Publish Me Not! Or How I Did Not Know a Thing about Publishers until I Started Blogging #OrendaMonth #Suntag?

I have a confession to make. Before I started blogging, I had no clue and no interest in knowing which company published what. For me, it was all about the book. I did not even care that much about the author’s name, that tells you something! I was a seeker for stories, but I never looked at the entire package. A cover and a blurb were enough to catch my interest and I could not have cared less about details.
Now, I still rely on covers and synopsis. They mainly are the first thing I check when I come across a new book. But it dawned on me that not all books had the same chances, not all books had the same path and not all books came from the same cradle.

I accepted it and started recognizing a few names, mostly famous ones. You can’t escape them, they are everywhere, they get the big ad pages, they spam you with fantastic marketing campaigns. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good. I am happy for the authors who catch their attention and I love that books get the love they deserve.

But there are also independent publishers, small in names, big in passion, giant in terms of the work they handle to get their books out there. They take bets on stories they believe in, they can see the good in what would not even make the big companies’ slush piles, they produce some of the most brilliant pieces of work, they can discover hidden treasures, they are an important and precious part of the industry. This is why the idea of a publisher spotlight came to me.

I am slowly learning how publishing works, from the outside (for now), and enjoying the ride. Who can say they don’t like seeing a book they loved and helped go up in numbers?

So I must thank NetGalley for teaching me the big names and learning which ones would snob me (there’s always THAT company who won’t work with you, it hurts, but you get over it. Or not.) but I want to thank all my fellow bloggers for teaching me to look out for all sorts of publishers and for opening my eyes on a now important detail I take into consideration when finding stories: the logo or small print of the company which brings me the next journey I will embark on.

These days, I find myself looking up publishers to check their news, whatever their size (it doesn’t matter in this situation!) and I like to be able to make the difference, to see the differences, but to work with all because we all have the same goal: pushing our favorites stories on everyone we know until we are no longer invited to parties (who needs parties anyway?), until we get removed from a Facebook friends list (Facebook is too complicated anyway) and until our dearest and closest just want to lock us in the basement to rot.

Now I’m curious about your experience! Time for your checkup, take off your clothes and lie down on the table please…
I cannot call this a Suntag as those are simple questions only asked to quench my thirst of knowledge on the subject! I will answer them because it is Saturday night and I still have thirty minutes before dinner. Answer them too if you feel like it, in a comment or a post on your blog (don’t forget to leave me a link so I can check your answers!), and let me know all about your relationship with publishers!

1. Do you check who the publisher is for every book that catches your attention?
2. Does it influence your choice about buying the story?
3. Do you have go-to publishers who you know won’t disappoint, no matter the story? (this one is difficult as they usually publish so many different things!)
4. To which publisher do you owe your latest 5* story?
5. Have you had any bad experience which a publisher? 
6. Are you, at all, interested to work with publishing companies doing their best for the books to find their audience or do you stick to the reading for the story? (as in, do you like to take part in blog tours, cover reveals, anything that includes you into the big scheme of things!)

#1 Yes, I now check the publisher after having spent minutes ogling a book.

#2 Nope, unless the publisher has released something awfully wrong that shakes the entire global society or if they spread a wrong message about a subject close to my heart, the publisher’s name won’t be taken into account in my decision to buy the book. I’ll just make a note of it and go on with my life. Yes, I will buy book from the company that keeps snobing me!

#3 Well, if we’re only talking about my favorite genre, yes. There’s a publisher that owns my heart when it comes to psychological thrillers! They’re famous for their strong plots and brilliant writings by some fantastic authors. And to be honest, Orenda is becoming my other favorite. I’m currently reading book number four and once again blown away, but the final decision will be made at the end of the month!

#4 Do reblogs count? If yes, Orenda Books wins with A Suitable Lie. If not, then it was Blink by K.L Slater and published by Bookouture!

#5 No, I don’t think so. Every publisher has been really nice and professional with me. I had an issue with an author who did not want me to publish my review once he found out I was French “because I am qualified to have an opinion on a piece of art written in a language that is not mine.”

#6 Hell yes! I have loved being on NetGalley and doing my thing all by myself but working on blog tours and projects with publishers is a lot of fun. Terrifying but fun!

The grilling is done! The Sunday reading can begin! Which publisher are you reading a title of today? (I know, I know, I said no more questions!!!)