RomanceEverAfter
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People You Should Know A Conversation with Ross Howard, A Cure for Kirby, Meet Monica Davis and Geir Ness. The Beauty of Change Series Historical Romance Column and Book Reviewer: Kaye Hatfield NEW! Sam DeMarco Have you dreamed of starting your own business? Sam DeMarco, owner of Compliance Team, did and he tells us how he made his dream a reality! Photo Gallery Romance & You (Articles) Romantic Memoir
Quotes & Poetry Expand your quotes and poetic horizons by visiting our various Quotes & Poetry categories: Thought of the Week: Time for New Beginnings A series of 8 articles by Melissa Hamilton comprising a collection of principles that will allow you to make your vision for the future a reality. Read about the Amish, India, Philippines, Greece, & Rome.
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Borders Books & Music "Love to Read: Become A Book Reviewer"
Don’t you love the thrill of stepping into a world created by the imagination of a talented writer? From the second you read the opening line, you are drawn into adventure, conflict, and romance. For those few moments, nothing is as important as discovering if the hero will vanquish the villain or whether the heroine will have the man of her dreams. When the story is over, we yearn for the next exciting tale. For Love of the Romance Genre Most romance genre readers would tell you that reading is an obsession in their life. Indeed, some romance readers have taken their passion for the genre a step further. These dedicated readers have crossed the line from reader to book reviewer. Have you ever considered becoming a book reviewer? Imagine reading dozens of books a year and sharing your opinion on every one. Easy, right? Let’s just say that book reviewing requires more than meets the eye. Behind the Scenes of a Book Reviewer When we think about book reviewing, at first glance it appears a glamorous and exciting job. What most of us don’t realize is the hard work and dedication that is required of a book reviewer. True, the opportunity to receive and enjoy numerous romance books is fun, but book reviewing entails a wide range of considerations. In order to take a glimpse into the book reviewing scene, we visited with Cathy Sova, Senior Editor of The Romance Reader ( www.theromancereader.com) and Teresa Roebuck, a historical romance book reviewer with Romantic Times Magazine. The ladies provided an interesting and thoughtful perspective to the task of book reviewing.Cathy Sova, The Romance Reader The Senior Editor at The Romance Reader was kind enough to provide us a candid and insightful glimpse into the world of reviewing books in the romance genre. Cathy Sova discussed the process that potential book reviewers must adhere to join their community of high-quality reviewers. Although 90% of the interested readers who contact The Romance Reader never follow through, some have committed to this labor of love. In summary, a prospective reviewer would follow a systematic process… Read past reviews: Prospective reviewers are asked to read past reviews for style and slant. By reading these reviews, one may become familiar with the format that is preferred by the site. Sample Submissions: Prospective reviewers write and submit two sample reviews. One review would be on a book one liked, the other for a book that was not liked. Acceptance: If a prospective reviewer joins the team, details regarding book receipt and writing/submitting reviews is provided. (Books, ARCs, etc. are free). In addition, a mentor (a senior reviewer) is assigned to the new reviewer. Miscellaneous: The Romance Reader seeks well-written, thoughtful reviews with clear analysis about the book. In addition, reviewers are requested to do at minimum of four reviews a month. Unfortunately, book reviewers don't always receive accolades for their work. Cathy shared that at times, her book reviewers need to have a "tough skin." She said, "I can't tell you how many times we've had an author write to us accusing a reviewer of everything from jealousy to mean-spiritedness, all because that reviewer dared to say her book wasn't very good. A reviewer needs the courage of her convictions." Being a book reviewer is not always easy, but those who give of their time reviewing some of the thousands of books published each year is appreciated. If you would like to read Cathy Sova's in depth interview, check out Cathy Sova, The Romance Reader. Teresa Roebuck, Historical Romance Reviewer, Romantic Times Magazine We wanted to get the perspective of book reviewing from one of the ladies who reviews for the Romantic Times Magazine. Teresa Roebuck has loved books since she was young. Over the course of thirty years, Teresa has worked as a small press publisher, an editor, a chain book store manager, librarian and a reviewer for various publications. Of course, books are in her blood as her mother owned a small bookstore, The Bookworm. As a fan of Regency and Science Fiction, Teresa has shared her thoughts about many books she’s reviewed with Romantic Times readers. We wanted to ask one of the experts what she thought made a book a "keeper." Here is what Teresa said…
Naturally, they both must see beyond the conventions of the day to the possibilities of a true partnership. Since my niche is Regency England, it is a special delight to me to find a sly comedy of manners, such as the great Georgette Heyer's works. It pains me to read a light romance that takes itself too seriously! But when I find a writer who can make me laugh out loud on one page and then cry over a wounded heart on another, I usually find myself checking the bookstore shelves for anything else she or he might have written." You can visit the Romantic Times Magazine on-line at www.romantictimes.com. You can peruse the book reviews directly on-line. The reviews include RT Top Picks, Historical, Inspirational, Series, Mainstream, Regency, African American, Mystery, and e-Books. In addition, the site includes a biography on all the book reviewers. If you prefer the print version of Romantic Times Magazine, you can either order a subscription or purchase a copy at the bookstore.A Book Reviewer’s Skill Set If you think you might want to be a book reviewer, take a moment and analyze yourself… *Are you an avid reader and have a passion for the romance genre? *Do you possess good writing skills and the ability to articulate your comments clearly and provide an honest review? *As most on-line book review sites do not pay their reviewers, are you willing to do book reviews as a labor of love? *Are you committed to working as a team player and meeting submission deadlines with your publisher? Consider becoming a romance book reviewer. It can be a satisfying and enjoyable job. What can be more rewarding than reviewing books in a genre you love to read! I want to sincerely thank Cathy Sova and Teresa Roebuck for their time. Ladies, we readers appreciate your commitment to the romance genre! Happy reading, everyone!
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