IndieView with Pam of Pam’s Nook

Pam's Nook

 

It is a joy to see parents and grandparents in the children’s section of a bookshop purchasing books for the young. It is an even greater delight to see children themselves selecting books for themselves.

Pam – 12 December 2013

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

When I completed my first biographical book about an Italian rock band I found it difficult to find a reviewer in the non-fiction genre. Reviewers that did accept non-fiction were so backlogged they were unable to accept my book. I read a lot of non-fiction including biographies and feel I may be able in some small way to help authors in a similar position.

I started by reviewing books I had on my bookshelf including a few that, like mine, may not appeal to the average reviewer.

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

With fiction books I read it first especially if it is a particularly good novel that really grabs me. I will however make notes of the characters and what my thoughts are about them.

When I read a non-fiction book I make notes as I go but sometimes it is just to jot down a page and paragraph reference that are examples of the writer’s style or to read over again later.

What are you looking for?

I love non-fiction because it increases my knowledge about subjects I am interested in but they need to be ‘readable’. A book that is too academic or technical may be excellent as a reference or for student studies but the enjoyment of reading is often not present.

The fiction I read is the opposite. I am not looking to ‘learn’ I am looking for escapism.

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

I will continue to read the book, make some written notes for improvement and send my comments and notes back to the author. If I had honestly enjoyed the story I will not publish a bad review but invite the author to make corrections and re-submit it for review.

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

4-7 days depending how it grabs me. The better the book the less housework gets done but I will get through the book quicker.

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

I don’t just love to read, I love my physical library and rate books according to whether I would put a copy on the shelves.

  1. I won’t rate a book I have been asked to review as 1 although have for books I have chosen to review myself. If it is bad or I couldn’t finish it I will let the author know and not write a review possibly making some suggestions for improvement.
  2. Finished it and may be some parts I liked but would not bother buying a copy.
  3. It was a good read and I’d probably keep a look out for it in second hand shops to add to the library. (I’m a book junky anyway)
  4. I liked it a lot. Would definitely put on my shopping list to place in the library.
  5. Loved it and I want it in my library now! I would seek it out and tell everyone about it who bothers to listen.

I do use ½ stars and where a review website does not have these I will take the rating up to the next level.

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

Although I have said I would keep going with a book if the grammar was bad, my first suggestion is to get someone to proof it. Make sure that it is someone who will give you an honest appraisal and don’t take offence if they find fault.

My own book Angel with Drumsticks is a difficult book to categorise and people who have read it said that it was an amazing story but not one they would necessary choose to read from the title or a synopsis.

There are only a few categories I will definitely not read. Requests for review and the synopsis of the book should be approached with as much thought and skill as the book itself. This is what will convince a reviewer to accept the book. If I receive a request or a synopsis that contains bad grammar, spelling or is badly worded it is likely to put me off the writer’s skills and doubt their ability to write a book I will enjoy.

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

Not yet but I hope I will.

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?

Yes absolutely. We all have different tastes. I have noticed that reviews of even great authors like Agatha Christie’s work can vary greatly. If the comments in the review indicate that there is something of value the author should consider re-writing the book. If possible, authors should not rely on just one review.

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?

Unfortunately yes, particularly reading for pure pleasure. People may read for relaxation, escapism, knowledge or a greater understanding of self and the world.

I believe that the love of reading is something that most often begins in childhood. All my friends who are readers were brought up with books and with parents who read to them at a very young age. Children who do not have this in their childhood find it more difficult coping with extensive reading as part of their education and lose any pleasure in reading.

It is a joy to see parents and grandparents in the children’s section of a bookshop purchasing books for the young. It is an even greater delight to see children themselves selecting books for themselves.

Pam

About Writing

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

Not clearly describing the scene or the character. I find it particularly confusing if I am reading a book that is set historically but the era is not made clear in the beginning. This does not necessarily mean putting the year into the text but including some reference in the beginning that will set the scene. This can be done in many ways; reference to an historical figure or event, make of motor car, the way a character is attired are just a few.

On the other extreme some fiction authors annoyingly include a lot of unnecessary description or repetition just to get to their 80,000 words. I would recommend that if they find themselves doing that they consider including a sub plot, may be some extra red herrings in the case of a whodunit (but not so many as to be confusing) or perhaps even an extra character possibly for comic or light hearted relief.

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?

With novels it is certainly important to get the reader’s attention early. I am halfway through a novel and still waiting for something to really happen. The author has filled pages with repetitive physical descriptions of the main characters – but I will persevere!

However, in the case on non-fiction it is sometimes hard to avoid because the author may need to gradually introduce the main purpose of the book. This could mean information about the childhood of a biographical subject or events leading up to the historical event that is the key feature of the book.

Is there anything you will not review?

Genres I tend not to read

  • Children and Young Adult

My youngest son is 30 so I am also no expert in children’s books anymore; maybe when grandchildren come along. Having said that, I love the Narnia Chronicles and have enjoyed going over some of my own childhood favourites including the Secret Seven and Nurse Aimes series, Black Beauty, the Secret Garden. My all-time favourite when my son was young is Possum Magic.

  • Christian
  • Dungeons and dragons
  • Self Help.
  • Spiritual
  • Fitness/Nutrition
  • Horror
  • Chick Lit

I will not accept sexually or violent explicit material. If this is sent to me it will be immediately rejected. If I come across material of this nature once I commence reading, again it will be rejected without notifying the author.

My review policy lists the genres I prefer but, again due to my own experience, if an author can convince me that I will enjoy their book I will give it a go.

About Publishing

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

It most probably has. As mentioned earlier in relation to reading being a dying art, most publishers and agents are being so selective that even great Indie authors will undoubtedly be overlooked.  As an author I got the feeling that unless a publisher saw a book as the next best seller they were not interested. The ease with which eBooks can be created and listed for sale and the popularity of blogs are becoming a way out for many writers.

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

With publishers and agents, no, definitely not but through the internet, particularly websites like your own, there are people helping to promote these authors.

The availability of eBooks at much lower prices than printed editions and the popularity of devices like Kindle help to open more avenues for Indie authors. However, this still poses some difficulties particularly with the “book stores” listing the most popular books first. I urge eBook readers to resort the book lists to find the undiscovered treasures looking at the bottom of the popularity lists.

One of the things I found with submissions to publishers was after declining my book they were very enthusiastic, pushy in some case, for me to take up their self-publishing packages.

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

That is very difficult. Fiction readers can vary from those who are avid readers and will pick up just about anything to those (like myself) who have favourite authors or genres and stick to them. This is one of the reasons I have decided to do reviews for Indie authors – to expand my own fiction reading.

With non-fiction books there is rarely a breakdown of genres on review websites and books lists. It would help non-fiction writers if they were able to categorise their book more clearly or include them in multiple catagories.

Answering this question has made me think about how I write my own reviews. Maybe the answer lies in the quality of the review. For example, if we really like a book and write a positive review, do we include what the author wants conveyed in the review?

In the case of non-fiction, do we consider the interests of other readers? The best example of this is a book I recently reviewed about the life of a railway man. I found it interesting from a social history point of view but from about halfway through it got too bogged down with railway operations specifics for me. This book however would be of great interest to true railway enthusiasts.

Until I wrote my first book, even as a reader, I was unaware of websites like Goodreads, Shelfari etc. I also wonder how many other readers are not aware of them.

If having a book reviewed is the only solution to “filtering” these websites need a higher profile.

End of Interview:

You can read Pam’s reviews at Pam’s Nook.

Comments are closed.