It’s day 5 for Armchair BEA. I’m sad it’s the last day, but I’m really excited about todays topic!
Today’s topic is Ask The Experts. In your post, ask the visitors to your blog for blogging advice.
So here’s my question:
What is appropriate to email an author about?
I know you shouldn’t email author’s to request ARCs, but can I email them and ask to do an interview? Do I wait for them to accept an interview before I email the questions. or is it better to email the questions in the first place? Is it rude to ask them to sponsor a giveaway? What do YOU email authors for?
Thanks so much for your advice and for all the comments you have left on my blog this week. Feel free to leave links and I will impart whatever advice I have on your post :)
My name is Jessica. I love to read Young Adult and classic literature. I’ve been a book blogger for six years and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet. I’m a very curious reader. Writing about all the questions and thoughts I had while reading a book is the best hobby ever.
Be sure to read their website where you found their email address. A lot of authors will have directions on how to request and interview and so forth. I have emailed an author to thank them for the content of their book, or just to let them know how much I enjoyed it. It has given me the ability to really get to know a few authors.
I can tell you what *I* do: first, definitely follow Lisa’s advice and read their FAQ. Sometimes I’ll ask the author on twitter if they do interviews. THEN I send them an e-mail asking them if they would like to do an interview (short or long) or a guest post, or some other kind of feature. I sometimes say “you can donate swag or books for a giveaway if you would like to, but I don’t expect it!” Then AFTER they respond yes or no I send them the questions. I like to give authors at least 6 weeks to respond. Sometimes more. And I tell them that I’ll give them a 2- week warning before I need their answers back.
That’s always worked for me in the past!
I would say, go ahead and ask them for an interview. I’d include the questions straight away so there isn’t too much going to and fro with emails. I would not ask for a giveaway in the first email, but maybe after you’ve received the answers. It depends how friendly they seem, I guess.
I always email and ask.
http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
I’m new blogger, so I can’t be much help…but I think it’s best to email the questions with the first mail, so they could answer straight away (if they want). Plus it also saves time.
http://goo.gl/jxy4x
I wish I could help you. But, I haven’t started sending emails to publishers/authors yet. I’m still too busy in my regular life to start begging for more books, lol. Good luck to you with it, though! You’ll have to share what you learned.