The late Auberon Waugh, son of Evelyn, apparently used to reply to blurb requests thus: “The best book ever written on this or any other subject”. Nobody had the nerve to use it.
A) I love the full circle moment of Nick Hornby commenting, B) This is super helpful, concise, and should be required reading for anyone considering randomly sending an email to an author without really considering their workload (and that they may be getting many such requests) and C) Perhaps most importantly, do you know if the Golden Girls book ever got published? I just saw that there's a Golden Girls mystery series out that I may read after having binged the entire show and most of Golden Palace.
I'm fascinated by the Golden Girls mystery series, such an interesting IP extension! Isn't GG just the best rewatch? It holds up times 1 million. I laughed out loud so many times watching recently.
Saw this and thought, "I must go comment on this thread." Sorry not sorry this is now an unofficial GG fiction thread but there's a gay GG-inspired novel coming out March 3 called That's What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse: https://waderouse.com/books/thats-what-friends-are-for/
Hi!!! Just saw your Substack, thanks so much for the shout out! I also saw the cross-share from Andrea Bartz. The post is great; so useful (although years later, I now realize my initial email to you was perhaps a BIT too long!). You are correct, I never did write that book sadly...I have the Jim Colucci book; it's lovely. I did NOT know about the GG mystery series, so I am so happy to hear about this!
GG totally holds up! I do a full rewatch every few years.
I was so happy I still enjoyed it because it’s such a shame when shows we loved as kids turn out to be problematic or not enjoyable as aisles. And thanks for the book tip. I’ll check it out. My only current issue with GG now that I’m 50 is saying to people in their twenties, “Do you know the show The Golden Girls?” and not being sure what kind of response I’ll get.
This has started happening to writers, too! I sort-of don't mind helping kids, though I feel like teachers are taking advantage of our accessibility a bit too much ...
So good. I used to have a document I'd give out titled GOOD AND BAD BLURB REQUESTS. But while there used to be ONE variation of bad (in a word: entitled), now, thanks to AI there are dozens if not hundreds if not thousands of variations!
I have half a dozen different ways for people to contact me, between socials, Substack, agents, website, P.O. box, etc. Two weeks ago, a small publisher decided the best way to get his client's book on my radar was to track down my home address and send directly to me. That ARC went directly into the donation pile.
During a live Substack podcast, I wrote a comment--one among hundreds in the continuously updating feed. The New York author being interviewed happened to read my words aloud and riff on them. On a longshot whim, I him a DM: "Hey, I'm going to be in NYC next week. Can I buy you a coffee and ask you more about your book launch?" He said, "Sure. How about 10 AM Tuesday at...." On a beautiful spring day in Manhattan, we met for great coffee, connection, and conversation. You never know if you don't ask.
Absolutely! I think you can feel it out. I'm convinced that the ones I have an adverse reaction to didn't really feel it out, and maybe even kind-of knew this wasn't it, but didn't take the time to think it through. Alternatively, you can just throw it out there and if you are ignored or rebuffed, then at least you asked!
See, that worked for me. Wanna blurb?
Hahahaha, yes, please!
The late Auberon Waugh, son of Evelyn, apparently used to reply to blurb requests thus: “The best book ever written on this or any other subject”. Nobody had the nerve to use it.
I would use that though
Same! Better than those coded blurbs that I bet we've all given that say something alone the lines of "This sure is a book ... about this subject!"
Could not love this more.
A) I love the full circle moment of Nick Hornby commenting, B) This is super helpful, concise, and should be required reading for anyone considering randomly sending an email to an author without really considering their workload (and that they may be getting many such requests) and C) Perhaps most importantly, do you know if the Golden Girls book ever got published? I just saw that there's a Golden Girls mystery series out that I may read after having binged the entire show and most of Golden Palace.
Definitely, another alternative is to write a blog post about your favorite author and hope he cameos in the comments! :)
Kathryn didn't end up writing that book in the end, alas, though Jim Colucci did a really nice Golden Girls book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/golden-girls-forever-jim-colucci?variant=41226758553634
I'm fascinated by the Golden Girls mystery series, such an interesting IP extension! Isn't GG just the best rewatch? It holds up times 1 million. I laughed out loud so many times watching recently.
Saw this and thought, "I must go comment on this thread." Sorry not sorry this is now an unofficial GG fiction thread but there's a gay GG-inspired novel coming out March 3 called That's What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse: https://waderouse.com/books/thats-what-friends-are-for/
Now this is the kind of IP extension I heartily approve of.
Hi!!! Just saw your Substack, thanks so much for the shout out! I also saw the cross-share from Andrea Bartz. The post is great; so useful (although years later, I now realize my initial email to you was perhaps a BIT too long!). You are correct, I never did write that book sadly...I have the Jim Colucci book; it's lovely. I did NOT know about the GG mystery series, so I am so happy to hear about this!
GG totally holds up! I do a full rewatch every few years.
omg, hiiii, this post is so magical that it has summoned you, too! I was going to send this to you, so I’m glad you saw it. xo
Yes! I got it twice! From you, and from Andrea! :-) xoxo
I was so happy I still enjoyed it because it’s such a shame when shows we loved as kids turn out to be problematic or not enjoyable as aisles. And thanks for the book tip. I’ll check it out. My only current issue with GG now that I’m 50 is saying to people in their twenties, “Do you know the show The Golden Girls?” and not being sure what kind of response I’ll get.
It’s also pretty bracing to realize the Golden Girls in their 50s when it starts, given that it’s a show about “old women.”
I like the emails I get from high schools at least once a year: "Please tell me something about bioethics."
This has started happening to writers, too! I sort-of don't mind helping kids, though I feel like teachers are taking advantage of our accessibility a bit too much ...
Somehow I missed this post from you and it's so incredibly useful. thanks, as always, for the insight!
Thank you! I suggest checking out the other comments for a fun coda on this whole thing.
So good. I used to have a document I'd give out titled GOOD AND BAD BLURB REQUESTS. But while there used to be ONE variation of bad (in a word: entitled), now, thanks to AI there are dozens if not hundreds if not thousands of variations!
oh, god, the AI requests!
Not just great advice, great examples!
I have half a dozen different ways for people to contact me, between socials, Substack, agents, website, P.O. box, etc. Two weeks ago, a small publisher decided the best way to get his client's book on my radar was to track down my home address and send directly to me. That ARC went directly into the donation pile.
That's awful, Jen! Also, so weird to not go through proper channels that are publicly listed.
That is crazy (and a little creepy?).
During a live Substack podcast, I wrote a comment--one among hundreds in the continuously updating feed. The New York author being interviewed happened to read my words aloud and riff on them. On a longshot whim, I him a DM: "Hey, I'm going to be in NYC next week. Can I buy you a coffee and ask you more about your book launch?" He said, "Sure. How about 10 AM Tuesday at...." On a beautiful spring day in Manhattan, we met for great coffee, connection, and conversation. You never know if you don't ask.
Absolutely! I think you can feel it out. I'm convinced that the ones I have an adverse reaction to didn't really feel it out, and maybe even kind-of knew this wasn't it, but didn't take the time to think it through. Alternatively, you can just throw it out there and if you are ignored or rebuffed, then at least you asked!
This is brilliant, Jennifer! Nobody wants to be that cringe person. Great piece.