omg THRILLED to see Nic here !! and a live-streamed galley arrival to boot! I’m not cool/hot/savvy enough for BookTok and I admire those who do it sooo much — Nic in particular tbh — so I loved that convo especially.
The UK covers unfortunately are better most of the time, but I will say my biggest gripe with US covers is that they have started feeling very stale and duplicative, which is exhausting when it’s very commercial a la the great colorful blob era, but I’m kind of seeing patterns in UK covers that might start feeling stale at some point too? Though I still prefer them lol so I guess who cares! What is also interesting to me is hardcover vs. paperback new releases in the US vs. UK/Canada/Australia so can u give us your insider info and take on that 👀
ALSO, this whole thing made me wish I got to galley brag more often and there are some great books coming out this year but I’m just glad I’ll get to read them in any form hehe
I love this newsletter so much hahahaah enough yapping from me and thank you!
Loved every moment - especially the LIVE galley arrival! An iconic moment in Galley Brag history (jealous of the Good Girl arrival ngl I want it)
Honoured to have been inserted in this chat. Do I get a badge for having 2 Galley Brag appearances unintentionally? Nic's comments on discoverability and marketing were so interesting and such a smart way to look at it. (taking notes. it IS just a tool - i flat out have no discoverability bc I am only on here which I always think about....)
US to UK cover debate is so real - on the whole I think UK covers are better and I think a little more interesting, but once in a blue moon there will be just the most hideous one and it's awful (eg Martyr! - the UK cover is fucking hideous. But I will not pay extra for the butter yellow US cover bc poor. So I am just stuck w this highlighter coloured cover and it makes me feel a bit unwell)
Will be messaging Nic asap to inquire where I can start getting all these book hats...
I so appreciate this conversation because most of what I've read on the topic of books and TikTok is predicated on TikTok as a scarecrow and BookTok creators as caricatures of themselves.
I think that so many of us have followed Nic from TikTok to Substack (and will follow him anywhere else he goes) because he is an authentic, generous and curious reader and that totally comes across, regardless of platform.
Aw, thank you for reading and appreciating! I agree with you completely. We are truly all just people who love to read at the end of the day, and it does a disservice to publishing (IMO) to cast TikTok as either a behemoth or as a meaningless form of social media.
This is a GREAT day for Nic Fans!!!!!
I wanna hear your thoughts, too!!
obsessed w this whole convo!!
Nic is the BEST!!! I think a lot of folks know him from BookTok but he’s also a FANTASTIC writer!!!!
(p.s. sent Sarah Robbins — they LOVED the shoutout as did I!!! ❤️)
James let’s chat !!!! <3 <3 <3
omg THRILLED to see Nic here !! and a live-streamed galley arrival to boot! I’m not cool/hot/savvy enough for BookTok and I admire those who do it sooo much — Nic in particular tbh — so I loved that convo especially.
The UK covers unfortunately are better most of the time, but I will say my biggest gripe with US covers is that they have started feeling very stale and duplicative, which is exhausting when it’s very commercial a la the great colorful blob era, but I’m kind of seeing patterns in UK covers that might start feeling stale at some point too? Though I still prefer them lol so I guess who cares! What is also interesting to me is hardcover vs. paperback new releases in the US vs. UK/Canada/Australia so can u give us your insider info and take on that 👀
ALSO, this whole thing made me wish I got to galley brag more often and there are some great books coming out this year but I’m just glad I’ll get to read them in any form hehe
I love this newsletter so much hahahaah enough yapping from me and thank you!
hehehe would love to yap with you soon about the books you are excited for!! and also happy to talk about hc/pbk cover strategy at any time : )
yes please I love to yap !! please tell me everything about cover strategy I’m dying to know
Loved every moment - especially the LIVE galley arrival! An iconic moment in Galley Brag history (jealous of the Good Girl arrival ngl I want it)
Honoured to have been inserted in this chat. Do I get a badge for having 2 Galley Brag appearances unintentionally? Nic's comments on discoverability and marketing were so interesting and such a smart way to look at it. (taking notes. it IS just a tool - i flat out have no discoverability bc I am only on here which I always think about....)
US to UK cover debate is so real - on the whole I think UK covers are better and I think a little more interesting, but once in a blue moon there will be just the most hideous one and it's awful (eg Martyr! - the UK cover is fucking hideous. But I will not pay extra for the butter yellow US cover bc poor. So I am just stuck w this highlighter coloured cover and it makes me feel a bit unwell)
Will be messaging Nic asap to inquire where I can start getting all these book hats...
Martha you 110% get a badge....
Two of my favs sitting down for a gab- I’m living
I so appreciate this conversation because most of what I've read on the topic of books and TikTok is predicated on TikTok as a scarecrow and BookTok creators as caricatures of themselves.
I think that so many of us have followed Nic from TikTok to Substack (and will follow him anywhere else he goes) because he is an authentic, generous and curious reader and that totally comes across, regardless of platform.
Aw, thank you for reading and appreciating! I agree with you completely. We are truly all just people who love to read at the end of the day, and it does a disservice to publishing (IMO) to cast TikTok as either a behemoth or as a meaningless form of social media.
And yes, we love Nic!!
we all need a galley from nic and james PRONTO X2 !!!!!!! loved reading this, Nic is the best !!!!!
Need good girl hat PRONTO