Interview with Magdalena Ball of The Compulsive Reader and Blogcritics Magazine - Page 3

Part of: The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing
Author: Mayra Calvani — Published: Jun 05, 2008 at 6:22 pm 10 comments

How should an author contact you about a review request? Do you review e-books as well?  

Guidelines for review requests are here, but basically authors should just send a few paragraph synopsis via email to me, and if I feel the book fits I'll circulate the request to my reviewers to see if anyone wants to take it on.  I will almost always take on a literary fiction title if the request is very well written (literary fiction is a fuzzy genre at times, and sometimes authors will tell me their book is literary fiction but the synopsis will read like a very clear Harlequin styled romance or hard core science fiction, and I'll still reject it).  Sometimes I might take on books in other genres if I know we have reviewers interested in them (or if they sound so good, the genre becomes irrelevant), and sometimes I'll reject a book because I know all of my reviewers are overloaded and behind on their reviews and not keen to take on more, so I'm not always consistent!  It's always worth a try.   

What do you look for in a book review?

I'm particular on this point, but I like a review with a lot of detail and specific examples (quotes) which demonstrate the points being made. I'm very keen on an assessment of quality, rather than just a plot summary. I want to know, as a reader as much as an editor, whether this book is worth my limited time and I need enough detail so that I can judge if the reviewer's assessment aligns with my own.

How influential is a positive or negative review on whether or not a person purchases a book?
 
I'd have to say firstly, that it's almost impossible to determine what the specific drivers for book purchasing are. Somehow your name has to be on a buyer's mind when they're at point of purchase and a positive book review is one way of assisting in making that happen (especially with an online store like Amazon). But I don't want to overstate that value either, as I know authors who have had great reviews and are still disappointed with their book sales.
 
According to Bowker, there were 411,422 books published in 2007 in the US alone, so having your name on a buyers lips at sale point is not an easy thing to achieve and it may take a lot more than good book reviews (it might, for example, take 5 books out with good reviews, or a big award, or a mention on Oprah, or a big visual promotion in the Borders shop). Book reviews are just one step in the creation of buzz, which also includes radio shows, television (if you're very lucky or well known already), blogging, in person appearances, etc. A good book review, even in the NYTimes, may or may not influence a person into buying a book — they still have to be thinking of you at sale point, and it may simply be that all they can remember is that their friends are all talking about Dan Brown and Jodi Picoult and both have a big display and were Oprah's book of the month.
 
What I will say, and this is a very important point, is that book reviews are not solely vehicles for making people buy your book. They aren't promotional tools. They're a key part and parcel of ensuring your recognition as a respected author. That's not necessarily the same thing as being a best selling author (though there is a tenuous connection between respect and sales!). Without positive (respectable, objective) book reviews, you simply won't be seen as professional author in the eyes of the public (yes, the book buying public), publishers, and media sources. It's a key part of being an author — your peer/professional review portfolio. It's a key judgment call, and should be seen that way, rather than seen as a sales tool. That doesn't mean you can't work a good review to influence sales, but authors who see reviews as sales tools only are missing the point of the review — it's part of how you are being judged and that's critical for any creative professional.
  
Do you think there's a lot of 'facile praise' among many online review sites? What is your policy when it comes to negative reviews?   

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2 — Page 3 — Page 4 — Page 5 — Page 6 — Page 7 — Page 8

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Article Author: Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani is the National Latino Books Examiner for Examiner.com.

Visit Mayra Calvani's author page — Mayra Calvani's Blog

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Article comments

  • 1 - Donna McDine

    Jun 06, 2008 at 8:46 am

    Mayra & Magdalena...what a wonderful insightful interview. The questions and answers truly gives great indepth insight into the reviewing world.

    Thanks!
    Donna

  • 2 - Aaron Paul Lazar

    Jun 06, 2008 at 8:55 am

    Hello, Maggie and Mayra! This is a delightful glimpse into Maggie's world. I truly enjoyed it and must say I do cherish the longer, more analytic reviews highly (whether my own books are being reviewed, or I'm reading to determine my next book purchase!), and aim for the same quality with the reviews I write. Thanks for posting this, Mayra. Great information!

  • 3 - Beverly McClure

    Jun 06, 2008 at 8:58 am

    Thanks for this great interview. I was especially interested in the mistakes amateur reviewers (like me) make. Also, whether the interview influences a person's choice to purchase the book.

    I enjoyed reading your advice and comments.

    Beverly

  • 4 - Linda Austin

    Jun 06, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Maggie gave wonderfully detailed and indepth answers to good questions, and I also love how her site is another champion for new and lesser-known authors. This interview has been a learning experience.

  • 5 - A. F. Stewart

    Jun 06, 2008 at 10:47 am

    The world of reviews and reviewers is far more complicated than I imagined. A wonderful interview, and some great insights.

  • 6 - Joy Delgado

    Jun 06, 2008 at 11:07 am

    Thanks once again Mayra for an exceptional interview. Magdalena your answers to Mayra's questions gave me a better look into the world of reviewing. Thanks

    Joy

  • 7 - Carolyn Howard-Johnson

    Jun 06, 2008 at 11:29 am

    When Mayra interviewed me(coming June 8), she asked me if reviews are influential. Some are far more influential than others. Magadalena's reviews are so thoughtful and complete I use her reviews of my book, The Frugal Editor, in my media kit. Maggie also names her top ten reads on her site at the end of the year. My chapbook of poetry, Tracings, was so-named and that is very nearly like winning a contest. I've used it to great advantage in my promotion campaign. And believe me, poetry needs to be promoted! (-:
    Best,
    Carolyn Howard-Johnson
    Award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers

  • 8 - Shari Lyle-Soffe

    Jun 06, 2008 at 11:46 am

    Mayra

    Another terrific interview. Thanks.

  • 9 - c hoare

    Jun 06, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    These interviews are a great resource, and a couple of things occurred to me --

    Are these interviews in the published copy of The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, or will there always be a link where we can find them again? I'm beginning to suspect the first and will definitely buy a copy -- they're valuable for writers as well as potential reviewers.

    Chris.

  • 10 - Margay

    Jun 08, 2008 at 8:03 am

    Magdalena, I love The Compulsive Reader! It is one of my favorite feeds and I have a lot because, well, I am a compulsive reader. This was a fantastic interview, one of the best I've read in awhile. You are so well-informed and you inform others well. That is a gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Margay

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