busybusy
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« on: September 24, 2009, 03:39:55 PM » |
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With their permission, I submitted names of three prestigious profs, whom I have met or corresponded with professionally but with whom I have very little history, to serve as endorsers for my first book. I have now seen the endorsements and want to know if it is appropriate to write a note of thanks or send an email thanking them for their time and kind words. Is it? I assume it would be but academic etiquette is not my forte...
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onion
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« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 03:45:13 PM » |
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I'm posting to bookmark this thread. I just got the blurbs for my book, too, and don't know if I should thank these folks.
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oatmeal
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« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2009, 03:54:32 PM » |
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I think it is entirely appropriate to thank the endorsers. However, I would wait until the book appears in print (not proofs or galleys) and then the names are listed. I wrote an thank you to the endorsers of my book and each seemed to appreciate it and it led to some nice conversations and professional relationships. Congratulations on your book.
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busybusy
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Posts: 25
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« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2009, 03:58:09 PM » |
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Thanks, Oatmeal.
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the_honey_badger
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« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2009, 05:06:28 PM » |
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I thought I'd do it since it seemed simply polite to do so---despite advice that it would look like "the original amateur hour" (to quote two colleagues). My view is that few people are offended by a polite "thank you" and I think my experience proved that again to my satisfaction.
Each of them was very gracious and two of the four made the point that they are often asked but that they never have heard from an author before---not in a bitter way but that they appreciated it. Basically, they were great and seemed happy that I took the time to say I appreciated their efforts and words. BTW, I had met ONE of the four briefly but had no real connections to any of them, the publisher worked from my dream list of blurbers---they were all luminaries and I'm decidedly NOT.
I have seen one in person at a conference since and he took the time to ask about my current project and offer invaluable advice and encouragement.
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_____________________________________
"Honey badger don't care."
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busybusy
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Posts: 25
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« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2009, 08:39:03 AM » |
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belowtheradar,
did you send an email or an actual thank you note by mail?
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seniorscholar
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« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2009, 09:41:45 AM » |
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did you send an email or an actual thank you note by mail?
I can't tell whether or not busybusy is teasing, but as a matter of fact, one of the very few people who has written to thank me for a blurb send a delightful postcard which showed that s/he had read my work and picked something that would amuse me. I have it on my office bulletin board and still smile when I look at it. Others have thanked me in person at conferences. There was one circle-jerk encounter at MLA one year when five or six of us who attended the same panel went out afterwards for ice cream, and realized that everyone there had written a blurb for a book by at least one of the other people in the group. But even counting that one, the total is maybe 10% of all the authors whose books I've blurbed. |
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john_proctor
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« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2009, 12:51:38 PM » |
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"Thank you" is always appropriate.
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"Look upon me! I'll show you the 'life of the mind.'"
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the_honey_badger
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« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2009, 06:10:02 PM » |
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belowtheradar,
did you send an email or an actual thank you note by mail?
Sorry, I just saw this now. I sent an email but I like the Seniorscholar story. I never thought of that! |
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_____________________________________
"Honey badger don't care."
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firstyearttguy
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« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2009, 08:35:46 AM » |
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I was thinking of sending a gratis copy of my new book as a thanks to each of my endorsers. Does this seem appropriate? It might even be unnecessary if the publisher gives them a copy, but its my first time at this stage so I don't know what the norm is.
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the_honey_badger
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« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2009, 08:44:15 AM » |
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I was thinking of sending a gratis copy of my new book as a thanks to each of my endorsers. Does this seem appropriate? It might even be unnecessary if the publisher gives them a copy, but its my first time at this stage so I don't know what the norm is.
The press usually sends them a copy for doing the blurb but check with your editor to make sure they have done (or will do this) if you have any doubts/ |
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_____________________________________
"Honey badger don't care."
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onion
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« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2009, 09:59:07 AM » |
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So I just did this. I sent cards to the folks who blurbed my book, as well as a couple members of the editorial and production staff, and one or two scholars who helped along the way (and had no reason to do so, other than that they are kind and generous). The press has informed me that they sent free copies to the blurbers, so no need to waste precious few author copies on that!
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