9 years, 6 months ago

Forget The Book, Have You Read This Irresistible Story On Blurbs?

Forget The Book, Have You Read This Irresistible Story On Blurbs? For such a curious word, the term "blurb" has amassed a number of meanings in the decades since it worked its way into our vocabulary, but lately it has referred to just one thing: a bylined endorsement from a fellow writer — or celebrity — that sings the praises of a book's author right on the cover of their book. Sponsor Message "We now very often receive submissions from literary agents to consider a book, and the agent's letter will have endorsements already in place from authors you've heard of," says Michael Pietsch, CEO of publisher Hachette Book Group. A longtime editor himself, Pietsch says, "The editor's job is to get people to read the book" — and that job has been getting started earlier and earlier in the process. "There's just this vast blizzard of books coming out all the time," Pietsch says, "and getting any one book to stand out and catch people's attention is extraordinarily hard work."

NPR
Books Book Author Getting Cover Read Npr Sponsor Message Whitman Emerson Walt Whitman Nielsen Its Cover Pietsch Her Editor Lalami Blurb Blurbs
Book blurbs: Authors hate them. Publishers love them. They’re often made-up.
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Book blurbs: Authors hate them. Publishers love them. They’re often made-up.

Slate
Marketing

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