Among our lively discussions at SPAWNDiscuss this week, are exchanges about book review sites. Probably the two most common aspects of book promotion for most new authors are book signings and book reviews. As hopeful authors, we envision ourselves signing books in mega-bookstores nationwide for fans who are lined up out the door of the store. <\/p>\n
The reality is that we might sit alone for hours in a local independent bookstore waiting for someone to step up to the table and express even a tad of interest in our books. <\/p>\n
I advocate book signings and demonstrations at non-bookstore sites, as well. If your book has a character who flies a private plane, arrange to sign books at the small airports in your county. Maybe your story includes a charming dog or cat character. Or you\u2019ve written a book of cat stories. Get permission to spend a Saturday morning at local veterinarians\u2019 offices and pet stores with your book. You get the idea\u2026<\/p>\n
There are several levels of book reviews. When an author speaks of the all-important book review, sometimes he or she is referring to the revered pre-publication book reviews. Other authors consider reviews at online book review sites to be most valuable to their book sales\u2014especially if those \u201creviews\u201d appear on their page at Amazon.com. <\/p>\n
Some reviews are actually just customer comments. Fellow authors will make positive comments or customers will give a brief compliment which the author will use at their Amazon page and maybe at their own website.<\/p>\n
And then there is my favorite type of book review\u2014those appearing in appropriate magazines.
\nThis is where you locate magazines and newsletters related to the topic or genre of your book and you solicit reviews. Not every magazine publishes reviews. But those that do, truly provide a marvelous service to authors like you and me. <\/p>\n
Think about it, wouldn\u2019t you likely go out and purchase a book on a subject of your interest that received a rave review in your favorite magazine? <\/p>\n
One of my most successful books was The Mainland Luau, How to Capture the Flavor of Hawaii in Your Own Backyard<\/em>. And the reason it sold so well was mainly because of the reviews I solicited and that were published in numerous cooking, foods, barbecue magazines and newsletters as well as the food section of newspapers nationwide. <\/p>\n Note: This book was self-published through my own publishing company, Matilija Press. I did two printings. In 1999, it was picked up by a traditional royalty publisher. <\/p>\n Not every topic is as conducive to as many review possibilities as are cookbooks. But there certainly are plenty of opportunities for most books to be reviewed.<\/p>\n The teacher in me can\u2019t help but leave you with an assignment. Sit down and list the magazines and newsletters that might publish reviews of your fiction or nonfiction book. Then check to find out if each of them publishes book reviews. Some have stipulations against self-published or POD published books. Many others do not. And don\u2019t worry about circulation numbers. It\u2019s better to have your book reviewed in 30 newsletters with 100 to 1,000 circulation and a dozen magazines with 10,000 to 40,000 readers than to walk away from the idea of book reviews altogether because a major magazine with 1,000,000 circulation won\u2019t review your book. <\/p>\n Exposure, exposure, exposure. It\u2019s all about exposure.<\/p>\n Resources<\/strong> Links to dozens more online book review sites: It\u2019s not too late to sign up for my Book Promotion Course<\/strong>. It starts today, but I\u2019m extending the sign up to September 14, 2009 AND I\u2019m offering a free copy of my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book<\/em><\/strong>, if you sign up between now and September 14, 2009.<\/p>\n The course starts today, Tuesday, September 8 and runs for 6 weeks. However, if you sign up even as late as September 14, I will help you catch up with the other students. Learn more about the free book here: http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> <\/p>\n
\nLinks to 240 online book review sites:
\n http:\/\/www.complete-review.com\/links\/links.html#linksb<\/a> <\/p>\n
\n http:\/\/www.acqweb.org\/bookrev.html<\/a><\/p>\n