Book Reviewer Yellow Pages

 Are you trying to promote your books? Are you a writer, publisher, or agent? Promote your book with this bestselling author's reference, the Book Reviewer Yellow Pages. Make your book promotion easier, and get the publicity you need from book reviewers. Learn how and where to submit your book for review. There are hundreds of new book reviewers listed in this book. Each listing details the individual book reviewer's:

Contact Information
Pet Peeves
Preferred Genres
Submission Guidelines

Reviewers are rated for quality and influence. This new edition includes several blog tour sites and their submission guidelines. Learn how to get the exposure that your book deserves! Authors and book reviewers can sign up for alerts at: http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net *Note: This book is enrolled in the Kindle MATCHBOOK program. If you purchase the paperback from Amazon, the Kindle edition is free. The paperback has a genre index, which makes searching for accepted genres easy. The Kindle version has clickable website links (which is impossible to do in a paperback), so you can click directly to the reviewer's site and contact page. The publisher of this book recommends purchasing the paperback and then downloading the Kindle edition for free using Amazon's Matchbook program, and using both versions to maximize your promotion efforts. PROMO TIP: This is a reference book with active hyperlinks in the e-book. It is easier to view and use the Kindle edition of this book on a computer using Amazon's free Kindle app. That way, you can use the full screen to check genre preferences and submit your query right from your desktop.  

Purchase

Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Amazon

Interview with Christine Pinheiro, Editor, Defiant Press The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages is a bestselling author’s promotional reference, designed specifically for authors who need book reviewers for their books.

Where did you get the idea for the Book Reviewer Yellow Pages? At first, I did it purely out of self-interest! I wrote a nonfiction book in 2007, and I had a very difficult time finding book reviewers. It seemed like an impossible task. All of the regular outlets were closed to me—where do you go when you can’t get a review in the New York Times? Where do the “little guys” go when they need to promote their books? So I started the Book Reviewer Yellow Pages out of my own frustration. At first, the Book Reviewer Yellow Pages was just a big list on a simple website. I added to the list when I had spare time. Book reviewers started seeking me out, and asking to be put on the list, and it just grew from there. In 2009, I published the first “Book Reviewer Yellow Pages,” and the rest is history. The list just grew organically. Now we have hundreds of book reviewers on our list, and thousands of authors subscribe to the newsletter.

How about the book reviewers themselves, what do they get out of it? Many book reviewers just do it for fun, and they get the benefit of free books and ARCs (advance review copies). Quite a few of them also earn money, either from sidebar advertising, blog tours, or other author’s services. There are so many self-published authors out there right now, trying to promote their books without the help of a traditional publisher, so there’s a lot of little business ventures cropping up to serve them.

Many reviewers list their “pet peeves,” is this something that the authors really want to know? Yes! It’s the most popular part of the questionnaire—all the reviewers have their own horror stories. Sadly, many authors have terrible etiquette when they request book reviews. Many don’t take the time to even spell-check their queries, or find out if the reviewer is a man or a woman, so they can address them correctly! I used to review books myself, and it’s amazing how many times I’ve gotten a review request with nothing but a link to the book. No signature, no salutation, nothing! Why would I review your book, when you aren’t even willing to take a few minutes to send me a proper review request? We also added an “author etiquette” section to the front of the book, and that seems to help a bit.

Do Book Reviews really help sales? They’ve helped my own book sales tremendously, and I know hundreds of authors who would say the same. Look, everyone knows that book promotion is boring work. Contacting dozens of book reviewers is time consuming, and you have to deal with rejection, but the payoff from a positive book review is enormous. That’s been the case in my own writing career. Reviews really help sales, and it’s nice to have a public testimonial that customers can refer to when they purchase. On the flip side, many of the reviewers accept ARCs and also work as beta-readers, so if you can get a few good reviewers to read through your manuscript before publication, they might be able to give you valuable feedback. I found a big plot hole in one of my novels that way—a reviewer found the problem, and I was able to fix it before the book went to publication.

Do reviewers ever drop off the list? Can authors get updates? Yes, on our website. Reviewers get added and removed on a regular basis—and the list goes through a complete overhaul once a year. I do a formal update every April. That’s when we put out a new edition of the book, as well as update the reviewer list on the website. The abbreviated list on the website is free, and authors and publishers can sign up for updates to the list here: http://www.stepbystepselfpublishing.net. The newsletter is also free.

Do you have any advice for authors? Be polite to book reviewers, always. Not everyone is going to like your book, that’s just the nature of game. But publishing is a business, and it pays to be professional. It’s just like any other creative business. Reviewers are our critics, and they give us valuable feedback that we need to improve. One of the best reviews I ever received on the Book Reviewer Yellow Pages was mildly negative. The writer gave me tons of feedback on how to make the book better. I followed his advice, and the book has been more profitable since. Book Reviewers really want to help authors—I’ve never met a single book reviewer that was interested in just tearing an author down. We are all in this business together!  

For more information visit: 

The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages Website * Facebook

Blast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Out of My Comfort Zone

I did a book signing the weekend before last. The signing was great, but I learned even more on the way home. The four of us, Tristi Pinkston, Daron Fraley, Don Carey, and I stopped at libraries and bookstores between Logan and Salt Lake. Following Tristi's lead, I learned from a fearless master to step out of my comfort zone and approach people about my book.

I don't have a problem talking to people. I can talk for a long time (just ask my kids), but talking to someone about my author self and my books is something altogether different. I always feel funny talking up my book because I feel like I'm bragging and being conceited or something. I love to talk writing and I love my books, but I don't want people to think of me as a salesperson trying to pawn off my books. Yet, if I don't talk about my books than I may not be doing part of my job as an author. It's a catch-22 for me.

I used to think being an author meant I wrote books. That's true, but that isn't the whole picture. Promotion and marketing are a big part of being an author. With so many great LDS books by so many talented authors, how will I stand out, especially if I don't try to promote mine? And, yet, I feel like that obnoxious car salesman that won't leave you alone for two seconds. 

I haven't been too vocal about my books in the area where I live. I have visited, and even done a book launch, at an area LDS bookstore (I've known the owners forever) and I've contacted the newspaper to do an article. But, other than that, I leave my promotion to what I can do online because I'm way cooler online. But, after watching Mistress Tristi in action, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try a few more things in my area.

I visited an area library and asked if I could leave bookmarks, but was told I couldn't. I then visited Hastings Bookstore and asked again. Not only did they allow me to leave bookmarks, but asked if I'd like to do a book signing. A few days later, I visited another nearby library. After slipping on the ice and landing in a snowbank, I wiped myself off, shook the snow out of my shoe, dusted off my purse, and asked if I could leave bookmarks. I was pleasantly surprised when the librarian there agreed to let me. I then went to a bookstore near that library and was able to leave bookmarks. The gentleman even asked me to call back so they could get more information and help promote a local author. Hooray!!

I'd still much rather write than promote. And if I never had to promote again, I'd be happy. But, it is what it is and stepping out of my comfort zone didn't actually kill me so I may try it again. Someday.

End-of-the-Summer Giveaways

I also blog with some great Cedar Fort authors over at Writing Fortress. Right now we're sponsoring a big giveaway. If you're interested in winning a copy of my book, Altared Plans, or any of the other fantastic books go visit our blog, leave a comment, and you'll be entered to win. Who wouldn't want to win a free book? Check it out!!

I actually saw my book on the shelf at the BYU Bookstore--it gave me little happy chills all over. I went to a Seagull Bookstore and didn't see it so I asked the saleslady about it. She said they had two copies but had sold them, one of which she bought. She said there have been requests for it. Again, I had the happy little chills. Deseret Book is still deciding if it wants to carry it. I'm crossing my fingers DB will carry it, otherwise it'll be hard to sell very many copies.

I love, love, love writing, but the promotion part isn't quite as much fun. I always feel funny trying to promote my book because I feel like I'm saying, "Hey, I'm super cool and so is my book. You should spend your hard-earned money on it instead of something you really need, like food." Totally out of my comfort zone. Unfortunately, in this day and age of publishing, especially in the LDS market, authors are expected to do most, if not all, of the promotion. What's hard for me is that I don't have the power to put my book in the catalog or place it in the best spot on a shelf at the bookstore. I'm very limited. Thankfully, I've had some awesome people post amazing reviews on their blogs.

If you're interested, here are some links for some of the reviews:

My Life in a Laptop
Why Not? Because I Said So
Rachel Rager
Writing Fortress
Tristi's Picks
JoAnn Arnold

I'll post more reviews later. If you've bought my book: THANK YOU!! I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for your support!!

Review of Heaven Scent

Alison Palmer reviewed Heaven Scent. If you'd like to read what she wrote here's the link.

If you've read Heaven Scent and would like to post a review on Amazon or Deseret Book, I'd sure appreciate it.

Promotion certainly isn't as fun as writing, but it's all part of the publishing thing.

Today we have a soccer game, General Conference, a wedding, and my daughter will be going to another high school's homecoming dance with a young man from a nearby stake whose older brother was my son's mission companion (did I confuse you?). It should be quite a day.

Conference Time

The LDStorymakers Conference is this weekend. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. I'll be able to meet some of my bloggy (to quote Kathleen) friends as well as see other friends again. I'm excited to attend the classes and learn how to improve my writing. I know the guest speakers will be incredible and I'm very excited to learn who will win the Whitney Awards. I love just thinking about attending a "gala." Woo hoo, I'm going to a gala.

While I'm at the conference I'll be able to sell books and give away promotional items. Since Heaven Scent includes an important reference to perfume (hence the title), I've designed a fragrance with the help of Karlene Browning and I will be giving away samples at the conference. I love how it smells, just as I imagined it in my book. I also have beautiful bookmarks that Cedar Fort desgined and printed for me. And since I think chocolate is one of the four main food groups (next to ice cream, peanut M&Ms, and licorice) it's quite possible I'll have chocolate to hand out as well. Now that I've written it down, it all sounds like a bribe, which, I guess, it is.

I will also be selling my picture book, Grasshopper Pie, though I promise not to hand out any live grasshoppers :)

This will be a fun weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.