Yes there are awful self-pubbed/indie-pubbed books. Yes it’s harder to do the weeding yourself, but you know what? I would rather sit there and read terrible book after terrible book than to have somebody tell me what I’ll like and won’t like based off of some archaic formula that’s been around, unchanged, for decades. This so-called “slush-pile” has come out with phenomenal books that would never have seen the light of day were it up to traditional publishers.
Nadia Said – 23 January 2013
About Reviewing
How did you get started?
I’ve always been a HUGE reader. I’m talking a book a day. It’s funny though I never thought of reviewing until the advent of ebooks. For some reason, my intuition about books is off unless I physically have it in front of me. It’s not even about the cover either. I dunno what it is, but when I started reading mainly ebooks my radar was all outta whack. As a result, I turned to reviews. And promptly turned away. I would take chances on books because they had 4 to 5 star ratings and come to find it was terrible. I felt duped, swindled, and bamboozled. I like to think that most people don’t have my discerning taste, but really I’ve found that I’m in the minority when it comes to taste in books. I started following blogs around this time too and I thought, Why not? Why can’t I review books? So I partnered up with my friend and book soul mate Kelsie, and we became the Pagetrotters.
How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?
Definitely a read first then make notes. Rather, read it all then write down what I think afterward if it was amazing, or give myself a couple days of distance if it wasn’t.
What are you looking for?
Most important thing for me is an independent, kick-ass main character, or someone I can watch grow into that independent kick-ass person; witty, memorable dialogue; and an intriguing or familiar but well loved storyline.
If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?
Unless it’s every single page, I tend not to notice these things. For the most part, I tune it out. I know most people can’t look past it, but I’m oddly forgiving when it comes to that. IMO grammar can be fixed, an all around terrible story cannot.
How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?
Hmm, it depends. If it’s a book I like, less than a day. If it isn’t a book I like then probably 3 days to a week.
How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?
My rating system is the classic 5 star. Only with mine I use .5 star increments as well. Using whole numbers is a little too black and white for me, lol.
What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?
Honestly, just ask! There’s no harm in it, and it’s kinda flattering too. It means they like your review style. We are so open to our authors it’s ridiculous, lol.
Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?
Oh my gosh it’s YES! It’s so amazing when they do, because you never imagine your words impacting them or actually influencing them to buy that book. It’s such a heady feeling.
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?
100%. It’s a brave new world now. The rise of the internet, ebooks, self and indie pubbing has leveled the playing field for both authors and readers. People have opinions and the platform to air them on. The best thing you can do as an author is to not engage. I have heard of trolling and such, but the community of reviewers and bloggers are a pretty self-policing sort.
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 past-time is dying – do you think that’s the case?
Not at all. As long as there are words there will always be readers in the world. In fact, I think we’re seeing a resurgence in reading with the rise of ebooks, ereaders, and the sort.
About Writing
What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?
Trends. I see many authors trying to keep up with the latest popular trend. Example, after Twilight you saw a huge surge in paranormal romance YA and love triangles. Not saying they didn’t exist before, but Good Lord not to that degree. Ultimately, it’s imitation, and with imitation those books lack a certain…spark I guess, that the originals had.
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?
Back in the day, that answer would have been an immediate No. More recently, I’ve become short on patience. Not that I give up after 5 pages, but if by say chapter 3 or 4, I can’t find anything to keep me going, I put the book down.
There has been a lot of talk recently about Agency pricing and Apple and the Big 6, what are your thoughts on that?
I’m torn. On the one hand, I don’t like the thought of Amazon gaining control of the market share on ebooks, which is a real possibility. On the other, I think collaborating to raise the price of ebooks was a despicable thing. I don’t like the fact that we’re now seeing the price of ebooks slowly rise now that Amazon feels more comfortable, but collaborating like that was not the way to go.
Is there anything you will not review?
Religious, Non-fiction, Self-Help, or Westerns. They just don’t do it for me.
About Publishing
What do you think of the oft quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?
Honestly? It pisses me off. There’s a sort of smug condescension implied in it. Just hearing it makes me think of all these bigwigs in traditional publishing smugly laughing after making that insult. Yes there are awful self-pubbed/indie-pubbed books. Yes it’s harder to do the weeding yourself, but you know what? I would rather sit there and read terrible book after terrible book than to have somebody tell me what I’ll like and won’t like based off of some archaic formula that’s been around, unchanged, for decades. This so-called “slush-pile” has come out with phenomenal books that would never have seen the light of day were it up to traditional publishers. Because of that I got to experience the joy of Angelfall by Susan Ee, Slammed by Colleen Hoover, the Experiment in Terror Series by Karina Halle, and all of Tellulah Darling’s books. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to Indie or self-published titles?
It’s tough. For avid readers I say we are solidly in line with Indies and self-pubbers. At least I am. For most people though, you will only be viewed as legitimate once you can wave that publishing contract around.
Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can “filter” good from bad, asides from reviews?
Good question. The only thing I can think of is a more expanded book review blogging network really. For me, I’ve found bloggers whose reviews and opinions I side with more often than not, and use them as a filter. Goodreads helps a little with their recommendation system, but for the most part it’s still trial and error for me.
End of Interview:
To read reviews from Nadia and her reviewing partner, Kelsie, visit Pagetrotter.
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