Hey there lovelies!
Time flies when you are having fun! Can you believe 2018 is right around the corner?! It has been a crazy year! Are you excited for 2018?
It’s been a while since I posted a Saturday Chaturday post, so today I wanted to talk about ARC’s, their importance, how we feel about them, and how they affect us as bloggers. I also wanted to discuss Indie, and lesser known authors in the book world, and recap my year. Buckle up, it will be a long one! Let’s chat about it in the comments!
ARC’s:
So, let’s talk about Advanced Reading Copies of books.
Do you request them?
Personally, I enjoy receiving ARC’s. I try to only request ARC’s of books I am already interested in, or think I will enjoy. Physical ARC’s are great, and I feel honored when I receive them, but rejection is definitely a big thing when it comes to requesting those pretties! And, that isn’t always a bad thing. I know it sucks to not receive that highly coveted ARC of an anticipated read, but I realize the publisher has to do what they feel is best as far as promotion and audience reach goes.
Did you request any physical ARC’s this year?
This past year I was lucky enough to receive two physical ARC’s that I personally requested from the publisher: Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco and Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely. I absolutely loved them (GG is STILL my favorite book) and I made sure to do my absolute best to promote them!
How do you feel about ARC’s?
I personally feel that ARC’s are meant for us to read and review with the goal of helping to promote them. Obviously, if we truly did not enjoy them, we should say so, but that is why I don’t request anything I know I won’t enjoy. I feel like its a privilege to be able to receive ARC’s and that we should do our best to help spread the word about them.
Do you think they help authors, and how do you think they affect us as bloggers and reviewers?
As bloggers and reviewers, I feel like ARC’s give us anticipation. They give us hope for future reads, and they entice our TBR’s. I enjoy having ARC’s in the world, even if I don’t always get them, because I love reading the review of a fellow blogger who was lucky enough to receive an ARC of one of my anticipated reads. They help form connections between us and stir excitement for new books and authors!
Do you request e-galleys?
As of now, there are three places I utilize for E-ARC’s. NetGalley, First to Read, and Edelweiss. I enjoy requesting e-ARC’s and helping promote those that I loved. Edelweiss isn’t as friendly as NetGalley, but I have had a couple great reads come from there. I feel like e-galleys are a great way to not only help promote anticipated reads, but to read the books you are excited about ahead of time without wasting too much of a publisher’s time and resources. My sole purpose for requesting ARC’s is to help promote, but I know a lot of bloggers request when they don’t want to wait for a book to come out, or when they can’t afford to pay for a book. E-galleys are great for this.
Current e-ARC:
Book Title: Our Dark Stars
Book Author: Audrey Grey and Krystal Wade
Page Count: 316
Publishing Date: January 2nd, 2018
Publisher: Macmillan
Part of the Wrath and Ruin Box Set.
ARC from author as part of her street team!
Indie/Lesser Known Authors:
Another important issue to bring up in our book world is the importance of reading books from Indie and lesser known authors. I know we are all dying to get our hands on the latest big names, but just because an author is published by a big publisher, like Macmillan or Penguin, doesn’t mean they are the best, hardest working author out there.
Indie, and lesser known, authors work hard to get their voices heard. It takes guts in general to publish, or seek publishing for, your work, and anyone brave enough to do so definitely deserves a second look. I started my blog wanting to read all the big names in YA, and slowly began to realize that my voice could have a purpose in spreading the love for the not so big names. This is why I started accepting review requests, and I fight to promote books and authors that need more love.
Here is a list of some of my favorite Indie authors:
And a list of some authors that deserve more love:
Who would you feature on these lists?
I also want to talk about reading for fellow bloggers. As readers and bloggers, we see and read a lot of books. I think it is a privilege to be able to help out fellow bloggers aspiring to get their writing out in the world. It is something important that we should try to do at least once. I am proud to say that I have a rough draft manuscript to read from my friend Caitlin at Find Me In Fairytales, and a manuscript posted on Swoon Reads by my good friend Melanie at MNBernard Books!
What is Swoon Reads?
Swoon Reads is a fantastic place where bloggers and authors can unite to share and review manuscripts. It is an opportunity to read the latest from up and coming authors and vote for them to have a chance to be picked by Swoon Reads and published by Macmillan. This means that it is really important to read and review these works. The manuscripts with the best reviews and most votes have a good chance at being picked and published!
So, as a favor to me, to Melanie, and to other amazing, undiscovered authors, make yourself a Swoon Reads account and start reading! It is so important for us to give support to those who need it! Here is the link to Melanie’s manuscript, Submerged, which I am very excited to read, and I hope a lot of you will read and review it as well!
Here are a few titles that made it on Swoon:
On To a New Year:
I have thoroughly enjoyed my year of reading and blogging! I have had the opportunity to connect with tons of amazing bloggers and authors! I have read 152 books this year (52 past my Good Reads goal) and I have several in my top list!
Here are some of my top reads of 2017:
Plus every single book I have read by K.M. Shea!!
Favorite Book Published in 2017:
Favorite Book Read in 2017:
Gunslinger Girl is out in 3 days!!! January 2nd book birthday!
What’s in your top list?
Darque Dreamer
Blogger/ Punk Rocker / Quirky Housewife
Wow I learned a lot reading this post Adrienne! Sadly it seems First to read is only for US citizens as it asks for your State… I am now on Swoon Reads 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so excited you are on Swoon now! I am going to work on reading Melanie’s book soon!
LikeLike
Adrienne this is a fantastic post!!!!
I agree wholeheartedly about showing love for the Indies. That’s one of the reasons I got into blogging too. I didn’t even realize that KM Shea and Audrey Grey were indies too. Going to check out Swoon.
Thanks!
Happy New Year 🎊🎆🎈
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I think they definitely deserve more love! K.M. Shea is an amazing Indie author!! Audrey Grey is actually published with Blaze, but I listed her under the second list because she is so amazing and I never see anyone reading her books! I am excited for you to check out Swoon. I think that website can help a lot of authors get out there!
Happy New Year to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great info. Thanks 😊😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always makes me happy to find other bloggers who read self-pub and indie books too! A lot of the books on your best list look interesting, I will have to check them out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think it is so important to give them some love! People get so caught up in thinking only the big names are worth reading. I hope you enjoy the ones you decide to pick up! ❤
LikeLike
I love this segment. 🙂 Thank you so much for the support and care you’ve given this year to Indies and other authors. I appreciate all you’ve said and done, and thank you for including me here. You are awesome. xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so welcome! I am glad to be a friend and reader! You are so awesome and I am excited to see what you do in the future!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!!! I was so happy to see you listed Jay here! And Didi too! I’m not familiar with the other authors listed, but your post is a great incentive to check them out. All the best in 2018, Adrienne! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks lovely! I am so happy to have found so many amazing authors to share around! Best wishes to you in the new year! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I learned a lot from reading this gorgeous! Fantastic Post and I hope you have a wonderful New Years!!!💖🎊🎉🤗😗
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you beautiful! I hope you have a fabulous New Year too! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!😍💖💝🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t read ARCs of any kind…I have little enough time to read my own books without requesting tons of unpublished stuff! Most of what I read is Indie/self published and I’ve found so many great books and authors. There will be a lot more on my blog next year too! Happy New Year, whatever your plans are!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have read most of my ARC’s from NetGalley or from author requests, actually. I have been trying to aim at reading more Indie and lesser known authors, but sometimes I think it helps to read the occasional anticipated release to capture the follower attention so they see my reviews on the Indie books more. I look forward to more reviews on your blog! I have added a lot of books because of you, lol.
LikeLike
I love ARCs though I tend to overwhelm myself.. Most of mine are eARCs but I do get physical copies on occasion. Two most treasured are The Murder of Mary Russell, and Morning Star. Oh, and Iron Gold which I need to get off my duff and read.
I’ve read a few of the indie authors you mentioned. And I have others cued to read. Watching Glass Shatter is one of those. Aaahhhhh! Too many books, not enough time!!
I’ll have to check out Swoon Reads. Probably not brave enough to share my own stuff there though.
I’ve kinda gotten stalled on writing lately. The motivation is lacking. Well, more like family support. I’ve gotten so I really only share stuff with Jonas.
Top reads for 2017? Hmm….
Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey
Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George
Gilded Cage by Vic James
Himself by Jess Kidd
Age of Swords by Michael J Sullivan
Barsk by Lawrence Schoen
Keep in a Cold Dark Place by Michael F Stewart
Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
The Brightest Fell by Seanan MacGuire
The Smallest Thing by Lisa Materfield
The Missing by Jerico Lenk
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, e-ARCS are the norm for me. I do enjoy the physical better, but I always tell whoever is sending me the ARC that I will take whatever is cheapest and easiest for them.
I cannot wait to see what you think about WGS!! Such a great book, and I can’t wait to see what else Jay does!
I hope you enjoy Swoon, and I think you should put your stuff there! I bet its great because I can tell how hard working you are and I know we have talked about it in the past!
Great list of top reads too! Gilded Cage is on my TBR, and so is Meddling Kids, and The Missing is in my top reads too! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such an amazing thing you’re doing, Adrienne! I am so happy and proud to see my book listed here, but most of all I am so grateful for all your love and support and so blessed to be able to call you my friend. I have no words to express my gratitude and how much I appreciate all that you have done, but meeting you has been one of this year’s highlights. You are such an amazing, kind and generous person. ❤ ❤ ❤ Thank you with all my heart and I wish you a wonderful 2018!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so very welcome my friend! So happy to be here to support you and other authors! ❤ Happy New Year to you!!
LikeLike
Love tbis blog post and I totally agree with indie authors/lesser known authors. Ashley and I love supporting them too.
Happy New Year!
-Sabrina
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy New Year to you guys!! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right here is the perfect webpage for anybody who would like to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic that has been discussed for a long time. Wonderful stuff, just wonderful!
LikeLike