YA Book Blogger Panel- sort of.

So, Vania, Jordyn, Kristi, and I were following the BEA Blogger Panel on twitter, and we all felt that YA bloggers weren't really represented. We then decided to have our on panel type thing on gchat, and Nancy joined us since she was online.

Here's our conversation. There's a lot of topic jumping around though. xD (All the me's are...me.)

okay then

so first up.... blog tours/author interviews?

12:44 PM Vania: good.. yes!

Jordyn: I've never been a part of a blog tour.

Vania: I just started

no comments, barely any feedback

storysiren1: why do you think that is?

storysiren1: unknown authors, shitty questions?

Vania: my Dull Boy tour stop being dull

12:46 PM storysiren1: I think blog tours can work but....

me: Blog tours are kind of hit or miss, I think. Sometimes they're boring and unvaried, but they can be really interesting.

Vania: I think its way too much info on one post.

Jordyn: I've never been a part or or actually kept up with blog tours. I think in theory they can be really good but they must be well-orchestrated.

Vania: at a first glance you can get overwhelmed

storysiren1: I agree with that.... too much info is bad.

12:47 PM me: All I really need is a review and interview. No bio or anything

Sometimes the other stuff just takes up space. I don't read it.

Jordyn: What do you mean by "too much info"?

12:48 PMVania: I think it needs to be diff.. like maybe if it consists of 5 people then they alternate between posting a interview, review, and something else.

Jordyn: Good!

me: Too much info, like there's a review, interview, and bio, and everything else in one giant post.

Jordyn: Ah, yes.

I think each person on a tour stop should have a different thing - like either review or interview or something else, yes?

12:49 PM nancy: that does sound good

me: Yeah, that way no one would get overloaded with stuff.

storysiren1: i like one person having everything... i don't have to go to every different blog

but they just don't need to post it all at once...

me: Like each person has two days on a blog tour?

Jordyn: Well maybe if one person LINKED to everything... like if they were the moderator sort of person and had a post linking to all the actual posts.

I think that would be good.

12:50 PM nancy: linking would help others out

Vania: Kristi... something diff needs to be done. Its too much!

Linking or telling who'll be the next stop kinda thing

storysiren1: i haven' been posting my review with it

usually the bio an interview aren't too much

Vania: and the next stop links back to previous stops

me: I have noticed them becoming more popular too, so I'm worried they will get worse. xD

12:51 PM My "Sprout" ARC even has blog tour as one of the marketing plans.

Jordyn: Worse meaning?

me: They'll get messier and there will be too many.

storysiren1: they will be everywhere

12:52 PM Vania: I think that can be detrimental to the book if it gets out there too much too soon.

nancy: As far as blog tours are concerned do you see alot of people visiting or responding to them?

storysiren1: no

that's ultimately what we're discussing

me: Same here, Vania. You don't want everything all at once, and then the book never gets reviewed again.

storysiren1: how to improve that

12:53 PM nancy: ok got it!! trying to improve blog tours without having too much

Jordyn: Well I think one of the problems that could happen with blog tours is that if they get to be too prevalent then the books that don't have blog tours will be neglected.

Vania: and then both books suffer.

Jordyn: Yes.

me: People might not even like the book either.

People on the tour, I mean.

12:54 PM Jordyn: True. So people should be able to opt-out of a tour.

nancy: hmmm...what if many don't like the same book

me: Then do they just drop the tour? I dunno.

Vania: how to fix that:Blog tours should consist of less than 6 people. Each person does and interview and review. link to author's site ofr bio.

12:55 PM me: Where are Carol and Yan when you need them?!

Jordyn: Wait - I think that may be too many interviews.

If everyone does one. Unless they're only a couple questions.

me: I think the bio should only be posted if it's interesting. I usually just skip those unless I catch a something weird in it.

Vania: well I mean as an interview or a guest post kind of thing

vary it

nancy: yeah a limit of questions

12:56 PM Jordyn: Yeah, the bios I normally skip too.

nancy: because you can check the bio on the authors website

Jordyn: And I don't know about you guys but I actually never follow blog tours. The way they are now it's very confusing... I hardly ever know where the next post iscoming from.

12:57 PM storysiren1: okay so points being made.... don't overlaod with information. link to other bloggers on tour...

nancy: could the person hosting the blog tour, post the date and blog for the next person at the end of their post?

me: I also skip the interview if it's not formatted well. xD Like if everything is just one big text block, and there are no pictures or lines skipped ot break things up.

Vania: that's right Jordyn. We need to link the posts together. like is person a does a tour then person B links to person a and person c to person a and b

storysiren1: agree khy

me: The little things will make them better, I think.

Jordyn: Yes, I agree khy.

12:58 PM

Vania: I think there are a lot of bloggers out there who are..."messy"

that in itself has to be fixed b/c then the author is represented poorly.

12:59 PM Jordyn: Vania - I agree.

me: So we all agree that small things can make them a lot better?

Vania: yes

me: Formatting, deleting the bio, other stuff like that?

Vania: yes

1:00 PM nancy: yes, sounds good

storysiren1: bio would be okay for an author that doesn't have a website

otherwise it's kind of overkill

Vania: yeah and its the same bio over and over again

nancy: Kristi, that is a good point

me: Ugh, I hate when authors don't have a website.

nancy: or a good one

me: I agree though, Kristi.

storysiren1: me to! coughjuliahobancough

1:01 PMme: Should we move on to another thing they brought up in the panel?

Jordyn: Si!

storysiren1: yes

move on

me: Ok, publisher and reviewer relationships.

storysiren1: can of worms khy!

Vania: ahhh goodpoints brought up

me: I didn't bring it up! They did! xD

1:02 PM storysiren1: ha!

me: They discussed a lot about publishers linking to reviews or acknowledging them.

storysiren1: it's inevitable it's going to happen.... it's just the type of relationship that's going to vary

Jordyn: What did they say in the BEA panel about it?

storysiren1: i think pubs have been taking notice

me: That it would be nice to be approached nicely, to be acknowledged, etc.

1:03 PM storysiren1: of bloggers, that is... just think about the Audrey Wait paperback

me: That was a good idea, Kristi. I know Hope's mommy bought like every copy the store had of that. xD Blogger blurbs = sale!

1:04 PM Jordyn: Yeah the Audrey, Wait! pback is a good example.

Vania: hahah hell yeah I would too!!! If my name's on a book, in a book, around a book. Betch I will buy some copies!

storysiren1: edgmont u.k. used my review for their Gone campaign....

1:05 PM Jordyn: I think one of the worst things pubs or publicists can do is send out a massive emailing to bloggers about a certain book. Especially if it's full of images/attachments.

storysiren1: i think it's just a matter of time, before everyone else catched on

oh i agree Jordyn

me: I think blogger blurbs might confuse people who have no idea who those people are, but if they figure out that teens or regular people blurbed it, they'll trust it more.

storysiren1: sometimes i get emails and I'm like did you even read my review policy

grrr

me: I hate when EVERY reviewer gets the same book.

Jordyn: me too.

storysiren1: i know! right

Vania: ummm I got a book for middle aged women... written by a middle aged woman... SO not YA... hello???

me: Sometimes you see a million reviews of the same book pop up, and it's like "I am sick of this book now."

storysiren1: i mean i know not everyone has the same viewers... but still!

Vania: its still an overkill

1:07 PM

Vania: that is why I think pulishers should not hand out so many Arcs

me: Some books I DON'T request because everyone is getting them.

Jordyn: How many ARCs to publishers normally hand out?

me: Depends on the book.

storysiren1: i even say I'm not guaranteeing a review and i still get them

me: Didn't Beautiful Creatures get more printed for bloggers or something?

Vania: I don't bother requesting a book unless I really want it. and with school and work I don't have hours and hours to waste time on a ehh book

1:08 PM Jordyn: Vania: exactly.

storysiren1: i'm almost to the point, where i'm just going to review books i request

brb

Jordyn: If I request a book I'll review it but I don't request them unless I'm pretty sure I'll like them.

Vania: well Prophecy too... Michelle had extra ARC's because of the cover change and BC's already making the rounds and between getting mroe printed AND BEA...yeah

Jordyn: And I don't really get others sent to me that I don't request.

me: Same here, Jory.

1:09 PM

me: I especially don't want a book that everyone has gotten and given bad reviews.

Jordyn: Yes, me too/either.

1:11 PM me: Sometimes everyone gives one book ick reviews, which sucks for everyone

nancy: I try not to read other reviews until after I post mine or have read the book already

storysiren1: me too nancy

Jordyn: Yeah I do the same thing.

nancy: Because it does taint my view

Jordyn: After I read it then I usually read reviews, but not before.

me: Which is hard, since everyone basically reads the same books. xD

1:12 PM storysiren1: i found i've become more picky

me: I try to find books that have been missed by everyone or only mentioned a few times.

storysiren1: now that i know what a "good" book is

Jordyn: I'm already fairly picky. There are certain books I just don't want to read.

nancy: ok..hmmm i find it hard to post a review of a book I did not like

Vania: now is it ok to be picky or as a reviewer youshould be open to everything

Jordyn: I don't post reviews of books I didn't like. Is that wrong?

me: Same here, Nancy. I don't even want to waste my time writing a bad review.

1:13 PM Vania: Ok... I thin kpeople need to post bad reviews. sorry to break it to youu.

storysiren1: i hate when people tell me i should read more book about this and that... i'm sorry but I'm not going to read a book that doesn't sound interesting to me

nancy: don't want to make the author feel bad, or others that liked the book.

Vania: Kristi- haha yes! exactly.

Jordyn: Vania: but honestly if I read a book that I don't like that much I usually don't even finish it.

nancy: yes Jordyn, exactly

1:14 PM storysiren1: if i read it, i review it

nancy: that is when i put it in my Freezer pile

storysiren1: good or bad

Vania: But it's your opinion and people need to know. I would like toread a review about a book from many sources and come to a conclusion. I dotn want to waste money on a book I am seeing is ehhh

Jordyn: & since I'm a blogger also trying to become a writer... I don't want to bash others in my chosen feild if I can help it.

nancy: I find that if I dont like it. I need to wait a day or so before writing anything down

Jordyn: I always wait a few days.

storysiren1: you can give a bad review and not bash an author

1:15 PM Jordyn: Yes, but what are we talking about when we say bad review? Are you talking about "eh" books or actual books you wish you hadn't read?

nancy: yeah...that is why i have my system of going over the book and then posting my thoughts on it last

Vania: There is no reason to bash. I dont think I bash and I have given bad reviews.

and yes many of thsoe books others have loved. But I am a picky reviewer

me: This reminds me, I have a bad review to write.

Jordyn: Ok maybe bash was a wrong word...

nancy: dislike

1:16 PM storysiren1: negative

nancy: better

like a 2 star and below review

storysiren1: yes

Jordyn: Well... overly-negative is what I mean. As in, I really really hated this book and don't think it should have been published.

me: I do think that there are less BAD books coming out though, just more "meh" ones.

Jordyn: Those are the kind I don't write because I don't finish those books.

Vania: by bad I mean books that arent good. how you define that is your opinion. for me that means issues with character dev, plot dev, are ther plot holeS? is the story believable?

me: Most books I read I feel pretty meh abuot.

storysiren1: agree khy

1:17 PM Vania: I think every books even "bad" boosk have something good about them.

highlight that along withthe neatives

nancy: I can only think of less than a handful that I can truly say was WOW

storysiren1: yes, v

me: Same here, V.

storysiren1: that is exactly what i try to do

Jordyn: Me too.

me: Nancy, I can only do that for like 4 books I've read this year.

Vania: So even if you have a review of a bad book dont hesitate to post it and be honest

1:18 PM WOW books? yeah about 4 or so

nancy: yeah...and for those that detail they why's of their reviews are appreciated...i.e. characters/plot and storylin

Jordyn: I review every book I read. Unless it just doesn't fit with my blog like if it's not YA/MG.

Vania: I do that too and that way someone can looka t it and know exactly why it got a C

Jordyn: Yes, exactly.

1:19 PM nancy: cuz there can be a book and has...that everyone loves and I read it and think...meh!! what is the hype

me: I do that ALL THE TIME, Nancy.

1:20 PMme: It's worse when I agree with the points everyone makes about a book they think is amazing, and I just think it's good.

Like, I can see why a book was great. But I don't love it.

Jordyn: I've done that too... or reading a book others really didn't like and loving it. I've done that too.

1:21 PM

Jordyn: Okay: question: should our reviews be objective or subjective?

nancy: I actually did a review that when i look back on it now and think about it. I would change a few things. Reviews are so subjective

1:22 PM lol

me: Even if they were supposed to be objective, I don't think anyone could write them that way.

Vania: Ok here's what I think. subjective te only option. It makes it personable.

1:23 PM storysiren1: if i'm going to put my name by it... then it's going to be subjective

nancy: yes, and what i like may not be what you like...but hey that is ok

Vania: and that is why we have blogs... and are not professionals.. we write our opinions.

storysiren1: otherwise what's the point

Jordyn: I like to think that mine are fairly objective... obviously reviews are subjective on a whole but sometimes I can see that I didn't (or did) really like a book, but the review came out a little different because objectively it was either better or worse than I personally thought.

1:24 PM me: That's what I was trying to say earlier. Objectively, I can see that a book was amazing. But subjectively, I thought it was only ok.

Jordyn: Like in a ten-ingredient review (mine) only one part of that is purely subjective, so it doesn't factor in a whole ton.

1:25 PM nancy: yeah

1:26 PM

Vania: What else was brought up? hmmmmm

me: Stuff about approaching reviewers.

1:27 PM storysiren1:how about using my name!

it's not hard to find

Vania: OMG yes!

Jordyn: Don't say "dear blogger" - if you can't even figure out what my name or website is, you obviously have no idea what sort of books I would like.

Vania: Use my name!!!

storysiren1: yes j!

1:28 PM Jordyn: Like, I clearly state that I don't read paranormal or much fantasy, yet those are the books publishers approach me about.

me: That's all they're publishing, Jory. xD

Vania: J give them to me...

nancy: yup, it is a huge market

I tend to like the parnormal

Vania: no but yeah its def a growing trend

1:29 PM nancy: take me away from dreary day to day

Vania: and that is wht msot of us are seeing

Jordyn: Haha, that is not ALL they're publishing, but yes, it is big.

nancy: it is where the money is right now..

like i have noticed that many Adult authors (adult romance) are going into YA

me: I'm sick of paranormal. It takes a lot to think of something that's never been done before.

1:30 PM storysiren1: or e-books.. sure send me a kindle too, but i'm not going to sit in front of my computer for hours

nancy: one sparkly vampire and BOOM everyone goes crazy

storysiren1: i think it started before the sparkly vampire

Jordyn: Yep. I do think the vampire craze is (hopefully) dying down, though it may take a while for that to get to the readers.

nancy: yeah it did..but just got unhinged with it

1:31 PM vampires...then wolves....fairies and zombies

me: WOLVES?! THERE ARE NO WOLVES

I WANT WOLVES

nancy: ohhh i was thinking about adult paranormal

sowwy

me: If there's one paranormal thing I do want, it's werewolves. Or things I've never seen before.

Vania: WOLVES yes

nancy: but isnt there wolves

in Shiver

Vania: yeah but thats one book

nancy: and Never Cry Werewolf

me: I'm interested in "My Soul to Take" because it's about a banshee. Never read a banshee book, so I want.

1:32 PM nancy: and moonlight

storysiren1: shiver was good

me: I'm not so interested in the latest vamp book.

storysiren1: fae are big too

nancy: Yes Banshee's sounds interesting

1:33 PM me: I like faeries when they're done well. Aprilynne Pike's WINGS was really original, so I appreciated it more.

1:34 PM

me: Anyone have another point they wanna bring up?

1:36 PM Jordyn: What else did they talk about in the BEA panel?

me: In the panel there was some "review show" thing mentioned. WTH?

Jordyn: Does anyone know?

Vania: NO CLUE

nancy: ??? not a clue

Jordyn: Were they talking about vlogs?

me: They said something like a review show is something not yet done.

storysiren1: hopefully some one that was there will do a write up

1:37 PM Jordyn: I think it is going to be posted on a couple of websites... that's what I heard at least.

Vania: yeah me too

me: We can discuss about how pubs should decide to send people things, but we kind of did already

nancy: yeah

me: Here's something brought up: "Don't just look at blog stats such as traffic per day with book blogs; also look at comments and discussions #BEA09"

1:38 PM nancy: ahhh

Jordyn: I think that's a good idea, however generally there are a lot more viewers than comments.

nancy: yes that is true

Jordyn: I've seen blogs with zero comments yet I know they have lots of readers.

storysiren1: true... i am like one of the worst commenters ever

me: I think they're trying to see how responsive viewers are thuogh.

*though

If they get a response to something, it's better. I guess?

1:39 PM Jordyn: Good point.

nancy: It is all on what interests people

storysiren1: how do i add you guys to my list... i only have v

nancy: hmmm not sure

me: OH I found something. Bookseller blogger relationships.

1:40 PM And bloggers being the new "hand bookseller."

Jordyn: Hmmm.

That's interesting.

I have no bookstore relationships.

storysiren1: i've tried talking with my local indie... she's actually a couple years younger then me and my library but they aren't interested in what i do

i guess

1:41 PM me: I kind of have one maybe. One indie has me linked on their site

But I dunno if they read my blog or anything.

Jordyn: What did you say to them? Because I've thought of talking to my local indie.

Vania: Kristi- it is ahrd to get response bakc. Many don't care i think.

Jordyn: I think a lot of bookstores don't see blogs as something that can help them.

Vania: yes! that's the problem

storysiren1: does anyone here have an indie id?

Vania: and that is why i think the WN will be a major player inchanging that

nancy: I have a good relationship with an independent bookstore and they are very nice, but I am not on their blog, but they know me

me: What do you mean, Kristi?

1:43 PM Jordyn: WN?

storysiren1: on the indie website

me: Word Ninjas!

Jordyn: Oohhhh. gotcha.

me: Kristi: I have no idea what that is, so no.

Jordyn: Kristi: I don't.

I know what it is, but I don't.

storysiren1: you can join the indie community

favorite your indie stores... there are some authors on there too

1:44 PM me: There aren't that many indies near me. They're all like an hour away.

me: Or the ones closer have no YA section

nancy: i have a few but they are all about 1/2 hour away

Jordyn: Yeah, where I live doesn't have enough bookstores, especially for such a big city.

1:45 PM storysiren1: i have two like 10 min away

1:46 PM me: Back to relationships with indies though: I don't think most see us as a way to help sales. It's not like I'm going to buy from a store near Kristi, because I don't live near her.

We're all too spread out, I guess.

nancy: yeah

Jordyn: But local indies.

We could be of help to them I think.

nancy: yes we could

1:47 PM cuz if we post in on our blog, it could mean traffic for them. Generate interest

1:48 PM Jordyn: Yes, especially if their customers could know about us.

nancy: I know now that i would rather go to an indie book store than a retail chain

storysiren1: i link indiebound on my site

Jordyn: Kristi: me too.

nancy: so do i

1:49 PM storysiren1: i can't help that i like cheap books....

me: Don't get me started on cheap books, since there are like none left.

Stupid hardcovers!

storysiren1: i love bookcloseouts

1:50 PM Jordyn: Yesss.... I love cheap books.

Jordyn: Because I currently have no job. haha

me: But books are only cheap if they are paperback, and nothing is a paperback this year.

Grr.

1:51 PM nancy: that is something that pisses me off

i hate it when a series starts on PB then goes HC midway

me: vampire academy.

nancy: the market that they are catering do does not have that much money

me: Don't they consider that we OCD people want the books to MATCH?

nancy: going from 8 bucks to 16 is alot

Jordyn: Exactly.

nancy: I am sooo OCD with my books

1:52 PM

Jordyn: I think publishers should really consider publishing more p-back.

me: I'm more willing to buy paperbacks. I've bought things solely because they are paperbacks. xD And they sounded decent, of course.

1:53 PM

Jordyn: I hardly ever buy HC.

me:I only buy HC if I have gift cards

1:55 PM Which is not often

Or it's an author I <3

nancy: yea...i am pretty dedicated to certain authors

storysiren1: i love hc's i don' know why

me: because you like the finer things in life.

1:56 PM Jordyn: Exactly, some authors I love I'll buy their HC.

But not many, because I'd rather buy more books.

nancy: I love books...i could never get a ebook reader

storysiren1: maybe if i traveled a lot

nancy: i love to smell my books..and listen to the pages ...i am strange that way

storysiren1: i would have an e-reader

1:57 PM nancy: if you traveled a bunch than it would make sense

That is why I listen to alot of books

I have a 2+ hour commute a day

I listen to loads of books

Jordyn:

I never listen to books.

I like to read them.

1:58 PM nancy: If I had more time then I would love to read them.

I actually have grown to love them

I love haveing a story read to me

especially if they do a good job

me: I can't listen. If I listen to something too long I start to block it out.

nancy: I got a ticket when reading HP

1:59 PM was speeding...getting all into the story

bad girl

i mean...what do you tell the cop

"sorry but HP was kicking some serious ass"

me: Yes.

Tell them that.

----

That's basically where our conversation died off. Any thoughts on any of this stuff, if you managed to read it all? xD