Beta Readers and How to Find Them

So, I'm getting pretty darn close to the end of this run-through of edits. I'm getting to the point where I really, really need to put this thing in someone else's hands. I'm not sick of it exactly, it still makes me excited and I'm having fun with it, but I'm just very anxious to get out of this phase and into the next. Ready to get this thing out there.

That mean's now I'm looking for the other hands to put it into. Fortunately, I've got a high quality crew already. Three of my roommates were English majors, and two of them minored in editing. So there's them, and some other friends and of course my smart family.

Of course one needs to taken feedback given by family and friends with a grain of salt. This is, I suppose, true of any feedback, but especially true with people who know you.

That's where I'm coming to you. What are some ways I can stretch my beta reader's circle? It might be wise to have some smart strangers look at the book before I start submissions. Is it crazy for me to open it up and say, would any of you be interested in being beta readers? Who have you used as beta readers? People you know? Writerly people from the interwebs?

Thoughts?

Sarah Allen