Bogus blog features and reviewers.

[Satinder]

Hey, thanks for posting this. I have had one similar experience where I agreed to send someone a free copy in exchange for a review. While I was in no rush about the whole thing I did ask the reviewer if she could give me an approximate timeframe. She did not reply to that nor to the follow-up email I sent after a while.

Like you, I have no problem with someone not liking my work- its simply polite to let an author know whats going on!

Dear Moderators, do you think we should name and shame these people so that other authors know not to deal with them? Its annoying to say the least, especially when you consider that we are giving our books away for free and in good faith.

[Sadie]

Satinder wrote: "Dear Moderators, do you think we should name and shame these people so that other authors know not to deal with them? It's annoying to say the least, especially when you consider that we are giving our books away for free and in good faith. "

As a blogger I'd respond, "Only if we bloggers can name and shame those authors who ignore policies and instructions and/or send multiple requests." I don't mean to sound snippy, but I'm on both sides of this, as both an author who has sent out review requests and a blogger who accepts requests.

Shaming bloggers who don't hold up their side of the bargain ignores some of the realities of accepting requests in the first place. I can almost 100% guarantee that every one of those bloggers who disappeared got flooded with requests at some point. OK, that's an exaggeration. I don't know these people, but the point is that even if a blogger is strict about 'only 5 books on my request TBR list at a time' they could still spend an hour or two A DAY fielding those requests that they are turning down. It's not just about greed on their part. It's also the reality that there are far more indie authors seeking reviews than there are bloggers open to indie books. So those bloggers are contradictorily in high demand and expected to be available all the time.

[Shaun]

It is, rather unfortunately, a fact that some people on Goodreads offer to do reviews and read ARC's only to get free books to read and have no real intention of posting a review without a very good reason.

There are also reviewers who routinely offer themselves up, but have scruples such as not reviewing if they think they would end up giving a work a low rating. While communication between the author and reviewer on such an issue would usually be appreciated, some authors will not have their work spoken poorly of even in private conversations. Many reviewers here on Goodreads have experienced that and thus choose the option to "fade away" rather than risk getting immersed in such a confrontation.

As an author myself, I can understand your frustration. I have even been there myself. Preparing to release my second book, I sent out a handful of ARC's, of which, all were individuals who volunteered and of which none ever actually posted reviews.

The idea that such individuals should be publicly shamed and called out by name isn't going to win any author friends in a community of readers and reviewers such as this, though. As has been said, and as you've seen, many reviewers are absolutely swamped, with 6 month lead times or more. Authors who are aggressive are unlikely to bump themselves up the list and, whether deserved or not, will likely find themselves in the do-not-reply box.

And let's not forget, sometimes, life happens. I received an email from one reviewer after three months of silence, apologizing for not getting my book done and informing me they would no longer be able to do so due to personal circumstances. There were several issues which included familial, social, and work, all hitting at once. I'm still honestly surprised they even took the time to get back to me at all, and I wouldn't have been able to blame them if they hadn't.

So my advice is to just relax. Move on. There will always be other readers.

[Satinder]

Shaun wrote: "So my advice is to just relax. Move on. There will always be other readers."

Really, this just about sums it up. You're right. If you put something out there in good faith, something good might come back or it might not. Either way the best thing is just to move on.

I would not automatically assume something sinister is afoot if a review does not get back to me or think them a shady individual. And I completely get that life gets in the way and sometimes people over-commit themselves. But I still believe that communication is key; its polite after all.

Sadie, I also agree with you that authors can be badly behaved too. I've seen some book spamming on GR that is just incredible. I don't know how people have the time or energy to be so aggressive with pushing their books!