Question for book bloggers regarding thanking people

[Natalie]

I have a couple of questions.

When a publisher or author sends you a book for review, do you thank them for the book when you review it? What about when you win a book, do you post the name of the site and a thank you ?

When you get comments on your blog, do you thank/reply to each commenter?

I haven't been thanking people and now i've seen many sites that thank the author/publisher and the commenter and now i feel awful! I wonder if i should put something on my sidebar now , thanking each one.

I appreciate any help/suggestions!!

Natalie :0)

[Kimberly Hulst]

I have not had any giveaways, or talked to any authors/publishers so that is not an issue for me at this point.
But, I try to reply to all the people's comments usually by going to their blog and commenting on something of theirs. I like to follow them too.

[Natalie]

Ok! Most of the time i will go to the commenter's blog and post comments too. Well that makes me a feel a little better :0) Thank you!

[Joseph Arellano]

I think Kimberly's answer was a good one, especially when it comes to comments from a fellow blogger or reader. Yes, if it is a fellow blogger, I will go to her/his site to pay a courtesy visit. If someone sends me a comment and they've listed their e-mail address (which they almost always do) I'll often send a reply message.

I have done book giveaways and received thank yous from some of the winners. It is, of course, not necessary but much appreciated. I think this is a golden rule area, treat others as you would like them to treat you.

As for thanking authors/publishers for review copies of books, I generally do although it has been a topic of much discussion here previously. But basically it comes down to what you personally feel comfortable in doing. It's your blog, right? (It's not mine or hers or his or...)

Oh, there are publishers, literary agents, etc. who don't necessarily want to be thanked but absolutely want to know when you've posted your review and want you to send them a link to it. In that case, I do exactly what they've requested.

Joseph from http://josephsreviews.wordpress.com/

[Natalie]

Thanks Joseph! That helped me a ton.

[William Bentrim]

Overall, civility seems to be in a decline. I personally feel it is important to say please, thank you and gasp!, hold the door for others, not just opposing gender. So I try and thank everyone who does me a service such as a book or comments. I do think it must be what you personally are comfortable with doing. If you blog is a reflection of you, then your responses should be as well.

[Kimberly Hulst]

One thing I have found since I started my book blog was that bookworms will leave contact information which I like. I love checking out other people's blogs.
On my other blog, when I get comments its almost always anonymous and I can't reply back or even check out their blog.
I think bookworms (sorry I haven't come across any cute title for book bloggers) are just a more open group. It makes for thanking the person leaving a comment easier and worth it.

[Natalie]

Thanks so much! I do send a thank you when i win a book , I really wasn't sure about thanking the publishers/authors when they send me a book to review. But everyone's input helped a lot !

[Karoline]

I thank them yes, and I would post the name of the site if I got it from a giveaway.

comments on the other hand; I return them as a way of saying thanks.

I don't think you really need a sidebar though. Then again, it's entirely up to you.