Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Readers vs Reviewers in Contests

I do have reviews coming (of 4 books), honest, but first I have a question:

to authors, those with review blogs and those that just read the reviews... What's your opinion on some book contests now being for 'readers' only and not reviewers? And does that include blog reviewers (like me)?

Besides buying books (and the super hiatus-y Teen First Look), winning contests is so far the only way I get the books I review... (okay, I got 2 from Penguin in May and one from super Marta Acosta, but the other 99.9%..)
By at

7 comments:

  1. MartaDecember 10, 2008 at 11:33 AM

    Hi, thanks for mentioning me! Since most reviewers on the internet are really enthusiastic readers who started reviewing, I think they should be allowed to participate in contests. But perhaps there should be a stipulation that they review the books they win. Or that for-profit review sites be excluded.

    Now some reviewers get lots of free books, but they're few. I'd hate to see the majority of fan/reviewers excluded from contests because of the exceptions.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 10, 2008 at 1:01 PM

    I'm with Marta on this. I'm a reviewer, but I do it because I love to read, not to try and earn money at it (although, if there was a way to do that, I'm so there).

    I have entered contests before where the winners had to review the book somewhere, it didn't matter where, but there had to be a review out there.

    I'm with you. All the books I review are either ones I've gotten from the library, bought, or have won via contests. There are a few authors who have contacted me in the past, but it doesn't happen all that often.

    ReplyDelete
  3. stargirlreadsDecember 10, 2008 at 3:31 PM

    I think anyone sould be able to win. who cares if you review it or not? why should that matter?

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 10, 2008 at 4:17 PM

    Ours are open to everybody, any rules we have are clearly laid out on each event. Since we use a random number generator to do the contests it doesn't really matter to me who enters. I know several reviewers have won books from us, it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

    The only way we wouldn't allow somebody to participate is if they are breaking the law by offering e-books as prizes after they have one. And yes it has been happening, sadly.

    When I do have time to stop by a fellow reviewers contest or event, it is lend support and to say hi, not to get anything for free.We are already on most of the lists to get new releases, so it doesn't make sense for me to get duplicate copies. So, if you see me, don't enter me. :) Unless it is for a Kindle then you should. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  5. Enchanted by BooksDecember 10, 2008 at 9:15 PM

    I didn't hear about reviewers being excluded from contests, but I wonder how someone would even know that they're a reviewer. Almost every blogger friend I have online reviews books on their blog so that would be excluded a huge majority of the blogger community. And if anything, I would think an author would LOVE for a reviewer to win their book because they would probably write up a review and help spread the word. Who doesn't love free publicity???!

    ReplyDelete
  6. MartaDecember 11, 2008 at 1:14 PM

    RachelfromNJ, yep, you're right. Authors want reviewers to get copies of our novels. The very best publicity is word of mouth, just talking and blogging about a book.

    Rachel, I'm bummed to hear that some "reviewers" are giving away unauthorized ebooks. That's as bad as the people who request a review copy, never even read the book, and sell it on EBay. Most of us have limited review copies and many authors are mailing them at our own cost.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Book Sp(l)otDecember 12, 2008 at 10:16 AM

    Jackie & Marta: Thank you both so much for linking to this post-it's interesting to hear what everyone thought :)


    Jackie: Requiring a review would be an easy stipulation and would stop people who didn't really want to book from entering-and there's Amazon & B&N.com, too.

    Good to know, too, that I'm not the only one around here not getting loads of free books ;)


    stargirlreads: Maybe they were trying to stop magazine/newspapers from entering and weren't clear? Or maybe some people think all blog reviewers get a bunch of free books

    Rachel: May I just say that you do have some fantastic contests? And people are really giving away ebooks they've won? That's not cool-and *they* should be excluded


    and everyone else I believe I emailled :D

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Book Trailer Friday [@RandomHouse @TransworldBooks]

Beth Dorey-Stein's From the Corner of the Oval  - a tale of being the White House stenographer during the Obama administration will be ...