Comments on: In which I promise not to tell anyone about your terrific new book

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:47:16 +0000

KT, I would say not. It’s more a case of the publisher wanting to control the hype or create the hype–I remember being completely befuddled by S&S’s strict embargo on Peter Pan in Scarlet, the “authorized” sequel to Barrie’s classic. I don’t think they kept it under wraps because it was bad (although it was ) but because they thought they could make people think this was actually an Event (although it wasn’t). GraceAnne is right to link the whole business with fear of spoilers, an understandable human impulse that publishers have turned into a marketing tool: the only way to find out “what happens” is to BUY THE BOOK.

By: KT Horning

KT Horning — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:38:49 +0000

I think it probably means the publisher knows it is not as good as its hype and doesn’t want the rest of the world to know it before the book comes out.

By: GraceAnne_LadyHawk

GraceAnne_LadyHawk — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:21:44 +0000

“But I think for the future I’m not going to accept review copies contingent on a prepub blackout of Horn Book coverage. It’s too frustrating and as Ron says above, completely screws with our publication schedule.”

That makes sense to me. It seems to go hand in hand with this whole “spoilers” thing, which always feels to me like people other than me trying to control how I think and feel about a book, or at least control what they find out about it.

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:12:46 +0000

If I hadn’t said I *would* respect the terms of the NDA and the publisher sent the review copy anyway, then, sure, David. But by breaking the publisher’s trust I endanger that relationship and potentially their advertising. I am prepared to lose advertising over a negative review or other editorial decision but not because I went back on my word to someone.

I’m just whining when I say I’m tempted not to review the book in question. I love the book and want other people to love the book, too, so not reviewing it would be self-defeating. But I think for the future I’m not going to accept review copies contingent on a prepub blackout of Horn Book coverage. It’s too frustrating and as Ron says above, completely screws with our publication schedule.

By: David

David — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:14:23 +0000

Who suffers if you don’t review the book? The likelihood is that it doesn’t need publicity (if it’s got an NDA then it’s already a bestseller)

Does the Horn Book get hit by not including it? Do readers expect to see a review/reaction to the publication? Does it hurt relations with a publisher/publicist – should that even matter?

Despite it being a bestseller – does the book/author deserve a review? (Even the most highfaluting NYT bestsellers still read their reviews – not Franzen apparently – but everyone else)

Wouldn’t it be more fun to break the rules, release the review early and surprise everyone?

By: Ron Charles

Ron Charles — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:56:05 +0000

It is annoying, isn’t it? And it’s been snarling our schedule all fall. What’s particularly galling is that it’s an effective “right of first review” for the Times, which can always count on sneaking an early copy from someone in New York.

By: Beth Redford

Beth Redford — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:53:49 +0000

4 words: what are they hiding?

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:35:49 +0000

Publishers generally embargo books that they think don’t need reviews to succeed: the recent Eragon sequel for example, didn’t need reviews, and the publisher lost nothing by withholding it from reviewers. (It was offered three days in advance of publication if we signed an NDA, but the supposition that i was going to Drop Everything and Read an Eragon book so offended my aesthetic sensibilities that I lost the NDA somewhere on the way to my fainting couch.)

By: Steffaney Smith

Steffaney Smith — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:52:27 +0000

Hmmm, haven’t I seen Newbury forecasters blogging about titles, pre-publication (i.e. “Breadcrumbs”)?? Which means they are relying on the same advance copies you receive. Which sells books — our library attempts to pre-order anticipated bestsellers when possible and can’t do so without the reviews! Proverbial chicken & egg!