Yet more proof that publicity (along with everything else) is changing in massive ways: Writer and teacher Diane Turnshek mentioned to me back in May that she was running (or at least setting up) a “street team,” a collection of 14 young people who would be reading books and serving as opinion-makers for their cohort. A wonderful idea, especially for the new generation that, let’s face it, live their lives in completely different ways, getting their information from completely different sources than in the pre-internet days.
Anyway, Diane hooked them up with Pyr, who sends them advance reading copies of their forthcoming books, and then the street team goes forth and comments. Pyr isn’t holding anything over them, and they do sometimes pan what they’re reading, but apparently it’s been an interesting and successful year for all involved.
One of the members of the team, Shara Saunsaucie (who goes by the LiveJournal name devilwrites), has just posted a three-part year-in-review of Pyr’s output. Part one, the “serious” post—in which she discusses Pyr’s 2007 output in general—is available here. Part two, the “fun” post—make up the “best” whatevers, and then list the books that win them—is on this page. And part three—in which she details how to enter her Pyr-sponsored free book give-away—is now live, too. When you enter the contest (nothing to buy; many will enter; two will win), remember to tell her you heard about it on SFScope.
Oh, and her view of the year? In short form: she read 12 Pyr books and liked or loved eight of them. That’s a better batting average than most major-leaguers.