Blurbless in My Bubble

By Peg Brantley, Writer at Work; Stumbling Toward Publication

I'm in the local bookstore. I have a book in my hands with a compelling title and a great cover. I check out the first sentence. The first page. Not bad.

I've never heard of the author and need to make a decision about whether or not to buy this book because, um . . . I'm loitering. How long before a security person thinks I'm trying to figure out how to slip this book up my sleeve and leave?

Then I spot a familiar name on the back cover. A name I trust telling me so-and-so has written "a gripping, heart-pounding, sleep-depriving page turner" and I get hopeful. Since I don't have time to read more than the first page, I trust the name I know and part with my money. After all, one of my favorite authors thinks this book is great. It must be, right?

In a recent article in the New York Times, literary agent Sharon Bowers wrote that blurbs are "a necessary evil, a box that must be ticked." Frequent blurbers are known as quote whores, and in another section of the article written by author Bill Morris, novelist Colum McCann is quoted as saying that blurbs aren't intended for readers. "They are designed more for the bookshops and just help to get the books on the shelf." Apparently most readers, unlike me, see blurbs as cheap come-ons. Am I naive?

My first novel is getting close to a release date. I'm thrilled, but blurbless. My hope is that the ability to offer a free sample will make up for the lack of endorsement. That readers will be able to make a leisurely decision. That blurbless doesn't mean yucky.

What about you?