The DO’s and DON’Ts of Book Review Submission

The giant truck just dropped off a thousand books at your doorstep. This is the moment you’ve waited for! You can now hold copies of your books in your hand.

But the work isn’t over yet.

You want people to read those books. Sure, you need to get the books into stores, but how will people know the book is available?

Book Reviews. You need Book Reviews to encourage people to go out and buy your book.

The first step is contacting book reviewers, and the best way to find reviewers is to go online. An excellent resource is at the Midwest Book Reviews website:

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/links/othr_rev.htm

The Midwest Book Review lists 135 different book reviewers, and while that number is significant, it is far from a complete list. But it’s a good place to start. You can also do a google search for other reviewers, specifically those who specialize in your book’s genre.

But wait! Don’t just start mailing books to all of those reviewers. You need to visit each individual reviewer’s website and read their submission guidelines.

Many book reviewers will let you mail books to them, but others want you to fill out an online form and then wait for notification that they are interested in reviewing your book. Some reviewers will want one copy of your book, some multiple copies. Some will only review books not yet published. Others won’t review books published before the current year.

You need to follow each reviewer’s requirements carefully to ensure your book is received and acknowledged. Remember, you want to make a review of your book as easy as possible for the reviewer. Failure to follow guidelines means your book may be ignored. Reviewers don’t have time to call or email you over small details. Make their job easy and you’ll be happier with the results.

Here are the Do’s and Don’ts of Book Review Submission to help you send out those books for review and build positive relationships with your reviewers and future readers.

DO’s

  1. Visit the reviewer’s website—follow all their instructions.
  2. Query the reviewer by email whether they will review your book.
  3. If there is a stipend for the reviewer, make sure you pay it according to the website’s instructions.
  4. Enclose a cover letter with all your contact information.
  5. Include your email on the cover letter—most book reviews will be sent to you via your email address. You can include your website address, but include the email so the reviewer doesn’t have to hunt on your website for it. The best place for your email address is the top right or bottom right corner.
  6. Autograph the book for the reviewer. Personalize it so he or she knows you took the time to visit their website and that their individual review is important to you.
  7. List your book’s genre on the book cover—usually in the upper left on the back cover, or on the spine. The reviewer doesn’t want to guess at categorizing your book. Also, many book review companies have specific people assigned to review specific genres; you don’t want your self-help book being sent to the historical romance reviewer.
  8. Mail the book first class so it is received in a timely manner.
  9. Request the reviewer notify you (by email or SASE that the book has been received).
  10. Keep a calendar of when you mailed out books and when you received the reviews. You may be sending out copies for review as early as six months before publication to a year after. Check the reviewer’s website to find out the approximate timeframe for the review. If you don’t receive a review by that date, gently follow up with the reviewer.
  11. Once you receive a review, send a thank you letter to the reviewer. The reviewer has done you a favor, spending hours of his or her time reading your book. Show that you appreciate it. A thank you letter also helps to keep the relationship open so you will be remembered and be more likely to have your next book reviewed. 

DON’Ts

  1. Don’t fail to visit the Reviewer website and follow all their instructions.
  2. Don’t deface the book by writing “Review Copy” on it.
  3. Don’t stuff multiple loose items in an envelope. Send only the book, a cover letter and a bookmarker inside the book if you have one. If you feel the need to send anything else or are requested to do so, enclose extra items in a folder so it looks like a professional “media kit.”
  4. Don’t complain about the review if you receive a negative one. The reviewer has already spent a lot of time reading your book and does not deserve to be condemned for his or her work. The book world is a small place and you do not want to be branded within it as “difficult.” Even if the review is negative, a professional thank you letter and acknowledgement that perhaps you learned something from the review will help you build a positive relationship with the reviewer. Then the reviewer will be more willing to review your next book. It’s all about building relationships with reviewers so you will have a relationship with your readers.

Finally, be ready! Be prepared to sell books once your reviews come out. Make sure you have enough books on hand. You don’t want to be in a position where you are receiving orders you cannot fulfill. You asked for reviews so your books will sell. Hopefully, you’ll get what you asked for!

Contributor

Tyler TichelaarTyler R. Tichelaar is editor and contributing author of Authors Access: 30 Secrets for Authors and Publishers, the regionally bestselling Marquette Trilogy and the newly published Narrow Lives. He is the Associate Editor of Reader Views, he has interviewed over 200 authors, written more than 60 book reviews, and edited and evaluated manuscripts for publication

 

 

 

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