IndieView with Payten Lesat, reviewer at Paylenty Horror

Make sure you find the right reviewer to submit your book to so you have better chance of it being accepted for review.

Payten Lesat – 22 July 2013

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I have always been a book worm and got into horror writing myself a few years ago. I studied the publishing business and was always asked to proofread authors work,be a beta reader for fanfics or check over novels and give feedback ready to go to the publishers. I was already doing movie reviews so it seemed the natural thing to do.

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

I like to get a feel for the book before I review it so I will read over the first 3 or 4 chapters to get  acquainted with  the story and its characters, then I go back to the start and read again, making any notes as I go along.

What are you looking for?

Something original that keeps me wanting to read more. The characters for me need to be believable so I get lost in the storyline and don’t get bored half way through.

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

I think if you are going to write a book then why not take the time to get it proofread properly? We all make grammar errors but when it comes to presentation, to me it’s important.

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

When I am reviewing a book I will take a few days to get through it no matter how long it is.even if it means working through the night. I don’t like starting then walking away from it.

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

My rating system is based on the normal 0-10 guide .Each book gets points for characters, plots and originality. Whatever score a book gets I will always say why it was given that score.

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

Make sure you find the right reviewer to submit your book to so you have better chance of it being accepted for review. Some reviewers like myself only accept submissions from certain genres. Include a synopsis with your request email to them so they have some idea if it’s a book they would cover on their site.

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

I get emails asking if they can share the reviews and some leave comments thanking me because it has helped them decide whether to buy it or not.

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?

I agree with don’t argue with the reviewer because they will hesitate in taking any more submissions from you again. However, I don’t see harm in authors getting in touch and asking for pointers for their writing, but certainly don’t take it personal and just see it as a learning process.

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?

I did think a few years ago that it was a dying past time but thanks to Kindle it seems to have gotten the attention of a new audience. I think people love reading because it allows you to forget real life for a while and submerge yourself into another world. Books you can carry with you so you can delve back into it whenever you feel like it.

About Writing

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

Presentation of the book in self publishing and grammar that we mentioned earlier. Making their protagonist a ‘Mary-Sue’ so they never get hurt or have any conflict and using plots that are questionable and not consistent throughout the book.

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?

I always say if it has a great first paragraph then you are in the running, however for me I think at least 3 chapters should be submitted and read and it’s what i do with each book before deciding whether to keep reading more.

Is there anything you will not review?

I only review Horror, Thrillers and Sci Fi as I write for the Horror genre anyway so have a feel for it more. Anything else I sadly have to decline.

About Publishing

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

I don’t think it’s so bad. Authors want their work out there quickly and don’t want to wait around for their manuscripts to hopefully be found sitting among the slush pile. Bringing it online means more people view it, and a lot of indie authors have gone on to have best sellers just by putting their work up online. Yes, some will not be noticed and you will always get the good writers and the bad but if it works why go back to traditional methods.

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

Certainly! Many people once viewed Indie and Self published titles as a desperate attempt to say you were a published author, but considering how many talented authors we are seeing using this platform then it has started a new revolution in publishing.

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

I don’t think there are any real ways of filtering good from bad completely. I would however say that most authors now have their own blogs so not only check out the reviews for their books but go and check out their blogs too and it will give you a bigger perspective of the writer.

End of Interview:

Read Payten’s reviews at Paylenty Horror.