I’ve got a Sisyphean task at hand, and if Romancing the Bloggers can’t help me, I don’t know where else to turn.
Let’s begin the exercise by assuming your offer of much-deserved “our collective hearts bleed for you,†and “careful what you wish for†comments, for my problem is this:
I have too many gratis Advance Reading Copies and novels in To Be Considered (TBC) piles and don’t know which to look at first. Further, out of the scores I’m sent weekly, I can’t decide which authors and novels romance readers might like most. How can I select just four of these about which to write feature columns and author interviews each month?
Initially – back when I thought getting free books was gonna be so cool — I read a little of every novel I was sent, because I couldn’t stand the thought of not acknowledging an author’s blood, sweat, and tears. Now, I still treat the books reverently, but can’t possibly get to every one.
So I stack ARCs by release date. I sort them by theme. I separate out erotica to feature in my blog rather than my columns. I set aside novels of newbie authors who’ve emailed me to pitch their books. And sometimes I forget that I meant to read one because my child gets sick in the middle of my sorting and I don’t get back to it for a few days — by which time 40 more packages have arrived.
Truth be told, my job is awesome, and next to e-hanging with romance readers, getting free books really is the coolest thing ever. So I ain’t complaining. Yet I do feel a tremendous amount of guilt about not reading most of my TBCs, because I really get what authors go through to become published.
Now, as much as I enjoy a little guilt-related cheez-puff and chocolate eating, I know the emotion itself isn’t productive. Surmounting challenges is productive, and that’s where you come in, if you’d please be so kind.
Based on your experience with your own TBR piles, how would you organize my TBC piles? How would you try to give every book and author as fair a shake as possible? What would you do with remaining books? How would you enjoy doing my job?
No related posts.
When I started to read this post my brain started tingling. Could it be? I thought. Coiuld she really be hosting a GIVEAWAY OF ARCS?!!?!? Thank You Kind Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then I read on, realised I had been hallucinating (and salivating) and promptly went into depression.
This is me writing depressed.
To answer you question though: I don’t have a TBR pile. I buy/borrow books only when I’ve finished what I currently have and I don’t ever buy/borrow more than four books a week. My TBR-pilelessness seems to make me a minority in Romanceland but anyhoo:
If I had such a pile and this pile was sent to me for possible review (which is v. different than if it was my personal pile) I’d sort out the books by genre – to ensure I review in as balanced as possible a manner. Then within genres, I sort in a first come first serve manner. Not that you have to read whoever comes first, just that you have to take a gander at the blurb and make a quick, elemental decision – am I interested or not – and move that book, dependent on your answer to the ‘uninterested’ pile which does not have to be genre specific and can be hidden in a closed box if your goal is to whittle down the numbers to the best of the lot for you.
Possibly you can now know for sure that I’ve never had any great TBR pile.
Good morning, Dalia! Loving any opportunity to move some ARCs, etc., out of my house, I’d gladly have given some away today. But I don’t think we do that here. However, you’re totally invited to drop by my place, where I give away as many great romances as I can each week, and in special members’ contests, too. Authors who stop by do the same.
Your idea of first com/served is a good one, which does make it more fair. Sometimes I don’t feature “the” big books that are being talked about everywhere because I’ve scheduled out 3 mos in advance, and have included newbie authors in the line-up instead. To me, introducing new authors kinda balances the “missing the boat,” if you will.
Lots of folks keep TBR lists, instead of piles. I never forget that books cost cash, and that’s the basis of what I do: suggest books that might be good buys for the viewers’ hard-earned entertainment dollar. The thing that still humbles me about my TBC piles, is that I still think owning books is a luxury, and purchases, even paperbacks, have to be made judiciously.
Weeellllll, when someone does win a prize, you could always just include one as a surprise when you send out the package. hint, hint.
Poor Michelle, such a hard life.
You could send them to us early and we can tell you in a timely manner if they are any good or not. Maybe even send them back to you. No? rats. I tried Bellas.
My TBR pile just keeps getting bigger- and I added to it this weekend. It’s a sickness, I know. It’s not organized in anyway, except by size of book (HC, PB, Trade). I like to rummage through it each time I am ready for another book and see what slaps me upside the head and says “my turn, read me”.
Michelle, I actually have to give you and reviewers a lot of credit in this respect — I could never do it, because I read based on so many personal metrics, that the “first come, first serve,” while fair, would mean I might have to read a book I really wasn’t in the mood to read, and then would I be able to give it a fair review? If I felt overloaded rather than tempted by my TBR, I would avoid it all together.
I know on several of the review sites I’ve come across they seem to be tossing author books into a pot and let reviewers choose what they want to review — an author may end up not getting a review, but I guess if you do you know the reviewer really wanted to read your book, and so they were doing so with a willing heart.
If I were you, because I don’t think I could do otherwise, I’d have to review the book that was really calling me or appealing to me at any given moment. That might not be fair on a timeline kind of term, but it would make me most receptive to the book, rather than forcing it.
Sam
Hey Michelle, I’m bleeding for you, I really am LOL. Honestly though, I’d probably feel a bit overwhelmed too, especially if I felt like reading has become a chore instead of an enjoyment. I hope that never happens to you…or to me either.
I have a tbr pile, a huge one, because I can always find something to catch my attention that eventually I’ll want to read, but the thing is, I have to be in the mood to read it.
I don’t really categorize them – I just pull a book or two out of the pile, see if it sounds like what I want to read, and go from there. I don’t say “oh today I want a paranormal historical”. Instead it’s the blurb on the back of the book that catches my interest.
It’s sooooo hard being Michelle! No really. It is.
I also fall into the ranks of, I don’t have any suggestions for you, since my TBR stack usually has fewer than 10 novels in it. But, I sort by genre. I guess if I had to sort down further than that, I’d go by release date, since you are working on time sensitive material (assuming you need to review by the actual street date). That’s about the best I can do for you, unless of course you’d like to send some ARCs to me, and I’ll be glad to help out.
I’m such a giver.
Ah, well the simplest solution is to have a team of readers weed through the pile for you.
Loan them to friends and have them do “book reports.” Based on the book reports, decide what you wish to review yourself.
For the books you don’t want to review, you could always use a quote or two from the book report so the ARC, at least, gets a mention.
‘Course I’m the queen of delegation (secret to my success).
Btw…like my fellow Kimber, I too speed read. Best investment I ever made. Helps with my piles of business reading.
Hi Michelle,
I don’t have a TBR pile because I read fast… very fast. I buy 5-6 books / week and read them all. sometimes, I re-read some of the good one (anything from Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Janet Chapman… etc) and the rest of the time, I get bored…:)
I am always practical ! lol
My commute to work is app. 3 hours / day, depending on traffic. I use that time to keep up to date with my reading.
If I had a TBR pile, it would be organized by size and not by genre or sub-genre.
And even if it was organized by pile, I would make my choice by how I feel at the moment, depending of the book cover, the length of the book (bigger = better), etc.
And, by the way, would I love your job ? You bet !
I have to laugh – I wrote a similar blog entry yesterday for the Romance Reader at Heart blog which I was going to post tomorrow. I’m a reviewer there and the number of books we get is overwhelming. I’m always sad when I’m reviewing a book months after it is out and it’s a great book!
Ironically, I just got the first review for my March release today – a couple of weeks before it is out! The reviewer must have jumped right on it, which is so sweet of her since I’m a nobody.
I have a hard time not treating it like chocolate. One box comes and I rip into it and try to eat it all. Then the next box comes before you finished the first and rip…
I am not a more than one book at a time person so it messes me up. But I can’t say anyone’s heart bleeds for the problem. At all….
The only two ideas I have come up with are guest reviewers, which is great fun and contests, which is great fun. To me they still serve the purpose of why the ARC was sent out to begin with…
Since you handle your own on site now will you start to do columns on erotic romance as well or keep it to the blog?
My tbr pile is actually 2 and a half double rowed bookshelves. First I had them by author, but now its according to genre. So if I want paranormal or contemporary its easy to spot
You have a cool job . . . but I can see how it could be overwhelming. Personally I have listed my TBR pile on Librarything.com . I am able to see them all laid out for me.
Since you are reviewing the books, I think you should review the ones that interest you most – your top choices should rise to the top. (I always do a 50 page test – if it doesn’t hold my interest after 50 pages, I move on to the next book on my list.)
Hmmm . . . what to do with the remaining books – offer them to friends??
I don’t think I’d do well with your job, Michelle as cool as it sounds. I tend to discover a new author and then obsess on them and have to read all their books (especially if they are writing a series) before I can move onto someone else (currently OCD-ing on Suzanne Brockmann and have just finished Gone Too Far, so 4 books to go:wink:). I’d be a really unbalanced reviewer. I like your idea of featuring works by lesser known authors that people might not discover otherwise. Overall, life is too short. Review what appeals to you.
Hi, Melissa: I’m the same way with the series. Problem is, once I get hooked, I want to read them instead of getting to the “work-related” novels. Suzanne Brockman is a great series obsession! And I like your last line.
Lisa, the 50 page test is a good one. I used to read every book I started, just cause I didn’t want to feel I’d wasted my money. Have you ever had the experience, though, where you can’t get through the first pages, then go back to it a month later and end up loving it?
Hi, Sybil: I’m actually preparing a “write Michelle’s blog” segment for “non-writers” to have a chance to GuestBlog. And good question about the erotica, cause I’ve been considering it a lot. Even though I’ve got editorial control, I’ve still got the same viewership, so I try to stay loyal to them. But it’s a dilemma. For instance, I recently read a terribly good piece of erotica that totally addressed the psychodynamics of a heroine who acts out sexually, and I’m really torn about not featuring it. And I tend to look long-range rather than jumping blindly and emotionally, so I’ve got more thinking to do on the matter of full Features for erotica. I have invited the author to GuestBlog, so at least the blog audience who understand the scope of that content will get to meet her and talk about her writing.
Lis: See? You’re very organized about it. I hate pawing through piles, but shelving means I have to clear out TBCs I didn’t get to.
Heather, you understand my pain. It’s that disappointment about missing great books that kills me, too. And while I like novels to be on the shelves before I feature them — as opposed to doing advanced promo — I do need to stay w/in a certain time frame to remain relevent.
Ann, I love that you read so much in commute. I read much more a year or two ago, then administrative work caught up with me as the column grew. Happy problem, I guess, but as someone mentioned earlier, it can be a bummer when reading becomes work. That’s when I usually veg and read a couple Old Flame comfort reads to get back on track.
Kimbers, I thought I read fast, but maybe I need to look into the course! I have an assistant now who looks into organizing for me. And when I give books away to friends, it’s always w/ the understanding they need to let me know immediately if I’ve missed something good. I think having a “crew” is a great idea.
MaryKate, you’d do that for me? Take some ARCs off my hands? You are giver personified.
Interesting, Stace. Do the blurbs ever mislead you?
Hey, Sam: you’ve got the right of it. I do look at books that call to me. But if I’m not too familiar with a sub-genre, I do a lot of research and also find out what fans of the sub like about it. That way I can feature novels that might not catch my fancy in my off-time reading. I try to alternate historicals and contemporaries bi=weekly, then spread out themes w/in, such as para, Regency, Western, etc. I think because you state you might have trouble giving a fair review, you’re probably the type of person who’d strive for for thoughtful commentary w/in the ones you’d give.
KimberAn, you’re exactly right. It’s all about the story, isn’t it? That’s why I consider great storytelling more important that impeccable technicality in writing.
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and suggestions. Please write to me if you’ve got any other ideas!
Oh, this is an easy one: ALPHABETICAL ORDER!
Signed
Abigail A. Aarons (formerly known as Wylie Kinson):roll:
- Or you could have a weekly lottery. Don a blindfold and start reaching!
As an author, I’d say either in order they are received or within a month of publication.
OK. Now let’s be serious. I have two seven foot booksheves that constitute my TBR pile…well, the keeper shelf is on there too…anyway…
I have what I call my short stack, the ones I’m excited about for whatever reason – new author, next in a series I liked, catchy premise. I usually go to those first, except when I choose by mood. That isn’t a system, just a whim.
If things get overloaded you might try a guest reviewer thing…do a giveaway of your ARC backlog with the stipulation the winners write a one sentence review. No summary, just the quotable bit. It could be fun!
I read quite a bit but have never had much of a TBR pile. I pick up a load at the library (about 10) and read all but one or two and I only buy a couple at a time whether it’s used or new. When I started coming online and interacting with readers and bloggers my TBB pile grew quite a bit along with my TBR.
I’m an organizational freak. I classify by my own system and usually read according to that. I’m an up and down reader. 1)I read the one I’ve been looking forward too, 2)I try something by an author I’ve never read that was well reviewed, 3)I read one by my stand by author, 4)then I read my book club book (this month it looks long, boring and depressing), 4)I read the next in a series I’ve enjoyed, 5)I try that detective one I picked up based soley on the cover and might not be any good, 6)I re-read an old favorite and so on.
Sometimes genre plays a role too. It depends on what my TBR pile looks like. I’ll read a romance in between all my other genres. One fantasy, one romance, one literary, one romance, one thriller, one romance and so on. Sometimes I read one or two romaces in a row and every now and then I glutton myself for a week. I try not to be too rigid in my systems.
Basically the ones I look forward too, know I’ll love or have already read and enjoyed are interspersed with gambles, and required reading. I look at it this way: if I read something that wasn’t totally my style or rated pretty low on my scale the next one will make up for it. If this one didn’t have a HEA the next one will. It’s my way of getting what I want and love and still fulfilling obligations or expanding my horizons.
oh… I am confused. I didn’t know you were just the editor, I thought you were working for yourself now. Who picked you up since you left Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc? Whoever they are you should show them that your blog does better traffic than your site.
And since the blog has erotic romance, which is one of the bigger pies in the romance market right now and the site doesn’t… it would make sense to add it.
I would think. LOL then again what do I know. But the highest traffic sites in romanceland look like Dear Author, AAR and Smart Bitches. And they all cover erotica and erotic romance.
[...] Odder still are the two new cats on the scene. Well one isn’t really new new… Michelle Buonfiglio who recently blogged on RtB about her ‘job’ and the woes of having too many ARCs and not enough time recently moved her site. I had assumed (you know what they say about assuming) she was now working for herself since she is no longer with Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc (who is now using Blog Burst). [...]