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pbrayChecking my e-mail this morning, I found a note from a reader who'd helpfully supplied her home address so I could send her an autographed copy of my most recent book. Not even a "please" in the note, just "Here's my address so you can send me your book."
The mind boggles.
Occasionally I get requests from independent reviewers, and if they check out, depending on the phase of the moon, level of caffeination, and size of stack of ARCs still left, I'll either forward the request to the publicity department at Bantam or send a copy from my own stash. But I'm not in the habit of handing out free copies of my books to just anyone, though it's not the first time I've encountered a reader who seems to believe that this is how authors operate.
It's not quite as bad as the people who act as if they are doing me a favor by offering to read my book. These are usually friends of friends, whose tactlessness generally runs along the lines of "I don't normally read that stuff, but if you give me a copy I'd be happy to a) read it and tell you what I think, b) tell my friends about it, c) mention it in my class, at work, on my blog, to my therapist..."
To these people I reply that it's better for me if they buy a copy of the book and never read it, though I'd be happy to autograph their copy so they can sell it on e-bay.
The mind boggles.
Occasionally I get requests from independent reviewers, and if they check out, depending on the phase of the moon, level of caffeination, and size of stack of ARCs still left, I'll either forward the request to the publicity department at Bantam or send a copy from my own stash. But I'm not in the habit of handing out free copies of my books to just anyone, though it's not the first time I've encountered a reader who seems to believe that this is how authors operate.
It's not quite as bad as the people who act as if they are doing me a favor by offering to read my book. These are usually friends of friends, whose tactlessness generally runs along the lines of "I don't normally read that stuff, but if you give me a copy I'd be happy to a) read it and tell you what I think, b) tell my friends about it, c) mention it in my class, at work, on my blog, to my therapist..."
To these people I reply that it's better for me if they buy a copy of the book and never read it, though I'd be happy to autograph their copy so they can sell it on e-bay.
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Date: 2007-01-03 03:27 pm (UTC)I'm even in the habit of buying books I know I can't find time to read, just to support a friend--especially if it's their first novel.
I can still remember a time where I would literally make the choice between buying a book and eating a meal, so the presumption of these folks amazes me. Though I suppose asking for a free book isn't that much different from walking up to an attorney and asking for free legal advice, or going to a party and asking a doctor to diagnose your mysterious ailment.