by Douglas Corleone, @douglascorleone
One of the toughest parts of being a new novelist is requesting blurbs from established authors. You’re not only asking an author to take eight to ten hours out of their busy schedule to read your manuscript, you’re asking them to endorse you and your book – you’re asking them to put their good name on the line to help you and your career.
I was so put off by the idea of asking established authors for blurbs that I waited until my third novel to do it, and even then I asked someone I already considered a close friend. He read my book and provided a terrific quote, one that ends with: “Corleone is as good as it gets.” Although my third novel Last Lawyer Standing has only been out a few days, his kind and generous words have already generated sales and provided me several new loyal readers who raced out to purchase my first two novels and enjoyed them enough to write to me and tell me so.
Next spring I’ll be launching a new series of international thrillers, and this time around I wasn’t so shy. Thanks largely to the single blurb placed on the cover of Last Lawyer Standing, I had the courage to ask several A-List thriller writers to give my bound manuscript a read. Five of my favorite authors agreed to read my book, and I’m now anxiously awaiting their verdicts.
Bottom line is: blurbs from popular authors do work. Most blurbs are sincere, and after awhile, as a reader, you recognize those authors who are sincere and those who will put their name on any book that’s tossed in front of them. The authors I chose are all part of the former group, and for that reason I’ll truly be bowled over to have their names on the front and back of my dust jacket when my first “big book” is released next year.
Douglas Corleone is the author of three crime novels published by St. Martin’s Minotaur. His debut novel One Man’s Paradise was nominated for the 2010 Shamus Award for Best First Novel. A former New York City defense attorney, Doug now lives in the Hawaiian Islands, where he is currently at work on his next novel. You can visit him online at www.douglascorleone.com.
Author Photo–Jennifer Crites
Elizabeth – Thanks for hosting Doug.
Doug – Thanks for sharing your views about author blurbs. The more writers know about what seems to work in publication, the better.
Thanks for this post! I’m preparing for the release of my first novel in November. Getting author blurbs is one of the things I need to look at.
I asked for a blurb for my non-fiction book from a Christian writer I admired and was thrilled when she enjoyed it and gave me a good blurb. AND she even invited me to visit her in Georgia anytime.
Congratulations on the great blurb! It must feel good to know your work is valued by people whose work YOU value. :)
My mother is the thriller reader in our family. I’m reading her a mystery now with thriller components, and she knows all the spy lingo from the le Carre books she’s devoured. heh
Marian Allen
Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes
I just provided a blurb for another author, but haven’t really tried to get any author blurbs for my own books.
Paul, Congrats on your first novel, and good luck!
Margot, Exactly. I learned a lot over the past three years and three books, and I’m putting it all to use for next spring’s release. Going in cold can kill a career before it starts.
L. Diane, Great to hear! Making new friends is definitely a bonus.
Marian, Thanks! Love le Carre. Going to read THE CONSTANT GARDENER next.
Alex, Better to give than to receive?
Elizabeth, Thanks so much for hosting me! Sorry I arrived late to the table because of the time difference. But I did receive good news this morning soon as I woke up — received my first blurb for GOOD AS GONE! Very timely for today’s post.
First of all I love the word blurb. Secondly, it would be difficult for me to ask any of my writer friends to read and blurb me. But, at some point a writer needs to believe in her work.
Teresa
A good blurb gives authority! That’s like gold.