Jump to content

New Policy for Book Reviews


Recommended Posts

Several years ago AALBC.com, following the lead of industry leaders like Kirkus, began offering fee based book reviews.  This service was also added in reaction to the on going problem is receiving FAR more requests for book reviews than we could afford to pay writers to write.  The fee based book review guarantees a review written by a professional book reviewer in 6 weeks or less.

We continue to write and publish free (free to the author) book reviews, so the problem of receiving more requests than we can handle persists

You may have noticed a recent increase in the number of authors posting information about their books on the website with some explicitly expressing an interest in a book review. This is the result in a recent procedure change, as it relates to requesting an AALBC.com book review (free).

Previously AALBC.com accepted book review requests via email, but takes a significant portion of time to review and reply to these requests.  As a result, I only replied to those authors whose books we chose to review.  Given that the vast majority of these book would not be reviewed, this policy made sense in terms of efficiency.  However the author's effort was wasted if their book was not reviewed.

Recently I decided to instruct authors to post book review requests on our literature forum.  This offers the author several significant benefits:

  1. The book will be seen by readers who visit the forum, which is free promotion and an opportunity to directly engage with readers.
  2. I use this forum to look for eNewsletter and website content, so there are, potentially, additional opportunities for book promotion beyond the book review.
  3. The book's information will become a permanent part of the website with is good for SEO.
  4. AALBC.com will only consider books posted on the forum for review.  The likelihood a book being reviewed goes up dramatically, because the pool of books considered for reviews gets smaller, as many authors will continue to send emails (oblivious to, or ignoring the policy).

This is win-win.  I'm looking forward to discovering more books as a result of this policy and continuing to improve this platform for allowing authors to share information about their work.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are people really looking for book reviews?  Everybody thinks the book they have written is a great read.  What all authors are really looking for is a favorable critique. Those desiring reviews should be warned about being careful what they wish for because they might get it, - in the form of a one star rating.   :(

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

ABSOLUTELY! Anyone producing a book with a brain in their head knows that a book review from a respected source drives sales.

My dream would be to become one of those universally respected sources like NY Times, Kirkus, etc.  There is indeed an opportunity because all those "respected sources" don't actually review books written Black Black people (the numbers are so small as to be insignificant). 

Any author worth their salt, would happily risk getting an unfavorable review from the NY Times, rather than be ignored.  I have published many unfavorable reviews over the years.  Again, there is no such thing as bad publicity. 

AALBC.com in this sapce has a great deal of potential, we collectively just need to embrace it, the majority culture will if we do.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any author getting a review from the NY times is sophisticated enough to realize the value a good or bad review. Self published authors, particularly black ones, are notoriously thin-skinned because their books are labors of love and a bad review hurts their feelings and stirs their resentment.  I've seen this time and time again. 

There is such a thing as bad publicity .  It can ruin someone's career.  Look at Bill Cosby.   

So, we have to agree to disagree.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bill's career had already wound down, but like Michael Jackson or R Kelly, if Bill decided to go on a tour today and talk about his experiences, people would come out in droves, Bill would make tons of money and the media would be climbing over each other to cover it. You know this.  Without this controversy, fewer people would be interested in Bill.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You better believe that any high profile actor or sports figure or politician or Fortune 500 CEO  who becomes a party in a highly publicized scandal involving child porn or rape or talking steroids or accepting bribes or committing embezzlement, is not publicity anybody considers good, and in most cases careers and endorsements are adversely affected.   

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Cynique the point of the cliche is that good or bad publicity is better than no publicity at all, for someone seeking the attention of the public.

Besides, getting busted for raping a child is stretching the point way too far.  I'm not suggesting people engage in vile illegal activity, or cheat at a sport, or attention (though they will get it). 

If we regin this in back to my point concerning book reviews specifically, or publicity in general, an unfavorable review in the NY Times is better the no review at all.  

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...