Feature & Follow Friday! (#4)

*Fun blog hop feature hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read*

Q: What have you learned about book blogging that you didn't know before about the publishing industry?

Wow this is such a great question, well I've learned a ridiculous amount since I started blogging. Here are some examples:

• I found out about the different types of book formats: .mobi, .epub, and .pdf files. .mobi is Kindle format. .epub is Nook format, and .pdf allows you to read books on the computer; which is convenient for those who don't have the first two devices.  

•  Also authors really appreciate positive/negative criticism and most of the time if you send them your review they'll let you know how grateful they are that you took the time to give there novel a chance.

• I learned that top publishers like Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster offer ARCS (advanced reading copies) to dedicated reviewers on sites like Edelweiss and Netgalley. I never really thought they'd give bloggers the time of day to review there books before the date of publication, but they do! & It's amazing!! This is mutually beneficial since you get to read books you love before everyone else and then write about them!

• Another thing I learned is how much work and effort goes into promoting books, it goes beyond spreading the word to your next door neighbor, family, and friends. For independent authors they do all the promoting work themselves and almost always pay out of there own pockets to set up blog tours, events, and everything in between which in no means is cheap and easy.

• Authors write for everyone else probably more than they do for themselves; it's pure dedication. Just as it is for readers who write passionately about these writers works.

• Blogging, reading, reviewing, and promoting takes time so it's more like a job than you realize so before becoming a blogger/reviewer it's important you understand it’s like having a second job! I on the other-hand went in blind but learned the ropes quickly and I love what I do, I hope one day in the near future I'll be an author that reviewers write about. I still have much to learn as a blogger and I wouldn't have it any other way.