Recently, Nebula-nominated author Michael A. Burstein took my review of Joyce Carol Oates “Fossil-Figures” and used it as a jumping off point to talk about how writers should deal with the “issue” of alienating readers at the Apex Blog. He fairly points out some flaws in my review, but also gets my intent. I find [...]
Posts Tagged ‘reviewing’
Essay: Reviewing those “Tough” Books
I guest posted yesterday at Speculative Book Review on the “tougher” aspects of book reviewing. Go check it out!
Book Review Stats Meme
Since Adam, Pat and Rob are doing it, among others, I figured I might as well do it too. The tally is for all the books I’ve read (42) and include books not necessarily published in 2010.
Here’s the Publisher List:
Angry Robot: 1
Ace: 1
Baen: 1
BantamSpectra: 1
DAW: 2
Del Rey: 2
Double-Edged Publishing: 1
Ecco: 1
Graphic Audio: 2
Headline: 1
John Murray: [...]
Essay: How Do I Choose Which Books to Review?
A week or so ago, Timeslingers asked me a question on Twitter. “How do you decide what book(s) you’re going to review?” Knowing that there was no way I could answer that question in 140 characters, I decided to write a post explaining the process I go through every time I pick out a book [...]
In Which One of My Positive Reviews is (Justifiably) Ripped to Shreds
As long time readers of this blog will know, I have long been a fan of the Forgotten Realms and have done my best to promote its fiction any which way I can. However, even when you write a positive review, you can sometimes make some big mistakes.
Recently, I posted a review of The God [...]
A Manifesto of Imaginative Literature by Justin Allen
[This post first appeared in three parts at SF Signal, Debuts and Reviews, and Grasping for the Wind.]
For the Love of Pete, Don’t Mix Your Genres;
Or… The New York Times Book Review Hates YOU, but I Don’t;
Or… Why Where Your Book Gets Shelved Determines Your Intelligence, Work-Ethic and Value to Society
That’s a longish title I’ll [...]
Part 3: A Manifesto of Imaginative Literature by Justin Allen
For the Love of Pete, Don’t Mix Your Genres;
Or… The New York Times Book Review Hates YOU, but I Don’t;
Or… Why Where Your Book Gets Shelved Determines Your Intelligence, Work-Ethic and Value to Society
Read Part 1 at SF Signal
Read Part 2 at Debuts and Reviews
Part 3: For the Love of Pete, Don’t Mix Your Genres
Or [...]
5 General Tips for New Book Bloggers
This article is the first in an ongoing irregular series of articles on the joys and trials of book blogging. Future topics include a more in depth look at useful technology, the emotional effects of book blogging, and tips for working with authors and publishers.
1. Purchase a dedicated website address.
In my own history, I have had [...]
On the Opinion that Authors Should Not Respond to Reviews
In which I list good reasons why authors shouldn’t, two reasons why I wish they would, and I admit to an excess of selfishness.
There is a prevailing opinion among authors and others in the literary community that asserts that authors should not respond to reviews.
This is certainly an understandable contention, for several reasons.
1. Authors have limited [...]
Weaving the Colors: An Interview with Jeffrey Overstreet
In one of the most enjoyable and well-answered interviews I have ever done, Jeffrey Overstreet has covered the gamut of topics from his debut novel Auralia’s Colors to Christians in fiction to review writing methods. (Here is my review of his debut novel.) I hope you enjoy his thoughts as much as I did. For [...]
