Apart from celebrity reviewers who work for major publications like The New York Times, can a reviewer make any real money from writing reviews?
Maybe back in the day before the Internet there may have been a chance. But now with the pervasiveness of so much information, most of it free, and the decline in newspaper and magazine readership, it seems highly unlikely. If you can get something for free, and there are many quality sites out there willing to provide exactly that, that means the paying jobs are going to become even more rare, so no, I don’t' think one can make a lot of money out of reviewing, unfortunately!
What advice would you give to beginner reviewers who wish to make a career in this field?
That there really is no way to have a career entirely in this field, unless you're willing to do more than just reviewing, but you're going to have to be willing to dip your feet into a other areas in order to make living, such as editing, publishing, representing, or promoting. But it it's just reviewing you want to do, do it with a commitment and love for books, nothing more.
Do you consider/publish reviews by independent reviewers?
Oh, definitely. Anything that's well written will be looked at and most likely accepted if it falls within our general publishing guidelines, which are really very few.
Do you read reviews to select your reading material?
Actually I do sometimes. It's funny to see how, after reading a book and writing a review, it measures up to different opinions. I try and represent any and all genres within the mystery framework. So just about any type of mystery is welcomed and so it's a mix of what is sent, and what I feel that we "should" include. But always welcomed is new authors from the small publishing houses. I have added a page to the site devoted entirely to "small press" and only hope that readers will continue to give these authors at least a glance.
Article comments
1 - c hoare
I notice some of those interviewed look for a synopsis while others seem to look at that as a sign of a weak review. Perhaps the synopsis might be considered as something of a 'menu' that might allow a reader to decide whether they might want to 'order'?
Chris H.
2 - A. F. Stewart
Great interview.
Reviewers certainly have a great many considerations on their plate. I never realized it was so involved.
3 - Pauline Jones
Very interesting and enlightening. As an author, it is hard when someone doesn't like your work, but it is also part of the business. I always appreciate a reviewer who tries so hard to be fair.
And to learn about a new publication is an additional bonus. :-)
4 - Margot Finke
I LOVE a mystery!! So I was very interested in how Stephanie Padilla, of The New Mystery Reader, answered Mayra's questions. Seems to me this would be a great place to check our new mysteries, before you splurge big bucks on a hard copy for yourself.
Thanks Mayra Calvani for asking Stephanie Padilla the hard questions readers of mysteries want answered.
Margot Finke -
Rhyming fun with
"Rattlesnake Jam"
5 - Margay
Great advice for aspiring reviewers.
6 - Joy Delgado
Mayra,
It's interesting how there are so many different ways to wrtie a review. This series is helping to point out all these varied ways. Thank you
Joy Delgado