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

[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