Publishers seem to be holding fire a little bit more on giving out free ARCs to every blog that comes along these days, and I caught the front end of that. I didn't start getting ARCs until Pat from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist recommended me to Gollancz. Once I started getting ARCs from them I can then use that to attract other publishers' attention.

The other thing is that getting ARCs is a mixed blessing. When you can't get to the front door without tripping over a pile of lukewarm urban fantasies you are never going to read, you realise you can have too much of a good thing (although the local second-hand bookshops are benefitting). And of course the biggest books everyone is waiting for - ADWD, TGS, others - are so big they don't need to send review copies out for them. I've blagged one of the GATHERING STORM but that took some inside wheeling and dealing and meeting Orbit reps at publisher parties etc.

Living close to a major publishing city like London or New York is also a big benefit, since you can go along to events, make yourself known to authors and publishers etc.