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Today we have author Diane Whiteside!
Is there something specific you look for in a review? If so what?
Whenever I read a review of my book, I look for the opportunity to vicariously hold a conversation with a reader. Okay, maybe we won’t have much give and take. But I can look for somebody who’s asking questions and hoping for answers about my choices, maybe even suggests something I hadn’t thought of.
If you send your books to a book review blog is there something specific you look for when you’re looking at their blog?
I prefer a very professional blog, one which prizes honesty, courtesy, and the little details like grammar, good design, etc. It’s also reassuring if it reviews lots of books in the same genre as mine.
What type of review do you like best: short or long?
I’m honored by a long review and I recognize how hard it is to write an insightful short review. (Hey, I started out writing book reviews! Plus, I currently tweet book reviews. I’m very impressed by anybody who can do this well for a long time.)
What do you think about spoilers in reviews?
I dislike spoilers, both as a reader and as an author. Basically, I don’t want to know about anything that happens in the book’s second half. If the reviewer makes a habit of passing along key plot points – no matter where they happen – or what happens in the finale, I personally won’t go back to that reviewer. Why bother reading a book, if all the suspense is gone?
Now, let’s talk about rating systems. On a scale of 1-5 stars, what would be your opinion of the ratings? Starting with the lowest at one first.
First off, I think all rating systems should have a published reason for each score. They should also be consistent in how they apply their system. I also believe the reviewer should clearly say why she gave this score to this book.
Second, I’m only interested in rating systems if they relate to what I did as an author. If the score mentions something that the bookseller or publisher did, then I won’t worry about the review.
1. Since this is the lowest possible score, I hope the reviewer is polite in her reasoning, rather than making it sound like an attack on the author.
3. This is a perfectly acceptable grade, in my opinion. A book has room to improve but it’s also done some things well.
5. This marks a book to be savored forever. Please tell me why the reviewer felt that why. If it’s my book, I’ll celebrate for a long, long time!
What do you think about sexual ratings? Some reviewers use them.
I personally think sexual ratings are a good idea. The trick is how to make them meaningful to both the reviewer and their readers, since one person’s idea of very hot might make somebody else yawn. I’m therefore fond of reviews that keep this discussion down to a simple summary of activities or a humorous warning.
What do reviewers do that irks you the most?
A reviewer who didn’t finish – but pretends that she or he did – always irritates the heck out of me. I’m also very frustrated by anybody who loads their reviews with spoilers, almost as if they’re trying to one-up other reviewer.
What do you think about awards given to a book by a review blogger?
I personally only pay attention to these if the review blogger has been around for a while. In my opinion, she or he needs to have read enough books to know the field before she or he can truly hand out awards.
As readers/reviewers we love book giveaways. How do you feel about them?
I too love book giveaways, since I always hope somebody new will enjoy my book. Heck, I’ve even sent books off to foreign countries for book giveaways.
What would be your best piece of advice for a book blogger/reviewer?
Be honest and professional, always hoping for the best possible book.
Thank you for inviting me to join you here for Authors “Take On” Reviews. Please visit my website, www.DianeWhiteside.com , for reviews and excerpts from my books. THE SHADOW GUARD, my April 2011 release, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and I partied for days…
Diane Whiteside
Website: www.DianeWhiteside.com
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DianeWhiteside
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