The book blurb is one of the longest-running conventions in publishing and is largely a favor passed among writers and friends. But do they sell books?
Publishing’s Most Prolific Blurber Immortalized on Film
The work of the book business’ most imaginative, funny and prolific blurber, author Gary Shteyngart, gets immortalized in a new documentary.
Are You Still Influenced by Book Blurbs?
Whether or not the blurb writer is authentic in their praise or not, a book blurb is likely to be viewed with a modicum of suspicion.
Are Author Blurbs a Waste of Space?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s feature editorial by Nico Vreeland considers the downside of deceptive jacket flap copy. Blurbing — that practice of soliciting favorable quotations from fellow authors — is an accepted practice in the book business, but one that is often less-than-forthright. As many have noted before, blurbs all-too-frequently overpraise a work in terms the author of the blurb …
Why Bogus Flap Copy Erodes Readers’ Trust
Using platitudes like “remarkable” and “dazzling” in flap copy is forgivable, but calling a book “funny” when it is anything but is a much worse crime. Editorial by Nico Vreeland Flap copy always lies. It’s sickly understandable, considering the competitive marketplace for books. But, as a reader, it’s intensely frustrating to wade through book descriptions where the truth is more …