Q&A: How can I get my book reviewed by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews?

QUESTION: How can an author get a book review in the major trade and library journals?

ANSWER: Most newspapers and magazines have reduced space for book reviews in recent years, even as the number of books published has skyrocketed. Many reviews today are syndicated by national writers, leaving little opportunity for new authors to get reviewed, even in local media.

These long odds haven’t deterred many authors, and traditional media outlets are being bombarded with self-published books. Most old-media reviewers simply won’t consider reviewing a book unless it’s from a major trade publisher.

Sometimes feature sections of newspapers -- such as the Lifestyle, Home, or Business sections -- are more likely to feature a book, particularly one by a local author.

One drawback to distributing review copies is that many of the books will quickly appear for sale on Amazon Marketplace, even if you stamp "Review Copy, Not For Sale" on the front cover. Although Amazon’s policies prohibit the sale of review copies, it still occurs, and of course you’ll receive no revenue from such sales.

You certainly don't want to refuse a legitimate request for a review copy. But a more realistic strategy for obtaining reviews in print media is to target specialized magazines and trade publications in your niche. You can find such publications by consulting Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media, available in many larger libraries.

If more than three months remain before your book's publication date, you can submit it for consideration in these trade review publications:

Booklist:
800-545-2433

Kirkus Reviews:
212-777-4554

Library Journal:
212-463-6823

Publisher’s Weekly
212-645-9700

Midwest Book Review
608-835-7937

Self-published authors get special consideration from Midwest Book Review, which also gives special preference to small presses and members of the Publishers Marketing Association. If your book is selected, its review will be posted to online retailers, relevant Web sites and forums, and included on an interactive CD-ROM provided to corporate, academic, and public library systems.