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Fun With Publicists
Sep. 27th, 2010 05:10 pmAs you know, Bob - what's that, you're not Bob? Is ANYONE here named Bob? Oh, never mind. Moving along....
As you know, I review books. Part of this job entails poking publicists to make sure I stay on their lists so they'll be more likely to send me stuff. Hey, my reading habit is expensive, and reviewing doesn't exactly pay all that well. I'll do whatever I must to subsidize this.
When I haven't seen anything from a publisher in a while, I check with them to make sure all is well, I'm still on the list, etc. This isn't made any easier by the fact that turnover in these departments seems to be on the same level as a McDonalds fry cook.
Case in point: I contacted one YA publisher, with whom I'd had an off-and-on thing for years, to see why I haven't seen anything in ages. The email conversation goes something like this:
Me to Publicist A, with whom I spoke once: Hi, it's me again. Send me books for review, please?
Publicist B to me: Publicist A hasn't worked here since March. I'll add you to our list.
Me: . o 0 (Man, no one tells me anything. Why must I be added to the list again? This must be the fifth time!) Great to meet you! Send me books, please?
I love this job. But there are days when I just shake my head in amusement, and make sure to update my contact records.
As you know, I review books. Part of this job entails poking publicists to make sure I stay on their lists so they'll be more likely to send me stuff. Hey, my reading habit is expensive, and reviewing doesn't exactly pay all that well. I'll do whatever I must to subsidize this.
When I haven't seen anything from a publisher in a while, I check with them to make sure all is well, I'm still on the list, etc. This isn't made any easier by the fact that turnover in these departments seems to be on the same level as a McDonalds fry cook.
Case in point: I contacted one YA publisher, with whom I'd had an off-and-on thing for years, to see why I haven't seen anything in ages. The email conversation goes something like this:
Me to Publicist A, with whom I spoke once: Hi, it's me again. Send me books for review, please?
Publicist B to me: Publicist A hasn't worked here since March. I'll add you to our list.
Me: . o 0 (Man, no one tells me anything. Why must I be added to the list again? This must be the fifth time!) Great to meet you! Send me books, please?
I love this job. But there are days when I just shake my head in amusement, and make sure to update my contact records.
