JARM DEL BOCCIO, AUTHOR AND BOOK COACH
  • HOME
  • About Jarm
    • Children's Author
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • My Books
  • Book Coaching
    • Coaching Services
  • My Blog
  • Author Engagements
    • Author Events
    • TEACHER'S GUIDE & HEART RESOURCES
  • SUBSCRIBE

A Writerly Blog

Asking for a Book Endorsement-a Humbling Task

9/29/2018

0 Comments

 
My debut MG historical novel, The Heart Changer will release in Spring of 2019. But, there are so many things to accomplish before then. One thing heavily weighing on my mind, is the task of requesting book endorsements from known authors in my genre. How does one go about asking for an endorsement if she doesn’t know the author personally? Good question. And one I’ve been pondering all week.
Picture
Charles Dickens Museum, London
Thankfully, I have a friend in the publishing business whose job it is to gather endorsements for their authors. I asked her for a sample, and she graciously agreed:

Dear __________,

I hope you're doing well! My name is ________________, and I am wondering if you might consider endorsing my upcoming book, ________________. 

Here I would normally insert some information about the book. Either I encourage authors to give a brief summary of the content or, if I'm sending the request on their behalf, I copy/paste (her publisher's) promotional copy.

It would be such a privilege to have your commendation for this project. I have attached a PDF of the manuscript, and a release form is attached (omit if you don't use a release form) if you're interested in providing an endorsement. The deadline for endorsements is ___________, 2018.

I appreciate your help in promoting __________, and my publisher would be happy to send you a final copy of the book (again, omit if this isn't something you'll do!) as an expression of our thanks.

So, I custom designed it to fit my needs. Composing it was a most humbling task for a newbie like me. I tried to find some point of connection with the author, and one who writes in a genre similar to mine. Here is how one endorsement letter read:

Dear Ms. Gist,

I hope you're doing well! My name is Jarm Del Boccio, Author of The Heart Changer, an MG historical/Biblical novel, debuting in Spring of 2019 with Ambassador International. 

Since I am a native Chicagoan, and love travel and history, it’s not surprising I fell in love with your two books on the World’s Columbian Exposition, Fair Play, and It Happened at the Fair. My mom took me to all the world’s fairs during my childhood, and I’ve always wished I could have visited the original. Your books have brought the fair to life for me!

Like you, my passion is to make history come alive for my readers. That is why I am wondering if you might consider endorsing my upcoming book, The Heart Changer — a new twist on an Old Testament account at approximately 20,000 words. Here is a short synopsis:

Miriam, a Hebrew refugee, torn from the only home she has ever known, is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of the very man who took her captive from all she held dear. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing her, in preparation for a far more important mission. How can she possibly live in this strange household and be content? Not even this young captive could guess the far reaching influence of her presence.

It would be such a privilege to have your commendation for this project, but I understand how busy well-known authors can be. If you choose to endorse my book, I will send you an ARC in about 4 weeks. The deadline my publisher has given for endorsements is December 1st, 2018.

I’d appreciate your help in promoting The Heart Changer. If desired, my publisher would be happy to send you a final copy of the book as an expression of our thanks.

Blessings and thanks,


Jarm Del Boccio

https://www.jarmdelboccio.com/ 
​

Picture
Charle's Dickens Museum, London
So far, two authors have declined-- one via her agent. The third is busy with writing projects, but might have the time to promote it once it's published. The fourth, although she is writing against a deadline, asked me to send the ARC (advanced reader's copy) to her in case some time opens up.  I have six more to go.

The last two responses were a boost to my author self! I decided right then and there to do all that is within my schedule to help out a debut author when I in the same position one day.
Have you come to the point in your career where you are seeking an endorsement? If so, how was yours different? If you are an author wanna-be, what dream author would you ask to endorse your books? Tell me in the comments. Don't be shy!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Good News!

    My MG Biblical fiction "The Heart Changer" debuted in 2019 with Ambassador International.
    ​
    May I inspire you?
    ​ 
    If so, sign up HERE! 


    You’ll receive news of my latest blogpost and inspiration from life and literature to bring focus into your own journey. 

    ​I love to share the quirky things I see in the world. Sometimes, it's for a laugh; at other times, to teach a lesson. Or, just maybe, it will encourage you!

    Archives

    April 2025
    January 2025
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    August 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Adoption
    Aging
    Amazon
    Author
    Author Endorsements
    Author Historical Sites
    Author Interviews
    Basque Country
    Book Cover Reveal
    Book Endorsements
    Bookish Things
    Book Launch
    Book Trailer
    Bucket Lists
    Charleston
    Children's Book Week
    Christmas
    Crisis
    Debut Book
    Disability
    Edie Melson
    Emotional Thesaurus
    England
    English Authors
    Faith Insights
    Fantasy Novels
    Film Insights
    Good Reads
    Gratitude
    History
    Insights
    Inspirational
    Jarm Del Boccio
    Julie Hedlund’s 12x12
    Languages
    Legacy Of Mercy
    Literary Insights
    Lynn Austin
    Media
    Memories
    Mesu Andrews
    Middle Grade Novels
    Middle-grade Novels
    Minimalism
    Mr. Roger's Neighborhood
    My Nomad Journey
    National Reading Month
    North Carolina
    North Korea
    Picture Books
    Portugal
    Rice From Heaven
    Sailing
    SC
    SCBWI
    Social Media
    Spain
    Technology
    Tessa Afshar
    The Desert
    The Heart Changer
    The Liebster Award
    The Way Home
    Tina Cho
    Travel
    Travel Writing
    Word Of The Year
    World Events
    Writer’s Block
    Writer's Conference
    Writer's Craft
    Writer’s Journey
    Writer's Retreat
    YA Novels

    RSS Feed

  • HOME
  • About Jarm
    • Children's Author
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • My Books
  • Book Coaching
    • Coaching Services
  • My Blog
  • Author Engagements
    • Author Events
    • TEACHER'S GUIDE & HEART RESOURCES
  • SUBSCRIBE