All of Your Bonuses for Reviewing My Book

In this section, you'll find a full recording and a printable handout for my class, co-hosted with Marion Roach Smith.

In the PDF that follows, I’m providing four emails I sent in pursuit of book endorsements (AKA blurbs). 

I've tried to remove names and identifying details to respect people’s privacy. And let me be VERY clear, the people who deserve credit for my blurbs are the people who generously gave them to me. I didn’t trick anyone or “score” by getting these endorsements. I asked a bunch of people, most said nothing or no, some said yes but never followed through, and a few said yes and did follow through. I’m very thankful for that. 

The big picture:

You are not asking for a blurb. You are asking them to read your manuscript in CONSIDERATION of a blurb. 

Big name authors get asked for blurbs all the time. Your pitch needs to be different. 

You are asking for a favor you probably don’t “deserve” in the sense that you’ll usually be emailing people with more publishing success than you have. That demands some humility. 

If you’re too humble, they won’t want to review your book because it won’t feel worth their time. 

Successful authors review books to: 

1) Form relationships with up-and-comers who might be valuable collaborators in the future.  

2) Get their name on a book that might be successful, which is free publicity for them. 

So you need to balance humility with the idea that you’re the real deal — capable of releasing a successful book and potentially bringing reciprocal value in the future. 

You also want to start the conversation as soon as possible, because some authors will need several months to potentially skim your book and offer a review. 

Some other lessons you’ll see in the samples below:

• I customize every email. 

• I explain why I’m asking this specific person for a blurb. How does our work mesh? Why would a review from this person mean a lot to me? 

• If I can name drop, I do it. For example, you’ll see me mention my agent Lucinda sometimes and not others. I mention her when I’m talking to someone who knows her. 

• I show how my book is different from others in the genre and how it might be a cool book for this author to put their name on. 

• I offer to reciprocate the favor by promoting the author's products. So far, no one has actually insisted I do so in return for the review, but there were a few conversations about potential collaborations, which was great because it opened new doors for me. 

• If someone doesn't reply after roughly two weeks, send a follow up. Personally, I usually write a new intro and put all the details below it to prevent them from having to find my old message.
  

In this section, I'm offering a video lesson revealing how you can make your message resonate with a wider group of podcasts, publications, and partners — as well as their audiences.

In this section, I'll share some info to help you on your publishing journey.