I think there is a new found respect for independent work. Personally I don’t mind independent or self published authors. I feel like when I read their books I’m discovering a hidden gem.

Alexandra Unwin – 13 January 2015

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

After I helped name The Bohemian Housewife’s blog she helped me set mine up.  I thought this would be fun to start reviewing books and other product. I use to blog at a younger age and always enjoyed it.

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

I type up notes while I am reading. I like to keep track of character’s names and anything that stands out to me. Things I like and things I don’t like.

What are you looking for?

I am looking for stories that flow well, ones with great characters and ones that bring something new to life. I want to be moved by the work.

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

I am not the perfect writer myself, I do expect basic knowledge of grammar though. I am not an editor but if I notice multiple errors it really makes it hard to keep reading.

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

I would have it done in the week but I like to allow myself two weeks to get it read and have the review typed. I do have a job and a life otherwise I would be done in two days.

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

I actually don’t like rating the books. I feel I may change it to just if I would recommend this book or not. Rating is not my thing. I just like being given the opportunity to discover new books. So far my rating system has been I will give it a 5 if I feel like I want to read the book again a 3 and a 4 are given to books that I would recommend to other readers, this is based off of characters and plots. A 2 or a 1 would be given to books that are difficult to get through because of grammatical errors or poor plot.

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

PLEASE read our review policies, Don’t just force a book on us. Be polite and respectful, sometimes readers don’t have the time for your book or simply your book is not a genre they are interested in reading.

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

My blog just started but I have had a few authors thank me, I enjoy that very much.

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 agree all readers have different tastes and there are books that I have disliked that others have loved and reread. Don’t attack the reviewer because they gave an honest review, makes you look bad.

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?

As I get older it seems harder to find people my age or older that enjoy reading still. I think we get busy with life and stop reading. Personally I quit reading for a few years until I joined my book club and began reading regularly again.

About Writing

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

Most common mistake I see are a lot of authors are not offering physical books for sale. Personally I prefer physical books over ebooks. I also see books with really bad cover work, I would almost prefer a solid colored cover over some of these covers that have been made.

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?

No not at all! I have read books that the first five chapters have been horribly slow then bam I am hooked!!

Is there anything you will not review?

Text books, really I am open to all sorts of books. I consider myself a very open minded person. I can’t accept every book though sadly.

About Publishing

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

Everything is online these days honestly, I think it is just easier for new authors to get their work read by using the internet.  That being said yes poorly planned books have been released to the world.

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

Definitely, People are getting really into all sorts of indie work like, art, music even makeup products. I think there is a new found respect for independent work.  Personally I don’t mind independent or self published authors. I feel like when I read their books I’m discovering a hidden gem. Who knows maybe some of these authors will be big one day and I was one of the first to read their work.

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

Like I said before we all have different tastes in books but sometimes some books are just across the board bad! I think some people have an idea for a book and just run with it! They don’t go over it with a fine tooth comb they just leave it raw. Aside from reviews really we won’t know how bad it is until we read it ourselves. I’m not sure how the industry can warn others of the lack of work that was put into a piece.

End of Interview:

You can read Alexandra’s reviews at The Bibliophile Princess.