The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Macmillan and Ksenia Winniki!

Posted 29 March, 2013 by Danny in Blog, Bookworms, Danny, Giveaways, Heather, Pushy / 56 Comments

Welcome to a new exciting event here at the Bookworms:

PubLove

As book bloggers our contacts with publishers are vital. They send us books and we work with them closely on promotional posts for their newest, exciting releases. It’s such a pleasure when we see that often they are just as excited as we are about the books!  They’re like us, just with WAY cooler jobs and INFINITELY greater access to the authors we stalk love

Have you ever wondered who is behind sending all of those emails we get from the big houses? What they really do and why the work with bloggers like you and me? Ever wondered what we can improve and what do they like to see us post and maybe… even what do they not like?!?

Well…we’ve wondered those very things and we want to share the answers we’ve dug up with YOU!

So we’ve reached out to our favorite publishers and asked them the questions we know you’ve all been dying to ask (but were perhaps a little too shy to actually voice)!

Over the next few weeks, we will highlight different publishers, publicists and marketing associates from big publishing houses.

And we’re kicking it off BIG with…

Macmillan

We are BEYOND thrilled that Ksenia from Macmillan will kick off this event today! She is the amazing person behind all of the blogger contacts from Macmillan Kids. Plus she is responsible for sending all of us the CUTEST packages ever and is behind all the tweets coming from MacKids.

So without further ado… please welcome Ksenia!!!!!

Ksenia, thank you so much for joining us today!!!  We hope you know just how much we adore working with you!  And we’re so thrilled to get to give our readers a deeper look into the life of a Macmillan Publishing professional!

Could you briefly explain what your job entails and how you are involved with book bloggers?

My official title is Digital Marketing Associate, which means I mainly work on the various social media campaigns for our books/series/brands. But I am also in the unique position to work with book bloggers. I handle the blogger outreach for all of our books: picture books, middle-grade books, and teen books. This means I send galleys/books and I also organize blog tours for our books. Basically, every day, on one level or another, I interact with book bloggers.

What do you love most about your job?

This is going to sounds so cheesy: Talking about books with everyone, whether it’s through e-mail, social media, or even at conferences/conventions. Especially when it’s books that we publish that I’m personally excited for and I find out that other people are too!

What do you love most about working with Bloggers?

This is going to sound repetitive: talking about books and spreading the love for books! 🙂
What do you expect from Bloggers when they post a review or a promotional post during a tour?

Ksenia's Headshot Circled

Usually when I set up a blog tour, I provide the bloggers with a lot of information about the book and author, i.e. links to websites, trailers, author tour info etc., and therefore would like that information to be included in the blog tour post. That way both the blogger and the audience can use that info.

What do you look at when you decide to work with certain bloggers? Pageviews? Followers? Alexa? Design?

I mainly focus on content: reviews, author guest posts, or blog tour posts. Honestly, if the majority of the blog’s content is book memes (WoW, Teaser Tuesday, etc), I will most likely pass on working with the blogger. If a blogger is fairly new but s/he has rich content, then I will take a chance and start reaching out to them.

Is there anything that you don’t like us to do? For instance, posting too early, posting too late, not adding links, etc. 

I’m usually ok with reviews going up early, because I think it will help get more people interested in the book. But there is such a thing as too early, mainly because I worry those books will be forgotten. However, if a blogger has read a galley really far in advance of the on-sale date, and has liked the book, that blogger can just e-mail to let me know, and that way I can file that information. I might end up reaching out to that blogger for a blog tour or some other promotional event in advance of the on-sale date. I know a lot of bloggers send me their review links, which I truly appreciate! So even if I don’t respond to your review link that you’ve sent, please know that I see them, and I use them, even in meetings when someone asks what the blogger response is to a certain title.

I don’t think there is such a thing as posting “too late.” In an ideal world, everyone would read their galleys ahead of time. But the reality is that there are So. Many. Books! I actually like seeing “old” titles pop up in blogger reviews because I think the book will then find a second-life in some way.

So after all that, you must be wondering: what is posting too early? I keep to the system that six months is too early, but three or two months in advance is just right.
Is there an event or interaction you had in the recent past that went particularly good that you’d like to share?

I recently had to set up a couple of last-minute mini-blog tours and the bloggers were totally wonderful and accommodating. I love working with bloggers/readers who are so excited about a book that they are willing to work with me at the eleventh-hour. Sometimes, these last-minute promotional events will occur from brainstorming at a meeting.

Anything you’d like to add?

I can’t wait to see some of you at BEA and ALA and SDCC this year!

 

 

 

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Well, we certainly learned a lot! And… Danny meet Ksenia at BEA during my last 2 visits and she can absolutely vouch for the fact that Ksenia is truly made of awesome! We all adore working with her as she always has exciting books and awesome Tours!  Plus… she truly is as thrilled as we all are when she talks about books 🙂

If you are at any of these Bookish Events, be sure to say Hello!

Where to find Ksenia

Macmillan Kids:

Macmillan Teens:

 

and now… we have an EPIC Giveaway sponsored by Macmillian…

Giveaway

3 lucky winnners can choose from the following books! (YES, there is a lot of awesomeness there)

Contest is open US/CAN and you can enter via the Rafflecopter at the end of this post

The ones below are all ARC galleys

 

   

  

 Those below will be finished Hardcover copies

  

Exciting right?!?!? 

So now it’s your turn, dear reader!  What would you like to know from Ksenia? And..since we all love to talk about books, what is your favorite Macmillan book?

Much Love,

Bookworms

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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56 Responses to “The Big PubLove Event – Featuring Macmillan and Ksenia Winniki!”

  1. This is a great feature Danny! Can’t wait to see the other posts in the future 🙂

    It was great getting to know you a bit better Ksenia! One question, are you able or willing to work with International bloggers? I understand that many publishing companies can only work with bloggers who reside in the US/CA or if there’s an international branch situated in the UK or Australia, but what about bloggers who do not have publishers situated in their country?

    My favourite Macmillian book definitely has to be Shadow and Bone. What’s not to love? Haha.
    Charlotte @ Gypsy Reviews recently posted..Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (#28)My Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Hey Charlotte! I do work with a handful of international bloggers, Danny being one of them, who have a substantial following. I I have to say that it’s usually the mailing costs that are prohibitive. That being said, feel free to e-mail childrens.publicity@macmillanusa.com if you want to be considered.
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  2. I love Macmillan books! Even though I’ve been around for a while, I still have a rather modest following, but Macmillan has been so kind and generous with me. Thank you Ksenia for all you do for bloggers big and small!

    And now a favorite Macmillan book. That’s super hard because there are SO MANY great ones out there, but I think I’ll go with Cinder, because even a year after reading it, it’s the freshest book I’ve read!
    Debz @ Debz Bookshelf recently posted..{Fairy Tale Fortnight} Book Review: Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane NickersonMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Thank you for your kind words Debz!
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  3. Hi Ksenia, this post was very informative! My question for you is, as a new blogger, What is the right way or best way to reach out to publishers, and let them know that you would like to be added to their book blogger/blog Tour list, and do reviews for their company? How do you find out who to write to and if you’re someone they would be interested in establishing a partnership with? T

    Thanks,

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape
    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape recently posted..One Week Girlfriend by Monica MurphyMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Hello Lindy! If you want to reach out to us, you can e-mail childrens.publicity@macmillanusa.com That’s our general Publicity inbox and I do try to keep up with all the book blogger requests, I swear! I’m always on the lookout for new bloggers to work with!
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  4. Thanks Bookworms for this awesome feature! It’s unique, interesting, and priceless to all of us book bloggers! My favorite Macmillian Books are the whole House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast. I’ve read every one of them, including the novellas. My four year old loves, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle!
    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape recently posted..Blog Tour: Shattered Soul by Jennifer SnyderMy Profile

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  5. Love this feature, Danny! Thanks for the answers, Ksenia! Not entering the giveaway as I have most of those books, but I just wanted to say that I adore working with Macmillan. I feel like they really understand bloggers so well. I can’t wait to meet Ksenia at BEA!
    Steph Sinclair recently posted..Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie KagawaMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Aww Steph! Thank you 🙂 Can’t wait to meet you in person!
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  6. I LOVE this new post series! Being a newbie blogger (going on 3 monhts now), I am very excited to “meet” the people behind the email addresses. I am working now on building my blog and my “numbers”, but I’m wondering….

    How much do “numbers” matter to the publishing houses? What is the right number of reviews/followers to have before reaching out to the various contacts? I’m looking to build relationships, not just a mass contact list, is there a right way to go about it?
    Meagan C. recently posted..Of Silver and Beasts {Cover Reveal & Giveaway}My Profile

    Reply »

  7. Hi Ksenia! Not a publishing related question but…favorite book? 😉

    Also ~ I LOVE the Lunar Chronicles <3.
    Randi M recently posted..Top Ten: Books I Recommend Most!My Profile

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    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Oh man! I can go on and on about my favorite books! So here are some highlights:
    Most Recent Favorite Book: The Seven Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima
    Favorite Contemporary: The Summer Series by Jenny Han
    Favorite Recent Middle-Grade Books: Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester and Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter
    Childhood Favorite: Anna of Green Gables
    Favorite Adult Book: Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
    Favorite Graphic Novel: Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore; Bone by Jeff Smith
    Favorite Book I’ve Read While in Grad School: Paradise Lost by John Milton

    Eclectic mix, right? 🙂
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

    Randi M 4/4/2013

    I really must start the Seven Realms series & I’ve also got the first book of The Summer series that I need to start! I hated Paradise Lost in undergrad, but perhaps I’d like it more now that I’m a little older & wouldn’t have a professor breathing down my neck about it. 😉 Thanks for answering my question, Ksenia! My list of favorites is pretty eclectic as well. 🙂
    Randi M recently posted..Top Ten: Character CrushesMy Profile

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  8. What an awesome, awesome, awesome idea to feature publishers and spread the love like this!!!
    I’ve been able to work with Ksenia a few times recently and it’s been a blast! She’s super nice I feel honored that I’ve been able to work with her & Mac Kids/Teen.
    Love this idea – Love Mac – Love Ksenia! Awesome stuff here 🙂
    Brittany @ The Book Addict’s Guide recently posted..The Selective Collective talking about… THE MURMURINGSMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Thanks so much Brittany! 🙂
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

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  9. erinf1

    Thanks for the fun interview! It’s always fun to find out the “behind the scenes”. Ksenia sounds like she has the most awesome job! And the books that are coming out!!!! So awesome 🙂

    Reply »

  10. Vivien

    I can’t choose. Either Mortal Fire or Midwinterblood

    Reply »

    Vivien 3/29/2013

    What is your favorite cover of 2013 so far?

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    My favorite cover? Oh man, another tough one. My favorite covers of books that we’ve published for this year are Scarlet, This Song Will Save your Life, and The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland. In all honesty, we have an amazing design team and it’s so hard to pick just one!

    Amongst other publishers so far I’ve loved the following covers: A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent and The Cats of Tanglewood Forest. Those are the first ones that come to mind.
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  11. Aw, Danny–this is such a fantastic event! (We’re planning something similar, but with a different focus, I think.) I love that you kicked this off with Macmillan and Ksenia, who is absolutely AMAZING to work with. I know that time and resources are always short in publishing, and I so appreciate the fact that Macmillan actually takes the time to get to know bloggers and they don’t do the more typical cookie-cutter blog tours or promotions. It’s truly a reflection of the quality and diversity of their books.

    It is incredibly helpful to hear this kind of feedback from publishers, especially for newbie bloggers. Thank you so much for doing this feature. <3
    Wendy Darling recently posted..March Favorites: Books That LingerMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    I am sending you a virtual hug Wendy 🙂 Thank you!
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

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  12. Kristin

    I’d like to know if there’s ever been a book blog tour that you thought would go well but didn’t because the book may not have gotten the favorable response you’d hoped for.

    I absolutely loved Cinder but my favorite Mac book has to be Scarlet, I was shocked when I ended up loving it even more than its predecessor!

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    I can’t actually can’t think of one at the moment, BUT there was one book that actually had the opposite thing happen! I was worried I wouldn’t get the response I needed for a blog tour and the eventual response ended up blowing me away. Love it when a book surprises me that way 🙂
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  13. Thank you so much for this feature. As a new blogger, that was really informative on how to establish my blog and how to make it more possible to work with the publishers to promote books and authors. As a librarian, I’m usually set with getting ARCs, but I clearly need to reach out to try to work with authors to help promote their books.

    My favorite Macmillan book is probably Cinder. I may have gushed just a tad about it to Jan Feiwel at ALA mid-winter 2012.
    LisaILJ recently posted..A Friday Five (#6) Tilt by Ellen HopkinsMy Profile

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  14. CREWEL by Gennifer Albin is one of my favorite Macmillan books! This post is so enlightening and interesting to read, so thank you for that! It sounds like a truly awesome job, to be able to talk about books all the time.

    Reply »

  15. Jacklin Updegraft

    HI! Thank you for the amazing giveaway! This is such a cool way for people to be introduced to the people behind the book and to see how this world works! I think this is so cool! I think my favorite is Silver Linings Playbook!

    Reply »

  16. I really love Ksenia! She is so much fun to work with, and I love the sparkly packages she sends! She is so enthusiastic about books, and I can tell she really enjoys interacting with bloggers. I met her at ALA last summer, and he hugged me! She really makes you feel like you matter in the book world, and I love that. 🙂
    Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl recently posted..Bookish News: eReaders Allowed During Take-Off Next Year!My Profile

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    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    If you’d see me now, you’d see me blushing. Thank you Jana!
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

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    Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl 4/4/2013

    😀
    Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl recently posted..Firefly (Cicada #2) by Belle Whittington (Mini Book Review)My Profile

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  17. Christine

    Ksenia sounds awesome (and I’m beyond jealous of her amazing job!).
    I haven’t read any of these books yet, but I own a copy of Midwinter Blood from a contest I won, which I’m very excited to start.

    Reply »

  18. I’m not entering but just here to express my love for Ksenia & MacKids! She is SO NICE and I love that she has her nerdy interests too like Avatar. <3 I'm really glad she answered the question about blog tour so I now know what to include in a post. I love all the tours she sets up! I really hope to meet her at BEA.
    elena recently posted..march recap + book haulMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    I will tackle you with a big hug 🙂 Thank you!
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  19. Samantha D

    Hello! Have you ever been to a creative writing workshop? If so, how was it? And my fav book right now is Of Posiden! 😀

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    In college I took two fiction creative writing classes and realized it wasn’t for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to write! The class structure was just not the right format for me. I much preferred the poetry workshop I took in college. I do have a book idea kicking around in my head (as most people who work in publishing) that I hope to work on once I’m done with grad school.
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  20. Danny-

    This is just awesome! I’ve never had any idea what a publisher wanted and really never thought to ask. I’m so glad you did and that Ksenia was so willing to answer your (our) questions! This is a great new feature!

    So let’s see. Hello Ksenia! Thanks for all the information and spreading the love to bloggers! I think Danny covered everything I would ask. I would say I loved, loved, loved Of Poseidon and would say it’s my favorite but I also love the time travel series Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, and can’t wait for Emerald Green! And I’m reading Love in the Time of Global Warming (hopefully I can finish it before it expires at the end of the month) and I am loving it. Oh and I loved Unremembered and I’m sure I’ll love Cinder, Scarlet and Shadow and Bone once I stop buying other books and read those! (lol). I really am truly buried in books. You may see me on Hoarders one day but it will all be books (and seashells)!

    Heather
    hrose2931 recently posted..The Faerie Prince (Creepy Hollow 2) by Rachel Morgan Cover RevealMy Profile

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Oh Heather! I just recently bought three more small bookcases and rearranged some books as a result. I might join you on that episode of Hoarders. 🙂
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

    hrose2931 4/4/2013

    I am absolutely sure we would not be alone on that episode of Hoarders! But I’m glad to know I’ll have some company! We can talk books when my family finally runs away from me because of my crazy obsession!

    Heather
    hrose2931 recently posted..Blog Tour The Breeders by Katie French Review and GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply »

  21. Pabkins

    It’s good to know reviews are appreciated even if the title isn’t a current release. Scarlet and Cinder by Marissa Meyer have definitely been my favorites!

    Reply »

  22. May Abraham

    Hi Knesia! My fav book from Macmillion would probably be Article 5 and Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons. Love those books. You’re job sounds fun! Who wouldn’t want to talk books all day! 🙂

    Reply »

  23. Great post!!! It’s good to know what publishers look for in regards to when to post reviews, and what to include. I still consider myself to be a fairly new blogger and all of this information really helps!

    P.S Ksenia is the best!!!!! I love Macmillan. I stalk their tweets and site daily, I mean I get their notifications sent to my phone so that I don’t miss anything with them!!!

    Reply »

    Ksenia 4/4/2013

    Thank you Crystal. It’s good to be stalked … I mean appreciated 🙂
    Ksenia recently posted..Help survivors find a voice, join #Speak4RainnMy Profile

    Reply »

  24. Kathy L.

    Hi Ksenia How did you get such a great job? I am 17 and am thinking about pursuing a job in publishing. Do you have any advise for me?

    Reply »

  25. Hello =) What kind of blogs do you look for when sending out review copies? My fave title from MacMillan was Pushing the Limits =)
    Heather C. recently posted..Review: A Girl Named Willow Krimble (Willow Krimble #1) by Giuseppe BiancoMy Profile

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    Heather C. 4/12/2013

    Oops, Pushing the Limits wasn’t MacMillan, lol, silly me! My fave title from MacMillan is the Immortal Series by Alyson Noel =)
    Heather C. recently posted..Review: A Girl Named Willow Krimble (Willow Krimble #1) by Giuseppe BiancoMy Profile

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  26. leannessf

    Hi Ksenia! Such a pretty and cool name! 🙂

    My favorite Macmillan authors would have to be Marissa Meyer and Leigh Bardugo!

    Thanks,
    Leanne

    Reply »

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