Don’t Send a Fancy ARC, Send the Author
According to Publishers Weekly Minotaur is escalating the ARC wars with 4,000 galleys set for BEA distribution of Chelsea Cain’s novel HEARTSICK. According to PW reporter Rachel Deahl, “four thousand galleys, stuffed in clear evidence bags, were mailed to booksellers and the press last week, making the September novel appear it was culled from the scene of a crime.” ( Some paraphrasing here but that’s the gist.)
Matthew Baldacci is the VP of Marketing at Minotaur which is an imprint of St. Martins Press part of the Holtzbrinck empire. Mr. Baldacci says the effort is costing SMP “a significant amount of money.”
Financial editor of the Druidical & Literary, Stanley Morgan, although fictitious, has this to say: “A significant amount of money is one billion dollars. I don’t think this campaign will spend more than a few hundred thousand.”
None of the D&L’s literary team is familiar with Chelsea Cain’s work. A quick check with Marge, the afternoon cashier at Eddie’s Book Nook revealed that another publisher recently mailed her an entire author in lieu of an ARC. “That’s where the ARC wars are going,” Marge said. “Constant escalation.”
Literary critic Ildephonse Macaroni could not be reached for comment. His WIP I COOK is entering the pre-auction frenzy his agent Lydia Careerbreaker calls “robust.” Mr. Macaroni is prepared to be air-mailed to anyone whose anyone but not everyone whose anyone for fear of “reprisals.” Thus many who are someone may be disappointed but no one who is anyone will be overlooked.