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A Note on Review Requests

There seems to have been some confusion lately about our process for handling review requests, mainly from self-published authors, so I’m going to take this opportunity to clarify things.

MonsterLibrarian is a volunteer organization. None of us are paid for the work we do to make the site successful. The people who participate do so because they love the horror genre and horror fiction, and they want to share it with others.

Our reviewers contribute their time and energy to review books for us. Like you, they have busy lives, and reviewing for us is just one of many things they do. That they contribute reviews is a gift from them to you, to MonsterLibrarian.com, and to the genre.

We get many more review requests than we have people who can review them. When someone sends a review request to me, I look to see if it contains this essential information:

Title of the book

Author’s name

Description of the book

Yes, people do send review requests that do not include that information. If the request includes that information, I forward that on to our reviewers. Usually I will let the person know when I have done that. If the review request interests or intrigues a reviewer, and they have the time and energy to do so, they tell me they would like to review the book, and I write the author back with that information.

Note those words “interests and intrigues”.  The description of the book included in the review request can make a difference. If I send out a request for review describing a book as  “a collection of  horror short stories”,  it’s probably not going to grab anyone.  Try to be more specific.

I will also note that a polite and professionally written request is much more likely to snag someone’s interest, although I can’t make any guarantees.

I’d love to see every book get reviewed, but it’s just not possible. We do our best.

Just in case I missed something here, I have a special page just for authors with a Q&A about the site. Here’s a link.

 

 

 

Posted on October 13, 2013 by , Reply

Booktalks and Book Trailers: Or, How To Get Kids To Check Out A Book

 Kids can be a tough sell when it comes to convincing them to check out a book. So an effective booktalk is an amazing thing. Booktalks are slightly more formal than just telling one kid how much you loved a book.  Giving booktalks isn’t something you can snooze through. If you are passionate about the book you’re selling, there can be unexpected and even exciting benefits for everyone.

Unshelved strip for 9/15/2003

Unshelved by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum, Sept. 15, 2003.

 

There might be other reasons that you choose to booktalk a particular book. Maybe you’ve been assigned to sell it, or you feel like you have to align your booktalks with the Common Core standards. Doesn’t matter. You have to find a way to get kids to want to pick it up.

I just reviewed Witches! The Absolutely True Story of the Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer (check out the review here). This is a fascinating look at the Salem Witch Trials, which becomes even more powerful due to its fantastic design and Schanzer’s amazing black, white, and red scratchboard illustrations. It feels like you are really opening the pages directly into history. I would totally add this to my list of books I love to booktalk, which also include The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker, The Devil’s Arithmetic, and Jeremy Visick (it’s been awhile since I actually had to get up in front of a classroom full of kids, though). I understand it’s intimidating to do it, and I think it’s even more so when you have to booktalk  into a camera as a classroom assignment, so it’s not that I really want to pick on Heather Prince. But this is not how you get kids to pick up a book. You’ve got to give it some pizzazz.

 

Admittedly, it’s hard to project your charisma on YouTube (note how I’m not booktalking on video here– there are reasons for that). But this is the joy of book trailers. They’re not as simple to put together as a booktalk, but when done right… wow.  And Destiny, here, has done it right. If you like horror movies, she will have you hooked, but there’s more than flash going on here too. I think she liked the book, don’t you?

 

 

I LOVE this trailer, though. This is one that the author and illustrator of the book did, and it showcases the kind of craft that she put into the book. You can see one of her illustrations literally take on a life of its own.

 

Obviously she has the advantage of being the author and illustrator, but who better to hook you into finding out what comes next? Too bad it’s not possible to always get the author in to share the magic, but the glory of the Internet is that you still can find some pretty wonderful stuff.

But, even with great resources like this available, you’ve still gotta show them you, yourself, love it.  And that is why you should read Witches! yourself, and if you are as impressed with it as much as I am, tell everyone about it. And you will get them to check it out.

Posted on September 8, 2013 by , Reply

Missing Since Gen Con: Robert the Bard

As some of you may know, Gen Con(a major science fiction, fantasy and gaming convention) took place in the area here not that long ago. Whether you’re a librarian or a fan, you’ve probably been to some kind of convention at some time. They are a great way to meet people with common interests, widen your knowledge, geek on favorite authors and/or authorities in your field, and, most of all, have fun. Science fiction, fantasy, and gaming together cover a huge number of topics, genres, events, and people, including writers, readers, and consumers of the horror genre.  If you want a feel for what science fiction, fantasy, and horror lovers are looking for, and you want to get them into your library, look for a local con in your community, and go in with an open mind. It’s worth it to check it out.

A transcript of  the following report was forwarded to us by our reviewer Aaron Fletcher, who attended Gen Con 2013 and acquired this digital recording of an interview conducted by Robert the Bard there that may shed some light on the convention experience.

 

Report From the Floor of Gen Con 2013 Day 2 August 16, 2013.

Transcribed by Aaron Fletcher

Robert the Bard: Hello everyone, Robert the Bard reporting from the Indianapolis Convention Center, where I am attending Gen Con 2013! I am here today talking with the lesser known “heroes” of Gen Con: the monsters. Without them, there would be no Gen Con. Here to start us off is this splendid, absolutely gruesome ogre named Grug. How are you enjoying Gen Con, Grug?

 

Grug: Me not.

 

Robert the Bard: You’re not?!? What seems to be the problem?

 

Grug: Me rest in dungeon when horde of humans rush in and hit Grug. Hit Grug in tummy. Hurt Grug! Take Grug treasure! Why humans do that?

 

Robert the Bard: Well, Grug, I imagine they did that to have an adventure.

 

Grug: Grug want treasure back! Grug MAD!!!

 

Robert the Bard: All right! All right now, Grug! Take it easy. No need to go on a rampage now. I’m sure you can go on an adventure of your own and get treasure from some innocent people in a little while. Why don’t you take in some of the other events at Gen Con while you wait?

 

Grug: Events??!?!? What events mean?

 

 

Robert the Bard: Well I’m talking about the other things going on here at Gen Con. There’s The Film Festival, the Writer’s Symposium, and the Art Show. Maybe pick up something to read or a fantastic work of art for your dungeon.

 

 

Grug: Stories scare Grug. Always of Adventurers kill monsters. Make Grug sad. Dungeon has art. Mrs. Grug jealous artist. She no like other art.

 

 

Robert the Bard: Oh, I see, Grug. Well if you don’t like those things, you can play a game or learn a new one. After all, Gen Con is known for all kinds of role playing games, board games and card games. You can even buy the games right here.

 

 

Grug: What kind games?

 

 

Robert the Bard: Well, just about anything you can imagine. There are fantasy Games, science fiction Games, horror Games, world building games, and just about anything else you can think of.

 

 

Grug: Oh. Grug like fantasy adventure game. Get treasure…

 

 

Robert the Bard: You do! Well what’s it called, Grug? I’ll help you find some treasure.

 

 

Grug: You help Grug?!?!?

 

 

Robert the Bard: Sure I will! What do you say…Uh…What are you doing, Grug? Uh, take it easy now…

 

 

Grug: Hehe! Grug like smash talky talky human! Here Grug come!

 

 

Robert the Bard: Put that club down now before somebody gets hurt! Grug! Grug!

 

 

Grug: Hehe! Grug like puny human run away. It fun!

 

 

Robert the Bard: Uh well folks there you have it. This is your reporter on the floor of Gen Con 2013 saying…..I gotta RUUUUNNN!!!!

 

 

Grug: Hehe! Treasure!!!!!

 

Note: This was intended to be a multiple part series reporting on all aspects of the cultural and social gaming event known as Gen Con 2013. Unfortunately, Robert the Bard has not been heard from since. If anyone knows his whereabouts please let us know. It would be greatly appreciated as we would like to get the rest of the series, so we can share it with you. Oh, and, of course, we are concerned for his safety.

Posted on August 27, 2013 by , Reply
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