How many reviewers would review a self published book?

[Allan Russell]

I'm wondering because self publishing is an option I have just begun to explore.

Self publishing raises questions because there is so much self published rubbish out there. Yet plenty of great material has been self published. Wordsworth and Coleridge did it, Virginia Woolf did it and recently three books shortlisted in the Man Booker prize were self-published.

Also just because something has been vetted by Agents and Professional Publishers there is no guarantee that it is not garbage.

So what do you think, would you review a self published book?

[VioletCrush]

Generally there is a lot of stigma attached to self-published books. The lack of an editor sometimes is very evident in a self-published book. I wish authors, if they have the resources, invest in a good freelance editor.

Having said that, I do review self-published books, but only after reading a sample of the book (you know 1st chapter or something).

[Allan Russell]

Stigma seems to be right. It is one thing that makes me very chary of stepping off into the unknown.

The possibilities of making it through the traditional route are not great. However, I think you are right, a self publisher needs to put as much as they can into making their work polished.

The next question, is of course, the quality of the work. Is it actually something that anyone would actually want to read? A hard question to answer for many people. And everyone knows what their mum is going to say.

[Yasser Alireza]

I've just launched my first self published work. The point raised by VioletCrush is sort of correct. I made sure my book went through a rigerous editing process, even with that, I still found problems. Still, I believe that self publishing is a great way to open the door for yourself.

[Karoline]

I would probably only read and review it if I've read an excerpt, and a synopsis.

[pussreboots]

I read and review a number of self pubs on my blog each month.

[Tantra Bensko]

That's refreshing too!

[Joseph Arellano]

I agree with Karoline's analysis. It would be good to have an excerpt - maybe a half, quarter or third of the first chapter - that potential reviewers could look at. If the excerpt looked appealing, I would personally want to review the book (it is pretty easy to tell if the writer had an editor, even if that was just a friend). BTW, I just found the Self Publishing Review website which is pretty impressive... There's a conference for self-published authors coming up on Saturday in San Francisco.

[Jess C Scott]

I would, because I've written one (honest answer ^^). My debut novel is a blog/IM novel--I believe my work is not "commercially categorizable" enough for mainstream publishers, which is why I chose to publish it myself 3 weeks ago (and design the book cover, as well as create the book trailer for EyeLeash; links provided below).

Here's a short synopsis.

|| Summary of EyeLeash: A Blog/IM Novel ||

Jade Ashton is a sassy virgin. In her blog, she vents about "fitting in" a superficial world.

Suddenly all logic flies out the window when she meets Novan: the former geek, who's morphed into a delicious songwriter-musician. EyeLeash captures self-discovery in the 2000s, and showcases the intricate drama in two youths' relentless search for themselves--and what's really in their hearts.

EyeLeash captures self-discovery in the 2000s, and showcases the colorful, intricate drama in two youths’ relentless search for themselves--and what’s really in their hearts.

Book Trailer (artwork done by me): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnRoFDRwMmw

Book Cover (art and design by me): http://eyeleash.wordpress.com/

Excerpt: http://eyeleash.wordpress.com/about/

Feedback from Agents + Professional Publishers + General Readers: http://eyeleash.wordpress.com/about/

Press Coverage so far: http://jesscscott.wordpress.com/press/

Available at Smashwords for free for the rest of July (use code JFREE on checkout).

I would love to hear comments--good/bad/anything else ;)

Jess.

http://jesscscott.com

[JL Vallee]

I am a self published author and it has been a rough road, but well worth it. I had my book edited twice. First by a local editor then again through the company I used to print it with a freelance editor. It was expensive and time consuming. The expensive editor wanted to change so may things I had to say, and the way I wanted to say it.

So being self published I had control on my story and my cover. I have read a few other self published authors books and I feel closer to the author and the story. Because it was penned in the way that it was meant to be read.

Thank you for some of the information that is discussed here, I will self publish again and read other self publisher's work in a heart beat. The only really tough issue is getting the book out to the public and the marketing.

[Linda]

I would certainly review a self-published book as long as the preview sounded interesting. I usually do not like to review e-books.

[Allan Russell]

Thanks all, for your responses. It seems a lot of people are saying, "I need to see a sample first".
I have to say that makes perfect sense to me.
Mind you, I suppose if you started reviewing a crock you could always just put it out with the recycling :-) .

[Allison M. O'Connor]

I would review a self-published book as long as the author understands that my review will be 100% honest. I am not going to sugar-coat anything. I understand there are quite a few book-bloggers who prefer to only comment positively about a book they review. I think that's admirable. I, however, am not one of those people. If I read something horrendous, you can bet I will say so.

So basically, yes, I will happily review a self-published book, and I will treat it with the same respect and attention I would give any other book.