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September 27th, 2010
05:10 pm - Fun With Publicists
As you know, Bob - what's that, you're not Bob? Is ANYONE here named Bob? Oh, never mind. Moving along....
As you know, I review books. Part of this job entails poking publicists to make sure I stay on their lists so they'll be more likely to send me stuff. Hey, my reading habit is expensive, and reviewing doesn't exactly pay all that well. I'll do whatever I must to subsidize this.
When I haven't seen anything from a publisher in a while, I check with them to make sure all is well, I'm still on the list, etc. This isn't made any easier by the fact that turnover in these departments seems to be on the same level as a McDonalds fry cook.
Case in point: I contacted one YA publisher, with whom I'd had an off-and-on thing for years, to see why I haven't seen anything in ages. The email conversation goes something like this:
Me to Publicist A, with whom I spoke once: Hi, it's me again. Send me books for review, please?
Publicist B to me: Publicist A hasn't worked here since March. I'll add you to our list.
Me: . o 0 (Man, no one tells me anything. Why must I be added to the list again? This must be the fifth time!) Great to meet you! Send me books, please?
I love this job. But there are days when I just shake my head in amusement, and make sure to update my contact records.
Current Mood:  amused
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Maybe burning the list on your way out is the traditional way to spite your employer.
Though would it be fair to say that they publicists probably have a high turner of flaking reviewers who request books and then are never heard from again? (In which case they probably figure the ones who actually want to do work will contact them and the rest have just disappeared). ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/30785872/1594267) | | From: |  seawasp |
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| Date: | September 28th, 2010 12:18 am (UTC) |
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Well, if Baen isn't sending you stuff I can always poke 'em for you. Do you review e-books or just print?
I was assuming you already received a lot since you review for (if I remember correctly) ROF, but if that's not the case I can ask some of my publishers to send stuff your way, particularly anthologies that have recently had my work (and put you on the list for Trafficking in Magic/Magicking in Traffic when it's available). |
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