I agree, Flora, that it’s a good tool for documenting lessons learned, etc., while also learning from wise people like you. I haven’t committed to adding this to my holiday gift list yet — stay tuned for that in November!

Sandy

Thanks for mentioning my contribution to TLC Graphics’ book, “My Publishing Journey”. I agree that it will likely appeal to new authors more than veterans. Once completed, it could be a great record for the authors to revisit and share years later when they have more books and publishing experiences under their belts.

Thanks for including it in your holiday gifts for writers.

Flora

No, no, a cover letter wouldn’t have made a difference. When I pulled the book out of the envelope, I saw the rooster on the back of a thin, hard-covered book. As a parent, those 3 elements — farm illustration, hard cover, thin — say “children’s book” to me. It didn’t look like the book I was expecting (maybe something that looked more like a business book?), and because people sometimes send me books randomly, I was momentarily confused. As soon as I flipped it over and read the title, I knew what it was. A cover letter wouldn’t have helped or given me any clarity. She tucked a lovely thank you note and bookmark inside. That note was her version of a cover letter, but I didn’t see it until I read the cover and thought, “Ohhhhhh! Now I know what this is.”

Sandy

The cover letter would have reminded you of your previous exchange with the author and not forced you to work so hard to understand why the book was sent to you.

To me, it is both discourteous and presumptuous to omit the cover letter.

Marcia

You’re correct, Marcia, and yes, omitting the press release was a mistake because it meant that I had to work a little harder to describe the book. That’s not your goal as the author.

This book’s author/editor saw my “gifts for authors” post that ran last Nov. and wanted me to include her book in a 2016 gift list. I wouldn’t need a press release for that. Still, once I decided to review it, I did look on the book’s website for a press release or other descriptive information, and didn’t find anything I could use for this.

For what it’s worth — and you probably know this as well as anyone, Marcia — press releases aren’t always useful, anyway. They’re often so full of fluff or obtuse language that I can’t use them. Not surprisingly, if the press release is bad, the book probably is, too.

Thanks!

Sandy

Marcia Yudkin