was present. I didn't know how to tell him how inappropriate I thought that review was, so I said nothing.

August 31 2009, 15:46:53 UTC 7 years ago

It's very hard to say "I don't think you're being appropriate," especially when it's someone trying to be nice and/or supportive. I totally hear you there.

madfilkentist

August 27 2009, 09:42:11 UTC 7 years ago

I've seen solid evidence that Amazon deletes negative reviews in some cases. Together with the fact that people can get sock puppet reviews inserted, this means I don't consider Amazon reviews worth any more than blurbs as guides to the worth of a book.

August 31 2009, 15:47:45 UTC 7 years ago

Amazon deletes reviews that are reported as "violating terms and conditions." Many ethical authors (who are still mid-list enough to have time to worry about it) don't read their reviews to prevent the temptation to do exactly that.

la_marquise_de_

August 27 2009, 10:22:20 UTC 7 years ago

I am Ms Too British to Promote: when a friend spontaneously reviewed LWG on Amazon, I was startled, a little embarrassed and rather worried that it wasn't allowed, somehow.

August 31 2009, 15:48:01 UTC 7 years ago

Awwwwww.

jongibbs

August 27 2009, 11:02:13 UTC 7 years ago

Interesting stuff. I've added the David Edelman link to my picks of the week.

Thanks for sharing :)

August 31 2009, 16:03:08 UTC 7 years ago

Very welcome!

janeg

August 27 2009, 12:59:11 UTC 7 years ago

Most of the authors I know in my business world do what you and your publisher have done - make review copies widely available without any influence on what the reviewers say. Being creative about new sources for reviews, other than immediate relatives and people who already gush over you, is quite fair. And I expect all publishers now want authors who use social media for promotion, especially with an author who already has a following. You're doing just fine.

I do reviews, and try to be fair. Most books that make it to print have some good points and some bad, and I am more likely to believe a review that points out something that could have been better than one that gives only praise. I also turn down requests to do book reviews if I had some influence over the book, as a beta reviewer for example, as I would then in a small way be reviewing myself. I may still however post something about why I am recommending a book (reminder to self; one of those postings is overdue).

August 31 2009, 16:04:08 UTC 7 years ago

The only thing I wish was that there was some sort of uniformity to how people applied the star ratings. I've found that some people will rate the same review everything from a three to a five, which makes the stars so totally subjective that my head hurts.

Barely related comment

tenaciousnancy

August 27 2009, 14:02:21 UTC 7 years ago

I love Joseph Arthur's "In the Sun." That song is heavenly. :)

Re: Barely related comment

August 31 2009, 16:04:24 UTC 7 years ago

It is, indeed, an awesome song.

Deleted comment

August 31 2009, 16:04:53 UTC 7 years ago

This all makes sense. I don't write bad reviews unless the book really upsets me in some way that I need to talk out.

silvertwi

August 27 2009, 21:27:15 UTC 7 years ago

I feel slightly weird saying I've actually read The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey. I put something on my blog about it because of some problems I had with the writing style, but I actually liked the concept and story. And I'm still not sure how to pronounce the author's last name.

...and is it bad that I've never been on Amazon and never plan to because of the stunt they pulled last winter?

August 31 2009, 16:05:34 UTC 7 years ago

I actually enjoyed the hell out of The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey. It was incredibly fun to read.

And no.

gorgeousgary

August 27 2009, 23:40:50 UTC 7 years ago

I'm quite amused to see you linking to something of David Edelman's. David was a freshman at Johns Hopkins the year I graduated. We weren't close friends, but our social circles intersected enough that we knew each other.

This resulted in a very satisfying double-take on David's part when I walked into one of his panels at Denvention last year. 8-)

August 31 2009, 16:05:47 UTC 7 years ago

Dude!

gracemyheart

August 28 2009, 01:03:41 UTC 7 years ago

On the Topic of your book- the B&N out here in CO just called me today to let me know it was in and I could pick it up anyday! Yes, I requested that they order it for me. :D

I just had to share the happy news.

August 31 2009, 16:10:43 UTC 7 years ago

Yay!

deire

August 28 2009, 01:25:23 UTC 7 years ago

IHAVETHEBOOKIHAVETHEBOOKIHAVETHEBOOK! I can't actually read it till I finish my work, but I HAVE IT! Oh, yeah, expect a postive review. :g:

August 31 2009, 16:10:51 UTC 7 years ago

WOO-HOO!

August 28 2009, 01:25:44 UTC 7 years ago

I..I kind of want to write that short story now.

August 31 2009, 16:10:59 UTC 7 years ago

*giggle*

August 28 2009, 02:12:27 UTC 7 years ago

I saw this in

fanficrants today:

Dear oh-so-smart author,
next time you decide to leave yourself a review like "this story is wonderful! You're a great writer, don't let the lack of review put you down!", you might want to log out before posting it. Just saying.

August 31 2009, 16:11:18 UTC 7 years ago

...yes, actually. I've seen that way too many times.

georgiamagnolia

August 28 2009, 07:29:10 UTC 7 years ago Edited: August 28 2009, 07:32:49 UTC

Rosemary & Rue is in my hot little hands. (and the BookGoddess ordered herself a copy as well just because you are my cyber-friend. So hey! Two copies sold!) Also today was the arrival of my copy of the Haunting of Louisiana, so it has been a literary evening of odd juxtaposition, just what I like.

So far so good, (what!? better than good, it's fantastically full of win and surprise and yeah, like that)

I will be writing a review in my journal as soon as I finish, which will likely be tomorrow night...

In case you didn't know, you are Queen of the MultiMedia World. I say so.

.:Edited to Add Location:.
I am not sure if you have a map on your wall and are putting little pins in it to mark sightings of R&R in the wild or not, but in case you do, I live in the Denver Metroplex and I work in a very VERY large metaphysical bookstore and we got the copies today from Ingram's Secondary. (in case you are needing insider book distributor info)

keristor

August 29 2009, 08:51:56 UTC 7 years ago

A metaphysical bookstore? Is this one which only exists in the minds of its customers? *g*

If it's going on a map, mine has arrived in Aylesbury, England (via amazon.co.uk, we don't have any bookstores around here which do imports unless they are ordered specifically, and even then take months to get them).

(Oddly, Amazon now say on their web page that it won't be released until November! Strange, since I have a copy here in my hands, with the same ISBN as they quote. I've emailed them and told them about it...)

7 years ago

!!!

kidogirl

August 29 2009, 23:20:41 UTC 7 years ago

On a whim, I checked bn.com this morning. To my surprise (and glee) I saw those wonderful words... "In Stock." I immediately took advantage of their (completely awesome) online system to place in-store holds. Within twenty minutes I got an email confirming that my very own copy of Rosemary & Rue was waiting for me.

Best friend and I were preparing to embark upon a major shopping day, so I only got to read the very first part while I waited for my friend to get lunch in the food court, but wow, Seanan. It's already so great. I can't wait to see what comes next.

It's so surreal to finally see it as a real made-of-paper book, and hold it in your hand, to see the cover art that was just a picture on the internet until now--but who has time to think about just how awesome -that- is when there's so much more to read!

I'd say more, but hey--the book is calling me. ;)

Re: !!!

August 29 2009, 23:21:55 UTC 7 years ago

Oh, and if you're still keeping track of where: the B&N in Monroeville, PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh).

I haz red it an it iz gud!

August 30 2009, 10:22:21 UTC 7 years ago

I had to finish it this morning (it's Sunday, I'm allowed to get up late). Including the 'teaser' because I didn't want to stop. Oh boy. It was worth waiting for, indeed. I'll have to wait until I calm down a bit before I post a review otherwise no one will believe it (no, your book doesn't cure cancer; other things, though...). And there are two more coming in the next year, and then the next ones...

Oh, on the oddity of Amazon saying a November publication date? I had an email back from them this morning:

Please accept our apologies for this inconvenience, but "Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel (Toby Daye)" appears to have been a surprise sellout.

When you placed your order, we had access to more copies, were by[sic] we processed your order- we then discovered that every one of our distributors had rapidly sold out.

Major distributors have thousands of copies on order from the publisher, all apparently awaiting the next print run. As soon as more copies become available, we'll be able to dispatch the future orders.

As per the recent update from our suppliers the book will be reprinted and will be instock[sic] in November 05, 2009. This is the reason why the item is listed for Pre order. We are sorry if it was not clearly listed in our website.

We as retailers are dependent on different suppliers, once we receive new copies it will be updated in our site.

We will pre-order this title from our supplier, and expect to obtain copies directly following its release.

It has sold out and is scheduled for reprint BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY GOES ON SALE!!! For a first book! Is that success or what? (Out of interest, do you know how many they printed? Apart from "not enough"?)

(Amazon.com still have it on pre-order for September 1st...)

(I'm also amused that there are more errors in that one message from Amazon than in the whole of the book. But since I didn't notice any mistakes at all in the book, not even a comma (which is pretty much unique for any published book I've read, kudos to you and your proofreaders) that's not hard.)

Re: I haz red it an it iz gud!

September 1 2009, 17:31:37 UTC 7 years ago

That email made me SCREAM LIKE A GIRL.

canadianevil

August 31 2009, 01:02:07 UTC 7 years ago

I saw R&R at the Coles bookstore in West Edmonton Mall today. I did not see it at Chapters. Maybe they're better about release dates there.

It looked very pretty. :)

September 1 2009, 17:31:45 UTC 7 years ago

Glee!

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