Too Many Books, Not Enough Visine

There is an endless supply of books out there while people look for reviewers all the time. Hence, too many books and not enough Visine, especially for those brave and courageous book reviewers who love to read. No longer are they under siege with stacks and towers of books around them lost in their own forts coming out only for coffee, snacks or even bathroom breaks as they are hunkered down in a library toiling away page after page. They sat there disheveled and stressed questioning if deadlines could be met while worried the magazine, newspaper or whatever press agency they worked for will go to press before they can eloquently give their well-executed review. No, today book reviewers have never ending emails and lists of books with author websites, social media haunts and links to find the coveted book online. Always in the comfort of their own home with all the lead way they could ever possibly imagine. They can easily set up their review, post it online anytime with the understanding that the internet will post it for them (immediately, if not within a 24 hour period). Then, plug a mention on the latest social media and they are off and running to get the next adventure on the list.

Is this really the truth about reviewers today? Since the boom of e-books and uploading electronically, book reviewers are still under stress and tension of too many books and not enough Visine. As I myself have shopped my books around to book reviewers, finding out they get so bombarded that they have to implement a set of rules with many specifications to help the process along faster. Beware, if you’re not a follower of guidelines then it will be deleted immediately while they move on to the next. I’ve seen blogs and websites of book reviewers shut down simply because there were too many books and not enough Visine to go around. This is not a time to get ill or limp along for any reason as a book reviewer, because you will get run over by the ample requests that can’t possibly be kept up with when someone is laid up in bed too sick to handle the work load. And I've seen websites stop accepting review requests temporarily for such instances.

I saw a need, so I threw my hat into the ring. I became a book reviewer (after several authors liked and appreciated my reviews) while I took a break from my next novella.

I'm here to report that I learned a thing or two:
1) You’re only as overloaded as you allow yourself to be – Book reviewing should be fun and enjoying someone’s creation as you get sucked into the world of their imagination is really fun.
2) I set up my review request site very simply. There are no major rules or implications, just simply fill out your information. When I can get to it, I will be more than happy to contact you through email. No muss, no fuss.
3) If I’m not interested in your book for whatever reason, probably nothing to do with you anyway, I will not read it. But will be happy to let you know, so you’re not waiting around wondering.
4) And when I can get it done, I will get it done. I will be more than happy to stay in contact and follow, friend or whatever you do on social media while trying to give an honest and authentic review.

Overall, I think it depends on the person conducting the book reviews and what their schedule is like. Whether they have a job besides their writing career and/or family obligations. I was very pleased to learn the best thing about book reviewing is getting to read a lot of different authors, especially indie. These are creative individuals who are writing for the love and pleasure of it. Whether it’s the beginning writer making their first entrance into this scene or the starving artist hoping that this particular book will get them where they finally need to go. These are people who really need and value a book review, because every review gets them one stepping stone closer to their goal and overall dream. These are people who give you (the book reviewer) time to enjoy the book and drink it in like a fine wine. Usually there are no deadlines looming and I find myself wanting to keep in touch with them long after the experience is over. For them, I’d be more than willing to run out of Visine and have way too many books to keep enjoying! After all, if you read books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.


Stay tuned for a continuation article on my blog Dec. 4th due to Thanksgiving Holiday.



Go to http://www.skthomasauthor.com for all things SK Thomas







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