Insider Info #5 - Publisher stance on reviews

A book review is a scary thing. A reviewer is some stranger that will be reading your book and giving an opinion on it. That there is key, something you must remember, a review is one persons personal view of your work. Not all people will like your works and not all will have nice things to say about it.

But since we covered that in the post Insider Info #1, we will be looking at the stance of the publisher toward reviews. Specifically we will be looking at the publishers that tell you not to bother getting reviews or say that they don't permit their books to go to reviewers. This is a serious flag on the play.

Put yourself in the publishers shoes for a moment. If you have helped this author, nurtured them, done editing, made suggestions to make the work richer and more satisfying, wouldn't you want this book to get a stellar review? Now, because reviews are one persons opinion this won't always happen, but in a lot of cases a reviewer will provide a suggestion from their point of view that could help the author or just that work. We think this is a good thing.

So why then do some publishers say you are not permitted to submit your book to a reviewer?

Exactly! Why? Because there is something to hide. Whether it is because they know their editing department is a bunch of hacks and are trying to cover this up or because they just want to keep a low profile, none of these reasons are acceptable. As an author you have the right to send your book for review. Period. If this puts a shameful face on you and therefore your publisher, so be it. But getting the opinion of some outsider is a good thing and may show you just what slipped under your radar in regards to your work and your publisher.

Now, there is one thing you absolutely have to check and should have caught your eye if you've been reading your contracts as we've told you you must. Is there a clause in your contract that says you, as the author, are not permitted to send your book for reviews? If there is, make sure this is the last book you ever send this publisher and move on with your career elsewhere. Anyone that leaves it up to the Amazon Trolls and such, to review your book, is not a publisher you want to be with.

The Moderator