Writers Tricks of the Trade SPRING 2017 ISSUE 2, VOLUME 7 | Page 12

R EVIEWS (C ONT ’ D .)
NYT B EST S ELLERS L IST
APRIL 16, 2017
NYT Complete Lists
COMBINED PRINT & E-
BOOK FICTION
1. THE BLACK BOOK BY
J AMES P ATTERSON AND
D AVID E LLIS
2. THE SHACK BY W ILLIAM
P. Y OUNG
3. BIG LITTLE LIES BY
L IANE M ORIARTY
4. IMMORTAL
UNCHAINED BY L YNSAY
S ANDS
5. A MAN CALLED OVE BY
F REDRIK B ACKMAN
COMBINED PRINT & E-
BOOK NON-FICTION
1. OLD SCHOOL BY B ILL
O'R EILLY AND B RUCE
F EIRSTEIN
2. THE ZOOKEEPER’S
WIFE BY D IANE A CKERMAN
3. ON TYRANY BY
T IMOTHY S NYDER
4. HILLBILLY ELEGY BY
J. D. V ANCE
5. HIDDEN FIGURES BY
M ARGOT L EE S HETTERLY
S PRING 2017
Pubs Specializing In My Genre
I’ve had a bit of luck with this. I searched out publications that specialize in
my genre and found a few of the classics that are still around, and a few new
ones. I got busy and received at least one response. So far, only one accepts
unsolicited reviews without charging for them. Still, that’s a killer magazine and
if my book gets in there, that’s a big step up.
Still Searching
There are the random sites I stumble on here and there because I do a bit
of searching every day. If anyone ever said marketing and getting book reviews
was easy, they’re crazy! It’s an ongoing process and nobody is going to do it
but me. My publisher IS helping, of course, and networking with other authors
helps also.
My main intention is to tell you all to be prepared. This is especially true if
you don’t want to pay a second mortgage, possibly more than you’ll ever make
from the sale of your book, to get the word out!
Happy writing.
Fred
E DITORS NOTE : When you see these emails or posts telling you they are
the “latest, greatest” website or reviewer for getting your book out there,
remember that is what they are telling you. Several show testimonials from people
they have reviewed or whose books have been posted on their website.
All those kudos look impressive, right? Well, maybe not. Do yourself a favor.
Spend a little time on Amazon and research the books of some of these authors—
particularly one where the author cites the book they reviewed if you are looking at a
reviewer. For a book promotion site, is it something worth the price being asked?
Frequently you will find the ranking of these books in the millions. That is when you
pass and save your money. Probably no better than a free listing. If a book has a good
ranking, it was probably a good book and perhaps that review or promotion site(s)
helped to put it there. If you are going to pay for reviews or promotion, make sure you
don’t pay for something that doesn’t appear to have helped one iota.
I don’t personally believe in paying for reviews. I prefer honest reviews, although
sometimes readers post bad reviews just because they can. I am happy to send a
digital book to a reviewer in exchange for an honest review. Sending print books
becomes very expensive, unless that reviewer is high profile, requires a print copy and
it is worth spending the money. The trick is to get as many reviews as you can. In their
algorithm Amazon pays attention to the number of reviews.
Happy writing.
Fred
P AGE 4
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE TRADE