Discussion Post: Book Blogger Woes

Posted April 8, 2018 by Lisa Mandina in discussion post / 22 Comments

Okay, so I’m in my 9th year of blogging, and there are still a few things that I wish I had.  Or things that have changed since I’ve become a blogger.

1.  So, this past year has been great for me, I finally have some
contacts with certain publishers, and over the past few years, I’ve been
getting more and more advanced reader copies even just mailed to me without my
requesting them.  So you’re probably wondering, why is this a woe for me
now? Well, in the past not having those things was sad, and now, well let’s say
there are still a few publishers that I wish I had a connection with for some
specific ARC opportunities.  But I’m working on it, and getting
connections and will keep working!  Now, this actually kind of leads into
my second blogger woe.

 
  2.  Getting the first in a series advanced reader, but not for the rest of the series.  Really in the past I've gotten the first in a series from either the bookstore I work at, or maybe at a convention like BEA.  And so I never got the sequels because they hadn't been sent to me directly.  But even now, when I get the first in a series, I often don't get the 2nd or others in physical copies.  Especially when it is a publisher that doesn't even print copies of the last books in the series.  Right now I'm DISO a physical copy of Bright We Burn by Kiersten White.  And I finally have a contact with HarperCollins.  She was nice enough to give me the name of the person working on the publicity for the book I want since it isn't her title.  Now I've emailed and fingers are crossed I might get a copy, if I even hear back.  And this even leads into my final book blogger woe for today.
  

3.  Because of the advanced reader copies, and all the other books I'm reviewing, I don't always get a series finished when the last book comes out.  Often if I don't get a book for review, that final book, I don't always fit it into my reading schedule, and so it might get purchased, but then sits on my TBR shelf.  Believe me, I have a lot of series that I need to finish that final book, but because I didn't read when it first came out, or before it came out, it tends to get shoved below other advanced reader copies, and then I just don't get to it.  And then it sits there, and I'm either not in the mood when I have time to read it, or I'm afraid I don't remember enough from how long ago I finished the last book to just pick the final book up and start reading.
 
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So that's me sending my wishes to the people who might be able to help me solve them.  🙂
Are any of my woes ones that you feel as a book blogger?  What are some woes you have that maybe I didn't share here?  Would love to have you join into my discussion!

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22 responses to “Discussion Post: Book Blogger Woes

  1. Getting physical ARCs is super hard for me since I'm an INTL blogger, but I'm mostly okay with it since our local bookstores carry lots of YA titles. The third woe, though, I can totally agree with! I always buy shiny new releases and end up neglecting the series I want to finish. 🙁

    – Aimee @ Aimee, Always

  2. I don't really get a lot of physical ARCs sent to me, which can be a bit sad sometimes if I REALLY wish I had something, but for the most part, it's okay. I like being able to read a mix of review books and other books because I used to have so many review books, that was all I was reading. However, when it comes to really popular books or series, I tend to not read them…or only read the first and then not the rest…at least for a while. While I don't read JUST review books these days, I still don't always have time for the new releases that I just want to read. lol

    -Lauren
    http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
    http://www.letsgetbeyondtolerance.blogspot.com

    • Yeah, I have so many non-review books to read as well! But I've since learned to really only request review books that are ones I would want to read anyway. For the most part, that works. There are a couple publishers that now send me books without asking, but I don't feel obligated to read them if they don't sound like I'd like them. Thanks for visiting!

  3. I don't get a lot of print ARCs, so it can be frustrating sometimes to see other people getting so many, and for books I really want. And I can definitely relate to the third! I've found that oftentimes, if it's not a review copy, I don't fit the book into my schedule. It's not that I never read non-review copies, but I give review copies priority, so there's less time for others, definitely.

  4. I wish you lots of luck with finishing series of ARC's,I love getting print books for reviews because that is the only format I use, so when I get one I am happy, though I understand about getting the others if it's first in a series. But I usually just read ARC's as individual books, and go from there.

    • I prefer to read physical books, mostly, especially for YA. I don't mind reading adult romance as ebooks for some reason, but I like my YA to be an actual book. I especially prefer science fiction or fantasy books to be physical as well. For some reason I have trouble following along, attention or something, if they are ebooks. Thanks for visiting!

  5. I totally get that last one especially, I can't count how many series I haven't finished , and even though I don't request many ARC's I still have the problem!

  6. I used to want to get ARCs so bad, but I realized that it was just too much work to get one. I do get a few occasionally so I'm thankful for those. However, I really don't go out of my way now to get a physical arc. If I don't get the second or third book in the series, I can always get it from the library or purchase it myself.

    • I used to get a ton, and I realize now it is from going to events like BEA twice, and then I'd have all these ARCs. But because I hadn't received them personally, technically, it meant I didn't have a way to get the next ones. I do end up a lot of time buying that third book, but I am sad to not have matching sets of ARCs. Thanks for visiting and joining the discussion!

  7. My blog is too small to get physical ARCs, but honestly, I like reading ebooks, and I really don't have the space for physical books since we moved (there are stacks of them lined up in the front of my room as we speak). I understand the frustration with not getting all the books in the series. There are several series I received DRCs for the first two books, and then nothing. I hope to get the book someday, but it will wait, since I have so many other books to read.

    • I will read ebooks, but I really prefer physical books still. And especially with YA, or any kind of fantasy/science fiction. My extra bedroom is my library, and it is full of books, and I love it! Yeah, that is what happens, I can't wait to read the final books, and sometimes do buy them, but don't get around to reading them. Thanks for stopping by!

  8. I don't get a lot of physical ARCs either but my main book blogging related woe is that I live in the middle of nowhere so I never get the chance to go to any cool author events.

    • There didn't seem to be a lot near me, and I had to travel. But I have learned to enjoy the travel. And the last two years there is a romance author convention that started up in my town, so that is awesome! Hope you get the chance to go to a cool author event soon. Thanks for joining into the discussion.

  9. You've been blogging for such a long time now! I know what you mean about the series though. One trilogy I got books one and two, but then not three when it released. And it is still on my TBR shelf to this day even though I was loving the series 😀 Also, congratulations on having built up contacts 🙂

    • Yeah, I still have the book 3 of many series sitting on my TBR shelves. I tell myself every January I'll pick them up and read them. But then I rarely get around to it. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

    • I've made myself stop automatically buying the final book when it comes out, just because I know I probably won't get to it right away. Thanks for visiting!

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