One of the major components of successfully publishing a book, whether it is through the traditional publishing route or through self-publishing channels, is getting the book into the hands of consumers. If people don’t know the book exists, the obvious fate of obscurity is sealed.
One tool that authors of any ilk have in the toolbox to promote their works is book reviews. These reviews are so valuable to the process of exposure that some companies are set up strictly to write impartial reviews, despite requiring the authors to pay for the service. Indie Reader was founded to play that important role in support for self-published authors, while still doing much more in terms of helping readers find great books to enjoy.
“My belief was that indie authors already had a voice because they were writing their books, but they did not have a stage from which to speak,” says Indie Reader founder Amy Edelman. “There was no respect for their work. I can understand the gatekeeper perception of the traditional publishing process, but the world of publishing is changing. There are self-published authors and traditionally published authors, as well as those indies whose works are being published traditionally.”
Unlike similar services, though, Indie Reader does not charge authors to read and review their books. The review, which can be crucial not only in terms of encouraging other readers to take an interest in the book, but also in getting the book accepted by bookstores and libraries, is such a vital element to promotion that Edelman makes it available to all published authors.
“Indie Reader was created to help adventurous book-lovers sort out the plethora of new indie titles and authors, a road map of sorts to help navigate the rocky terrain. Its original content includes ‘The List Where Indies Count,’ the only list of best-selling indie titles that is updated weekly, author interviews, and feature stories—many of which concurrently run in the Huffington Post. The site also features a bookstore, stocked with professionally reviewed and rated indie books, linked to sales sites for easy purchase.”
“On the author side, IR offers publishing and distribution services, along with sponsoring the IR Discovery Awards which puts indie titles into the hands of industry professionals that can make a difference in their success.”
The guidelines for submitting a book for review are listed on the Indie Reader website, along with a detailed description of other tools that are available to help not only authors, but the readers who want to find quality reads in the overwhelming sea of self-published works out there.
“Most readers may not know who published a traditional book, but if readers hear that the book is self-published it matters to them. We will be equal when it doesn’t matter whether the book was traditionally or self-published.”
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
