Another New Adventure
If you have been following along for a while then you know everything I do when it comes to writing is new to me. Which means every new thing is also an adventure. I have been a reader for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I became a writer that I learned what ARC readers were. ARC readers have been around for some time in the traditional publishing world and more and more independent authors are using them as well.
An ARC reader is someone who signs up to receive an advance copy of a book that is about to release for free, in exchange for leaving a review. Reviews are extremely important to authors and publishers so this is one way to get a jump start on reviews for new releases. I had known for sometime that I wanted to delve into this idea of advanced reviews but figuring it all out felt overwhelming, as have most things I’ve learned. I took to the internet and researched all the things. I checked out websites of other authors I know and even publishers websites to get an idea of how this whole thing works.
I set up a sign up page on my website and took to social media. Before I knew it I had people sign up! Luckily, my book was ready so I sent out a welcome email and then used BookFunnel to distribute my copies. As a writer it is terrifying to release a book. I’ve learned it is even more terrifying to do a small release to a group of ARC readers. The response was wonderful and the reviews and feedback were detailed and honest. As an author I couldn’t ask for more.
Do you have a favorite author that has a ARC Team? Check out their website and see if you can sign up. I don’t know about you but I always leave reviews for authors so it’s not difficult to follow through with my end of the bargain. Get a free book for a honest review? No problem!
Tell us about your experiences, have you been a ARC Reader before? Would you do it again?