Editorial Reviews

With each self-published book I produce, I try to make it a little more professional, both in terms of the book itself and how I promote it. Currently, that's 5 Acres & A Dream The Sequel. What I'm wondering, is whether editorial reviews are a possibility, specifically publications in the same area of interest. particularly homesteading. Since I write for a niche audience, something like the New York Times Bestseller list isn't realistic, but I know there are smaller publications out there (both print and online) who might be willing to do a review. I just don't know how to go about finding them. Suggestions?

If, by “editorial reviews" you mean endorsements such as are found on front covers, back covers, inside in the front matter of books, or on your book's Amazon page, that's one thing. But if you are talking about book reviews by professional reviewers and that are found in other publications, that's another.  

When it comes to endorsements, you will have to make a list of people whose endorsement you'd love to have gracing your book's covers.  You do this by finding other books, or blogs, magazines, podcasts, etc. in the field (homesteading, in your case, but it could be anything relevant), and then researching till you get contact info for the author.  You could also ask anyone who is an expert in homesteading or related field -- but who isn't necessarily a writer.  Then you've got to put together a letter describing your book and asking for the endorsement and get that letter (individualized for each person) out via snail mail, email, Messaging, or -- best of all -- asking in person and having the letter available to hand over.  You will want to be able to immediately send a copy of your finished & polished manuscript to the author/blogger/expert, so make sure your book is written before asking anyone to endorse it!  You might check out https://selfpublishingadvice.org/how-to-get-editorial-reviews-self-published-book/ for a good idea of a letter.

If you're talking reviews by professionals, then a good way to start is with anyone who's written a review of your original book (a positive review, of course!).  After that, go to anyone who reviews books -- bloggers, podcasters, media columnists -- even professional reviewers that you might have to pay for reviews.  (For book bloggers try researching https://blog.reedsy.com/book-review-blogs/) If you go the paid professional route, you can find some of the review publications by Googling "* Book Review" (use the quotes and the asterisk as shown).  Their websites will instruct you on how to go about it.  Most important of all, do your homework: find out what the reviewers require in order to review before you ask them for a review!

In general, for professional reviewers you'll need to be prepared with information that will help the reviewer decide whether or not to review.  Be prepared to provide the following info:
>> Title, publisher, date of release, and genre
>> The cover copy or a brief description of the book.
>> Your book's target audience, and comparable books (books like yours that would share the same target audience).  
>> A summary or outline or table of contents of the book

Note that you need to get your endorsements and reviews early on -- ask well before your book will be published!

Lif, by editorial reviews, I mean reviews by print and online publications (I probably should have used the word "magazines" in my initial post) in a similar genre as my book - homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, etc. I don't subscribe to magazines, so I have no clue as to what some of these might be. I already have peer reviews from fellow authors, editors, and homesteaders, which I opted to put in a "Praise For" section on the first two pages, rather than do blurbs on the back cover. Of course, I have staff here at Permies willing to do reviews for me, plus a few specifically chosen homestead bloggers of influence as well. That seemed a better route to go than Reedsy, which doesn't seem to have anyone geared toward my niche. I thought for this book I'd expand on what I've done in the past and see if I can get something to add under "editorial reviews" on this book's Amazon page. I could use my peer reviews there, which I may end up doing, but wanted to see if I could add some other kinds of publications to my list.

Leigh Tate wrote:Lif, by editorial reviews, I mean reviews by print and online publications (I probably should have used the word "magazines" in my initial post) in a similar genre as my book - homesteading, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, etc. I don't subscribe to magazines, so I have no clue as to what some of these might be. I already have peer reviews from fellow authors, editors, and homesteaders, which I opted to put in a "Praise For" section on the first two pages, rather than do blurbs on the back cover. Of course, I have staff here at Permies willing to do reviews for me, plus a few specifically chosen homestead bloggers of influence as well. That seemed a better route to go than Reedsy, which doesn't seem to have anyone geared toward my niche. I thought for this book I'd expand on what I've done in the past and see if I can get something to add under "editorial reviews" on this book's Amazon page. I could use my peer reviews there, which I may end up doing, but wanted to see if I could add some other kinds of publications to my list.

So what you're looking for is names of magazines and other publications that might want to review your books. I assume you know the biggies: Mother Jones, Mother Earth News, Countryside & Small Stock Journal. I've subscribed to those at various times over the years.  I think Countryside is my favorite of the three.

Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for, thanks!