I was on Twitter earlier and I found a tweet from another book blogger mentioning how some people are selling their ARC copies on ebay that they received FREE from BEA 2010. I want to point out a few things to these people out there doing this.
ARCs clearly state on the covers that they are not to be sold. They are for review purpose and promotion only. I have spoke with people in the publishing community before on this and they even go as far to say that the larger publishing companies will take people to court for this. Now, maybe some people are new to the world of book blogging, but when it states it clearly on the covers that they are NOT to be sold, people should have some common sense.
This is why some publishing companies make it so hard for reviewers to obtain these sort of books to promote and review for everyone. Yes, I occasionally get jealous over other bloggers getting those coveted copies I have so desperately wanted, but to sell it on ebay for an outrageous price unethically is just wrong.
I live on the west coast and was unable to attend BEA 2010 because I just don’t have the money to travel back east. I am drooling at what everyone was able to obtain, but I understand as well that most of what I have drooled over are from other book bloggers who know that it is unethical to sell them. It frustrates me to no end to see people who attended BEA just because they live there and think they can sell them for a quick buck. Do you even realize how hard bloggers sometimes have to work to even achieve receiving one of those coveted copies? Do you even understand how bloggers who are unable to attend these functions feel already and this ruins there chances of receiving one for review in the future?
I am approaching my one year blog anniversary, and I have worked very hard to keep my blog honest and to where it is today. Now my blog may not be as huge and popular as other blogs, but I have let it grown honestly and with respect to the publishing companies. Believe it or not, those ARCs cost money to make and they come out of an authors earnings. Author’s do not receive money for those ARCs that are being sold on ebay. The publishing company is not receiving any money either.
I am sorry for ranting on my blog about this, but I wanted to put it out there. Yes, I want the publishers I work with to know that I DO NOT support ebay seller’s in this. I support the author’s and publishing companies in doing what is right with ARCs. I trade them with other bloggers, donate them to my local library and yes hoard them for keepsakes. I just wish other people would do the same.
I know I have a bunch of reviews I need to get posted, but I wanted to discuss something first. I was at the dentist today and the assistant to the dentist noticed me reading an ARC copy of Forgive My Fins. She asked if it was good and I found myself rambling on and on about it and she told me she hasn’t even read a book in years. GASP! The horror! How can someone not read a book in years? If I don’t have a book to read within minutes of finishing another, I get withdrawls. I am talking about hands fidgeting, headaches, heartbreak, nose itching because it can’t smell the printed pages and sweats. Thus, I started to think about when and how my obsession with books began.
I admit that when I graduated high school (we won’t mention years here, haha), I was finished with reading books and just picked up the occasional magazines to read. I was so tired of books in general, I didn’t even go back to my local library. Then my oldest daughter starts talking to me about these vampire books that she has been dying to read and I was intrigued. She finished the first book in one night. ONE NIGHT! Now, you need to know that if it isn’t a manga book, my daughter takes weeks usually to read one book. I knew if it captured my daughters interest, maybe it would spark mine again. We all are familiar with the books she was talking about.
Yes, the Twilight series. Now some people can’t stand the series, but I own each one of them and I am thankful to have read them. The Twilight series was devoured in 2 days max after I bought them. I could not put them down. This began my road of addiction to reading again. I gobbled up all the vampire books I could find. I was hooked on Lynsay Sands and Amanda Ashley so quick my head was spinning. Then I discovered eroticas and romance books. I fell quick and hard far even more authors. Then imagine my shock when I stumbled over Anna’s Book Blog and realized there was a whole world of book addicts and bloggers! I started up my review blog and quickly started adding pages of my opinions on books. Slowly my blog grew and I cannot believe how many other addicted book readers there are in the world.
I have met other readers who race to the book stores on release day and stand in line for hours just to meet a great author in person. I noticed I am not the only person with so many books they are stuffed in every corner of the house. You know what I am talking about–books in the bathroom, on the kitchen counters and yes I even have them in the laundry room.
So I say to all the addicted readers out there–stand tall and proud! You are not alone. I am an addicted book reader and hoarder. I shall not be changed and I shall not be buried without a book in my hand!
My question is simple. What book got you hooked on reading? Is there a certain author that stands out to you in your road to addiction? Are you proud to be called a Book Addict?

