Cheryl C. Malandrinos is the Editor of The Book Connection, a blog focusing on reviews, author interviews, and on hosting virtual book tour guests. She's also a reviewer for The Muse Book Reviews. Cheryl is currently looking for more reviewers to join her blog, especially for those who review ebooks. A virtual book tour coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion, Cheryl sees a bright future for review bloggers and calls the Internet a 'huge promotion playground' for publicists and authors.
Thanks for this interview, Cheryl. How long have you been reviewing?
Hard to believe, but I’ve been reviewing books for two years now. I began by reviewing books for my own enjoyment at my Aspiring Author blog. Then I joined The Muse Book Reviews in 2007. In July of last year, I was interviewing so many authors and reviewing so many books that I began The Book Connection - which is where I post all my reviews now.
How many books do you review a month?
This all depends, because in addition to reviewing and interviewing authors at The Book Connection, I am also a virtual book tour coordinator for Pump Up Your Book Promotion. In addition, I’ll review just about anything and some months I have more children’s books -which can be read quicker than novels. So, it can range anywhere between two and ten books a month.
Are you currently recruiting more reviewers? If so, what are your guidelines?
This is something that I’ve considered for a while now, because I would like to grow the site and offer more to my readers. If anyone is interested in reviewing for The Book Connection, he or she can contact me at cg20pm00(at)gmail(dot)com. Place “The Book Connection” in the subject line and include a copy of a recent review, any publishing credits, what genres he/she is interested in reviewing, and if he/she accepts eBooks.
I encourage anyone who is interested in becoming a reviewer for The Book Connection to view the site and see what types of reviews are there. While I don’t expect everyone to write in a similar style, I expect a review to provide enough information to the reader to allow her to make an informed buying decision. A synopsis and three sentences doesn’t cut it.
Article comments
1 - Beverly McClure
A good interview. I agree that it's important not to give away too much of the story, but enough to make the reader want to read the book.
Thanks for your thoughts, Cheryl. I may visit your site for an interview request for my forthcoming ya novel.
Have a good day.
Beverly
2 - c hoare
Hi Ladies -- a good interview.
One of Cheryl's answers prompted a question in my mind. How can one write a review that imparts the sense of the reader's experience -- given that this is more than simply an interaction between plot and character. I can still remember how science fiction novels imparted something that was called a 'sense of wonder' that I as a teenage reader felt, but couldn't explain.
Chris H.
3 - Margay
Cheryl, what a great interview! I will be checking out your other websites.
4 - Margay
Silly me - I just discovered that I have been to, and commented on a post at, The Book Connection. I thought it sounded familiar! Anyway, it's a good site and the Aspiring Author site looks fine, too. How do you find time to do it? However you do, just keep on doing it because it is a great service to readers and writers alike.
5 - Joy Delgado
Good interview Mayra. Cheryl, I like your site and will be sending you a review request in the next few months. Thanks for the information.
Joy Delgado
6 - Maryann Miller
Another good interview, Mayra. Thanks so much.
In answer to Chris's question about imparting that sense of wonder in a review, I think a reviewer can do that by describing the magic of word usage, depth of characterization, or lyrical narrative that is engaging. I just finished reading a Y/A novel for review that is written in verse. The "wonder" of this book is the variety of rhythms used and the voices of each of the characters. Unique style that the author pulls off well and left me with that sense of "wonder."
The book is Ringside, 1925 and I will be posting a review on Bloggernews.net this weekend.
7 - Pauline Jones
Another great interview. I'm learning so much about how different sites/reviewers approach the process. And realizing I'm not cut out to be a reviewer! I'm of the "I liked it, I didn't like" school. (grin)
8 - Margot Finke
Mayra, your iterview with Cheryl C. Malandrinos was fun to read. Again I learned more about The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing. . .
Thanks to you and Cheryl.
Margot Finke
"Rattlesnake Jam"
and MORE. . .
9 - A. F. Stewart
Great interview. I agree a review should be honest and critical, but not scathing.