How To Get Your Book Reviewed: By Megalith

When I first published The Samson Effect, I submitted it to various sites for review. One of those sites was Megalith: Books that Rock! Here is the link to the review they created for The Samson Effect. In fact, The Samson Effect went on to win one of their Meg Awards for Best Book by a New Author .



I caught up with the person behind this book review site (who shall remain nameless :) ) and asked him if he would be willing to write a post on the value of book review sites and how to get your book reviewed on them. Today's post is his contribution to this blog.





How To Get Your Book Reviewed

By Megalith



The publishing world is in flux. Ebooks are on the rise, print books declining, and bookstores struggling to stay afloat. In the midst of this rapidly-changing landscape, online book sales are becoming increasingly important. A great way for an author to stimulate such sales is through a review site. The reason, of course, is obvious: it connects you with potential readers who might not have discovered you otherwise. Review sites typically (if not always) include "buy" links for your book, which makes the decision to purchase a quick and easy one. But how to get reviewed on such a site? Here are a few tips I've picked up through working with publishers, agents, and authors over the last five years.



Know what you're up against.

Despite their reputed financial struggles, the major publishing houses will provide a reviewer with a decent following all the books he or she could ever want to read at no cost. I already receive books at a much faster rate than I can read and review them, so don't expect me to turn somersaults because you've offered me a free copy of your new book. The reviewer is doing you a favor, so be nice. You don't have to put on the hard sell to impress me, but it's important to be friendly and professional. Introduce yourself, give me a very brief synopsis of your book, include links to your book and website, and offer to send a review copy. Even if I decline to review your book, if you seem polite and professional, and you write in the genre I review, there's good chance I'll mention your book in one of my news and notes posts, and give my readers a purchase link.



Think about your presentation.

The typical review package includes a print copy of the book, and at least two pages of information about the book and the author, including synopsis, excerpts of other reviews, blurbs, an author bio, links, and contact information. Some publicists also include Frequently Asked Questions or a Q&A with the author. Putting something like this together doesn't take much effort, and goes a long way toward making you look like a professional.



Familiarize yourself with the site before you query.

This should be obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't do this. Does the reviewer have any guidelines you should follow? Does the site focus on a certain genre? My site, for example, focuses on thrillers, with preference given to action-adventure. Don't bother sending me a query for your book that is of a different genre, but has some element that you consider makes it "appealing to the thriller audience." If you don't know what I'm talking about, visit the Amazon forums and look at just about any book recommendation thread and witness the behavior of desperate authors.



Let the review know if you're open to other things.

I might not choose to review your book, but I'm almost always willing to publish a guest post, a guest review, or an announcement about your book, provided that the aforementioned pertain to the genre on which my site focuses. If you're willing to submit any of those, mention it in the last line of your query.





Frequently Asked Questions



Do I have to submit a print copy of my book?

That depends on the site, but you should make the offer. Most publishing houses only send hard copies of the book, due to fear of e-piracy, and some reviewers consider the print copy a token of your earnestness and commitment. Personally, I recently made the transition to an e-reader, so I'm fine with the offer of an e-copy, but you will appear more professional if you offer a print copy, or a copy of my choice.



Is it acceptable to ask for the review site to permanently link to my blog/site?

Speaking for myself, I say no, unless the reviewer's site specifically invites you to exchange links. I assume everyone who asks for a review would also like to be included in my author link list. I prefer not to make that list too long, and various factors affect my decision whether or not to include someone. If I think you're a good fit, I'll include you without being asked to do so.



How should I respond to a review?

A polite thank-you never hurts. Whether you email the reviewer, post it in the comments, or both, it will never harm your relationship with the reviewer. If the review is negative, I suggest you start by taking three deep breaths, and then read it again, looking for positives. If it still feels like a bad review, have someone you trust read it, give you her/his opinion, and talk you down if necessary. Then, write your polite thank-you, even if it kills you. It makes you look classy, both to readers and to the reviewer. I once wrote a negative review of a NYT bestselling author's book. Imagine the somersaults my stomach did when I opened my email the next day to find a message from him. He thanked me for the review, told me the criticisms had given him food for thought, and said he learned from what I had to say. I think he gave me too much credit with the latter comment, but it demonstrated what a good guy he is, and I always make a point to announce his new releases.



I've familiarized myself with the site, and I'm still not 100% sure if I fit the bill. Is it okay for me to query?

Perhaps you're an e-only author, a podcaster, or your book truly is a cross-genre work that has a strong thriller content. There's no harm in asking. Just follow the golden rule- be nice.



Finally, I'd like to urge authors to think beyond the fact that you're trying to get your book reviewed, and view it as an opportunity to build a relationship with the reviewer. I assume you're getting into writing for the long haul. A positive relationship with reviewers can only help you along the way. Good luck!

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Megalith: Books That Rock

Action, Adventure and Thriller Reviews

http://megalithbooks.blogspot.com

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Tony Eldridge is the author of The Samson Effect , an action/adventure novel that Clive Cussler calls a "first rate thriller brimming with intrigue and adventure." He is also the author of the Twitter marketing book, Conducting Effective Twitter Contests . His new novel, The Lottery Ticket , was just recently released on Kindle.