Editorial Review opportunity

[cyn]

Editorial reviews are probably the most important to seek. These are reviews from journals read by the all important library crowd and other book purchasers. Typically, these journals only accept books in galley-form and 90-120 days before publication date.

Library Journal is the definitive guide to librarians all over the continent. Because libraries have small budgets, thus staffing, they don't have the time nor resources to review books themselves. They look to journals for recommendations. The best part of having books purchased by libraries? they don't get returned

Here is LJ's information:

Books should be sent to:
Anna Katterjohn, Book Review
Library Journal
360 Park Avenue South,
New York, NY 10010

LJ's fall editorial calendar:

September 1
Christian fiction and mystery

September 15
Graphic novels and SF (speculative fiction)

October 1
First novelists and mystery

October 15
Romance and SF

November 1
Christian fiction and mystery

November 15
Graphic novels and SF

December
Mystery and SF
(of course, they do non fiction as well).

It is important to time the release of your book to correspond with one of the dates above as appropriate -- remember the 90-120 days prior to publication and send along promotional materials as well.

[Caprice]

Question: How friendly are they to the self-published? Does sending the book guarantee they will look at it? Or do you need to query and ask first if they want it?

[cyn]

Both very good questions.

1. No guarantees. None. In fact, if you even get a mention like I did for Light at the Edge of Darkness, it is a good thing.

Editorial review sites like this, unless they specify differently, put most of their efforts into reviewing nonfiction. However, they will look at the book if everything in the package is in order. Hint: check their submission guidelines and follow them to the T.

On the other hand, there is a guarantee that you won't be reviewed if you don't try!

2. No, they aren't keen on self-published material, again, unless they specify otherwise. There are places who cater to the small press and the self-published authors.

However, it isn't ever advisable to promote the fact that you are anything but published by a company. You have a company name Caprice, use it. Just don't choose a name like "Your Name" publishing.

Some sites actually say "no self-published," again, you don't broadcast this fact, just be matter-of-fact that you are published by _____ Publishing. End of story.

One sure sign is not having an LCCN (Library of Congress Control Number) listed on your copyright page. Another is not having CIP or P-CIP data (Publisher Cataloguing in Publication) -- which is author biographical data. A company can do this for you. The Donohue Group, Inc. will assign and research a P-CIP for $55/ book www.dgiinc.com or Quality Books will do it for $100/ book.

c.