Lesson # 3 ARC

The ARC

Have you ever wondered where those laudatory quotes come from on book cover jackets or the inside pages or the back cover of a paperback book?  Do you read those quotes?  Do the quotes influence your decision to purchase the book?

I confess, I read the quotes even though in most cases I have no idea who the person is offering their opinion.  I’ve often wondered if those people are paid for their words of praise – maybe per word or something.  I can’t say that I’ve purchased a book because of the quote but certainly it offers some reassurance that someone else has read the book and thought well of the story or the writing or the plot or the characters or some aspect of the book.  Our human instinct is to implicitly trust an honest opinion or viewpoint.

Where do those quotes come from?  Lesson #3 – they come from offering an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) to people who you believe will make a favorable comment about your book.  When I completed the Henschel Haus marketing survey I had to provide a list of potential ARC readers.  I chose people I know well and people that have read my other two books and past teachers.  I’m assuming that at least Wisconsin readers will be familiar with their names.  At least all of them have serious writing chops so their opinion will be honest and credible.

I have yet to learn where in the traditional publishing process an ARC is created and sent to readers, or how much time a reader is given and offer their publishable viewpoint.  I’m guessing that adding those quotes comes near the end just prior to the publication date. 
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The arc of my learning experience is steep.