How can you get an author for a review?

[Rhea Gulin]

Hello there!

I am new member Book Blogs. I have decided to take the niche of book blogging just recently, and I am really ecstatic to find a site like this wherein you'll be able to connect with bloggers and authors from across the globe!

However, I am wondering, how do you guys have authors or publishers offer a book for you to review? Do you ask and personally approach them? Are there any requirements or requests you need to send? If there are, where?

I am sorry if I sound like a wandering vagabond, but the truth is, I really am. And I am hoping that any of you can help me. I would take everything you will advice whole-heartedly.

Thank you so much in advance!

Rhea

http://outrageous-writer.org/

[Selina Xu]

Well, welcome to the world of book blogging, Rhea!

The first thing is, do a review policy on your blog. Provide the publishers with a means to contact you with and state what genres & e-book formats you accept. Take a look at mine :)

Next, which is a must, is to start reviewing regularly. This shows authors and publishers that you are a steadfast reviewer and most official publishing companies (like HarlequinTeens, HarperC, St. Martins, Penguin etc) prefer reviewers who have at least 3 months of reviewing experience.

If you are okay with e-books, do visit Netgalley, the online platform for requesting for ARCs of all kinds of books for publishers. (The website is netgalley.com)

Personally, I've only tried requesting from publishers directly twice. I only had 100 followers then and I got rejected :( But, take note that published authors don't really have much copies to give away and they are not allowed to distribute ebooks as much as they want. However, indie/self-published authors do have the liberty to do that, so you can approach them to ask for a review copy. It works!

Hope this helps, all the best for your blog ;)

Luv, Sel

Bookcase to Heaven™

 

[Christine Amsden]

There are sitse out there that put publishers and author together with reviewers -- the cost is usually on the author/publisher side of things. Hopefully, someone else will post the links, because I haven't used them (from either end).

As an author who is putting together an extensive list of bloggers who might review my upcoming books, I can tell you what I'm looking for in a blog:

1. An attractive, professional, regularly updated blog.

2. If you want an electronic copy (ebook), I'm pretty flexible on followers, but if you want a print copy, I need some incentive to send you a book because each one costs me quite a bit. I don't have a firm number of followers in mind, but 500+ really helps.

3. It's easier to know if I'd like you to review a book if your review policies are clearly stated. In them, I'd like to see your preferred genres (so I know if my book is what you read), preferred format (if you'll only take print, just say so -- I'm only one author, after all), and how to contact you.

4. If you're willing to read ebooks, there are a lot of smaller presses who would love to show you their catalog.

5. If you're approaching the major publishing companies, it's harder to get reviews. I've actually requested to review books from authors I know personally and still, the author ended up having to slide me a copy through back channels. Don't know what's going on with them since I went with a smaller company myself and we collectively love bloggers. :)

Your site is nice, btw. I would definitely add a "Review Policy" link, like I said, but you've even got a reasonable enough number of followers that I would contact you if I thought you read my genre. (science fiction and urban fantasy)

[Christine Amsden]

Oh, there are also some author promo groups you can troll around in, looking for a book that interests you. Just check out groups.

[Natasha House]

I have been just finding them on this site.  I'm an author myself and am looking for reviewers for my two books.  I've currently reviewed 2 (just started doing this) and am onto the 3rd and I found them all on here.  Authors really want their book reviewed!  If your interested in reviewing mine I would be able to send you a PDF file of them.  I'll put my links on here if you'd like to check them out.  

http://www.amazon.com/Superhero-Princess-Curse-Rainbow-ebook/dp/B00...

http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-ebook/dp/B007SCUBG6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digi...

Just let me know!  My email is [e-mail]

[Michelle Patterson]

I review books on my blog and I never charge anythng.

http://bookloverscouch.blogspot.com.au/

[Deana Van Nice]

Rhea,

I am a new author as well as new to this site. I was just digging around and there is a forum called worldwide and in it is a section of authors looking for bloggers reviewers. (I know because I just posted a review request there.) I recommend checking it out. There were quite a number of books listed there for review.

[Sarah E.]

If you've just started blogging recently, (as I have) instead of focusing on getting a book for review from a publisher (as they sometimes require you to have thousands of followers) try revieiwng books from indie authors. I have gotten in contact with some indie authors via this site as well as goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/).

-Sarah

http://www.laceandlavenderhints.blogspot.ca/

 

ps. If you follow my blog drop a comment letting me know; I always follow back :)

[Marcia (mciamcia)]

I am new to this myself and loving the challenge so this is some great information. I have rec a few arcs from publishers all print through twitter. I follow the authors and publishers, you see their people and editors drop the tweet about the arc and I just go to the link and request. But I am going to try some of the others suggestions as well. Thanks for asking the question!

Marcia

bookswagger.com

[C.S. Revlis]

Hello,

Nice site, it seems you have a pretty good following already, so you may want to check out the Group on this site for Dedicated Book Reviewers.

Also, I happen to be looking for someone to review my book.  It is available through SmashWords.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/173864

Send me an email if you are interested.

[e-mail]

 

[Pearson Oldmitz]

Hi Rea,

The author Stephen Poleskie has a brilliantly written profile up on the Editions Bibliotekos web site. You can read it by clicking on the following link: http://www.ebibliotekos.com/2012/06/ivanhoe-during-arithmetic-soul-of.html He has several books out that he self-published and I am sure he would be happy to send you something. This is one of the reasons he prefers to self-publish. Poleskie's first book, THE BALLOONIST, was with a "traditional publisher," who he says was quite stingy with review copies, and publicity, etc., which seems to be the case with most publishers these days.

I sent you the profile link because it is quite different from the question and response format that author interviews usually take, and a format that you might consider if you decide to do interviews. You can contact Poleskie through his web site: www.StephenPoleskie.com. There is a link there for leaving messages.

Good luck with your blog. I am looking forward to reading what you come up with. 

Best wishes,

Pearson 

[Sabrina Williams]

Hi!  I'm very new to this too and still are don't have that many followers but I have also advertised mine a lot on Twitter and Facebook just like someone listed below and I had an Indie Review company email me and that's how I started getting reviews so advertising is very important :)  Welcome! 

Sabrina, Operator

http://bythecoverbookclub.blogspot.com

[Kate Phillips]

I run a YA Book Blog and a Adult romance Book blog.  At first I was a little lost but I joined NetGalley and Edelweiss both of these webistes alow you to request e-copies of upcoming books.  At first I was declined a lot but as my followers grew I got accepted more and more.  I now frequently get ebooks from Harper Collins, Harlequin Teen and all there other imprints, Random House, Egmont plus more. 

This is a great way to get good books for review, it may not be actual copies but reviewing pre-releases gets more people to your blog especially if the publisher/author promotes your review. 

 

When you set up your profile on these sites (if you chosse to) be honest and brag.  You need to write the number of followers on your blog, comments, hits, time you have been blogging, your reach, popularity.  You need to do the same for your Goodreads, twitter, facebook...anywhere where you promote/post your reviews.  You need to convince them that giving you a review copy is a good idea.  Do not lie because they check out your blog.  It also helps if you review certain genres only.  I used to review adult and YA books on one site.  A month ago I split them up and the amount of acceptances I got doubled.

 

Do not be disheartened if you keep getting denied.  Some publishers won't send books to people outside of certain countries, some want you to blog for 3 months, some 6, they all have different requirments.  Just keep reviewing and building followers.  I applied for titles from Harper Teen about 4 times in the last three months.  They have only just accepted me.

 

I also will review indie authors who apply through my blog.  I have a review policy and ask them to email be with all their information, full description of the book and goodreads link.  Some reviewers ask for the first chapter also.  I get a lot of requests and you need to be careful there is no point saying yes to someone when you know the book is not for you, or is not the genre you are looking for.  Do not be afraid to say no, I probably turn down 80% of author requests simply because I do not have the times to read them.

 

If you want physical copies from big publishers you need to have a big 'reach' I would say anything from 600 to 1000 followers and a large following on Goodreads.  As far as I know you apply to the publisher via email (found on thier website) to request, again you will need to sell yourself and put down every stat you can find about your blog.

 

I hope that helps.

I followed you , this is my blog if you are interested: Reading Under The Willow Tree