Review Copies
Here's a recent question posed to me:
In the big picture, how important are review copies. With 150,000 (or whatever the latest number is) new books hitting the market each year, how many actually get reviewed? Of those reviews, how many result in sales?
This is a hard one to answer. How many times do you see an ad for a movie before you decide to go see it? I think it's about exposure to the public overall. While one good review might not sell books, when that article is coupled with a print ad in another magazine, an interview on the radio, seeing the book in a floor display in the store it starts to get readers' attention. After all, if that many people are interested in it, shouldn't I? No one wants to be left out.
Unfortunately most books don't get the multiple "hits" mentioned above. Some are lucky to get any shelf space and Barnes and Noble.
And what happens if that review copy you sent out results in a bad review? Some say, "Any exposure is good exposure" but is that really true? At least in the selling of Christian fiction? I don't know. Sure there are the people who want to decide for themselves about such things, but there are others who decide against reading it if so and so gives a book a bad review. I know that if there's a movie I'm undecided about seeing and I read a review that pans it, I'm much less likely to spend my money on it.
So, what's an author to do? Be smart about WHO you're sending your review copies to. If they've given positive reviews to similar works odds are better they'll like your work as well. Don't take the shotgun approach. If you write women's fiction, send review copies to women's fiction type folks, not to the Sci fi guy a friend of a friend knows. Work smart--it'll get you further than just working hard.
More later,
Traci
4 Comments:
To me, reviews are terribly important. Especially if it is an author I haven’t previously read. I’m very reluctant to buy books by someone who doesn’t already have a good track record in my mind, which is a shame, because I tend to miss out on some great reads. So I depend a lot on word and mouth. The problem with word and mouth is that people typically rave only about the books they liked. They don’t often say much about the ones they didn’t like – unless it contained something contrary to their beliefs. Even I am less than likely to tell someone all about a book I simply didn’t enjoy. This can lead to one-sided opinions on a book. I fell into this trap not so long ago. A few people raved about a particular book, which led me to expect a fantastic read. Thankfully I refrained from buying it and lent it from one of the ravers. I was hugely disappointed. I found large passages of the book boring, and the storyline dragged. Had it been another book, I would have scanned reviews first to get a more balanced opinion on the book. I didn’t do this because I had been asked by another reviewer for my overall opinions on the book and didn’t want to cloud my judgement before reading it. Since I live in a country that doesn’t have massive Christian fiction sales, I depend a lot on reviews, coupled with word and mouth endorsements of course. When I find books or authors I really enjoy, I guarantee you I am a walking, talking advertisement.
Good entry. My godfather owns a christian bookstore in south georgia. He says that most of his customers come to him and ask him what do you have that is Good? They know he is devoted to God's will and he wouldn't stock or recommend anything that isn't inspired. After growing up in that store and then later becoming a reviewer here in Atlanta. I believe that my goal isn't just to point out if a book is literary sound, but God Sound. Christian Fiction reviews--if this world was mine--must be about the message and whether or not the book satiates someone seeking spiritual guidance or God.
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I just recently had reviewers request my book. Fortunate my publisher will send review copies to them. I checked two of them out and found them to be okay and friendly to the genre. However, I will approach future requests a little more systematically.
Thanks
Jeff
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