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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Book Review » Page 5

Book Review

Influencers and Etiquette

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 6, 2013
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Recently one of my author friends needed a couple of people to act as influencers. She asked me to give her the names of people who aren’t writers, which I think is a fine idea because readers in other professions will reach new audiences. I asked several people. None of them knew what an influencer is until I explained it. So when you are tasked to find influencers, feel free to direct them to this post.

Is an influencer the same as an endorser?

Not in the formal sense. An endorser is a recognized name, usually a popular author writing in the same topic or genre or a known authority in the field such as a doctor or pastor. That person writes praise for the book that will appear on the front or back cover or inside the book.

An influencer is a person who agrees to read a book with the hope that he or she will spread positive news about it. This person is viewed as a fan or friendly reader and doesn’t need to be a particular expert other than having read the book. Any reader can be an influencer, but librarians, book club members, and people with special interest in the era or topic are great choices.

How will being an influencer benefit me?

You will receive a hot-off-the-press book free of charge. You will be among the first in the reading public to see it!

Since there is no free lunch, what do I have to do in return?

The author and publisher ask that you talk about the book to your friends. They really appreciate when influencers post reviews on sites such as Amazon, CBD, and Goodreads. Note that some authors will say, “I will send you a book in return for an Amazon review.” If so, be sure you are willing to comply.

What if I hate the book?

You have a couple of options:

1.) With Christian charity and tact, admit your feelings to the party who sent you the book, and ask if it is okay for you to remain silent. But if you received a book out of nowhere from an author who apparently put you on a list with 1000 other people, you should be able to remain silent with no questions asked.

2.) If receiving the book was conditional and you must post a review, you can still ask to be let off the hook, again with Christian charity and tact. But if you can’t be excused, try to find a reason to give it four stars by discerning good points about it. After all, the author wrote the book, and a group of editors, publishers, and sales people thought the project worthy enough to invest a significant amount of money to bring it to the public. There must be an appealing character, a memorable quote, or something worthy to point out in a review.

3.) How about I just give up and lie about the book? Don’t do that. While influencers want to be positive, a meaningful review, even if a bit sunny, is better than doing others a disservice by giving a book the site’s highest rating. I believe most people realize a four-star review means the book could have been improved, so the star rating is a way for you to be honest without being hurtful.

4.) How about I just be brutally honest and give it one star as long as I say why? Don’t do that. If the book really deserves one star, plenty of others will be happy to point that out. Let them vent about a book, while you save your anger for a righteous cause.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to love the book and will be thrilled to post 5-star reviews everywhere and talk about it to my friends. Anything else I need to know?

Yes. You are part of the author’s marketing efforts so timeliness is helpful. You are helping with buzz!

1.) Don’t accept the responsibility of being an influencer if you can’t read the book within a couple of weeks or no longer than a month after receiving it. Don’t worry about declining because a busy author should understand you have other commitments.

2.) Be prompt with your feedback.

Most of all, enjoy the process. By getting out the word about great Christian books, you are working for God’s kingdom.

Your turn:

Have you ever been asked to be an influencer? What was your experience?

What was the hardest book review you ever had to post?

Do you put stock in book reviews before making a purchase?

Have negative reviews kept you from buying a book?

Have you ever posted a scathing review of a book? Why?

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Category: Book Business, Book Review, Career, TamelaTag: Endorsements, influencers, reviews

The Writing Book for Your Year

By Steve Laubeon January 7, 2013
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by Steve Laube

Note the title of this post did not say “of the year” but “for your year.” It is rare for me to recommend books on writing because there are so many good ones out there, but this one is an exception.

The spiritual foundation of the writer is critical to surviving and even thriving in the call as an artist.  Acceptable Words: Prayers for the Writer (published by Eerdmans) …

Read moreThe Writing Book for Your Year
Category: Book Review, Faith, Reading, Steve, TheologyTag: Book Review, Faith, Reading, Writers

On Reading the Classics

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 26, 2012
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“A classic is a book which people praise and don't read.” 

This quote attributed to Mark Twain made me think of classics I didn't enjoy, but also those I did. I have a lifelong habit of choosing classics for my leisure reading.

When I was in the seventh grade, I enjoyed Gone with the Wind so much I read it a second time. Unfortunately, this intense involvement in the full story caused me to …

Read moreOn Reading the Classics
Category: Book Review, Reading, TamelaTag: classics, movies, Reading

Book of the Month – September 2011

By Steve Laubeon September 3, 2011
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Merchants of Culture: The Publishing Business in the Twenty-First Century by John B. Thompson (published by Polity) is this month’s “Book of the Month.”

I took this 432 page book with me on vacation and was mesmerized by its detailed analysis of the history of publishing and bookselling. Thompson's chapter on "The Rise of Literary Agents" was, of course, particularly interesting.

I have been …

Read moreBook of the Month – September 2011
Category: Book of the Month, Book Review, Get Published, SteveTag: Book Business, Book Review, New Books

Book of the Month – August 2011

By Steve Laubeon August 1, 2011
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by Steve Laube

The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction by Alan Jacobs (published by Oxford in June 2011) is this month's "Book of the Month." I recommend you pick up a copy and enjoy the experience for yourself.

It seems a little odd to read a book about reading. But for those of us who are in the "business" of creating books it is always interesting to read a wise person's take on …

Read moreBook of the Month – August 2011
Category: Book of the Month, Book Review, SteveTag: Book Review, New Books

Book of the Month – July 2011

By Steve Laubeon July 2, 2011
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by Steve Laube

Small Message, Big Impact by Terri L. Sjodin is this month's "Book of the Month." I recommend that every veteran and aspiring writer read this book and glean from it.

The key to this book is in the subtitle: How to Put the Power of the Elevator Speech Effect to Work for You. Sjodin defines the elevator speech as:  "A brief presentation that introduces a product, service, …

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Category: Book of the Month, Book Review, Steve, Writing CraftTag: Book Review, New Books, Writing Craft

A Defense of Traditional Publishing: Part Two

By Steve Laubeon April 20, 2011
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CURATION

The word "curation" embodies one of the key activities of a traditional publisher. My understanding of this word has been forever enriched by Steven Rosenbaum, the author of the fantastic book Curation Nation: Why the Future of Content is Context. (You owe it to yourself to read this book.)

We usually associate the curator with a museum.

Read moreA Defense of Traditional Publishing: Part Two
Category: Book Business, Book Review, Defense of Traditional Publishing, Get Published, The Publishing LifeTag: Agents, Book Business, Digital Books, E-Books, Get Published, Traditional Publishing, Trends

Book Review – Inbound Marketing

By Steve Laubeon June 3, 2010
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In February I was in the Denver airport waiting for a flight. As usual I couldn't resist browsing the bookstore shelves. Something about the book Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah caught my eye. So, on impulse, I bought the book and began reading it on the plane. I learned a lot about this phenomenon called social marketing and thought that it would be a great book for all …

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Category: Book Business, Book Review, Guest Post, MarketingTag: Book Review, Facebook, Marketing

Art of War for Writers

By Steve Laubeon November 24, 2009
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Periodically I plan to recommend a title or two for you to read. I've always enjoyed this form of "word-of-mouth" marketing, thus I will "pay it forward." :-)

Yesterday afternoon I received James Scott Bell's The Art of War for Writers: fiction writing strategies, tactics, and exercises (published by Writer's Digest Books). With interest I took the book home and devoured it. Not literally of …

Read moreArt of War for Writers
Category: Book Review, Writing CraftTag: Book Review
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