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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

Where should I send review copies of my book?

matsya

03:22 / 22.05.04

I need some names. My book, Man Bites Dog, has been picked up by a UK publisher for distribution. Being an agentless first-time novelist, I don't have a huge publicity machine behind me. In fact, I'm it. My Australian publisher has told me that Orion, the UK publisher, won't actively promote it, but they'll send out review copies to people who request it.

So.

Can anyone recommend magazines, papers, web sites and such that review books so that I can get in touch with them and ask them if they'd be interested in reviewing Man Bites Dog? It's out in the UK in August, so I've got some lead time up my sleeve.

Any advice or suggestions muchas gracias.

m.

Whisky Priestess

09:03 / 22.05.04

If it's a bit sci-fi/fantasy/weirdness ask the Third Alternative and Interzone to review it. But it doesn't look like it is.

Cat Chant

11:12 / 22.05.04

(Go, you!) If this is a novel with YA/adult crossover marketing potential, which it looks like it is (and one with a dog in the title, yet!), I reckon you should be setting your sights pretty high, personally. The only book reviews I ever read are in the Guardian, so that's what I'd recommend, but I don't know how to make sure they pick it up for review - they must receive a ton of requests.

I'll ask my gf if she has any suggestions, and I'm looking forward to reading the book (I suspect it might be quicker for me to wait for it to come out here and buy it than to try and find it in the cubic metre of books currently still boxed up behind the TV, waiting for the building work to finish...).

■

13:52 / 22.05.04

Best to get hold of the Guardian Media Guide, which has a list of pretty much all the papers/magazines in the UK. Probably a good idea to also target reviewers for The Bookseller magazine and the head offices of the big book chains: Ottakar's, Waterstone's, Borders and Blackwells.

TeN

14:22 / 22.05.04

I have a long list of publishers that I try to submit writing to saved on my computer, many of which review books. later, when i have time, i'll post some here.

Topper

11:49 / 28.05.04

Don't know, I'm in the States, but congratulations!

.

misterpc

15:49 / 30.05.04

If you're agentless, then I would have thought that it's probably worth sending it to agents. The best place to start is browsing through The Writers and Artists Yearbook, and The Writers Handbook (ed Barry Turner) for 2004, both of which are excellent - good lists of UK and international agents - and can be found via the wonders of the Amazonweb. Then you can get an agent, they'll sort out all the publicity, you'll be set for life and never have to work again. Probably.

Hey, you could send a copy to me! I'll review it!

Actually, that probably wouldn't help you much.

PM jester.
quickly.

If memory serves, the guys at metaphrog sent copies of their books to a variety of style mags in pizza boxes - which made them memorable enough to the editor to review them in the mag...

Opps!!

17:09 / 02.06.04

The Sunday Times, Sleaze magazine, Zembla

rizla mission

08:50 / 07.06.04

Hey, you could send a copy to me! I'll review it!
Actually, that probably wouldn't help you much.

ditto.

Congratulations and good luck though, Matsya. I'll do my best to pick up a copy when it's out..

grant

19:15 / 07.06.04

Hey, does that mean it'll be on amazon.co.uk?

And if so, can we review it there and maybe drive it up the ranks a little?

Sax

08:45 / 08.06.04

Hey, it already is.

Matsya, I could possibly get a small review done for you, although it would be in a regional newspaper based in the north of England. If that's any use at all, PM me.

matsya

00:15 / 09.06.04

Holy crap, I'm on amazon! hee hee hee. oh, the snarking that is now possible.

thanks all for the tips so far. some things have come of it. the publicists at orion seem pretty amenable to me getting involved, which was never a guarantee.

There's also a copy of it now on bookcrossing, which was released into the wild in April. keeping an eye on that, too.

m.

matsya

01:03 / 19.06.04

just pingin' it up to the top of the list for one last hurrah. the people at orion want all addresses for my suggested reviewers by first week of july, so if any of y'all still have thoughts or suggestions, please hail forth immediate.

cheers

m.

Opps!!

18:21 / 21.06.04

try this as well:
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/contactus/

haven't actually read this mag but i'm gathering you want blanket coverage

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