The View From ForeWord Magazine
Participants in the 2005 Book Summit: Industry Leaders Discussing the Future of Publishing in a Flat World are being asked for their views. Book Summit checked in with the editors of ForeWord Magazine.
1. What characteristics must a digitally printed book have to entice a reviewer to review it?
The digital book must have the same characteristics as the print galley submitted: top-notch writing, a good story or nonfiction topic that is timely and not overdone, and an author who has some credentials and can speak well to the subject matter.
2. What impact does distribution of a digitally produced book have in the decision to review it?
Our mission at ForeWord Magazine and ForeWordreviews.com is to help great books that might be overlooked get the recognition they deserve with a review
--print or digital form. Typically, in the magazine, we try to help our readership of booksellers and librarians by giving them access to books through review that have ease of access or distribution setup. As more and more libraries get involved in digital lending, these obstacles will diminish.
We see the trade community still having issues with e-book/POD distribution because it does not fit with the current distribution flow (returnable). This only fits with our goal to help small presses and self-publishers overcome those challenges with tools that can help them sell. We also feel POD publishers need to spend more time in the editing and design of exterior and interiors. Books are selected for review independently of distribution channels.
3. With more content being produced, what factors will reviewers look for in a book to review?
"Good books, independently published" is the motto for the magazine. The quality standards remain the same for digital or print books. ForeWord Magazine makes category choices based on the output of the small press community: 85 percent nonfiction and 15 percent fiction/poetry. With regard to the fee-for-reviews service, the five-star rating system gives users a chance to gauge our judgment based on excellence from one to five, one being the lowest recommendation. Factors of distinctiveness in content and treatment do not change.
4. Are online reviewers complementing or replacing traditional magazine reviewers?
Complementing, not replacing. A review has to resonate with the reader whether it is from the New York Times Book Review, blog, or recognized trade journal like ForeWord. Amazon.com reviewers and other online reviewers are not held to qualification standards that print journals like ForeWord are recognized for, but they do provide the buyer with information that appears useful in a consumer purchasing decision. Our reviews are licensed to the three largest online distribution companies in the trade market space--where most ordering for the library market takes place. We hope to expand on this coverage with future partnerships with Google, Amazon, and other broad-reach book sales organizations that need content to help sell books.
1. What characteristics must a digitally printed book have to entice a reviewer to review it?
The digital book must have the same characteristics as the print galley submitted: top-notch writing, a good story or nonfiction topic that is timely and not overdone, and an author who has some credentials and can speak well to the subject matter.
2. What impact does distribution of a digitally produced book have in the decision to review it?
Our mission at ForeWord Magazine and ForeWordreviews.com is to help great books that might be overlooked get the recognition they deserve with a review
--print or digital form. Typically, in the magazine, we try to help our readership of booksellers and librarians by giving them access to books through review that have ease of access or distribution setup. As more and more libraries get involved in digital lending, these obstacles will diminish.
We see the trade community still having issues with e-book/POD distribution because it does not fit with the current distribution flow (returnable). This only fits with our goal to help small presses and self-publishers overcome those challenges with tools that can help them sell. We also feel POD publishers need to spend more time in the editing and design of exterior and interiors. Books are selected for review independently of distribution channels.
3. With more content being produced, what factors will reviewers look for in a book to review?
"Good books, independently published" is the motto for the magazine. The quality standards remain the same for digital or print books. ForeWord Magazine makes category choices based on the output of the small press community: 85 percent nonfiction and 15 percent fiction/poetry. With regard to the fee-for-reviews service, the five-star rating system gives users a chance to gauge our judgment based on excellence from one to five, one being the lowest recommendation. Factors of distinctiveness in content and treatment do not change.
4. Are online reviewers complementing or replacing traditional magazine reviewers?
Complementing, not replacing. A review has to resonate with the reader whether it is from the New York Times Book Review, blog, or recognized trade journal like ForeWord. Amazon.com reviewers and other online reviewers are not held to qualification standards that print journals like ForeWord are recognized for, but they do provide the buyer with information that appears useful in a consumer purchasing decision. Our reviews are licensed to the three largest online distribution companies in the trade market space--where most ordering for the library market takes place. We hope to expand on this coverage with future partnerships with Google, Amazon, and other broad-reach book sales organizations that need content to help sell books.
posted by Brian Jud at 4:46 PM
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