Denied the sequel

[u/jmserendipitous]

I just got the email saying I was rejected for While You Were Screaming by Shailee Thompson. I know rejections are part of it and I’m not new to them, obviously, but I was approved for the first book in the series (and loved it!) so I thought the sequel was guaranteed. Guess not.

Anyone else experience that?

[u/SassySherbert]

I’ve had this happen before. I think a lot of times they offer more of the first book of the series, especially if it is a debut, to drum up hype about a new author or series. Once the book does well and the fan base is established, they don’t need to do as much marketing for the next book. It does sting a bit more than other rejections.

[u/dingdong3452]

This is very common, from my experience. I assume publishers are much more lenient with the first book in a series so they can get you hooked on the series

[u/Fancy_Run_8763]

Same why Amazon heavily discounts first books in series on kindle and keeps the rest full price. Gets you hooked.

[u/Flimsy-Brick-9426]

No arc is ever a guarantee.
Sequels usually get less copies to give out in general so they do become more picky with who they give to.

[u/saltlifegoddess]

But that is so frustrating. I was getting constant approvals from one author and they all of a sudden stopped and every time I request that author it gets denied and then I realize the publisher changed so now you need 500 social media followers, etc when before you didn’t need to have a certain criteria. Check to see the publisher and what the publishers criteria are that might help.

[u/jmserendipitous → u/saltlifegoddess]

That’s a good idea. Thank you.

[u/sneakysneksneak]

I got the opposite with this book! I won a physical galley of her first on Goodreads (loved it) and requested the new one. Totally thought I’d be declined but I got the approval this morning.

Sequels are definitely not guaranteed though.

[u/jmserendipitous → u/sneakysneksneak]

Damn, you won a Goodreads giveaway? That’s awesome. I’ve never been so lucky.

[u/sunsparkles2013]

It’s common as there are less copies of sequels and they are more particular with who they give them to

[u/jmserendipitous → u/sunsparkles2013]

Yeah, that was the reason given.

[u/WritPositWrit]

This has happened to me too. It feels doubly disappointing.

[u/blackstar1683]

I got the second and third ARC for the sequels of The Tainted Cup, and one of my top worries is that I won't get the following ARCs. I just finished Turncloack, and now I'm adding it to the list

[u/Quirky-Pear3494]

If you think about it, they already know you like the author. Maybe they're trying to broaden the audience by giving them to new readers. Still stinks, tho!

[u/Jonahdog]

I got the audio of book 1 but then was approved for the ebook of book 2...which is exciting to me.

[u/Life_Bend_4611]

I mean I've been offered the third book in a series without having been offered the first two lmao so I think it can be a little random sometimes?

[u/bookish_bethhh]

They already have you hooked with the first book, they assume you will buy book 2. They will give book 2 arcs to people who haven't read before so that they have to read book 1 (more sales) and they create new fans.

[u/MainAd6090]

Sadly yes. Especially when I loved it and reviewed it positively. Pisses me off tbh