Anne Marble: I’m wondering what the value of a review copy could be. One of the ways I keep track of issues with a review book is with little “dog ears.” Some of the books end up looking like Victorian fans by the time I’m done. Even with just a few dog-ears, the books look read, and I haven’t been able to turn them into the local used book store. I know some writers are worried about people who become reviewers just to ask for free books, but if you look at my copies, you can tell I read it.

I want to point out that, of course, I don’t sell ARCs. Most of the books I reviewed over the past year were books I bought for myself — usually at Wal-Mart, Borders, Fictionwise, etc. So the “review copies” I was unable to sell were copies I bought at Wal-Mart. (It’s possible the used book store didn’t want to buy them because of the ugly Wal-Mart price stickers on the front covers, not just because of the dog-ears and general wear. The local Wal-Mart was using a really nasty glue during that time period.:))

I did get about three review copies from publishers this way, but those are in no way going to be sold. Especially as I liked those books. In the past, I received ARCs (both bound and unbound), but I always kept those, even when I wasn’t crazy about the book, to avoid any issues with the ARCs ending up in the wrong hands. When I really liked the book, I often ended up buying my own copy anyway or buying copies of the book as Christmas presents. (Several people got shiny new copies of My Darling Caroline one Christmas.)

I’m wondering what the value of a review copy could be. One of the ways I keep track of issues with a review book is with little “dog ears.” Some of the books end up looking like Victorian fans by the time I’m done. Even with just a few dog-ears, the books look read, and I haven’t been able to turn them into the local used book store. I know some writers are worried about people who become reviewers just to ask for free books, but if you look at my copies, you can tell I read it.

ldb: The internet excists as much in America as it does out the content and people this is so called protecting are as much Asian/European/Mexican/Candaian as they are American.

Well I am not sure what I was trying to say in this sentence.

“The internet existes as much in America as it does out of America, the content is everywhere, and the people this law “protects” are as much Asia, European, Mexica, Canadian as they are American.”

Also I imagin that this is an American law, so would it effect non American bloggers, or non American writers and or publishers? For example is a German blogger writes a review based on an arc they were given by an American writer does thsi apply? Or what if the book is given by a British writer? The internet excists as much in America as it does out the content and people this is so called protecting are as much Asian/European/Mexican/Candaian as they are American.

That’s our government…