Review Guidelines

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For all review requests received outside of the open-submission time for the Indie Author Program, I will selectively choose from those submitted. This is not a guarantee of a review. I receive quite a few requests each week and typically make my selections on Saturday mornings.

Reviews are CLOSED for the time being. Why?

Like the Indie Author Review Program, your review will be posted on this blog, Goodreads and LibraryThing. Unlike the Indie Author Review Program, I may purchase the book to leave a “Verified Purchase” review on Amazon.com, but if I do not, I will still attempt to review it there and hope it sticks. Amazon’s review policies are sometimes wonky.

If you agree the following guidelines, you may submit your request using the form below.

Policy

Outside of writing and editing, I read quite a bit. As an Indie author I know the pain of trying to get reviews for one’s work.

I am also seeking ways to go on an adventure with characters I can relate to and in worlds I can visualize. I review the story. I do not fault any Indie author for an errant punctuation mark, formatting issues or even the occasional spelling blooper. That said, if these errors become a distraction and take me out of the reading flow, I will likely not be able to finish the book.

I do not read any porn, erotica, heavy romance, or the like.

Genres I Accept

  • Science fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Horror
  • Thriller/Suspense
  • Mystery
  • Western
  • Some Literary (I am selective in this area)

Genres I Might Accept

  • Poetry
  • Short Story Collections or Anthologies
  • Christian, Jewish, Muslim or any other type of religious fiction
  • LGBTQ (but not romance because, well, I have no feelings…see below)
  • Nonfiction (my degrees are in psychology and organizational psychology, so if your book falls into that realm, you might see me get really excited and pick it up)

Genres I Will Not Accept – No Exceptions

  • Erotica
  • Porn
  • Heavy romance
  • Romance

Policy

If your book is selected, I will give it a fair chance. However, if I can’t get past the first chapter, I will not write a review.

Being an author means accepting honest reviews.

I do offer beta reading and coaching services, but I will not edit your book while I read it. I might point out obvious mistakes, but I will not send you a detailed list of things I may have found while reading. I prefer to immerse myself in your world, not correct it.

I read in the order in which I receive and accept submissions. Those selected for the Indie Author Review Program, however, do have priority. That said, please do not rush me. I am a full-time author with side gig building and facilitating courses for universities. Like you, I can get busy.

I will let you know if I have selected your book to read and review. The review will be posted on this blog, Goodreads and LibraryThing. I may purchase the book to leave a “Verified Purchase” review on Amazon.com, but if I do not, I will still attempt to review it there and hope it sticks. I will also promote the review on Twitter (so please follow me).

Drawing of a boy reading a book to review under the covers

A Word About Reviews

What is an Indie Author?

An indie author is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry books who self-publishes their own work and retains/controls their own publishing rights.

For other review sites, see The Indie View and the Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs on Kindlepreneur.

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