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Book Review Sites To Help You Get Into Libraries & Stores
(previously published in October 2017 with BOOKWORKS and this is an updated edition for 2019)
The number one way to impress librarians is reviews from established book review sites and periodicals. When we start working with new authors, they are (rightfully) focused on getting Amazon reviews. While that is a necessary and valid endeavor, don’t forget the OTHER kind of reviews necessary for the success of your book.
According to the American Library Association (ALA),“Librarians depend upon reviews, especially those found in the following professional review magazines, journals, and newspapers when making purchasing decisions.”
Book buyers, bookstores, librarians, and industry professionals all rely upon the opinion of a set number of third-party, independent, reviewers whose opinions are very hard to get. Thousands of books are submitted each month to the top reviewers. The books chosen for review are a very small percentage of those.
But for those chosen? A good review often means hundreds or even thousands of booksellers and librarians deciding to stock the book. There is no way to guarantee reviews, but there ARE things you can do to increase your chances of being the one reviewed.
Research Book Review Sites Who Match Your Genre
First, choose the book review sites that are most likely to review your book. Do your research and send to those sites that review your genre. Once you have a good list, the submission process for each reviewer is should be followed. Some reviewers ask for submissions 4 months in advance. Some ask for your book to be sent in electronic format. Others request that the books be submitted in printed and bound book form. (ARC’s/Advance Readers Copies can be used for this)
Many reviewers ask to see your marketing plan and others only request a copy of the book. Whatever you send to the reviewers, a cover letter is a nice touch. The cover letter should include a VERY short description of the book along with your request that it be considered for review. Include the title, author name, ISBN, publication date, price and publisher name.
Top Book Review Sites & Magazines
Here are the top book review sites and publications that I suggest you consider petitioning for a review:
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/corp/submissionguidelines.html
BOOKLIST – http://www.booklistonline.com/get-reviewed
KIRKUS – http://www.kirkusreviews.com/publisher-services/
LA REVIEW OF BOOKS – http://lareviewofbooks.org/about/contact/
FOREWORD – http://publishers.forewordreviews.com/
LA TIMES – http://www.latimes.com/about/la-editorial-staff-directory-htmlstory.html
THE NATION – http://www.thenation.com/about-us-and-contact/
NY BOOK REVIEW – http://www.nybooks.com/about/faq/ (click on EDITORIAL)
NY TIMES – http://www.nytimes.com/content/help/site/books/books.html
AMERICAN BOOK REVIEW – http://americanbookreview.org/FAQ.asp
SEATTLE TIMES – http://www.seattletimes.com/html/books/?from=stnv2
WASHINGTON POST – http://helpcenter.washingtonpost.com/hc/en-us/articles/115006746348-How-to-submit-a-book-for-review
BOOK REPORTER – http://www.bookreporter.com/book-submission-inquiry
NPR – http://help.npr.org/customer/portal/articles/2086545-how-do-i-submit-books-or-music-for-review
RAIN TAXI – http://www.raintaxi.com/submitadvertise/rain-taxi-submission-guidelines/
THE COMPULSIVE READER – http://www.compulsivereader.com/submissions/
CITY BOOK REVIEW – http://citybookreview.com/submission-guidelines/
ALA Recommended Reviewers
The ALA also recommends these book review sites:
- Choice Reviews print and online scholarly works recommended for college and university libraries. See the Choice Submission of Books and Electronic Media for Review (Guidelines for Publishers) webpage for more details.
- AudioFile reviews unabridged and abridged audiobooks, original audio programs, commentary, and dramatizations in the spoken-word format. See Contact AudioFile for further assistance.
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books reviews new children’s books. See the Bulletin Information for Publishers for further assistance.
- The Horn Book Guide and The Horn Book Magazine both review children’s and young adult books that are published in the United States. The Horn Book Magazine also reviews audiobooks. Books produced by publishers that are not listed in Literary Market Place are not considered. See Horn Book Submissions for further assistance.
- School Library Journal reviews new children’s and young adult general trade books, original paperbacks, and reference books from established publishers. In order to be considered for review, books must be of national interest and be readily available from national distributors at an institutional discount. Also reviewed are DVDs & audio recordings (audiobooks and CDs), and reference products and online resources. See the School Library Journal Submitting Review Materials for additional details and mailing addresses.
- Science Books & Films (SB&F) reviews science-based books, videos, software, and websites for all age groups (K-College, Teachers, and General Audience). See SB&F FAQ/Reviews & Reviewing (at the bottom of the page) for further assistance.
- Video Librarian reviews both theatrical and non-theatrical DVDs, including Blu-ray, that are new to the marketplace for public school, university, and special libraries. See How to Submit Titles for Review in Video Librarian or Video Librarian Online for further assistance.
So, to recap, decide which book review sites to approach, create your review request kit (print and electronic version), print your Advance Readers Copies (ARC’s) and start submitting to each review venue.
“I want to sell a million copies”
I hear this sentence at least three times a day. A million copies. The magic number. Just thought I’d throw a few more magic numbers out there….
Here is a brief run down of Stephen King’s latest marketing program for his last book from an October 2011 Wall Street Journal Article.
Mr. King and his publisher, Scribner, face an odd challenge as they unleash an elaborate marketing campaign to promote “11/22/63.” How do you rebrand one of the world’s most famous and successful living authors? Scribner is targeting history buffs with book-giveaway promotions on bio.com and history sites. To reach news junkies, the publisher bought ad time on 11 p.m. news programs in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The 30-second ad, which will also run on the CNN airport network and on the A&E and Syfy networks, shows archival footage of Kennedy’s Dallas motorcade, with a voice-over that says, “What if instead of justwatching history, you could change it?” Mr. King’s book tour will include appearances at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston and at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, the site Oswald fired from. The Dallas museum is preparing to host 1,000 people.
So what do we take away from this?
Mr. King has a huge following and decades of New York Times Best Sellers behind him.
He was on the road for weeks doing events in high-profile locations.
His publisher purchased ads on CNN, A&E the 11pm news in major markets.
Scribner also launched a multi-platform online campaign that gave away over 3000 books.
The magic number since the book released last November? According to Bookscan, Mr. King has sold 576,361 copies across all formats.
One of the best-selling authors of all time spent over a hundred thousand dollars on marketing with his publisher and even with eBook sales included, did not reach a million copies.
What is the real magic number?
It starts with the amount of time you spend getting the package of your book right
It is followed by the number of months you spend planning and orchestrating your launch
Right behind that is the number of ads and programs you participate in.
But that last number does not count much unless the ads and programs are in top venues (USA TODAY, PEOPLE, CNN…)
Next up is the number of PR and marketing professionals you are working with.
Then is there are the amount of reviews you get
A BIG number is how many retailers are getting your marketing and PR information to convince the buyers to buy your book.
Finally, there is the elusive “tipping point” number. How many people have to love and recommend your book before it takes on a life of its own?
So what is the answer to the question “what are the right numbers for my book?”.
It is different for everybody, but start with THOSE numbers and THEN tell the world how many you plan on selling. If you are going to spend 20 hours and $4000 on sales and marketing, your book will not “catch fire”. The stories of books that grow from nothing and become huge successes have enormous numbers behind them. Numbers of hours, numbers of dollars, numbers of supporters…. the ratio varies, but the totals are the same. At least a million….
Returns Kill Another Great Company
Blu Sky Media Group announced on Friday that they were forced to close their doors. Greg Snider, the owner of Blu Sky Media Group is not declaring bankruptcy, he has negotiated with his bank to allow him to make a structured closing.
Snider is a real class act. He could have shut his doors and walked away, but he didn’t. He is spending the next several months working (for nothing) to make sure all of his publisher clients find new homes.
This good deed in the face of tragedy is even more remarkable when you realize that Blu Sky’s troubles are in no way Greg’s doing. He gave small presses a chance to sell their books to the trade and the trade was happy to buy them. Blu Sky was formed to offer small presses the chance at distribution. Most distributors will not touch a small press because one or two books rarely recoup the expenses and time needed to launch a press properly.
Snider found a way around that. He was able to offer small presses way into the bookstore and library market.
What messed everything up? Returns used as cash. Blu Sky saw huge sales while things were good and huge returns when they weren’t, just like everyone else. Stores and wholesalers are allowed to return books that do not sell, that is part of the Faustonian pact we have all made, but for the last several years, they are paying their bills with returns. Books are returned days before the invoices are due and then those same books are reordered a week later…. starting the clock all over again. This practice is now so common place that many small and midsized businesses are shipping books over and over again for free.
I am not clamoring for the end of returns. I don’t want a complete turn-around on the policy that allows bookshops to take a risk on unknown publishers. It is hard enough these days to get a small-yet-worthy book onto a bookstore’s shelf. What I want is a reform of HOW we accept returns. We have to stop the practice of using returns as cash. It is killing good companies.
D5 Creation