Dear Book Bloggers,

Nobody told me about you lot.

Let me explain. When I started my first, tentative steps towards getting published, I learned a few things. I learned that it’s a good thing to have an agent. I also learned exactly what it is that publishers do and I learned about publicists and things like school visits. I also learned how nerve-wracking it can be to stand up and talk about your own work in front of a festival audience or in a library. I was also lucky enough to learn what it’s like to go up for an award or two.

But nobody told me about you lot.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. When my first book was published, I was told that a few “Advanced Reader” copies would be sent out to this mysterious faction of the Internet, known as… “The Blogging Community”. And I understood, from the hushed, reverential tones in meeting-rooms that this was probably An Important Thing.

But I still didn’t really understand exactly what it was that you did.

I think it started to dawn on me when I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by a blogger. Not knowing the ropes, I though this meant inviting that person round to my place, cooking lunch and having a jolly old chat when, in fact, it could all have been done by email. But it was a Good Thing to have done because, in that face-to-face set-up, I got to ask questions of this new breed of person – this “Blogger” - and here’s what I learned.

First and foremost: bloggers are nuts. But in a really good, positive way. Why else would you further complicate your already busy lives to review books, write posts about books, start up online literary discussions about books, online quizzes about books, organise evenings to chat about books, bake book-shaped cakes and ask authors when they’re next book’s coming out?

Maybe the word isn’t “nuts”. Maybe it’s “passionate”.

Speaking from personal experience – and I know this goes for a lot of other authors – without your laptop-tappery and the online buzz you generate about books and what you like about them and what they mean to you and how they’ve affected you, my book wouldn’t have got half that attention it did.

Whether the word is “nut” or “passionate” or “obsessive” or whatever, it’s definitely altruistic. You guys do this for nothing. For free. I can’t think of many other industries where there’s a mouthpiece, ready and waiting, that doesn’t have a price-tag attached.

To new authors like me and even to established old lags, this means an awful lot. Yes, we’re given publicists and, yes, there are adverts and stuff put out, but the blogging community gives a story a life beyond the covers. Suddenly, it’s an online topic and reaching eyes and ears that might not otherwise ever have seen or heard of it.

Plus, there’s the community aspect. I don’t think I’ve ever come across a bunch of folk who, even though they may not have met each other in the flesh, embody the word so perfectly. You share thoughts, share books and support each other. More than that, you even let authors join in, giving us a big, communal cyber-shoulder to lean on. There are more than a few authors I know of who’ve openly admitted that, if it wasn’t for this virtual foster family, they would’ve thrown in the towel.

Like I said, I’ve been lucky enough to be up for an award or two – and now it’s your turn. With the backing of authors, publicists and publishers, you’re going to get your time in the spotlight.

When I cooked-up the idea of the UKYA Blogger Awards and gently started knocking on doors, I was amazed at the wave of affection that came rolling out from everyone I spoke to. It was like the industry had just been waiting for someone to pop that can and be given a chance to give something back to you.

(To any aspiring authors reading this: you’ve just been let in on the publishing industry’s biggest secret: bloggers. Like a crazy, cake-fuelled army, they’ll love you when you’re up and lift you when you’re down. They’re friendly, articulate, intelligent and impossibly passionate story-hounds. Ignore them at your peril.)

So, dear bloggers, the UKYA Book Blogger Awards are happening. By the very nature of an awards ceremony, a few of you are going to be singled out. But, having seen the way tickets are flying out the window, I know that doesn’t matter. I know you’ll be there to support your fellow mouse-clicking musketeers, because you’re a community. And we salute you for it.

Lots of love,

Andy Robb, Founder of the UKYA Blogger Awards and Grateful Writer.

PS: I still think you’re nuts.

The UKYA Blogger Awards are happening on Saturday 7 Mach 2015. Find our more plus which UKYA Bloggers have been shortlisted, by visiting: http://ukyabloggerawards.co.uk/

And if you are under 18, love reading and not a member of the Guardian children’s and teens books site then come on it, the water’s fine! Here’s how.