Comments on: Ethical Transparency

By: marydell

marydell — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:32:29 +0000

Just for the record, I can easily be bought for chocolates. I have no shame.

By: Imani

Imani — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:38:27 +0000

Goddamn it, how long do I have to blog before I get chocolates? It’s not like I started pootering about books for my own peace of mind.

By: Writer, Rejected

Writer, Rejected — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:14:55 +0000

I hear you on the piggy bank situation. You are an ethical dude. Glad I found your blog; also good comments. Maybe you’ll weigh in on my google ad dilemma? My blog is meant to make you laugh (or cry, depending on your p.o.v.) http://www.literaryrejectionsondisplay. I think Bluestalking Reader will be happy to know I am naming names. Seriously.

By: GM

GM — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:57:50 +0000

Publishers have sent me props with their books in hopes of piquing my interest, I guess — ie, a book on climate change comes with high efficiency light bulbs, one on Hawaii comes with a lei, etc. — but sadly no chocolate. I was once approached by a very large publisher who asked me to “partner” with them. Apparently partnering involved an arcane process by which they send me “free books” known as “review copies” and I reviewed them positively and displayed their ads on my site giving it “a look of legitimacy”. How could I turn it down? I’ve always wanted to be legitimate.

By: Bluestalking Reader

Bluestalking Reader — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:48:36 +0000

You’re to be commended. Not everyone in your position would find it so easy to choose ethics over greenbacks, but thankfully you’re of the finest sort. Bravo to you, and in the end karma will reward you.

I haven’t yet been offered anything nearly that suspicious in exchange for my good opinion, but one big publisher has sent me Belgian chocolates TWICE, along with books for review. I’m not sure getting hopped up on cacao influenced me in my reviewing, but it sure as hell did turn my head. Rock on, Simon & Schuster!

Whoops, I said that out loud.

By: Scott McLemee

Scott McLemee — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 21:36:27 +0000

Every so often, I find myself at the very edge of telling an author or publisher, “You seem to be under the impression that I am a publicist, rather than a critic and essayist. And that means you can just fuck right off.”

In fact I only ever actually say the first part, albeit in a way that leaves the rest clearly implied. They don’t actually offer me bribes. But the attitude involved is, if anything, often more offensive than if they had.

One guy approached me about a book like so: “There was an article about it in The New York Times and another piece is scheduled for [some magazine or other]. Maybe you should do something, given all the hype.”

I thought, “Well gosh, dude, that is one appealing prospect all right. Why I must be crazy to pass up such an offer!”

By: Brian F.

Brian F. — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:22:19 +0000

Ah.

So you can be bought for Ramen. Duly noted.

By: Barkingkitten

Barkingkitten — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:48:56 +0000

Wow. That is just….amazing.

By: Erin O'Brien

Erin O'Brien — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:24:03 +0000

I am working on an essay that includes the words blood and fellatio and I had a fried spam sandwich for lunch.

Although I will not give you money or perform fellatio on you in return for a book review, I might give you some blood. Or the Spam sandwich.

If you care to view a photo of the Spam sandwich, go to my site. Underneath the photo, you will also find a post linking to the latest review of my book.

Thank you and carry on,

Erin E. O’Brien
Human
Genius
Wife
Mother
Writer
Owner of martini-shaped lamp.