Blurbs for 1st Academic Monography

[Bookworm]

I'm nearing the finish line for my first book! Final-final draft after clearance review is due in a few weeks, and my book form gives me the opportunity to list high profile academics for endorsement/blurbs. I'm to give names and email addresses. What's the strategy for a first-time author/assistant professor who knows OF a lot of academics, but not necessarily knows THEM? Should I list a few that I think might give a good blurb-- and if they're too busy or not interested, they can just decline? I'll list my diss chair since I'm sure he'd give a blurb, but not sure how wide (or how aspirational) a net I should cast. Given that the last three academic years have been impacted by the pandemic, I just haven't done the kind of networking I might need to list folks that I'm confident know and respect my work. From the review process, I know at least one of the anonymous reviewers is willing to be blurbed too.

[Bookworm]

First monograph*  I promise I'm copyediting my manuscript better than this post!

[mamselle]

How many do you need?

It sounds like you have two already, so just one more might be all that's going to fit on the back cover.

Better-known authors, by my observation, get lots of one-liners from all sorts of folks who want to weigh in, and those spill all over both covers and a couple of additional end papers if there's a way to squeeze them in.

But, a first book, unless it's already short-listed for prizes, etc., not so much, I'd think.

Usually the blurbs help site it in its intellectual environment and might even explain its significance if it's a more obscure topic.

However, I've just been in on the production side....hoping to arrive where you are in another year or so, myself.

M.

[Cheerful]

Congratulations on your first book, Bookworm!

I wouldn't overthink this.  Select people who are qualified to comment on your work and whom you'd be proud to have as "blurbers."  List as many as they provide space for, a reasonable number.  Some may decline.  Maybe check other books from your publisher to determine how many blurbs they include.  I've seen some recent academic books with many blurbs.

Again, congrats!

[Ancient Fellow]

I'm nearing the finish line for my first book! Final-final draft after clearance review is due in a few weeks, and my book form gives me the opportunity to list high profile academics for endorsement/blurbs. I'm to give names and email addresses. What's the strategy for a first-time author/assistant professor who knows OF a lot of academics, but not necessarily knows THEM?

Usually, the press will derive 'blurbs' from the positive manuscript reviews that got the press to agree to publish. Anything else is a welcome extra. You should have a list of people that you would like to have recommend your work, but also to receive and read a copy of your work - I suppose you could call it a backdoor networking opportunity. They may all be busy, in which case you will still have your original reviewer blurbs. And congratulations!