Hooked On Books? Write A Book Review For Your Target Audience

If you are burned out with writing how-to articles to promote your business then consider writing a book review. I recommend you write a review about a book you enjoyed that is related to your products or services. Your review, of course, will be capped off with your 5-6 line byline that includes your contact information and web site URL. Many of the article directories, e-zines and web sites that normally accept articles will accept book reviews too. In addition, you can find and submit to the many sites featuring book reviews.

To begin a review, I start with the format required by Midwest Book Review. I then adapt the format and word count to what is required by each submission site. Midwest Book Review recommends the following format (examples of paragraphs are enclosed in parenthesis):

Book Title:

Author:

Publisher:

Publisher Address:

ISBN:

Price:      Publication Date:     Page Count:  

Reviewer Contact Information:

Name:   Address:    E-mail:  

First Paragraph: Include information about the format of the book. A nice touch is to comment on the cover design, table of contents structure and/or glossary at the back of the book.

(Sample: This beautifully laid out trade paperback has a gorgeous and practical design both inside and out. I recommend you read this book with a highlighter and a pen, ready to take copious notes in the blank pages thoughtfully provided between chapters.)

Second Paragraph: Detail the recommended audience and note why they should read the book.

(Sample: Manners That Sell: Adding The Polish That Builds Profits should be required reading for high school and college students and for anyone already in the business environment. Once upon a time, good manners were taught in school and at home, but that time has long since passed. This book provides the perfect refresher course for those of us who learned manners but no longer remember the finer points of etiquette.)

Third Paragraph: Write about the book structure and layout, number of chapters and topics covered.

(Sample: While reading this book, I discovered that the author, Lydia Ramsey, covered every conceivable point of etiquette including many that I'd never been taught. Each of the twelve chapters covers one main topic broken down into digestible bite sized chunks of rules and guidelines to enhance credibility and professionalism. Topics include first impressions, greetings and introductions, the art of conversation, dressing for business, telephone courtesy, electronic etiquette, correspondence in business, etiquette in the office, gift-giving in business, etiquette out of the office, dining for profit and doing business internationally.)

Fourth Paragraph: Give a brief biography of the author including their name, name of their business (if applicable), business or personal expertise and if available, include titles of their other books.

(Sample: The author of this delightful book, Lydia Ramsey, is a business etiquette expert with over thirty years of experience working with non-profits, corporations, colleges and universities. She is a frequently published author who presents workshops, seminars and keynotes on all aspects of business etiquette.)

Fifth Paragraph: Recommend the book and offer some ideas of its practical use by individuals or groups. If applicable, mention that it would make a good gift book and wrap up the review with a positive summary of the book.

(Sample: I recommend businesses buy this book in bulk and present one to every employee from the frontline up to the top management. In this ever-changing world of so many consumer choices, the bottom line is often affected by the simple courtesies that can and should be afforded to customers. You need this book if you want your employees to succeed and your business to thrive.)

Add your copyright statement and byline to the bottom of the review and, as usual, have the review proofread by an editor before you begin submission. Your book reviews can be very effective marketing tools that will generate considerable exposure for you.

How to Get Your Book Reviewed

Imagine your book at the top of the Best Sellers List of the New York Times. Most authors do. The question is, "How do I get it there and sell millions of copies?"

When planing your book, there is one critical thing that most authors forget - marketing. In the case of book reviewers this means pre-marketing.

Most reviewers require a copy of your book at least three months before publication. This is because most book reviewers need time to read it and review it plus publish all the reviews on books that they have reviewed for those who came before you. Also many publications come out on a weekly or monthly basis instead of daily. This means that book reviewers have a huge backlog.

So the best way to get a book reviewers to review your book, is to get them a quality copy of your manuscript or a galley, as soon as possible.

What if my book your already been published?

Is it too late to get a book reviewer to review your book? In some cases yes and in some no. There is an easy way to get your book reviewed without calling it a review.

Send out a press release.

Create a press release about your book and submit it to your local newspapers, magazines and radio stations. Make it interesting. Don't just say Mary Joe Piper has just published her newest book Babes on Parade. Think about your story and what it can teach people. Does it have a theme about love or friendship or settling disputes?

Use the issue in your press release. Teach people how to solve their problems and then have the person interviewing you mention your credits, as a published author. At that point your book will be mentioned, you will have done them a service, and you will have saved thousands of dollars on marketing and query letters to editors.

Here are just a few sites that you can go to to submit your pre - publication book:

Book Reviewers:

Terrie Bittner

Bellaonline.com: Children's Books

childrenbooks@bellaonline.com

http://www.bellaonline.com/entertainment/children.html

Categories: Children, Children's Religion, Young Adult - Children Query first.

Sandy Cummins

Writers Exchange Book Reviews

PO Box 372

Atherton, QLD 4883

writers@writers-exchange.com

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~pjcsjc/book-review.htm

Categories: Computer/Internet/Technology, Children, Christian, Fiction, How-To, Non-Fiction, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing

Anne Douglas

http://www.bookideas.com

emailanned@yahoo.com

http://www.bookideas.com

Categories: Art, Books From Small Presses, Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Pop Culture, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Parenting. Particularly interested in American art and children's books.

Apryl Duncan

FictionAddiction.NET

Box 876

Chattanooga, TN 37343

ReviewRequest@FictionAddiction.NET

http://www.FictionAddiction.NET

Categories: Books From Small Presses, Children, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Writing, promotion & publishing, Adventure, Horror

Melanie C. Duncan

Bookdragaon Review (ISSN 1527-0157)

444 Forest Hill Road, #813

Macon, GA 31210

MCDuncan@bookdragonreview.com

http://www.bookdragonreview.com

Categories: Fiction, Young Adult - Children Comments: All genres fiction only. Please query before sending an e-book. Attachments are deleted if not specifically requested. Traditional galleys may be sent without a query, however please read the FAQs at the website before sending.

Linda Eberharter

Fiction Forest

7042 Cohasset Ct.

Indianapolis, IN 46226

Phone: 317-549-3038

linda@atlanticbridge.net

http://www.atlanticbridge.net

Categories: Children, Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks

Detra Fitch

Huntress Book Reviews

205 Dana Drive

Easley, SC 29642

huntress@huntressreviews.com

http://www.huntressreviews.com

Categories: Children, Fiction, General, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Adventure, Horror

Denise Fleischer

Gotta Write Online

515 E. Thacker

Hoffman Estates, IL 60194

Phone: 847 882-8054

Netera@aol.com

http://members.aol.com/gwnlitmag/

Categories: Mystery, Romance, Young Adult - Children, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing. Authors can also make guest appearances on the AOL chat she co-hosts on Tuesdays from 10-11 PM ET. Writers: keyword, chatrooms, Writer's Grill.

Jessica Holmes

Romance At Its Best, Midnight Reviews

owner@romanceatitsbest.com

http://www.romanceatitsbest.com/

Categories: Books From Small Presses, Fiction, General, How-To, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, History/Political, Adventure, Horror

Dave Jenkinson

CM/Canadian Review Materials

Faculty of Education,

University of Manitoba

Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2

Phone: 204-474-8780

e-Mail: jenkinson@ms.umanitoba.ca

http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/

Categories: Audiobooks; General, Children, Young Adults

Jeanne Kelly

1928 Mid Road

Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Phone: 719-291-2309

e-Mail: whitebison@mail.com

Categories: Audiobooks; Children, Health, Metaphysical, Spiritual, Women, Self-help, Writing, Inspirational, Motivational

Jeanette Lambert

Tennessee Tribune

6940 Sunderland Circle

Nashville, TN 37221-4621

Phone: 615-321-3268

jbl96@aol.com

Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, General, How-To, Library, Lifestyle, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Reference, Sociology, Travel/Hospitality, Women, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education

Jennifer L. B. Leese

AStoryWeaver's Book Reviews

311 Frederick Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740

AStoryWeaver@aol.com

http://www.geocities.com/ladyjiraff/aswbr.html

Categories: Children, Young Adult - Children. Ebooks should be sent to home address on disc or in printed format. Please supply all information needed to properly review your book and where to send the review when done. For faster responses, the review can be sent to you via email.

Cathi Dunn MacRae, Editor

VOYA

Scarecrow Press

4720 Boston Way

Lanham, MD 20706

voya@voya.com

http://www.voya.com

Categories: Young Adult & Children

Sandra J. Morgan

Cloudy Mountain Books/The Fiction Forest

2 Bow Mills Road

Center Barnstead, NH 03225

Phone: 603 776 0123

sandi@fictionforest.com

http://www.fictionforest.com

Categories: Audiobooks, Australian Books, Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial

Christian Perring, Ph.D.

Metapsychology Online Review

c/o Philosophy Dept

Dowling College

Oakdale , NY 11769

Phone: 631-244-3349

metapsychology@mentalhelp.net

http://mentalhelp.net/books/

Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, General, Health, Humanities, Literature, Metaphysical, Mystery, Pop Culture, Sociology, Women, Young Adult - Children, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Comics, Science

Puala Rohrlick

KLIATT Young Adult Paperback Book Guide

33 Bay State Rd.,

Welesley, MA 02481

Phone: 781-237-7577

kliatt@aol.com

http://www.hometown.aol.com/kliatt

Categories: Young Adult - Children

Geoff Rotunno

the boox review

PO Box 211

Santa Ynez, CA 93460

geoff@thebooxreview.com

http://www.thebooxreview.com

Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Junior College Books, Books From Small Presses, Children, Children's Religion, Christian, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Metaphysical, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Young Adult/Children's, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Business, Comics, Gardening, Science, Education, History/Political Comments: Seeking review copies of all genres except romance.

Beverly J. Rowe

myshelf.com

102 Copper Lane

Kenai, AK 99611

Phone: (907) 283-2840

bevbooks@aol.com

Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Young Adult - Children, Biography, Thriller/Suspense, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education, History/Political. Prefers hard copies.

J.B. Scott

Sydney, NSW 2148

ctf_editor@iprimus.com.au

http://www.geocities.com/ebook_review

Categories: Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Books From Small Presses, Children, Fiction, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks

E-mail all review requests to ctf_editor@iprimus.com.au with "REVIEW REQUEST" in the subject header.

Sandra Simmons-Maike

Freelance

Rt. 2 Box 152

Alma, KS 66401

Phone: 785-765-3861

sandcogroup@aol.com

Categories: Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, General, Library, Lifestyle, Marketing, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Self-help. Include time deadline.

Roger Sutton, Editor

Horn Book Magazine

56 Roland Street, Suite 200

Boston, MA 02129

Phone: 617-628-0225

Categories: Children, Young Adult - Children

Niki Taylor

Freelance

nat0607@hotmail.com

http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/book_reviews

Categories: Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Pop Culture, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Women, Young Adult - Children, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, eBooks, Theater, Film History, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, History/Political

Anna Serra i Vidal

Aledaños. Boletín electronico y crítico de literatura

Eiximenis, 6

Sant Pere de Ribes, Barcelona 08810

Phone: + 34 93 896 25 04

aserra@ctv.es

Categories: Children, Cookbook, Fiction, Literature, Mystery, Women, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Writing, promotion & publishing, Education

Christopher Warner

EFP - Spratt Publishing

4924 Balboa Blvd

Suite 304

Los Angeles, CA 91316

Phone: 818-881-7053

efp@dslextreme.com

Categories: Art, Audiobooks, Australian Books, Computer/Internet/Technology, Junior College Books, Books From Small Presses, Children's Book, Cookbook, Features, Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Fiction, Gay/Lesbian Non-Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Humanities, Library, Lifestyle, Literature, Marketing, Metaphysical, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Pop Culture, Reference, Religion, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Sociology, Spiritual, Travel/Hospitality, Video, Women, Young Adult/Children's, Psychology/Mental Health, Biography, Parenting, Thriller/Suspense, eBooks, Theater, Politics, Film History, African-American Fiction and Nonfiction , Financial, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Business, Comics, Gardening, Science, Education, Scholarly, History/Political, Adventure, Nature, Horror, Photography

Brenda Weeaks

MyShelf.Com

reviews@myshelf.com

http://www.myshelf.com

Categories: Audiobooks, Books From Small Presses, Children, Christian, Cookbook, Fiction, Food, General, Health, How-To, Literature, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Reference, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Serials, Women, Young Adult - Children, Thriller/Suspense, Self-help, Writing, promotion & publishing, Inspirational/Motivational, Gardening

Stephanie Zvirin

Booklist/American Library Association

50 E. Huron

Chicago, IL 60611

http://www.ala.org/booklist/

Categories: Young Adult

Once a few book reviewers write about your book, other book reviewers will follow. Be prepared for these subsequent book reviewers. Have copies of your book ready to send out with your author packet.