Question: If a famous author you ask for a blurb for your

[yellerpup]

book tells you to write whatever you want and sign his/her name to it, would you do it?

[SheilaT]

1. I'd be incredibly disappointed that

the famous author didn't have the balls to just tell me he wasn't interested or didn't have the time or whatever to read my book.

And I hope I would be ethical enough not to do that.

[yellerpup]

2. I am disappointed.

The author is very sick and having a difficult time focusing long enough to read anything and asked me several times if I would "be okay" writing it myself. I am "okay" with the answer and said so, but didn't say that I wouldn't write it myself for fear of making the person feel worse. My being okay with it boils down to the recognition that it was just another "no." I didn't know if anyone else had ever had that this experience. I shed a few tears of yesterday because this favor has been promised for years, but I am deeply concerned for the author's fragile health and I have to understand. Thanks for your input, SheilaT. Even though it is the author's expressed wish that I give myself a rave, I have decided not to write the blurb for myself.

[SheilaT]

3. I have often wondered about the validity

of those famous author blurbs. As a reader, there is no author blurb that will influence me to buy a book. I have met several writers in the science fiction field, and if they were to say to me personally that such-and-such a book is really good and I ought to read it, then I'd probably do so. But just from the blurb? No.

[yellerpup]

4. Honestly, I have no idea how it works.

I dropped off a ms. to another author, lesser know, but a nice guy, and I will know his honest reaction to my story. I only want the true reaction. I can take a 'no,' or fly to the moon with a "woozah' yes. I am nothing if not honest. He had a slightly different take on the blurb, but to me it would feel like cheating. I've worked too hard for too many years, to buff myself just for notice. I thank you for your POV.