Frequently Asked Questions
ARC READING FOR LOREN LITTLE:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is an ARC?
An ARC is an Advanced Review Copy sent out anywhere between 1-week and 1-year prior to publication for the purpose of hyping up the book's launch date and generating interest through early reviews.
The more interest a book receives through preorders and early reviews, the better the chance of success during launch week because word-of-mouth sells books better than any of us can. It's also rumoured to be good for the algorithm to see the attention on a book's listing when people are going to purchase or leave their review.
An ARC is not the final copy. My books are extremely close to the finished product, but they are subject to minor changes and will generally undergo a professional proofread after the ARCs and before publication.
2. Which cover will I get for The Pythonist?
You will receive the illustrated maroon cover. This is the only time this cover design and interior formatting will be available in digital format, but it will be available in website-exclusive physical copies after its release date.
3. How do I get it?
Please ensure you answers all the questions in this form correctly. Check that your links are working. Do not leave anything with "N/A" or otherwise blank.
If this is done correctly, and you meet the other criteria, then your copy will be delivered to the email address you provided through Book Funnel.
4. When does my review need to be done?
For me personally, I really appreciate it when you leave your review as soon as you finish reading the book and have processed your thoughts. The form will remain open for the entire ARC Campaign for The Pythonist with e-copies sent out in batches, so you'll have plenty of time, and I encourage you to leave a review even if you don't get around to reading it until after the release date! Life happens and I understand. Your review still counts, and I value it.
5. What's the other criteria for getting one?
You need to read in my book's genre and use a reviewing platform already. You also need to be over the age of 18. New or small accounts are more than welcome to apply! Follower count does not matter to me just as long as you're currently active in the book community.
6. Do I have to do anything when I get the ARC?
The keyword here is "have" and to that the answer is no.
You do not have to do anything, and I side-eye anyone who tells you otherwise. This isn't a legally binding contract. You're not exchanging dominion over your soul. If you receive an ARC from me and don't review it, I probably won't send you another one, but I don't chase people down for reviews. I respect your time, the fact that life happens, and I am grateful that you wanted to be part of my book launch even if it doesn't work out.
All I ask is that no matter what you do not share, loan, or distribute your copy of the book anywhere. If you want to read it later on and review it then, I appreciate it.
7. What if I've never received an ARC before?
Then I am honoured to give you the very first one. It's one of the things I truly love most about this job, especially since opportunities in this industry tend to favour a particular kind of person and/or account for both readers and authors, and I don't love that for us.
8. Do I need a large social media presence?
No! My opinion is engagement > followers. I always notice when someone takes the time to share about my books and recommend them on social media, though!
9. Why didn't I get an ARC?
I'll be honest: it's probably because your form wasn't completed properly.
It's extremely time-consuming for us to fill in the blanks for you, and we often try only to realise in the end that we can't find the right information anyway, so your application may be denied/deleted if that is the case.
Please feel free to reapply if you think you were in a rush and may have missed something!
Other reasons include suspected book piracy, if we're unable to verify that you're a real person, have no evidence that you read in the genre, or you previously unsubscribed from my newsletter. I use my newsletter to communicate for multiple purposes, and so in some cases I might not be able to send you an ARC if I won't be able to communicate with you about it to share updates or information.
10. Do I have to read your other books?
No, but you might want to! It helps to know that my writing style works for you... and you might pick up a few Easter eggs from the Lorenverse between books. But you didn't hear it from me.
A Final Note...
I do not police your reviews. Respectfully, I don't even read them most of the time because it is one of the most anxiety-inducing experiences of my life, even if the review is a 4 or 5 star one. Y'all said that reviews are for readers and I heard you!
So please do not tag me in your reviews.
Tag me until your heart is content in general posts about the book though! Posts about vibes, thoughts, screams, and feelings are all welcome if you loved it or it destroyed you and I need to know about it. I just shouldn't be reading the actual reviews, and opening a tag that says "BOOK REVIEW" or anything of the like is probably going to send me into a mini panic attack.
And if you didn't like the book? Don't mind me! Seriously. PLEASE still review it! Hated it? Tell someone. Tell everyone (except me) and don't feel bad about it. Reading is subjective, I know that my books are not for everyone, and I pick up books that other people hated more often than I pick up books that other people loved. There's no waiting to share reviews or reporting low reviews in my little corner of the indie book world, I promise.
Thank you again from the bottom of my weary heart.
