Who do you ask for reviews?

I haven't specifically asked for reviews, but I had one publication offer to review my book. This is a magazine which had previously published a couple of my pieces. So, if you have been published in magazines, journals or websites, perhaps that would be a place to start. I think it's much easier if you have some sort of connection.

the addster said:

Do you ask everybody you know that has any access to any kind of media at all, or are you choosy?

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The sorts of places where you really want reviews require an advance reader copy or galley three to four months before publication. Local newspapers might be ok with less, but that would depend on the paper.

Readers care about reviews in recognized venues (NYTimes, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, or specialized publications pertinent to the book), but not particularly about reviews by your friends and family (not that there is much of a way to get those in the public eye anyway).

If the book has already been published, then you are probably too late. (BTW, a commercial publisher of any real size would have sent review copies in a timely way to appropriate venues.)

--Ken

the addster said:

. . . I have a ton of media contacts that would most likely be interested in taking a look at this. . . .

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Ok, this sounds like a mix of apples and oranges. On the one hand is book reviewers and book review venues. They have timelines and norms.

The other is news reporters and feature article writers -- a whole diffrerent animal (two animals, really) falling under a promotional umbrella.

It sounds as though your publisher is very lacking in knowledge and experience in book promotion. This sort of thing (elements of a marketing and promotional plan) should have been extracted from you and refined by the publisher long ago.

It is entirely possible (and maybe likely, depending on the specifics) to get much better exposure from columnists, feature article writers, and, for a newsworthy topic, news reporters (not that there are so many of those left thest days) than from book reviewers. It depends on the book, the author, and the subject.

I think you are mis-using the word "review."

Anyway, any exposure is probably better than none. If the book is controversial, then negative commentaries at least validate its importance.

My views, for whatever they are worth. Without knowing the subject or nature of the book, it is hard to be more specific (not that I could probably be more specific anyway).

--Ken

the addster said:

I suppose I am mis-using the word review. Maybe pre-release buzz or something would be a better term?

That's kind of what I was thinking, anyway. I think I can squeak in a few places.

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I'd suggest "publicity."

--Ken

You aren't talking about testimonials for the back of the book and for use on your Amazon sales page, etc., right?

As Ken has noted, there are 2 things you should be doing here.

The first is generating book reviews in appropriate media outlets -- and what's appropriate depends on the book's topic. You don't want to limit the distribution list for book reviews to people you know -- you also want to get it into the hands of book reviewers at appropriate media outlets (which can be both traditional and online). For example, when my book Publicity for Nonprofits was ready for review, my publisher didn't send it to any of my journalism friends for review because none of them write book reviews. I provided a carefully-compiled list of nonprofit, marketing, and business trade publications instead, and we not only got some nice reviews in key pubs read by my target audience, I also received many requests to write bylined articles that would include the book title in the resource box. It was more work for me, but well worth it, especially because I was able to leverage it to get paid speaking gigs.

The second is good old publicity -- getting your book in front of your target audience through mentions, interviews, etc. in traditional and online media. You generate that by pitching article or segment ideas, distributing tip sheets, going after radio talk shows, etc. There's no "one size fits all" approach -- it depends on your target audience and what they read/watch/listen to. Radio wasn't really appropriate for my Publicity for Nonprofits topic, for example, but when my humor book about men was published many years ago? I did tons of radio interviews.

Anyway...I hope this helps in addition to Ken's great advice. Have fun with it!

Cheers,
Sandy

I think I'm in the same boat as the addster. My novel was released last week by a small independent publisher. It's a fantasy novel with a middle eastern backdrop called Path of the Rose.

My question to add to this thread is how to go about approaching sites that do reviews--I am willing to send a copy for publicity purposes. Do editors of these sites usually follow through?

It sounds like you're talking about blogs or Web sites that review books, not traditional media outlets that do reviews (magazines, newspapers, etc.). For the sake of conversation, let's focus on bloggers who review books rather than book review Web sites. It will take some time to identify the right blogs for your book, but they're out there. Obviously, you'll want to find bloggers with an interest in fantasy fiction, but I'd look at those that feature content related to Middle Eastern interests, too.

Contact each one individually vs. any kind of group or mass e-mail. Let them know that you read and like the blog and that based on the content you've seen, you think they might be interested in either reviewing your book, doing a Q&A with you, inviting you to be a guest blogger, or perhaps offering your book as a contest prize. You'll need to send the book for a review, but not necessarily for the other options. A book excerpt could suffice.

Make the offer, and then follow up a couple of times if you don't hear back.

I'd work with bloggers before spending time generating reviews on the various sites that are set up to offer readers book reviews. They're hard for the book reader to use -- you pretty much have to know the title of the book you want to read a review about for it to be useful -- which makes it unlikely that people will happen upon your book. Some seem to be more useful than others. Plus, they serve all types of readers and you want to zero in on readers of fantasy fiction, so you have to zero in on them. You want to first go after your target audience and then expand outward to a wider audience. I'd put the generic review sites in that wider audience category.

I hope this is helpful. Congratulations on the book! I hope you have fun getting the word out.

Sandy

the addster said:

The publisher has asked folks involved in the project try to hook up any contacts they might have. I have a ton of media contacts that would most likely be interested in taking a look at this, some that have asked me to review projects they have been involved with in the past.

The publisher is looking for exposure here. Obviously.

I'm just concerned that some of the folks I could get this out to will be a bit more critical than my publisher might feel comfortable with. They are small and this is their first venture into something that folks might take issue with. Personally, I'm not concerned. I expect to get a fair amount of less than nice things said about my piece by some that will surely review this.

Soooo....I'm kind of torn.

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Without knowing what your book is about, I can only say that I think you have to play it somewhat safe. Apparently the publisher is asking that you get as much exposure for the book as you can--that makes sense--but do they care from whom the exposure comes, its type, and whether critical or not? You say you have a ton of media contacts, and that has to be a good thing. Why not quickly put a list of same together and go over it with the publisher (and your agent if you have one)? Let them point the way.

By the way, do you have your own website?