Unsolicited Messages are NOT a Good Way to Sell Your Book

[pameladlloyd]

I joined Goodreads a few months back at the suggestion of one of my brothers. Since then, I've listed a couple dozen books and reviewed a mere handfull. Today, in my Goodreads Inbox, I found the following message from a total stranger, a writer whose message has left me feeling rather uncomfortable:

from: James Bailey
to: Pamela
subject: quirky book
message:
Hi Pam the reading lover, cute picture. I had severe OCD, anxiety attacks, and depression for over thirty years but finally had enough and overcame most of it. I wrote a quirky and humorous book called Man Interrupted detailing how I did it. I have Oscar winner Mel Brooks on the cover praising it.. Please check out Man Interrupted at www.amazon.com or pop into a Barnes and Noble.. Just ask for Man Interrupted by James Bailey. Let me know? Best James.

I find myself rather mystified. Did this guy self-publish? *checks Amazon* The publisher is listed as Mainstream Publishing. *googles* Which seems to be a Scottish division of Random House. Does this make sense, or is there another publishing firm using that name?

What made him choose me, given that almost everything on my reading list is science fiction or fantasy, or am I just one of a couple thousand people he's individually contacted? Hasn't this guy ever heard about targeted marketing? (Of course, at least he's targeting people who read, so maybe he has.)

Why do so many people think that it's okay to shorten my name? I go by Pamela. I sign my letters and emails Pamela. If, by any chance I choose to use a nickname, the name I use is not "Pam." I mean, I understand why family members who started calling me Pam before I could defend myself could be a bit confused (even though you'd think thirty years would be enough time to get used to it), but why do perfect strangers think they've got the right to not just call someone by their first name, but to use a diminutive they haven't earned?

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

That *is* strange, and I haven't a clue about how those things happen. I got something like that once from someone in Wales wanting me to help promote a music festival there. I checked it out, and it seemed legitimate, and it had interesting sounding music, so I obliged, but I couldn't help thinking that I probably wasn't the best person to target for their publicity....

And I'm with you 100% on nicknames. I only like my whole name. I feel sometimes as if that makes me a difficult person or something--but my whole name is *nice* sounding, whereas the nicknames aren't so... that's why I prefer the whole name!

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

This seems to be an instance of someone who is using attempting to get some word-of-mouth advertising by trying to get readers who write book reviews, even occasional ones, to read his book. He's got the celebrity endorsement (When did Mel Brooks start reviewing books?), so why does he want mine? If that's what's really going on. I think the weirdest part was that at least part of the text wasn't just something he copied and pasted into every message, unless he tells everyone they've got a "cute picture," which would be really strange since a lot of people on Goodreads, including him, just use a standard silhouette icon and never upload a picture.

I only like my whole name. I feel sometimes as if that makes me a difficult person or something--but my whole name is *nice* sounding, whereas the nicknames aren't so... that's why I prefer the whole name!

Yes, exactly. Plus, with a one-syllable last name, a one-syllable first name winds up being far too short and plain. I spent most of my childhood thinking that I didn't like my name, until I realized it was my nickname, and not my actual name, that I disliked.

Edited to add: This was something I liked that Lois McMaster Bujold did in one of her books (not saying which one, so as to avoid the spoiler thing): she had a character who disliked the nicknamed assigned to another character, seeing it as not nearly elegant enough for that other person, and preferring the given name. I think that's one thing I really like about the way she writes; she knows how to take all those little niggly things we notice in real life, and use them in her fiction to make her characters come alive.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

she knows how to take all those little niggly things we notice in real life, and use them in her fiction to make her characters come alive.

I'm noticing that in Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke, which I'm slowly working through.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I liked that a lot, although my husband found it too slow.

[k-10b.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of getting used to my married name... I went from VanderBurg to Blount. I LIKED VanderBurg, a lot. I teased my husband that we should both change to VanderBlount. Also, the first time I was in a classroom for grad school, post marriage, I almost missed my name because I wasn't listening yet. : P And who knew, VanderBurg was easier to pronounce for most folks than Blount.

Not many people shorten my first name (Kristen), except for my family. Of course, I also am called Christine, Christian, and other assorted versions of my name. Which leads me to ask to be called Kris, if they can't get the rest of it right.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

And who knew, VanderBurg was easier to pronounce for most folks than Blount.

Does Blount rhyme with count, or is that the mistake most people make? *displaying my ignorance*

Not many people shorten my first name (Kristen), except for my family. Of course, I also am called Christine, Christian, and other assorted versions of my name. Which leads me to ask to be called Kris, if they can't get the rest of it right.

Ah yes. The people who figure that any name remotely resembling the real name should be good enough. I remember a few higher level executives at firms I've worked for (as in, my boss' boss, or higher) who never could remember that my name wasn't Paula, to the point that I would give up on correcting them.

[k-10b.livejournal.com]

Yes, Blount rhymes with count, but many people forgo the "o" and pronounce it Blunt. Which if you're from the deep South is correct, but my husband's family is from Philadelphia.

It's also been murderized in a variety of ways, including Blown and Brown. It's really very phonetic. LOL

Yes, to your other point. Apparently, I look like a Susan, because that's been what many people who can't remember my name have called me.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Apparently, I look like a Susan, because that's been what many people who can't remember my name have called me.

*blink, blink* That's just weird.

[k-10b.livejournal.com]

yep. welcome to my life. KB

[satimaflavell.livejournal.com]

I do a lot of reviewing and people often solicit my reviews. After reviewing a couple pf self published books I now turn those down out-of-hand because the standard, sadly, is generally so low as to be embarrassing, but if the book is from a legit hard copy publisher and if it's within my genre set, I'll take a look. If it's not I just tell the wrter so. And of course, I expect a free review copy!

If the guy is in Britain, Pema, he would, I'm afraid, automatically call you Pam. Most Aussies would, too. Many names are automatically shortened in English-speaking countries outside the USA and Pamela is definitely one of them. I don't think I've ever met a Pamela who was called by the full three syllables:-)It took me a while, when I lived in the States, to realise that local usage doesn't do this and I fear I offended or at least confused several people until I worked out that Elizabeth is not necessarily Liz and Christine is not necessarily Chris in the US!

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I do a lot of reviewing and people often solicit my reviews. After reviewing a couple pf self published books I now turn those down out-of-hand because the standard, sadly, is generally so low as to be embarrassing, but if the book is from a legit hard copy publisher and if it's within my genre set, I'll take a look. If it's not I just tell the wrter so. And of course, I expect a free review copy!

I don't think he was offering me a copy and, if he was really asking for a review, he wasn't sufficiently direct about it. It was just weird, because I'm not much of anybody on Goodreads. There have got to be thousands of people out there who would be better choices to contact. Goodreads, like LJ, has a system by which you identify people as friends, so you can see the books they've been reading and read their reviews. I haven't been seeking friends there, just connecting to family and RL friends. Which is part of what makes me think that he's sending thousands of messages out to random people. Which strikes me as behavior that falls very much in the OCD category.

If the guy is in Britain, Pema, he would, I'm afraid, automatically call you Pam. Most Aussies would, too. Many names are automatically shortened in English-speaking countries outside the USA and Pamela is definitely one of them.

I don't know where he's from, but Pamela is one of those names that is more often shortened than not here, as well. Much more so than Elizabeth, although perhaps no more so than Christine. But, I'm one of those people who doesn't think strangers should be using my first name unless I've asked them to, or unless we're in some context (such as a con) where we've all got name badges. It's one of those pet peeve things and I try to be polite about it in person, but here I was blowing off a bit of steam.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Shortening names is definitely the norm in the UK. I work with a Val (Valerie) and two Sues (both Susan), but if you just refuse to answer to a nickname, people will use your full name. But perhaps I was just an odd child. :)

One of the reasons I use my middle name online is that I don't like any of the short forms of my first name and I'm not that keen on the full name either. Helen thankfully doesn't seem to invite shortening.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I can only think of one possible shortening of Helen and I agree that very few people would try it. And I don't suppose they'd try it twice. ;>