Trailer Park Tuesday: The Walk

This week’s Trailer Park Tuesday is Richard Paul Evans’ The Walk (Simon & Schuster).

Synopsis:  What would you do if you lost everything—your job, your home, and the love of your life—all at the same time? When it happens to Seattle ad executive Alan Christoffersen, he’s tempted by his darkest thoughts. A bottle of pills in his hand and nothing left to live for, he plans to end his misery. Instead, he decides to take a walk. But not any ordinary walk. Taking with him only the barest of essentials, Al leaves behind all that he’s known and heads for the farthest point on his map: Key West, Florida. The people he encounters along the way, and the lessons they share with him, will save his life—and inspire yours.

Richard Paul Evans’s extraordinary New York Times bestsellers have made him one of the world’s most beloved storytellers. A life-changing journey, both physical and spiritual, The Walk is the first of an unforgettable series of books about one man’s search for hope

Best Practices: How not to Email a Book Reviewer

I don’t know if it’s because of spring fever, desperation or just not knowing what to do, but weird emails from novice authors must stop. Today and over the weekend I’ve received very bad emails from authors either seeking a book review or seeking literary pr representation. Usually I either flag the email for a later response, which unfortunately may mean that I forget to respond. So today I want to share a few reasons why your email is getting no play with me or with anyone like me, not to put you on blast, but to educate you on best practices for reviewers. Moreover for my clients and past clients, please save this document. I do not want you to commit these wrongs.

• Don’t leave shameless  plugs on my about page.
  • Because I monitor all my comments on my site and blogs, your comment will not get through any way. So don’t do it. It makes me wonder whether you want representation or you want to spam my network
• Don’t leave shameless plugs on my facebook fan page using the notes feature
  • I will remove it and unfriend you. Although it should be common sense, but my page—or anyone’s page for that matter—isn’t an opportunity for you to advertising on it. Newsflash: if I don’t plug my clients on my page, then why would I plug you, so stop it.
• don’t email your press release to me
  • I don’t know who’s teleseminar or blog post told you to get a press release and email them to everyone who writes book reviews, but as a pr specialist, let me tell you that dog don’t hunt. email me and ask me what kind of books i like, what mags i write for and how you can help my blog or my column. prs are deleted.
• don’t email me  or mail me your manuscript without my approval
  • I hope i don’t sound hard here, but I know a few people, so from time to time i get requests to review from people who know the people I know. Just because I know someone who knows you doesn’t give you the right to send me your book. I don’t bombard my bookclub president friends with every client I have and every friend I know, so don’t do it to me.

hope this helps less than it may hurt. if you would like a review, check my sidebar and complete my book review submission form

 

dee