Jen at Crazy for Books restarted her weekly Book Blogger Hop to help book bloggers connect with one another, but then couldn't continue, so she handed the hosting responsibilities off to Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. The only requirements to participate in the Hop are to write and link a post answering the weekly question and then visit other blogs that are also participating to see if you like their blog and would like to follow them.
This week Billy asks: Do you ever get comments from authors when you have posted or tweeted your review?
I have gotten a few responses from authors: Some in comments here, some on twitter, and some on LibraryThing.
I have gotten a few negative responses from authors unhappy with my review. This is a euphemism for "the author responded and acted like a jerk or a petulant child." In those cases, the authors have generally been relatively inexperienced and mostly self-published. These exchanges have never made the authors in questions look good. These exchanges are also always authors who I have had no contact with other than my acquiring, reading, and reviewing their written work.
I have also had some comments from authors who were either complimentary of my take on their book, or simply appreciative that I had reviewed their book at all, even if I did make critical remarks about it as part of my review. Most of these authors have been traditionally published, all of them have been authors with a reasonably substantial publishing history. It appears that professional longevity in authors is associated with those who can remain professional even if someone is critical of their work in some way. Whereas authors who get upset and write angry missives when you don't give them a glowing review tend to have short and not very memorable careers.
Previous Book Blogger Hop: To Travel Through Time, You Must Get a DeLorean to Go 88 Miles Per Hour
Subsequent Book Blogger Hop: Gaius Valerius Flaccus Died in 90 A.D.
Book Blogger Hop Home
Wonderful answer.
ReplyDeleteAuthors appreciate reviews and comments.
I love them.
THANKS for sharing.
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
@Elizabeth: Most authors are quite appreciative. Those authors often seem to do much better than authors who are jerks online.
DeleteI haven't had an author comment about my negative review and I'm not sure how I would handle it. I agree with you that wasn't professional of them. They should know that there is always the possibility of a negative review. I mainly getting replies from Twitter but it does feel good when they comment on your review =)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and have a great week!
Kathy @ My Nook, Books & More
My Blog Hop Answer
@Kathy A: I mostly handle it by simply not reviewing any more books by that particular author. If they are going to complain when I give an honest appraisal of their book, then I'm not going to put in the effort to do it for them any more.
DeleteNegative responses? That's so not good. They should learn to accept feedback, positive or negative, and do better next time. I wouldn't know what to do if ever I'll receive one. Anyway, I usually receive replies my Twitter :)
ReplyDeleteBookBloggerHop@EverythingNyze
@Nyze Gremio-Velasco: I have most of my interactions with authors on twitter as well, and that makes it pretty easy to simply block the jerks. I have also removed one or two comments that have shown up here. I don't think most angry commenters understand that I can just delete their rants if they rant in the comments section of this blog.
DeleteI would have to agree with you on that. Authors that don't like your review and have negative comments for your review are more indie authors and/or newbies. NOt all authors are grateful. Twitter seems like the best and easiest way authors have used to reply on comments.
ReplyDelete@Alysia A: I always figure that if an author didn't want me to give and honest evaluation of their work, they shouldn't have made it available for me to review.
Delete