Asking for Blurbs as a Debut Author: What to Do, Who to Ask, & How Not to Panic

Have you ever wondered how authors get those quotes from other authors on the back of their books? They’re called blurbs, and if you’re a debut author who needs to ask for them, don’t panic. Hi, my name is Jackie, and I’m a 2026 debut author! In today’s video, I’m sharing my tips on asking for blurbs as a debut author. I hope this video provides some valuable insight into the process and answers any questions you might have about blurbs. It may seem scary, but remember, most authors want to help! Please feel free to drop any remaining questions in the comments. I’m also sharing my blurbs for my debut historical mystery novel, The Cloak and Dagger Club, coming July 14 from Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Available to pre-order now! ⏰ T I M E S T A M P S ➠ 00:00 Intro ➠ 00:52 What Are Blurbs & Why Do They Matter? ➠ 02:11 How Many Blurbs Do You Need? ➠ 03:47 Brainstorm a List of Blurbers ➠ 06:27 Talk to Your Agent and Editor ➠ 08:18 Don’t Be Scared to Ask! ➠ 10:41 Set a Deadline ➠ 12:30 How Many People to Ask? ➠ 14:58 How to Ask for a Blurb? ➠ 15:54 Blurb Request Template! ➠ 20:23 The Waiting ➠ 22:06 How to Thank Your Blurbers ➠ 23:54 What If You Get No Blurbs? ➠ 26:13 My Blurb Request Statistics ➠ 28:12 Sharing My Blurbs! ➠ 28:36 Watch This Next Add The Cloak and Dagger Club on Goodreads:   / the-cloak-and-dagger-club   Pre-Order The Cloak and Dagger Club as a hardcover, ebook, or audiobook: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo... Follow me on Instagram:   / jackiereadsandwrites   Visit my website: https://www.jackiemcmahon.com Contact your representatives: https://5calls.org/ For film/TV and rights inquiries, please contact my agent, Abby Saul, at [email protected].