Reading is something I have done all my life. Even growing up you could and would find me with a book in my hand.

Anna Marie – 3 June 2014

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

An author, Jennifer L Armentrout, told me I should start a blog since I was an avid reader. I told her no because no one would read it anyway. She said that is when you do it for yourself. So I did and I was wrong. I have over 1000 followers with all the different ways I can be followed.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

For me that depends on the length of the book if it is a novella or short story I just generally read than make my notes if it’s a full length I take notes as I read along.

What are you looking for?

Nothing at all except to share with the world all of the amazing books out there.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

It all depends on how less than perfect it is. A few mistakes I can overlook but if the mistakes are in abundance that is harder to read and it pulls me out of a story.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

That also depends on many factors. If it is fast paced I can get through it in a day or so sometimes faster if life does not get in the way. If it is a book that does not really draw me in it takes longer.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

My rating system is how I feel about the book. I rate on the half scale though most places do not but sometimes for me a book is a little more than let’s say a 3 star but just not a 4 star neither. Sometimes to me it just falls in the middle.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

That depends on the Blogger but you definitely want to be friendly.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

I have readers contact me and thank me for introducing them to a new author or a new series.

My advice to authors on getting a ‘bad’ review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author’s point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to ‘argue’ with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

I totally agree with that. If an author remarks on the review the reader can sometimes escalate things and it should never go that far.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we’re all here. Why do you think people love reading? We’re seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a pastime is dying – do you think that’s the case?

Not for me. Reading is something I have done all my life. Even growing up you could and would find me with a book in my hand. I read for the enjoyment and because I love delving into these worlds authors build for us to escape the everyday life around me from time to time.

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

Labeling their books with the wrong genre.

We’re told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel; what do you think about that? If a book hasn’t grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

I generally read the first 3 Chapters if it has not grabbed me by than that is when I put it down.

Is there anything you will not review?

I do NOT read Christian Lit at all and only some sci-fi. I also do not read mid-grade and Kid books but I do read some YA. I enjoy Paranormal and/or Erotica and the 2 combined is even better.

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft-quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?

Actually I have never heard that quote. It seems mean to me though.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to indie or self-published titles?

Yes I believe it is changing a great deal. Because no matter how the book was published if it is well written than it is well written.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can ‘filter’ good from bad, aside from reviews?

No not really but when people make remarks they really should consider everything and not just bad mouth to bad mouth and vice versa be honest and say something just because you know the author. Everything should be said honestly but not harshly.

End of Interview:

To read Anna Marie’s reviews or, for author’s, to get details about the blog tours she runs, visit Between the Lines.