So you want a book review?
I read so much on the Internet about authors trying to find book reviewers. As a self-published author, I have the sole responsibility of finding book reviewers. Initially I visited various websites and basically sent them a proposition. Most agreed and so I gingerly shipped off copy after copy of Immortal Obsession.
With the help of my marketing/PR company I set up a huge Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my submissions. I have set up a file for every guest post, every book review, every copy of Immortal Obsession I have ever donated, to whom, how many copies, etc. I like to keep records.
I felt fairly prepared that all I had to do was sit back and wait for the review. This worked for the most part, however this is not a post about how many reviews I have received and the quality of each of them.
This is about about what to ask a book reviewer.
I have been relatively fortunate in that most reviewers did just that…they reviewed my novel. There are a few that still have a copy of my novel and have not followed through on their promise to review it. How does that make me feel? Taken advantage of and cheated.
Like I said, I am 95% satisfied that my blood, sweat and tears has made it into the hands of someone who actually read and reviewed Immortal Obsession and posted their review! It is that 5% I am writing about here and if I can save you some grief, or at the least, disappointment, here goes.
1) The Time Frame: Before you go mailing off a copy of your precious novel to a complete stranger, get a sense from them of the time frame for their review. Six months, a year? Hopefully this information is on their website, but if not, ask for a time frame and once you have it, ask when would they like your novel mailed to them? Enclose a letter asking them to contact you when they receive your novel so you know it got to them in one piece.
2) What circumstances might warrant a later date for your book’s review? Under “normal” circumstances a reviewer assures you your novel will be read and reviewed in two months. You agree, but you may want to ask them “under what circumstances might you need more time to complete my review?” Sounds reasonable right?
3) Where will your review be posted? I may be stating the obvious but this ties into #4-
4) Promotion of the review? Once your review is up on their website, then what? Will they tweet it? If so, how often? Will they mention it on their face book page? How much promotion can you expect from them, which leads to #5-
5) Will the reviewer post their review on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads or any other site that you request? Readers and writers know that reviews are important and posting them in the right places are key. What is their policy on posting book reviews?
6) Request your novel be returned to you. At the moment, I have one reviewer who promised to have my book read “by the end of the month.” This was February of 2011! (I actually just e-mailed her and asked her to mail my novel back to me and I still have not heard from her. What do you think my odds are that I will ever get my novel back or a review? Shame on you!
7) Honesty is always the best policy. I had one reviewer tell me that she reviews YA literature and when she began to read my novel she found it was not. She offered to finish reading it and write her review. I really appreciated her honesty and I told her that I did not want to waste her time so please either mail it back to me or pass it onto someone who might enjoy it. I assume that is what she did as I did not get it back.
8) Let me know when the review is posted. Make sure you ask that you are notified when your review goes live. Most reviewers will send you an e-mail with a link to the review.
9) Thank them. No matter the quality of the review be gracious. Thank them for their time. I have reviewers who have become friends, dropping by here to check in. Respect their judgement, even if it means they did not like your novel.
10) Do the same. If you are asked to write a review, do it in a timely manner or decline.
If there is anything you would like to add to my list just send a reply.
