I am beginning to think that I should have had to take a test…before I actually started to blog. Yes…a blogger’s test…and before taking it you are given a blogger’s study guide…with proper blog protocol in big black letters. I remember actually moaning to some blogger friends that I was so envious of all the books that they received and told us all about every Monday. The lovely Kathy…of BermudaOnion…actually sent me a lovely book because she felt sorry for me…I was woefully pathetic…I had no books…no one knew about me…my blog was unloved. Oh…please don’t misunderstand…I have tons of books…ones I have Kindled and bought on my own… but I still had much book envy for everyone else’s books…I wanted what all the other bloggers got…I had bloggerbookenvy. I admit to it. I might need rehab. And…if reading about everyone’s Monday treasures was not bad enough…then BEA happened. I had no clue what it even was and I had been blindly blogging for a few months at that time. I saw photos of everyone’s books…they went to dinner…they talked to authors…I thought I might faint from it all…I am going next year no matter what…and I am barely an hour from NYC. Now add to that memes and stickys and tags… not to mention blog tours…I really have no clue what to do with any of them. So sad…anyway…now I am actually getting books in the mail…a book or two trickles in daily…and I have been stacking them neatly on an antique hutch in my dining room…sort of just looking at them and admiring them…some of them come in plain wrappers and I have no clue whom to even thank for them…thus the reason for this blogger’s panic attack…I need help!!!
Some books just seem to come out of nowhere…magical arrivals…I think I was carried away with contests and offers…and I entered way too many and was far too lucky…so…
How do you organize the books that publishers send you?
Is there a time frame for writing a review?
How do I know where to aim my thank you’s?
Books, Thoughts and Adventures 
I keep wins and review copies separate. Ideally reviews should be around publication date, but we all know that doesn't always happen. I keep a spreadsheet of my books, so I usually know what I'm expecting. If something comes & it's not in my spreadsheet, I do a search in my email inbox. If it's not there either, I consider it unsolicited.
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Now I have to learn how to do a spread sheet…my system has been post it notes of many colors but it is not working…today I got two copies of the same book…I think I have to start thinking giveaways…but random.org has me freaked out…
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I keep my review copies separated from the rest. Makes it easier. And I read them as I get to them unless I get a nudge from the publicist/publisher. And then I bump it up. I keep a folder in my inbox of books I know I have coming in. Helps organize things too.
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Another good idea and so simple…of course I didn't think of it…just a basket with my review copies would ease my pain…thank you so much!!!
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I keep review copies on their own shelf and try to always have them in order – first received are on the top, and newest ones on the bottom so I basically just have to go down the pile. I also keep the letters that came with the book inside the book so I know where it came from and when.
If I get the book before the publication date, I try to have reviewed by the day it comes out. If I received the book after publication then I don't feel pressure to have it read by a specific date.
I actually don't enter contests anymore because I have too many books to read as it is! It seems that books won in a contest are generally the ones that come with no info.
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Jody…I have been stacking them that way…so that is good…and with the notes inside…another good…thanks so much…
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I know how you feel. I've decided not to request any more books for the summer. I've already committed to a number of books to review and post that I seriously feel I've over extended myself. Plus, I have books I bought on my own months ago that I still haven't read!
It's hard because there are so many awesome stories out there, but I have to be realistic. There are only so many hours in a day, and I have to work and do other things. *sigh* It's rough, I know! I feel your pain. I hope I can stick to this plan or I'm going to have to go into book blogger rehab!
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And I really do have time to read and I read all of the time…but…all of a sudden I felt out of control…I think I am gaining control now…
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So just imagine. If you feel like this with all your free time, what about me: working, writing my own book, trying to eat and sleep…LOL…Hearing your problem makes me feel not so bad after all…Thanks! LOL…
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I am happy to have made you feel better!!!
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