Comments on: Help me find great science, environment, and food blogs (please!)

Question: Help me find great science, environment, and food blogs (please!)

soulbarn — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:18:52 -0800

I have a book (non-fiction) coming out that combines environmental history with science and food culture. (The book is about bananas; I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link to my Web site, so I'll refrain.) I've been reading about "blog book tours," where authors work with bloggers to provide interviews, excerpts. or just about anything else relevant to a specific blog's audience. So...I'm asking for people's favorite science (specifically natural science), environmental, and food (food culture and eclectic stuff) blogs. Thanks.

By: HotPatatta

HotPatatta — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:33:23 -0800

Most science periodicals host blogs by their contributors on their web portals. Check out Seed, Scientific American, Discover. Those are periodicals geared toward a readership that has an interest in science without the advanced degrees.

By: HotPatatta

HotPatatta — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:37:52 -0800

Here's an idea. Do a blog search on Technorati.com and search for blogs with posts on Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food", Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation" and other related titles. That'll help you find the blogs that cover your area of expertise.

By: HotPatatta

HotPatatta — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:39:41 -0800

One more idea. When you find a blog that seems like a good fit, enter the blog's name in Google. Then click on "similar pages" to find some.

By: mothershock

mothershock — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:40:24 -0800

You might want to check out Kevin Smokler's BookTour.com -- he is one of the originators of the "virtual book tour," which mainly focused on blogs about literary fiction. While it's not specifically a blog-tour organizer, it's another good way for authors to be visible online.

By: cocoagirl

cocoagirl — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:45:15 -0800

I read many blogs from within scienceblogs.com. You might check that portal out, since you could also browse by category for bloggers who would best fit your audience. For food I read the Amateur Gourmet and Chocolate & Zucchini

HotPattata's suggestion is good.

By: Maias

Maias — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:34:50 -0800

Don't forget New Scientist and the Scientist. Also, Grist for environmental stuff. And if there are science writers who cover the area whom you know, be sure in advance to have your publicist send copies. Salon and Slate, perhaps also.

Oh, and if you can possibly afford it, absolutely hire a publicist. I can tell you from personal (three books published) experience and friends' experience that publishers can completely drop the ball on publicity and that advance size is not always related to their fervor or lack thereof in promoting your book.

Is that yours linked on Arts and Letters today?

By: rhizome

rhizome — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:35:19 -0800

Google also has a blogsearch.

By: Atom12

Atom12 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:46:34 -0800

eGullet occasionally has Q&A with authors and things like that.

By: mumkin

mumkin — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:54:34 -0800

This must be you, right? You can (and should) link it from your MeFi profile, if not otherwise trumpet it from the treetops :) Sounds like a good read.

Would you be comfortable with being on podcasts? There are a number of science podcasts that have guest author/expert interview segments, like Scientific American, Science Times, Guardian Science Weekly, The Naked Scientists, etc.. If you don't listen already, you should have a good browse through the iTunes store's science podcast listings.

By: soulbarn

soulbarn — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:56:22 -0800

yes, that's me on Arts & Letters, and that is my Web site. Thanks so much for all the helpful answers. I'm going to get started right away...

again, much appreciation to all.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:10:41 -0800

Polyglot Vegetarian has long, detailed discussions of the histories of particular foods and the words for them; unfortunately he doesn't seem to have tackled the banana yet.

And yeah, definitely link your site from your userpage!

By: DrGirlfriend

DrGirlfriend — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:22:41 -0800

For food-related blogs, I'd also suggest Michael Ruhlman's (I've shilled for him twice today! I am not in any way affiliated with Mr. Ruhlam, his books, or his blogs. It's a coincidence. There.)

By: kidbritish

kidbritish — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:23:53 -0800

And when you're ready to promote your book, why not post a link in the Projects section?

By: soulbarn

soulbarn — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:57:18 -0800

Hi - thank you for all the ideas. They're great. A couple of folks have said it's OK to link to my book from this forum, so:

the book is called "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World."

My Web site is www.bananabook.org.

The Boston Globe ran a really nice review last week:
http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/01/03/banana_unpeels_the_history_of_a_fruit/

By: bonobo

bonobo — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:26:25 -0800

-- A favorite catch-all site for me is Science Daily.

--I queried Google for blog "jared diamond". I thought of the Diamond connection since he often refers to the impact of the development of agriculture on societies. The first few hits looked like possible venues for your work--I'm sure many more avenues await. Also, any journal or 'blog examining anthropology might be interested.

[I'm assuming that the OP is familiar with Diamond's work (e.g. Guns, Germs, and Steel). A short article by him can be read here.]

By: steef

steef — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:44:43 -0800

Great leapin' tarantulas. I picked up your book in the library this morning, soulbarn. Nice job!

By: HotPatatta

HotPatatta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:00:18 -0800

eatingliberally.org

By: dawson

dawson — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:02:26 -0800

Claire Berlinski, to my knowledge, was among the very first to market a book with the help of bloggers. She describes that process here. In the interest of 'full disclosure' we met through her efforts, and became romantically linked for a short, tumultuous season. But that ended in '03. She should be very helpful, and she's really a wonderful person/writer.
I enjoyed yr book by the way, and I also quit the blog in '03.
best of luck.