I love NetGalley. The idea of it, the variety of novels offered there, just about everything.
Ah yes, that “about” thing.
I am a fast reader, I review rather quickly but always trying to keep the reviews within a week of a novel’s release. Some publishing houses request that, and it simply makes sense to talk about a book when it is due to be launched.
I have a decent ratio at around 78% to 89% – it fluctuates depending on how many novels must “wait” for the reviews to go live because of release dates. I am trying desperately to keep my requests to only a month or two ahead so that the ratio stays in a reasonable area.
Yet, I’m pulling my hair out over three publishing houses. So, I’ve decided to simply no longer request from them, especially Harlequin. I do not want a long list of declined requests on my profile. And that is just a personal dislike, I don’t know that it affects the approval rate or not. I’ll stick with the houses I’ve reviewed for already, and maybe branch out to smaller publishing house divisions. But I will not touch the “big guns” again for at least a year, if ever.
It’s not as though I cannot go out and purchase Harlequin novels myself – and I often do. It’s not that I’m looking for freakin’ free books. It is that I enjoy the various lines at Harlequin and their authors. But, nope, not going to get myself in a hissy-fit any longer.
To be honest, I don’t know if this blog will ever be “big” enough readership-wise for those “big publishing houses”. And I shouldn’t let it bother me so much either. I know this. That damned pride, ya know?
Ah well, I’ll wait them out for a year or two. I can be patient, in spite of these current words. I can be.
So, how long did it take your blogging to reach the point where the larger publishing houses thought your blog worthy of their offerings? Just curious.
I’m fairly new to all this, but the same questions bother me too. It’s nice to know that other blogger feel the same way too.
Hi,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I know, it’s frustrating. I know that Harlequin expects at least 500 followers before they’ll seriously look at me – but I’m stubborn I kept trying. But there is no sense in beating a dead horse – just wait them out.
It’s not like there aren’t tons of other books out there to read and review. 🙂
I think it’s very different for europeans. I’m still a very small blog and I review in english while not coming from an English-speaking country. I’ve had some publishers decline specifically because I don’t review in my native tongue, but for the most part the publishing houses have all been very nice and explained their reasons for declining. I’m reviewing for a major publishing group in my country and that’s enough for me, I haven’t even tried with the other big ones.
My advice would be to just go for it as long as you’ve been blogging for quite some time, you’d be surprised!
Jen @ The Bookavid recently posted…5 Pieces of Book Blogging Advice (Bloggiesta #2)
Hi Jen,
Oh, I won’t give up. But I will let the blog age a bit more. I’ve been blogging for 5 years, but not consistently so I do understand – might not like it LoL – but I do understand it.
I can’t even imagine the frustration you must at times feel for being declined for those reasons. But I’m finding my little chunk of publishing houses and it will grow – I just need to give it time.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
Interesting post. I have so many published books to read that I haven’t bothered requesting ARCs yet. I think my blog only has around 200 followers, so I might have to wait a lot longer before I ask for ARCs.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Confessions Of A Bookworm: Homework Enthusiasm
I only have 92 Bloglovin’ followers and some email folks. Not a lot. I do get e-ARCs from NetGalley so I’m not complaining about lack of e-ARCs to read. I’d just love some of the big books, but in time.
There are so many books, you are so correct, that I’ll never get to read everything in my TBR pile if I live to be 100 — but I’m sure going to try.
Thanks for visiting today and commenting. Appreciate it.
Hrms. I’m trying to think back. I don’t know that I ever had too much trouble with them. I didn’t really start requesting until the blog was 6-8 months old I don’t think. I’d have to look back. But early on I was just doing personal books. I don’t request a ton there. I tend to just accept invites for books offered. My only turn down has been over cookbooks. Grrr args! I wasn’t cookish enough I guess for one of the publishers. So I don’t request from them anymore. lol
anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…#AtoZChallenge–It’s only KINKY the first time *wink*
I am… impatient, I admit. And this post was born of frustration and impatience. Yet, it was a good conversation starter so – good for that. 🙂
Harlequin. I really wanted Harlequin e-ARCs from NetGalley. But I certainly don’t have 500 page views a day. And I understand their reasons, honestly I do. they want the biggest audience, bang for their free ARCs. I do get that.
And it will come… in time. I just have to be patient. But sometimes, I just have to get it off my chest, ya know? 😉