Dec 13 2008
Meet Booklorn
Blog Name: Booklorn
Blog URL: http://www.booklorn.com/
RSS or Atom Feed Address: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BooksIHaveKnown
Blog Owner: Anysia (or Ann if you prefer)
1. What motivated you to create a book review blog?
I like having a website since it keeps me current on building and maintaining a website, which is an advantage in today’s job market no matter what you do. Also, it keeps my writing skills limber by forcing me to write at least weekly.
I chose book reviewing because I’ve always been an avid reader so this was a good fit (there’s the free books too). I am known in my circle of friends for saying “I have a book on that,” on just about any topic … which gets annoying so I thought I’d channel that aspect of my life online where more people are interested.
2. What do you find most rewarding about book reviewing?
I like finding a great book, especially when it’s an author I wasn’t familiar with and now I have new author to follow. I also like introducing other readers to my favourite authors.
3. What types of books do you review?
I like reviewing:
* Thrillers (all kinds)
* Romance
* Paranormal & Fantasy (more on the paranormal and less on the fantasy side of things)
* Some sci-fi (not hard sci-fi or space opera much)
* Non-fiction: (particularly science/technology; ethics and philosophy of science/environment; self-help on psychology, relationships, work, and ACOAs; memoirs; international and Canadian history; books on writing; I’m sure there are others)
If you want a better idea of what I read, I keep a page of books I’ve read on my blog. I don’t mind controversial if it’s a topic of interest to me.
4. In what genre do you consider yourself to have the most expertise?
I have read a lot of medical/science thrillers and I used to work in biomedical research labs so my expertise is in science. I have a great interest in the ethics and regulation of science/scientists so I try to keep up on things in that area.
I tend to only review self-help that is applicable to me in some way (or someone I’m close to), so you can check out that category on my blog to see my areas of “expertise.”
I write and edit (not just on the blog) so it’s an area of interest, though I would hesitate to say expertise at this point.
5. Is there any type of book that you absolutely will not review?
I don’t review:
* Christian fiction and non-fiction (just not my thing)
* Kid’s books
* Young Adult (this one is not iron clad, but I’m definitely not your best bet for YA, there are plenty of bloggers who specialise in this area)
* Westerns
6. Do you accept submissions from self-published authors?
No, I don’t.
7. Do you accept PDF versions or e-books for review?
Rarely. It’s not out of the question since I reviewed Andrew Pyper’s The Killing Circle that way, but PDFs tend to sink to the bottom of the reading stack. I won’t touch a PDF that has a watermark behind the text and I like the option of being able to make notes as I go, so I don’t like PDFs where that has been turned off.
8. Can an author guest blog for you?
It’s a possibility. I prefer guest posts on topics other than the book, but somehow related (usually on whatever the author’s area of expertise or interest). I think readers get tired of reading interviews and blog posts about the book, particularly on blog tours, so I like to have something different.
9. Do you host book giveaways?
Yes, with some caveats. I won’t host giveaways for books I have no interest in reading (I prefer to get an ARC or book for review, but that’s not an ironclad requirement). If it’s a good fit for my blog I’ll consider it.
I do not, under any circumstances, ship books to winners on behalf of authors/publicists/publishers. I will run a giveaway and collect the mailing address of the winner, but the shipping is up to the sponsor.
I prefer worldwide giveaways. Next in preference is Canada/US giveaways. At this time I am not considering hosting US-only giveaways. E-book giveaways are a possibility, but readers prefer paper books.
10. Do you interview authors?
Rarely. It’s not out of the question, but I don’t do it a lot. Usually only when I’m particularly fascinated by a topic.
11. Do you ever host stops on an organized book tour?
Rarely. Again, it’s not out of the question, but it’s not something I do a lot. I have one coming up next year from a cold request by an author, so it does happen.
12. What is the average turnaround time for a review, from the time the book arrives in your mailbox until the review is posted?
It used to be one month, it has crept up to two months in some cases. I post reviews around the laydown date for the book (unless specifically requested otherwise). The greater lead time you can give me, the better. Things that may send the book to the bottom of the reading stack:
* e-book format
* sending me the book less than one month before the laydown date (unless I requested it less than two months before the laydown date)
* unsolicited books (that one is pretty hard to pull off unless I’ve dealt with you before and you have my address — it’s still best to check with me unless you’re okay with maybe not getting a review for unsolicited books).
* books received from giveaways (may get reviewed, may not — depends on a lot of factors)
If you want a deadline for reviewing a book, discuss it with me before you send me the book. I will agree to a deadline I can meet. If I can’t meet your expectations, it’s better to know that beforehand, right?
13. Do you cross-post reviews to Amazon or other sites?
I post my reviews on Librarything.com and I have my preferences set to share the reviews with other services. I do not post on Amazon (also, amazon requires that you buy from them in order to post a review, and I don’t buy from the US amazon site).
14. Will you notify an author by email when a review is posted?
I will notify someone if they request it and provide me an e-mail address (preferably on a sheet of paper that comes with the book or by e-mail or both).
15. Do you have any specific requirements for review submission?
I have a few requirements or requests, but I don’t think they are particularly onerous:
* Know what I read (if you’re reading this interview you’re 1/2 way there, the other step is to check out my blog).
* Don’t submit requests for self-pub books, you won’t get a reply.
* Don’t send me an obvious form letter, you won’t get a reply. (Hint: having FWD in the subject line is a dead giveaway, as is a generic greeting, a list of other recipients, or an obvious unfamiliarity with my blog).
* Be prepared for the possibility of a negative review. I review all books as if I had to pay money for them, since the people who read my reviews likely will pay money for the book if it interests them. Having said that, I always give reasons when I dislike aspects of a book, and I distinguish between issues of reading preference and issues with the writing/plotting/etc. I don’t like writing negative reviews, so I’m picky about the books I accept (see next point).
* Don’t be offended if I don’t want to review your book. I choose books that I have a high chance of enjoying based on my reading tastes. If I choose not to review your book, it’s not a reflection on the book just on the fit between my reading taste and your book. There are bloggers out there who will love your book and it’s better for everyone (reviewers, authors, and readers) if your book ends up with them.
* Know how to ship review copies internationally if you are not in Canada. I will NOT pay customs fees on a book that has been improperly labelled (I’ve never had a problem with that, but I have heard of it happening to other book bloggers so please know what you are doing).
16. Where can authors submit review queries and to whom should they be addressed?
Authors can submit queries to Ann at booklorn AT gmail DOT com.
I also run the site www.herebereviews.com which might be of interest if you’re looking for book bloggers.
