Besides it being a chance for me to catch up with my online buds, I enjoy the annual RWA conference because it gives me a chance to put my ear to the nearest wall and catch the latest buzz. This year I once again roomed with KristieJ from Ramblings On Romance. Kristie has spent the better part of the last year promoting the heck out of Broken Wing by Judith James and berating badgering coaxing her fellow members of Romance Blog Land to read the book that she so fell in love with. The result? Kristie has almost 30 bloggers listed on her sidebar of those of us who have read the book.
It was while we were at RWA in Washington D.C. that Kristie had the opportunity to chat with some people from Sourcebooks, the publisher that will be publishing Judith James second novel, Highland Rebel, in September. They told Kristie that Broken Wing was the highest selling title in Medallion Press history. At this point Kristie hasn’t had this confirmed with the folks over at Medallion, but why would Sourcebooks make something like that up? The answer is, they wouldn’t.
There was a brouhaha several months back involving an interview an editor and VP from Harpercollins Avon did over at All About Romance essentially dismissing the value of online promotion and bloggers. My response to this was that if Avon was waiting for the day when a blogger was going to be solely responsible for “making” a book, they’d be waiting a long time. Listen, I’m a librarian. I can tell you in no uncertain terms that there are two ways to “make” a book. 1) The publisher’s PR department puts in a lot of long hours and 2) Oprah picks it for her book club.
This naturally brought up a lot of discussion on how “important” reader bloggers are and how much “traffic” we get.
Horse hooey 🙄
The minute reader bloggers begin losing sight of what their purpose is, and why they got into the game to begin with, is when they start feeding a corporate machine. Most of us started blogging for one reason, and one reason only. We wanted to connect with other readers who loved the romance genre as much as we do. I started blogging because 1) I like to hear myself talk and 2) there was no one in my real life who I could talk books with. Yep, that’s right. The librarian didn’t have a soul to talk to about romance novels. No joke. I was a drowning woman. I was desperate. So I went to the web.
Kristie has never lost sight of this. I also know that she’ll never think that she was the sole reason that Broken Wing sold well for Medallion. Hey, the pretty good review the book got in Publisher’s Weekly didn’t exactly hurt matters. No, Kristie didn’t “make” that book – but she did jump start what most authors and publishers kill for.
Word of mouth.
Kristie got close to 30 bloggers to read that book. And some of them loved it as much as she did. They blogged about the book. They told friends who aren’t online about the book. And then those friends told other friends.
Do I think bloggers can “make” books? Not entirely. But they can build momentum. Broken Wing is the best example we have so far. It helps that it was from a smaller publisher, who doesn’t have the same sort of name recognition as say, Random House or Harpercollins. It also helps tremendously that it was KristieJ promoting the hell out of that book. Why? Because I’m not sure any other blogger could have done what she did.
People read and like Kristie’s blog for one reason – because Kristie is the one blogging. She’s a genuine person with a genuine “voice.” She’s “regular people.” That’s attractive as hell to a whole lot of readers. When they read Kristie’s blog it’s like meeting their best friend for coffee. So when she got really excited over a debut author’s book for a small publisher? The people who read and like her blog listened. Hey, people read and like my blog too – but I can say for certain that me loving a book and giving it a glowing review doesn’t have the same impact. Why? Because Kristie turned promoting Broken Wing into an event.
I think as the online romance community continues to grow, and new social media platforms come to the forefront, there will be more opportunity to observe what impact bloggers and readers have on the publishing industry at large. Reader bloggers can be a valuable promotional tool for authors and publishers if utilized the right way. It worked in this instance because Kristie loves Broken Wing, she is genuine about that love, and it showed through in her blog posts about it. The moment reader bloggers try to morph themselves into publicity machines is when we fail. It won’t be genuine anymore and it will be really blatantly obvious to people reading our blogs. We all got into this game because we love books, we love reading, and we love the romance genre with an unflinching loyalty. We should all take a page from Kristie’s book and remember that.
I’ve read this nodding so heartily my neck hurts now (thank you, Wendy!)
All kidding aside, this post should be required reading for bloggers and authors alike–bloggers, so they remember their roots and stay true to them. Authors so they understand how and why readers’ blogs can be such an effective promotion opportunity, so long as it’s a genuine response and not a forced one.
Thank you, Wendy!
Even **I** have heard of Broken Wing through KristieJ’s blog. Seriously! A one woman army. Also.. wasn’t she also promoting the miniseries North and South? *checks*. Yep. I am SO with her on North and South.
Exactly Wendy. Thank you.
I was soooo excited to hear this and do honestly think Kristiej had an impact on the sales for BW.
The big factor, I think and something I think is often lost when people talk about blogs, books, marketing, what works, what doesn’t, ‘reader blogs’, reviews and on and one…. is the simple fact that this was honest.
This was fact. KristieJ read a book and loved it. I recall getting an email from her and asking if she could do a guest review. If we would do a spotlight, if we could brainstorm some ideas to get the word out… because she WANTED people to read this book.
I did and still do feel that way about Devil in Winter. It isn’t so much that you do or don’t love it but we want you to READ it.
That is what reader blogs are about. Talking about books. So her going out and ringing the bell about BW isn’t something a publisher could have done. Sending a book to a reviewer and asking them to read it. Can cause that reaction.
Sending a book to a reviewer with the feeling of you better review this well or you won’t get anything else from us – isn’t going to.
Will a bad review help make a book? I STILL say yes because there are so many different likes out there. And of course there are still a ton of people out there are plugged in and will never hear of any of us. They are Walmart/Target/NameYourStore here shoppers who toss in books that ‘look’ good by the cover. I know LE GASP.
Can a Blogger Make a Book? I vote yes. And you don’t even have to agree with me but I would love to hear what you think ;).
Sybil: I still contend that only Oprah has the power to “make” a book – but agree with everything else you said. Kristie’s championing Broken Wing “worked” because it was honest. There was absolutely nothing phony about it. It came off as a totally genuine reaction to an awesome book that she loved. And she wanted everyone to read it….even if you were like me and didn’t having a gushing squeeing fangirl reaction 🙂
For the record, Kristie is still talking to me.
As more book blogs hit the web, I think it’s been easy for some of us to lose sight of “why” we started doing all this in the first place. I’ll admit I have a bit of a fangirl moment when an author comments on my blog – but I did NOT start blogging to cozy up to publishers and authors. I did NOT start blogging because I wanted tons of “traffic.” I started blogging 6 years ago because I love books, wanted to talk to other people “out there” about books, and because I wanted a forum where I could blather on incessantly. I do not consider myself a writer. I do not consider blogging a “job.” The minute I think either I want you to smother me with a pillow 😉
I blog because I like it. I blog because it’s fun. And if I can turn some readers on to books that I’ve read and loved? The more the merrier.
I agree wholeheartedly with you here, Wendy. My blog doesn’t get a ton of traffic, but here’s the thing, I frequent *other* blogs and review for other sites. And I’ll tell you what, if I love a book, I gush everywhere I can find a forum about the book.
I’m quite sure that I’ve never “made” a book per se, but I know for a fact that I’ve helped sell readers on trying a book they never would have considered before.
I was on the original email loop when Kristie sent the first gushing email about Broken Wing. In turn, I requested an ARC from the publisher for the site that I review for. I read and loved the book and reviewed it for them. More readers gave the book a shot. I never, ever would have picked up the book if Kristie hadn’t been so passionate about it.
Like you, I blog because I get to give my opinion about a variety of topics (mostly romance related) in my very own forum where I don’t have to worry about how I say something or to whom. The hours I spend writing the blog and researching topics and reading for review are spent gladly. I’ve never stopped feeling that thrill when someone comes back to me after I’ve recommended a book to say how much they enjoyed it.
Well said Wendy. I’m one of those that caught some of Kristie’s fire and I think it’s because her fire was so honest and true. If it was fake and machine manufactured I’m sure I’d sniff it put and turn away.
I’m a writer and sometimes put reviews up on my blog but only of book I love that really touch me. It’s just my nature. I don’t want to put down other writers that’s not my blog and I don’t want to be fake so I give my opinion on books that I like.
I *think* the readers listed on Kristie’s sidebar are those that have read and reviewed the book. I’m one who owns the book but hasn’t had the chance to read it yet – I ordered it the minute I could because like all have said – Kristie’s honesty and passion for it. And I figure I’m not alone in owning the book so you can count more sales than just the ones on Kristie’s sidebar.
I started blogging to hear my own voice and to talk about books I love. I couldn’t sell water to a dying man in a desert and I know it. Luckily I also know when someone has ‘sold out’. I have enough media bombarding me with advertising that finding it in my blogging rounds is a sure way to get me to skip on through.
Great post!
CindyS
Excellent post, Wendy. I couldn’t agree with you more. I think reader blogs serve the community of which they’re a part; you have definitely influenced my reading, as have many other bloggers. But, like you, I don’t think a blogger necessarily makes a book.
The thing is, I don’t blog to make books. I blog because I love reading and I want to share that love with others. When I read a book, and subsequently review it, I’m not doing so with the thought that I’ll ‘make’ the book (or ‘break’ it, for that matter). I simply read to be entertained, to be transported to another world. And if a book as succeeded (or failed), I want to share that with others who will also be transported.
I think a good example of a book that got great online buzz and did well because of it is The Butterfly Tattoo. If it wasn’t for book blogs, I would never have heard of that book or read it.
Wow, Wendy! What a great post.
Well, I do have to say that if Kristie hadn’t told me about “Broken Wing”, I likely would have never picked it up.
OK – totally blushing here. Really – I am. In the five or so years I’ve been blogging, I’ve only gone ‘TOTALLY over the top’ about two books and one movie – Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas, Broken Wing by Judith James and North and South starring (oh be still my heart) Richard Armitage. I have been quite enthusiastic about a couple of other books and one television show – Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare, The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley and So You Think You Can Dance Canada (which sadly didn’t have the big an audience being as it was in – well Canada).
I don’t think it’s wise for publishers to ignore the impact romance reader bloggers can have. I know there are many examples where I’ve purchased a book because of the enthusiasm I’ve felt while reading a post on another blog – a book it never would have occurred to me to try otherwise. I read their review and think ‘If they loved the book that much, I just HAVE to get a copy too!’
And if I’m impacted by that, how many other readers are too? I also read the interview at AAR and thought the interviewee really missed the boat on the impact that we readers who blog can have. When I first started blogging, there weren’t that many of us around, but there are new ‘baby bloggers’ popping up all the time – so many I’m finding it harder and harder to keep up with them all! :- {
But as more and more of us come on line and start up blogs, I think we will have more and more of an influence. Review sites are great – I visit a number of them, but blogs have something more personal to them. Because many of us aren’t ‘professional’ (what I mean by that I’m not really sure) we can infuse our reviews with our own enthusiasm rather then trying to be more objective because we are blogging for ourselves – to share what we’ve loved – or in some cases not loved *g*.
Wow – I have gone on haven’t I? But I so agree with you on a number of your points – –
“I think as the online romance community continues to grow, and new social media platforms come to the forefront, there will be more opportunity to observe what impact bloggers and readers have on the publishing industry at large. Reader bloggers can be a valuable promotional tool for authors and publishers if utilized the right way.”
My feelings exactly!
And
“The moment reader bloggers try to morph themselves into publicity machines is when we fail. It won’t be genuine anymore and it will be really blatantly obvious to people reading our blogs. We all got into this game because we love books, we love reading, and we love the romance genre with an unflinching loyalty.”
(gaahh – I wish I could figure out how to do italics)
I love this statement and it’s so true. It’s the honest feeling I pick up from bloggers that makes me pick up a books and give it a read.
Well done SL. I agree with you. I think any thing that comes from a genuine place and is honest will impact the reader/viewer. People can smell a fake a mile away. You can count me in the group that went right out and read BROKEN WING just on Kristie’s rec alone. However, I trust you too and have done the same when you say, “You gotta read this one.”
I also agree that bloggers don’t “make” books, but I do think we influence sales and trends. The proof, as always, is in the sales. Even a reader who doesn’t frequent blogs may do a search on a book they are the fence about and get a review or round of reviews on a book that will influence their purchase of the book. I can’t be the only person who does that.
Honestly, I’m not a romance blogger but I’ve read almost all of Kristie’s suggestions. I went out and rented North and South. Totally read Broken Wing based solely on her suggestions. So if I was quiet about how I followed her, how many of me are there out there? I’m sure more then 30 people have read Broken Wing based on her suggestion.
I’m like Mina. I started visiting romance blogs two years ago, and now have a daily routine of bookmarked blogs I check. I bought Broken Wing because of Kristie’s cheerleading, and I also added North and South to my Netflix queue. And I’ve realized that I can take part through the comments to get the word out about my own favorites (Meredith Duran, anyone?).
A lot of you have touched on what I think is the main issue keeping us from “measuring” whether or not a blogger can “make” a book. I mean, how do we know? Really? Kristie has only highlighted those readers, who blog, and have reviewed the book on her sidebar. It’s pretty much impossible to measure how many readers bought the book based on either Kristie’s rec. or some other bloggers rec. if they don’t blog or wave their hand in the air and say, “Me too! Me too!”
And let’s not discount the bazillion readers who are not online. Yes, these people do exist. They aren’t like leprechauns 🙂
So while I’m not sure Kristie “made” the book per se – I firmly believe she jump-started word of mouth. Which for me, is really where the Internet and blogs can excel. Instead of talking to the people in your neighborhood at the bookstore about books, you can throw it up on the World Wide Web and the whole blessed world can see it. If authors and publishers can harness that? Think of the possibilities.
But yeah – it’s got to be genuine. It worked in this instance because Kristie is a genuine person. I don’t think it will work across the board, indiscriminately, with any blogger pulled out of a hat.
Thanks for the article. The internet has opened up exciting new promotional channels for authors, including blogs.
As a new writer who has gained traction on the internet (through sales on Amazon Kindle) I can say it works, but the blogger must be genuine (not just plugging something for a friend or getting paid under the table) for the book to have a “long tail”.
“Broken Wing” got a flash-boost from the blogging publicity, but does it have legs? It is not a bestseller today (only 6 months later) — one look at the sales rankings for this book on Amazon (and Amazon Kindle) tells the story.
I must agree that bloggers definitely influence others in their book-buying decisions, and I think it’s a good thing. Broken Wing was one of those spectacular debut novels that might have gone unnoticed if not for the “grass roots” buzz started by the blogging community about it.
I have also experienced a wave of support with regard to my own debut novel, “Fire at Midnight,” and my sales numbers reflect it. I sincerely thank the bloggers who have read and reviewed “Fire at Midnight” and have recommended it to others. I realize that many of you have huge TBR piles, but we debut authors really appreciate your support! You have more power than you might realize, because word-of-mouth translates to sales and that can often mean the difference between whether or not a new author is offered a subsequent book contract.
A very cool post. 🙂
I don’t know that one blog or blogger can “make” a book, just like I don’t know that one reader (excluding Oprah) can make a book. But I do think that bloggers have a lot of influence/power. I know I’ve tried several authors based on reviews I’ve seen on sites like TGTBTU, DA, etc.
How much power do bloggers have? I don’t know. But there’s nothing better than people saying good things about your book because they just love it. That’s what every author wants — for people to enjoy her work enough to recommend it to others.
As to people not on the web – tons!
The difference for me is that I had no one in my real life to talk to about romance books. Now I know that about 14 people come and visit me at my blog and that’s 14 people who know what kind of books I like and if they would like the same book also.
For me, reader reviews helps me spend my money wisely as opposed to the old ‘hit or miss’ kind of buying I did before the internet. Blurbs are unreliable as we all found out the hard way and author quotes can be horribly mis-leading.
So reader blogs might not ‘make’ a book but it does help readers on the net to decide on where to spend our limited funds.
CindyS
Great post – I’m a fairly new blogger and already this is a great reminder. I want to help authors all I can because I want books to flourish, but I will be true to my reviews.
I also started reading blogs and started my own blog to connect with others. My friends eyes just start to glaze over when I talk about romance books or pretty much any books that I read.
Now I have to go check out Broken Wing. 🙂