Palamedes PR Interview

Book bloggers are no longer considered ‘fringe media’ but important vehicles to promote new titles, authors and publishers. Unlike mainstream news and feature outlets, which reach a wide but less targeted audience, blogs like EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH DRAGONS are the go-to destination of choice for engaged consumers who return time and time again for expert reviews and advice.

According to Palamedes PR, the UK’s market-leading book marketing agency, bloggers can be instrumental in shaping the overall success of a new release and are an indispensable force in the public relations industry.

Here, we speak to one of its publicists, Anthony Harvison, to find out why book blogs are reshaping the literary marketing and sales landscape, and how they are an increasingly important advocate for underrepresented voices and genres.

Anthony Harvison

Q: How has the landscape of book marketing evolved with the rise of book blogging, and what role does it play in promoting books?

Book blogging has become a powerful force in book marketing, offering a dynamic platform for readers to share their thoughts and recommendations. It plays a crucial role in creating buzz around books, reaching niche audiences, and influencing purchasing decisions.

Q: In what ways do book bloggers contribute to building a book’s online presence and visibility?

Book bloggers contribute significantly to a book’s online presence by writing reviews, hosting blog tours, and participating in social media discussions. Their authentic and personal recommendations can enhance a book’s visibility and attract a diverse readership.

Q: How do book publicists identify and collaborate with book bloggers to promote specific titles?

Book publicists often research and reach out to book bloggers whose content aligns with the target audience and genre of a particular book. Collaboration may involve sending review copies, organizing blog tours, or facilitating author interviews to generate interest among the blogger’s followers.

Q: Can you share examples of successful book marketing campaigns that heavily leveraged book blogging?

Successful campaigns often involve strategic partnerships with influential book bloggers. For instance, organizing blog tours with well-established bloggers, hosting giveaways, or encouraging book discussions on popular platforms can generate substantial online buzz and drive book sales.

Q: How do book bloggers contribute to the diversity and inclusivity of book promotion, particularly in highlighting underrepresented voices or genres?

Book bloggers have a unique ability to champion diverse voices and genres that might be overlooked in mainstream media. They can bring attention to underrepresented authors and stories, fostering a more inclusive literary landscape and broadening the range of books available to readers.

Q: With the prevalence of social media, how do book bloggers use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube to enhance their book reviews and recommendations?

Many book bloggers utilize social media platforms to share visually appealing book recommendations, snippets of reviews, and engage in real-time conversations with their followers. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube, in particular, provide a multimedia approach to book promotion, enhancing the overall impact of their reviews.

Q: How can book publicists and authors effectively engage with book bloggers to ensure a mutually beneficial collaboration?

Building genuine relationships is key. Publicists and authors can engage with book bloggers by offering personalized pitches, providing relevant content, respecting their schedules, and acknowledging their contributions. It’s essential to approach collaborations as a partnership that benefits both parties and their audiences.

Q: Looking forward, do you see any emerging trends or changes in the relationship between book blogging and book marketing?

As technology evolves, immersive experiences like virtual book clubs, interactive content, and multimedia reviews may gain prominence in book blogging. The relationship between book bloggers and marketing may deepen as influencers continue to shape literary conversations and bridge the gap between authors, publishers, and readers.

For more information about Palamedes PR and its book marketing services, go to www.palamedes.co.uk or call 0208 1036883

Review: Exodus, by Steve Catto

Blurb 

The Balagoun brothers’ ten-year plan for taking the citizens of New London to a new life on Mars following the apocalypse is about to become a reality with the approaching launch of the first test flight, but equipment, supplies and energy are going missing, conspiracy theories are rife, and it seems as if not everyone wants to leave the Earth anyway.

To take their places as leaders of the new civilisation, their granddaughters Freya and Reihna must put aside their divided loyalties to the family and keep a restless city supporting a questionable dream.

If the information that the local news reporter Hanna Finnegan discovers proves to be true, that dream might just turn out to be a nightmare…

Continue reading “Review: Exodus, by Steve Catto”

Review: Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, by Dan Jones

Publication date Thursday, January
18, 2024
Price £16.99
EAN\ISBN-13 9781804191354

Description

Every good hero needs a villain! Explore the hidden world of magnetic and mysterious villains, often cast aside and misunderstood in tales of mythology and folklore. Through the pages of Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, discover a diverse community of fascinating characters, ranging from seductive and cunning to powerful and awe-inspiring.

Experience the dark allure of Circe and Medusa through to David Bowie’s Jareth in Labyrinth and delve into their complex and multifaceted personalities and motivations. Take a deep dive into the intersection of queerness and villainy, re-examine some of our favourite characters, and discover why so many ‘bad’ characters are queer-coded.

From ancient mythology to contemporary pop culture, Queer Villains of Myth and Legend celebrates the fascinating stories of these often-overlooked characters. Join Dan Jones on a journey of discovery, as he explores the hidden depths of queer villainy and sheds light on the queer identities of these compelling figures. It’s a powerful celebration of
queerness through the ages in all its legendary complexity.

Continue reading “Review: Queer Villains of Myth and Legend, by Dan Jones”

Extract Post: Halfway House by Helen Fitzgerald

PUBLICTION DATE: 18th JANUARY 2024
PAPERBACK ORIGINAL | £9.99 | ORENDA BOOKS

They’re the housemates from Hell…

When her disastrous Australian love affair ends, Lou O’Dowd heads to Edinburgh for a fresh start, moving in with her cousin, and preparing for the only job she can find … working at a halfway house for very high-risk offenders.

Two killers, a celebrity paedophile and a paranoid coke dealer – all out on parole and all sharing their outwardly elegant Edinburgh townhouse with rookie night-worker Lou…

And instead of finding some meaning and purpose to her life, she finds herself trapped in a terrifying game of cat and mouse where she stands to lose everything – including her life.

Slick, darkly funny and nerve-janglingly tense, Halfway House is both a breath-taking thriller and an unapologetic reminder never to corner a desperate woman…

Continue reading “Extract Post: Halfway House by Helen Fitzgerald”

Review: Yule Island, by Johana Gustawsson

PUBLICATION DATE: 1 DECEMBER 2023
HARDBACK | £16.99 | ORENDA BOOKS

Blurb

Art expert Emma Lindahl is anxious when she’s asked to appraise the
antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden’s
wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman
was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found.

Emma must work alone, and with the Gussman family apparently avoiding
her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to
hide? As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery
yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover
the secrets of the house and its occupants.

When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters
surrounding the island, Detective Karl Rosén arrives to investigate, and
memories of his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could
this young woman’s tragic death somehow hold the key?
Battling her own demons, Emma joins forces with Karl to embark upon a
chilling investigation, plunging them into horrifying secrets from the past
– Viking rites and tainted love – and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest
winter…

Continue reading “Review: Yule Island, by Johana Gustawsson”

Extract Post: Dead Sweet, by Katrin Juliusdottir

PUBLICATION DATE: 1 DECEMBER 2023
HARDBACK ORIGINAL | £16.99 | ORENDA BOOKS

Blurb

When Óttar Karlsson B OOK S , a wealthy and respected government official
and businessman, is found murdered, after failing to turn up at his own surprise birthday party, the police are at a loss. It isn’t until young police officer Sigurdís finds a well-hidden safe in his impersonal luxury apartment that clues start emerging.

As Óttar’s shady business dealings become clear, a second, unexpected line of enquiry emerges, when Sigurdís finds a US phone number in the safe, along with papers showing regular money transfers to an American account.

Following the trail to Minnesota, trauma rooted in Sigurdís’s own childhood threatens to resurface and the investigation strikes chillingly close to home…

Atmospheric, deeply unsettling and full of breakneck twists and turns, Dead Sweet is a startling debut thriller that uncovers a terrifying world of financial crime, sinister cults and disturbing secret lives, and kicks off a mind-blowing new series.

Continue reading “Extract Post: Dead Sweet, by Katrin Juliusdottir”

Review: The Wit & Wisdom of David Attenborough, by Chas Newkey-Burden

Publication date Thursday, October 26, 2023
Price £14.99
EAN\ISBN-13 9781856755269

Blurb

Description
A fascinating and entertaining collection of facts, quotes and stories,
celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s wicked sense of humour and astute
wisdom.
David Attenborough is a national treasure, known for his soothing voice, calming presence, passion for the natural world, and his humble, easy-going nature. Despite his incredible talent and influence, he tends to play it all down, one time stating that, ‘I can’t believe I’m still employed’.

So if he won’t celebrate himself, we’ll have to do it for him. Filled with facts, tributes and anecdotes, as well as beautiful illustrations, this enormously
positive book celebrates Sir David, providing a fascinating insight into his life as well as showcasing his brilliant sense of humour. Running chronologically, this book begins with his early days, to his first job at the BBC, to eventually becoming the most esteemed naturalist on the planet, as he is today.

Such revelations include:

  • There are 18 plants and animals named after him
  • When asked by a reporter how many degrees he had, he said it would be ‘rude to
    count’*
  • The single thing that would improve his quality of life is ‘good, workable knees’.
    Blending his quips galore with his powerful messages on the environment and future of
    the planet, this timely book showcases everything we love about Sir David, making it the
    perfect gift for any fan.
  • *He has over thirty!
Continue reading “Review: The Wit & Wisdom of David Attenborough, by Chas Newkey-Burden”

Review: White As Snow, by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, trs. Quentin Bates

P U B L I C AT I O N DATE: 12th OCTOBER 2023
PA PE RB AC K O R I G I N A L | £9.99 | ORE N DA BOOKS

Blurb

On a snowy winter morning, an abandoned shipping container is discovered near Reykjavík. Inside are the bodies of five young women – one of them barely alive.

As Icelandic Police detective Daníel struggles to investigate the most brutal crime of his career, Áróra looks into the background of a suspicious man, who turns out to be engaged to Daníel’s former wife, and the connections don’t stop there…

Daníel and Áróra’s cases pit them both against ruthless criminals with horrifying agendas, while Áróra persists with her search for her missing sister, Ísafold, whose devastating disappearance continues to haunt her.

As the temperature drops and the 24-hour darkness and freezing snow hamper their efforts, their investigations become increasingly dangerous … for everyone.

Continue reading “Review: White As Snow, by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, trs. Quentin Bates”

Review: Whisperwood, by Alex Woodroe

● Genre – Fiction > Dark Fantasy > Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology
● ISBN hardcover – 9781787588431
● ISBN paperback – 9781787588424
● ISBN ebook – 9781787588448
● Pricing [USD] $26.95 (HC) / $16.95 (PB) / $4.99 (EB)
● Releases July 11 2023
● Published by Flame Tree Press
● Distributed by Simon & Schuster
 

SYNOPSIS

A must-read dark fantasy debut for fans of “The Witcher”, woodland survival guides, the gruesome original Grimm Brothers stories, and dark folklore from around the world…

A journey into the wild woods with a character who just needs a break—and the terrible things that stare back at her.

When curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex.

But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna’s resolve.

Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does.

Continue reading “Review: Whisperwood, by Alex Woodroe”