ARC Reader Process

Let's break down what ARC reading for me looks like!

I know this process can be both confusing and a little spooky, so let’s demystify this and talk about what happens if you ARC read for me!

This is the typical process:

• Approval of ARC application

• ARC Reception 1 Month before Release

• Release Day w/Reminder Email

• Final reminder and timeline end 2 weeks post-release

If you’ve been selected to be on my ARC team, welcome! I’m so happy to have you. If you want to be on my ARC team for a specific release, I will post an interest form on social media. At the end of 2025, I will open up spaces for a permanent ARC team, but until then, keep your eyes open for announcements!

LET’S TALK TIMELINE

I open up ARC applications 4-5 weeks before I send them out. I go through these personally every few days, and I will send you a confirmation email within a week if you’ve been accepted. I’ll then send the ARC to you about a month before release. Once they’re sent out, you’ll have two weeks to download the ARC. Then you read it and (ideally) review it! I’ll send a few reminder emails here and there throughout the process!

THE ARC

A few days before the ARCs go out, I’ll send you an email reminder. Life can get hectic and a month and some change is a LONG time to remember an ARC. So I’m gonna pop in and remind you that it’s coming.

I send out my ARCs through Bookfunnel about a month before release. Add help@bookfunnel.com to your contacts to make sure you get the ARC, and make sure to check all your tabs and spam folder if you don’t see it.

Bookfunnel has everything written out for you, so please follow their instructions on how to download the ebook. If you have any questions, reach out to their support since they are the one handling the ARC delivery. They’re there to help!

Also, every book will be watermarked. Do not upload the book anywhere else! I WILL find out. My books are on Kindle Unlimited and they’re no longer eligible if they’re found anywhere else. That sucks for everyone.

READ!

After you have the ARC, all you need to do is read and hopefully enjoy the book!

TYPOS, TRIGGERS, & WHAT TO DO IF YOU DNF.

• No matter how many rounds of edits I go through, there’s always something gets missed. If you find a typo, please send me the chapter number and ideally a screenshot to autumn.hawthorne.author@gmail.com

• I do my best to make sure my content warnings are comprehensive, but I might miss a few. If you see something that you think should be in the Content Notes, please let me know and I will add it before release.

• Reading is subjective and while you might be into the concept, the book might not land for you. That's okay! If you DNF just let me know. There's no drama here, and I'm not going to expect you to finish a book you aren't enjoying. You don’t have to tell me why, either. Just that you won’t be finishing it.

A NOTE ABOUT ARC REVIEWS:

The ARC copy is not the final draft. It’s the “Proof” copy that still needs to go through two rounds of proofreading before publication. However, by the time ARCs go out, the book has been through alpha readers, beta readers, and an editor, and no less than two rounds of line editing. Character arcs, plot, and all major elements of the book won’t change.

Pointing out typos is great and deeply appreciated, but you don’t need to edit for me. You don't need to be out here doing free labor like that! People do this with the best of intentions, but that feedback is what alpha/beta readers are for. Arc reading is to get reviews, and reviews are for readers to decide if they want to read a book or not. Thank you so much for understanding this!

If you'd like to beta read for me in the future, I suggest subscribing to me here, since this is where I make the calls for beta readers!

MAKING POSTS

You can make posts about the ARC as soon as you have it! You can share a screen cap of a quote, you can update your followers on your progress, put it on your monthly TBRs, make moodboards, whatever content you'd make about any other book, feel free to do with mine!

You can find the ARC Team Member post in the Drive folder sent with the email!

TAGGING ME/UPDATING ME

I do my very best to interact with every post I see, since I'm so grateful for all of you! You can send me your live reactions, you can come scream to me about your theories, you can scream your hype in my DMs. I reply when I'm able!

The only time I ask that you NOT tag me/DM me is if you didn't like my book.

3 stars and above = tag me! Under 3 stars = please don't. Even if it wasn't for you, I do appreciate you taking the time to read my book! However, I AM sensitive and I won't publish something if I don't love it. You're welcome to dislike my book, just don't tell me about it. 😅

MY STANCE ON GENERATIVE AI:

I don’t use generative AI. Everything about my books, from concept to finished book all happens thanks to the lovely humans I work with! I do my best to make sure everything I use for marketing, promoting, and talking about my books is not AI.

Do NOT use generative AI to write your reviews or generate images of my characters. Your review doesn’t need to be an essay. A few lines about what you liked is more than enough. If you want to make images of my characters, draw them and send them to me! Even if it’s just stick figures, I WILL cry happy tears.

REVIEW

After finishing the book, please post your honest and spoiler-free review!

• I’d appreciate it if you make it clear that the opinion you share is honest and your own.

• I’ve heard that Amazon doesn’t like certain wording in reviews, so I suggest looking up the latest information on that before you post on Amazon! This likely will change, so I don’t want to put wrong information here.

• If you’re going to post on social media, check the Google Drive folder sent in the email that you got a few days before ARCS went out. In there you’ll find cover graphics and mockups that you may use.

• Please don’t tag me on social media if your review is negative. (Under 3 Stars) I’m super thankful for you sharing my book with your audience even if it wasn’t for you. However, I’m sensitive and my neurospicy brain won’t take that well.

SEND IN YOUR REVIEW!

When the ARCs get sent, I will also send an email with the Google Form to track the completion of your review. Otherwise, you can email me and let me know it's been posted. This is to help me track data, and I don't need a screenshot of your review. The form will be linked in every email that gets sent out after the ARCs.

Even if you ended up hating my book, I’m still grateful for everyone who took a chance on a new author like me. I appreciate all of you so much!

FINAL REMINDER/WRAP UP

A little thank you and gentle reminder, and probably some sap from me. That’s all there is to this process.

IF YOU WON’T MAKE IT/CAN’T REVEIW

Just tell me, I won’t get upset. Life happens! It’s a book, and it’s not that serious. Letting me know will stop the reminder emails, so please let me know. I don’t want to feed your anxiety!

That’s all there is to it. I hope this clarifies the process!