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How to get the much needed book reviews. Before you start reading these tips: Be aware that big media reviewers do not even accept 10% of the submissions they receive – and as an independent author you are competing with well-known traditional publishers. So, to whom to you send your submission, when, how and what?
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Start with preparing an Excel spread sheet or any kind of list, where you type in the title, name, address, phone/email of the recipient, the date of submission, their guidelines. Never, ever sent it: “to the editor” or “to whom it may…”
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Book review editors are not the only ones who might accept your books for review, try columnists as well, especially if you write non-fiction. If your book is about an adventurous bike tour in Jamaica, you can send your review submission to both, the travel section editor of a major newspaper or to the sport editor of this publication.
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Always check carefully submission rules!
Most review sites want hard copies of the book at least 3 months prior to publication. Even if you have planned to publish an e-book, get 30-50 copies printed at a digital printer, at CreateSpace or use any of the new Espresso-Publishers that are in major cities, but also deliver via mail or UPS. Having print copies is not only important for reviewers, but also for your book launch or book signings and to sell them to people who prefer print instead of e-books. Other reviewers, especially top book bloggers take books also after their release and more and more accept e-books.
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Don’t reveal right away that it is a self-published book. If you will be asked, by all means be honest. If your book can pass the it-looks-like-it-was-professionally-published test, then not mentioning it’s self-published will increase your chances of getting a review.
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You may start sending out your review submission to your local newspapers, even weekly papers or to your former alumni magazine and test the waters first before you head out to the nationals. A review is serving your purpose as well as a feature article, mentioning your book.
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There are a tons of books vying for attention, however, there is only so much space/time in a reviewer’s calendar. You may call or email a reviewer first to see if they have an interest in your book. It will save yourself time and money if they tell you no. If you have been given an okay, address it to the specific person you corresponded with and write Requested Material on the envelope.
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Follow their directions carefully. Don’t give reviewers a reason to disqualify your book right off the bat. If they want a press release, make sure you send one. Don’t send galleys, if they want finished books. Verify that they review your genre of book before you submit. Follow their publication-date deadlines.
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When should you send out your review submission?
January & February for spring and July & August for fall, because there’ll be less competition from major publishers. Avoid October and November as you will have too much competition. Don’t send it out to arrive at the editors office on a Monday. Best arrival days are Thursday or Friday.
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Make sure that you include all your contact info: name, mailing address, website address, phone number, and email address. Use http://about.me to create an appealing info site about yourself and include it in your contact info. Important: Don’t forget all the book information: price, ISBN number, number of pages, and genre. Carefully pack your book in padded envelopes or in boxes. You want them to look professional and brand new when they arrive at the editors office.
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Add a media kit, including your biography, high-resolution (600 dpi) pictures of both, you and your book cover(s), a book trailer link, a synopsis of the book, any press releases you may have, and contact information for you. Everything in your media kit/press release should look professional and polished.
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Here a couple of useful links to reputable reviewers
- Los Angeles Reviews
- Armchair Reviews
- ForeWord Reviews
- Library Journal
- Midwest Book Review
- NY Times Reviews
- Indie Reader
- USA TODAY
Paid Reviews:
For more addresses send us an email to 111Publishing Gmail.com
Most important: send a thank-you note/email to anyone who reviews your book. They took a long time reading and reviewing your work so you take five minutes and write them a thank-you!
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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book heavily promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only a “token” of $1 / day for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/seminar
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7 Steps for Using Euphoria to Boost Your Success
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Author Bouquets: When you shower a new book writer with bouquets, you risk assisting at the birth of an infamous author’s ego. But praise and feedback are vital to a sensible author who learns to assemble them into a tool for later sales. Here are ways I have used – you can try them too:
How to Make a Readers’ Comments List
1. Just say thank-you and smile until you have something in writing from someone you know who has read the book.
2. Don’t destroy any messages that come in from or via your first buyers. These will be from family, friends and others they lent their copies to.
3. Open a readers’ comments file in your computer. Enter all email messages and scans of letters that contain solid feedback.
4. Acknowledge all messages and include the phrase, Do you mind if I quote you on that? People don’t mind, as long as they are quoted exactly and with no gaps. They are glad to be helpful and supportive. (If you absolutely must omit something in mid-sentence, insert three dots in its place: “. . .”)
5. Delete salutations and personal sentences from entries, keeping the most articulate, focused excerpts. Here’s an example of the format I use: “My flight out to CA was made all the more enjoyable because I read A Book of Kells on the way. I thought it was very well done – a very good read. It has real potential for a wider audience.” Chris Delmar, Westport, CT. For clarity, I substituted the name of the book for “your book” in the original.
6. Let readers submit a few of the comments to your Amazon page, under “Create a Review”. This must be done by someone other than the author. The review on amazon.ca is honestly entitled ‘Comments Received Directly by Publisher’. These are serious, freely submitted opinions from legitimate sources. For whatever reason, the writers were not able to send them in on their own. To take a look at what I’m referring to, click on this link and scroll down to the second review: This review has been a placeholder until I received independent reviews. Now I can remove it, as I did the ones on amazon.com and amazon.co.uk.
7. Print out a copy of your review list and bring it when selling at book bazaars or book fairs. Browsers will enjoy its gossipy interest.
Guest blog by Margaret Kell-Virany
Author of “A Book of Kells”
www.amazon.com/author/margaretvirany
www.margaretvirany.com
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Posted by ebooksinternational on July 27, 2012 in Book Reviews, comment on posts, Marketing, Self-Publishing, Social Media Book Marketing
Tags: A Book of Kells, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Author Bouquets, book reviews, Create a Review, Margaret Kell Virany, Readers’ Comments List, selling books at book fairs