tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post8248940743346659078..comments2024-03-18T09:09:59.625-04:00Comments on Janet Reid, Literary Agent: BlurbageJanet Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00615380335938685231noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-88664197109917418032009-01-26T07:43:00.000-05:002009-01-26T07:43:00.000-05:00Fuck, yeah.If I had a comment like that about one ...Fuck, yeah.<BR/><BR/>If I had a comment like that about one of my books I'd fight to be allowed to use it. But then I can see that booksellers and bookclubs might be put off, so there's a balance to be considered and I'm not sure which side would weigh more heavily. <BR/><BR/>On another note, for the writers upstream who were discussing ellipses: the word has two meanings. One ellipsis is the series of three dots that we're all familiar with... the other is a rhetorical device which I've defined like this in my forthcoming book, The Trivium: <BR/><BR/>Ellipsis omits words which might be necessary grammatically, but are unnecessary for comprehension: <I>David admires Philip and Philip, David.</I><BR/><BR/>(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist the plug!)Jane Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03411253302725735470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-19730892311986253272009-01-25T21:29:00.000-05:002009-01-25T21:29:00.000-05:00It's not for a child's picture book is? Mr. Bunny ...It's not for a child's picture book is? Mr. Bunny goes to the zoo or some such title? I think that could cause you trouble.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967828178034612278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27729756941687305552009-01-25T20:07:00.000-05:002009-01-25T20:07:00.000-05:00gbervik. YES. I love that blurb on the Banksy book...gbervik. YES. I love that blurb on the Banksy book so much -- as does my husband (who's a cop, coincidentally).Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842527558335640093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-27910206554071224312009-01-25T18:26:00.000-05:002009-01-25T18:26:00.000-05:00I think it'd make a great blurb, but I'd include t...I think it'd make a great blurb, but I'd include the first part too, ie start from "I know you can't use this but ..."<BR/><BR/>My favourite blurb on a book cover is from Banksy's WALL AND PIECE. "There's no way you're going to get a quote from us to use on your book cover" - Metropolitan Police spokespersonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-52291826667933957872009-01-25T15:27:00.000-05:002009-01-25T15:27:00.000-05:00AbsoFUCKINGlutelyAbsoFUCKINGlutelywww.fromthebacknine.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09132302964003287663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-32560119420867252872009-01-25T12:43:00.000-05:002009-01-25T12:43:00.000-05:00Thanks for the link jwhit. Although, there's no cu...Thanks for the link jwhit. Although, there's no cursing in that excerpt. Actually, the blurb is for my upcoming book SHANGHAIED. It's the fourth Ray Sharp book and will be out in July this year. Sometime in the next day or two the first chapter will be up on my website, and that does have some cursing in it - in both English and Spanish.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12159273255443369708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-65599393159533929462009-01-25T12:32:00.000-05:002009-01-25T12:32:00.000-05:00You are fucking outrageous -- and refreshing. Go f...You are fucking outrageous -- and refreshing. Go for it!Lloyd Albert Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01336174836351239256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-64462814980731664632009-01-25T00:06:00.000-05:002009-01-25T00:06:00.000-05:00If that is a blurb for Hornbill, use it. That open...If that is a blurb for Hornbill, use it. That opening excerpt is enough to earn it.<BR/><BR/>For everyone else's benefit:<BR/>http://www.ericstone.com/hornbill_excerpt.phpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-6945605874511565202009-01-24T19:59:00.000-05:002009-01-24T19:59:00.000-05:00I would pass. Some books have profanity which is s...I would pass. <BR/><BR/>Some books have profanity which is seamlessly inserted because it is simply part of the story. Ghosts of Belfast comes to mind.<BR/><BR/>A blurb isn't part of the story and I would expect to see a gratuitous sprinkling of unnecessary language with a blurb like that. <BR/><BR/>Don't like the language and don't want to listen to it. A book better have a very good reason to include it for me to pick it up.<BR/><BR/>I would not want it on my book, under any circumstances, regardless of who wrote it.<BR/><BR/>JulieJulie Weathershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725236516593676381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-67135464485003077192009-01-24T19:17:00.000-05:002009-01-24T19:17:00.000-05:00It's a great blurb . . . that said, I would comple...It's a great blurb . . . that said, I would completely put it on the INSIDE cover -- I don't think you could get away with putting the f bomb on the front cover where any ol' impressionable 12 year old or investment banker could see it.Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842527558335640093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-39692007106284473072009-01-24T18:31:00.000-05:002009-01-24T18:31:00.000-05:00Am I the only one who immediately thought of the n...Am I the only one who immediately thought of the neighbor in Office Space? <BR/><BR/>I think Chumplet's suggestion is great.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909176210194176373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47377839162373163922009-01-24T07:36:00.000-05:002009-01-24T07:36:00.000-05:00If I saw that blurb on a book, I would totally buy...If I saw that blurb on a book, I would totally buy it. If I got that blurb for my book, I would do the "Happy Dance of Pride."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-37873277961107672682009-01-23T22:39:00.000-05:002009-01-23T22:39:00.000-05:00To be honest, if I didn't already know the author ...To be honest, if I didn't already know the author was brilliant (which I do!) I would find that blurb counter-productive. My logic would be they are deliberately using shock value on the cover to get attention, so the book probably doesn't stand up on its own. Sorry, but that's the way I would think. <BR/><BR/>Also, people with young school kids would think twice about having the blurb lying in view on their table. With two small voracious readers, I couldn't leave it on ours. "Daddy, what's fucking?"<BR/><BR/>Why not go with, "This is awesome!"?Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17589710395370679142009-01-23T21:09:00.000-05:002009-01-23T21:09:00.000-05:00It would depend on who gave the review, to be hone...It would depend on who gave the review, to be honest. I'm getting pickier about what I read, and I'm beginning to note trends in authors and editors. There are a few authors I know who have a taste in books like mine. If they gave that review, I'd pick it up.<BR/><BR/>There are also several people I can think of that if their name was under the review, I would know I wouldn't enjoy the book. <BR/><BR/>This is a business built on opinions, and I want good reviews from reviewers I know I can agree with.Liana Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14587774916354749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-47381541928414717892009-01-23T20:38:00.000-05:002009-01-23T20:38:00.000-05:00Kinda makes me regret some of the blurbs I've not ...Kinda makes me regret some of the blurbs I've not even bothered sending to my publishers in the past. Bleak House, my publisher, is putting it on their website on the listing for their 2009 books. At this point I'm hoping it makes it onto the cover as well.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12159273255443369708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-58901811409503514722009-01-23T19:24:00.000-05:002009-01-23T19:24:00.000-05:00Wow. You've given me a new goal - to someday get a...Wow. You've given me a new goal - to someday get a blurb just like that.<BR/><BR/>I'd buy the book for sure.Nancy Coffelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01713279271661289911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16829756268439999012009-01-23T18:56:00.000-05:002009-01-23T18:56:00.000-05:00I would buy it based on that blurb!I would buy it based on that blurb!Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-16679054694695760012009-01-23T18:47:00.000-05:002009-01-23T18:47:00.000-05:00I don't know jackshit about blurbs, but don't they...I don't know jackshit about blurbs, but don't they sometimes have, like, pages of blurbs inside the book? That seems logical.<BR/><BR/>Or, you know, right on the cover. I'd laugh. I'd probably even consider skimming the book. (I don't browse books typically -- too many options scare me.)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16763033843701517751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-30303338673427915382009-01-23T18:35:00.000-05:002009-01-23T18:35:00.000-05:00Not sure about it on a book cover, but an author I...Not sure about it on a book cover, but an author I know used a similar blurb quote on the bookmarks he made (I think the actual blurb was on the book, but not the outside--could be wrong.) At any rate most libraries turned down the bookmark. In some cases, libraries will put bookmarks out on the desks, but not that particular one.<BR/><BR/>From a reader standpoint, mostly I don't even read blurbs. That one might get my attention, but it would not leave a positive impression.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234907275906877802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-25556609643471716582009-01-23T18:07:00.000-05:002009-01-23T18:07:00.000-05:00Is a frog's ass water tight? Fuck-n'-A, Dudette, u...Is a frog's ass water tight? Fuck-n'-A, Dudette, use it!<BR/><BR/>Haste yee back ;-)Haste yee back ;-)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00345715370509449971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-57591933701194541682009-01-23T17:56:00.000-05:002009-01-23T17:56:00.000-05:00If it's Eric's latest, I tend to agree that the bl...If it's Eric's latest, I tend to agree that the blurb would suit the book. I'm only a few pages in and regret the fact that I have to spend several hours at work. <BR/><BR/>If the publisher is worried about profanity on a cover, then I guess "Effin' A, Man... this is awesome!" would suit.Sandra Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00231342310371529022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-80475839800918206312009-01-23T17:49:00.000-05:002009-01-23T17:49:00.000-05:00With a blurb like that. I would more than inclined...With a blurb like that. I would more than inclined to check the book out. Sometimes raw enthusiasm is the seller itself. (Hugs)IndigoSage Ravenwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17143502548162174269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-1860463070407165282009-01-23T17:47:00.000-05:002009-01-23T17:47:00.000-05:00As others have said, I guess the context and genre...As others have said, I guess the context and genre will determine whether this works, but I don't see why it won't in many types of novels. Also it gives a hint as to the kind of novel it is -- I get the sense of something that will appeal to guys, and if that's really the intended audience I'd fight tooth and claw and balls to keep the blurb. If it can't happen, then I reckon "expletive deleted" will work almost as well<BR/><BR/>"[Expletive deleted] A, dude, this is awesome."Richard Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01372578455379676581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-17879338915508599562009-01-23T17:40:00.000-05:002009-01-23T17:40:00.000-05:00F*** yeah, I'd buy it!F*** yeah, I'd buy it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04960668367323754624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17040756.post-72344730272436281832009-01-23T16:43:00.000-05:002009-01-23T16:43:00.000-05:00That's my favorite, uh, colorful phrase. I always ...That's my favorite, uh, colorful phrase. I always think of Stephanie Plum. I'd totally pick up the book.Robin Lemkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12254896327174187893noreply@blogger.com