I don’t like unneeded conflict in my life. I’m never rude in my reviews, it’s just not how I like to be. I’m honest and try to highlight both the flaws and strengths; it’s for the readers.

Ambrose Crotts – 1 September 2018

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I’ve loved getting lost in books since I was a kid. I work a lot and have trouble not working; reviewing books helps me feel productive and justified in spending so much time reading them.

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

Mental notes, nothing on paper until I write the review. It just flows better for me.

What are you looking for?

Science-fiction and fantasy. I appreciate pretty much all of the subgenres. Romantic fantasy, traditionally epic, space opera, etc. I have a special place in my heart for heroic fantasy

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

If it’s readable I probably won’t mind. I will mention it in the review if it’s bad enough. It’s only one factor in the review.

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

A few hours, not too long. Could be broken up into a day, maybe two. I try to post reviews or essays every two days.

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

I wanted a simple and spoiler-free, but thorough, review method that I could apply to every book. So, I came up with summarizing characters, plot, and writing, and giving my thoughts on them individually in less than 1,000 words total.

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

Reach out. Reviewers are out there; I know that for a fact, as we tend to be in-touch with each other.

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

Sure, it happens.

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?

Sure. If I’m argued with negatively then I probably won’t give someone the time of day; I don’t like unneeded conflict in my life. I’m never rude in my reviews, it’s just not how I like to be. I’m honest and try to highlight both the flaws and strengths; it’s for the readers.

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?

Some genres are growing, others are declining. Younger generations are more likely to read than current older ones, according to some Pew research. In certain niches, more books than ever are being published. I don’t fear for reading or writing; it’s always been a hobby pursuit and I don’t see it going anywhere.

About Writing

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

Using dialogue tags incorrectly/intrusively and over-description.

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?

Agents do it because of the sheer mass of submissions they receive. They’re doing the best with the time they have, even if a few killer books slip through their fingers because they weren’t punchy at the start. I’m usually inclined to give a book a longer go, but I have more time to read than on-the-clock agents do.

Is there anything you will not review?

Erotica, other genres beyond SFF. I don’t mind sex in my fantasy or sci-fi though.

About Publishing

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

Not true. Some people are publishing books that aren’t up to par. Other authors are writing great stuff and not wanting to deal with traditional publishers. A number of the best sci-fi and fantasy novels I’ve ever read were self-published.

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

With the growth of Amazon, I certainly do. More and more, people are shopping online. It’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish between top-of-the-line self-published and traditionally published titles—whether you’re speaking in regards to covers, editing, or writing quality.

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

It shouldn’t. Reviews are enough. Authors being able to publish what they want is the right way to go about it. Let the readers and marketing decide what thrives or dies. I hate gatekeeping for gatekeeping’s sake; it’s fine if the gatekeepers aren’t the only option and are bringing something to the table.

End of Interview:

To check out Ambrose’s reviews, visit his website.