Where to Get Free Book Reviews

Since I've just come through the book review saga--again--I wanted to share with you some of the places I discovered and give you a bit of a head's up on where to find reviewers, especially if this is your first book.

Photo by The Daring Librarian, courtesy of Flickr

One of the first things you'll quickly discover when searching for reviewers is that some won't take you, others will ask for money, and yet others will know little about book reviewing.

Big book reviewers such as Kirkus Reviews may not even take a look at your work if you're a new author. They have stacks of books to review, and yours, quite frankly, may be at the bottom of the pile. Instead of shooting for the top, choose blog reviewers that have reviewed other books. Just by reading some other reviews you'll get a sense of what they do. (You can find good as well as not so good reviewers on Amazon.com).

If a reviewer you query wants money to do the review, my opinion is, don't send it. There will be plenty of other reviewers who will review for free or for a free copy of your book. I like to think a review will be more honest and straight-forward if I haven't paid the reviewer to write it.

I have made the mistake of not checking out a reviewer; their style of writing, how they review, etc., before taking them on and I have been disappointed because of it. Do your homework. A new reviewer doesn't necessarily mean a bad reviewer but go to their blog and find out how they write by reading what they've already written. And make sure you send your book to reviewers who review your genre.

Some other suggestions:

• Find out how many followers they have by looking on their blog. The bigger number, the more eyes that sees your book.
• Check out who the blog owner follows. One blog owner may have a list of ten other blogs they follow that also do book reviews.
• Get reviews from people you know that will give you an honest review. (You know who they are).

When getting book reviews it's important not only to thank the reviewer after it's posted, but to keep their name and contact information on file--for the next time you have a new book to be reviewed. 

Juggling Writing and Marketing

It's been a fun ride the last couple of weeks, and it's time to put my feet up and do some writing. Marketing is fun in its own right but writing, shall we say, is a bit more like therapy. And I need some therapy today.

If you are finding that you're continually marketing your newest work and have no time to write the next, then it's time to do some juggling.

Photo by Manchester Library, courtesy of Flickr

If you've ever watched a juggler at work, you'll notice that all of the balls are continually in a rotating motion. Nothing is at a standstill unless a mistake is made and all of the balls come tumbling to the floor. The same is true of writing and marketing. When you're marketing, writing should take place and when you're writing, a bit of marketing should still be in movement.

The reason for this is simple; you'll continually have your work moving forward, and, at the same time, keep your own emotions in check. There will be less time for burnout because the options for moving forward are continually in motion.

When I find that I really don't want to market, or I really don't want to write, it's usually because I've forgotten about connecting both writing and marketing in my life. I've been forgetting one or the other in favor of struggle.

I don't know why it is that we think that we have to struggle, work painfully hard, and continue to do it day after day to make a success of our writing career. What we need to do is to listen to our heart, shift when we need to shift, and balance all of those things that bring joy to us.

In the end that's all we've got.

LIKE SCRAMBLED EGGS?

Come and join me tomorrow (July 14, 2012) at Tina's Hallmark in Bountiful (541 W 2600 S) for a never-to-be-forgotten book signing!

Just off I-15 and 2600 South in The Square

Time: 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

• FREE hand labeled stone 
• FREE bookmark postcard
• FREE scrambled egg recipe (to die for) and first chapter of my cozy mystery, "Scrambled" due out in September for first 30 readers
• FREE scrambled egg recipe for first 50 readers
• Learn how to make your own personalized plate! Use it for a gift or for your own kitchen table
• Ornament Sale! Get a head start on Christmas!
• Get an autographed copy of your favorite book by Kathryn Jones

CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU!