[Hitch]

I would point out that, for example, Amazon Top Reviewers get book review requests ALL the time. They have the option to not make their emails public; one can only assume that the fact that they don't choose that means that they are making themselves effectively available to those seeking reviews. They're under no obligation, presumably, to accept a free book, (or a gift book), or to review same, or for that matter, give it a good review.

Now, here's my perspective on this: in the 90's, when the Web was young and not really GUI, I was a paid professional reviewer of books. No, not on Amazon; for a webzine. Most of my fellow reviewers took the books that they read and then resold them. I didn't do this myself, (I donated them to the local lending library--I could afford that back then), but, I do know, for example, that at MBR (Midwest Book Review) the reviewers do indeed want physical books, because part of what they consider their compensation (MBR reviewers of print books are not paid) is the resale of the books, above and beyond the pleasure of reading the book in the first place. That's why MBR started charging for reviewing eBooks--none of the reviewers would accept them, because they couldn't resell them. (Important note!).

Thus, I think it's hard to say that if Author X writes a book and then goes to all the trouble of finding 100 reviewers that reviewed books like his/hers, and liked books in his genre, and books that are (arguably) similar to his book, and emails them--is that really spam? Let's assume that John Doe, book reviewer, is actually reviewing books and then reselling them, as part of his income. Wouldn't he WANT contacts from willing book authors? It's not like the old days, when you were paid (now, paid reviewing is EVIL. It's mind-boggling to me that this has occurred; that the people who CAN competently review books, no longer MAY review books, because the Vox Populi has decided that somehow, professional reviewing=bad).

That's not the same thing as someone emailing an MR member out of the blue, asking if they want to do X or buy Y or whatever. And, FWIW, I get asked for "favors"--what are effectively donations of my own time--ALL the time here on MR, in PM's. All sorts of things, assessments, reviews (of software), etc. I've never reported anyone to a MOD, for heaven's sake (for that). I agree, letting it go free here would be bad, but...y'know, there's a fine line here.

And I don't think emailing book review blogs/people is spam. If someone says that they are a commercial reviewer, whether paid or unpaid, as a blogger or an "Amazon Top Reviewer," and they have their email in the public view, they are, to me, obviously seeking books. Does that seem nuts? That seems logical to me.

Vis-a-vis free books, etc.: the smart thing would be to GIFT the book. I know that there's a lot of kerfuffle about this out there, but you can GIFT the book, via Amazon, to the reviewer. Now, they can turn right around and use that $0.99 or $2.99 or whatever for something ELSE, if they choose--they are under zero obligation to buy YOUR book. BUT, assuming that they're remotely honest, and they do, the book then shows up as a "verified purchase," rather than an arbitrary review. Offered FWIW.

Hitch