by Charlie Fabre
Is there a new release coming out that you’re really excited for? So excited, in fact, that you need to get your hands on it right this minute, right now? It’s not as hard to do as you might think, so here is a short guide on how to ask.
For me in 2023, the release I was most anticipating and really reaaally wanted was Brutes by Dizz Tate. It was published at the start of February by Faber and I remember sending an email to their publicity team back in November asking if I could get a proof. Ultimately, I never got a response back, or a proof copy, so I just pre-ordered it to get it on release day.
This is just to say that, although you ask, you may not always receive, and it doesn’t matter how big or small your platform is. I have 9k followers on my Bookstagram and I do get offered proofs, but I also get a lot of non-responses.
But anyway, here’s how to get the proofs of your dreams, a guide by yours truly!
A Platform
It’s no surprise that having some kind of a platform is a helpful addition to your plea.
Usually, when a publisher sends a reader a proof, there is an expectation behind it, that expectation being free publicity. Whenever you see your favourite bookish influencer posting on their story of their feed about a proof copy, the free publicity starts. Maybe this is a title you haven’t heard about yet, and now through their content, you have, and it’ll spike your interest and maybe make it to your TBR list for you to purchase later, when the title is released.
Of course, there’s also reviews. Posting a positive review ahead of the publication date is a great and easy way for publishers to get some advertisement for their best-seller out there.
So, having a platform does help – the bigger your reach, the more publicity they get. That being said, though, it’s not everything, and you don’t need crazy number either. I reached out for my first proof when I had 4k followers, which is a lot, but compared to other bookish people it’s nothing.
A Relationship
More than a big following though, building a relationship with publishers and their publicity agents is key.
If you ask for a proof, or get offered one, and receive it, it’s important to make good on your promise. If you’re expected to produce content around the book and have a review posted, it’s a good idea to do this before the release date to create that excitement for other people.
Showing that you’re a reliable reader is a really important expectation to set. The publisher will keep you on their list and come back to you again in the future with other offers, etc.
It’s okay to not always do everything on time, though. Depending on the publisher, they don’t always keep an eagle-eye on everywhere they’ve sent a proof. So, there are times where you can read the book in your own time and post about it however you like and avoid any pressure.
Overall, though, if you’re reaching out for proofs, or being offered proofs, you should make sure you actually have the time to read it and give it the spotlight it needs. As nice as getting free books is, this is a pseudo-marketing transaction, and you need to be able to uphold your end of the bargain.
Know Yourself
This might seem like an obvious piece of advice, but it’s worth repeating anyway. If you’re looking for proofs and want to reach out to publishers for them, make sure this is a book that you’re actually interested in, and one that actually fits into your niche.
A publisher might take a look at your platform and recent reviews to make sure the book you’re asking for is something that you like, but more importantly that your audience likes. So, for example, if you read a lot of crime fiction and post a lot about crime fiction and now you’re asking for a romance novel, you might be less likely to receive it as it’s outside of your niche.
That’s not to say that you won’t get offered anything other than crime, but it is something to keep in mind.
It’s also important to know that just because you are offered a proof, by someone reaching out to you, it doesn’t mean you have to accept. It may be that it’s not a book or plot that interests you very much, or you just don’t have the time to read it. Whatever the reason, it’s always better to decline than to accept a proof and let it collect dust on your shelf (I have been guilty of this).
Just Ask
I know it can seem a little daunting, and maybe it even seems really arrogant? I know that the first time I sent an email to a publisher I felt like such a cocky b***h thinking “who do I think I am? Why would they send ME a free book?”
But honestly, that doesn’t matter, and you won’t be perceived that way. Worst case scenario, you ask and you never get a response or a proof, and that’s fine. At least you’ve asked. Best case scenario, you get a proof! Yay! There’s nothing to lose.
My advice is this: find the publisher and look for their publicity email on their website. In your email you should introduce yourself, highlight your platform, and say something about how you love reading etc. Then, detail which book it is your asking for, why you would like to read it, why it aligns with what you already like, and that you’re excited to post about it and review it!
A lot of the times you won’t get an answer back (I’ve only gotten an email back twice), so it’s always a good idea to include your delivery address at the bottom of the email in case. A few days later, a book may show up in the mail!
Quick Tips
Yay, you’ve received a proof copy! Here are a few standard things to do:
- you should make a story post (at least) showing the proof and thanking the publisher/agent who sent it to you (tag them directly).
- you should highlight the fact that this was a gifted item by using hashtags like #gifted or #arc (advanced readers copy).
- in your later review for the book, include the publisher/agent and those same hashtags again.
I hope these tips have helped and I hope you all get your very first proof copy soon – it’s such an exciting time! Happy reading x
swim press 