Hi Everybody (or nearly everybody.
Have not been able to entice Sid, Sophia, Phil or Irena to the table yet)
While there is no hard evidence that
reviews, even good reviews, increase the sales of any book, getting books
reviewed is part of the life-cycle of any book. Comments from reviews make good
back cover comments for subsequent print runs.
Reviews always look more
authoritative to editors and reviewers when they come from the publisher. Self
published books are seldom reviewed. So, as ‘Editor’ I will send out the covers
letters for you to the magazines, periodicals or online outlets. Just follow
these steps.
1)
have review copies on hand. When
ordering, get at least 6 extra books to send out as review copies.
2)
Choose your review outlet, hardcopy
publication, online…
3)
Write a covering letter as per the
template below. Send the covering letter to me. I will sign it and send it on
to the appropriate outlet. Letters are to the editor, not the individual
reviewer, although you might suggest a suitable reviewer to the editor if you
have one in mind.
4)
As soon as I’ve sent the letter, post
the book to the outlet.
5)
Remind me after 3 weeks if you’ve
heard nothing from me, and I’ll prompt the editor
Note that I’ve drawn Phillip in as
co-editor, at least on paper, so that he can sign the letters for my books! He
also has a recognised name.
Covering letter template: writers to
fill in square brackets. Feel free to adapt this template, but remember, covering letters should be brief and to the
point. I’ll add info to this template if it needs it.
Dear [name of editor]
Please find [name of book] enclosed
for review. [Name of book] is a
[novel/poetry book/ children’s book]. We trust [name of book] will have a wide
appeal among your readers.
[short description of book, no more
than two sentences.]
Lasavia Publishing is a cooperative
of writers and artists working together to get their work to public. Editors
are myself and Phillip Mann.
Best
Mike Johnson
Below is a list of periodicals
suitable for more literary works. We can build on this list; it’s just a
beginning. Add any you have in the comments section. We can’t edit the blogs,
but of course we can cut and paste to a folder on our desktops. Let’s build up a
list of suitable reviewers. We need to add Metro to this list. I don’t know
review outlets for children’s books. Help needed there.
Landfall
Mail
to:
The Editor
Landfall
Otago University Press
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Tel:
64 3 479 4155
Sport
●
c/- VUP
●
PO Box 600
●
Wellington
●
New Zealand
●
Fax: +64 (0)4 463 6581
●
Email: fergus.barrowman at vuw.ac.nz
Takahe
Editor – Cassandra Fusco
reviews@takahe.org.nz
●
Reviews are solicited by the Reviews
Editor.
●
Books for review may be sent to:
●
takahē, PO Box 13 335, Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand.
NZ
books
All submissions for review should go
to:
PO Box 28 084
Kelburn
Wellington 6150
North and South
GENERAL
ENQUIRIES
Bauer Media New Zealand Head Office
Private Bag 92512
Auckland
1036
New Zealand
T: +64 (0) 9 308 2700
F: +64 (0) 9 308 2878
