Keep in mind –
This is a post from Ingram Spark and Lauren Charles. I’m not sure it gives you much insight into getting into libraries other than trying to get reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.
I haven’t checked these folks out lately but it used to be fairly costly to get a review from Kirkus. And Library Journal, which doesn’t charge for reviews, required you to send them a book three months before you were going to publish it. What indie author is going to wait three months to publish their book to the public to wait on the Library Journal maybe doing a review. I have not checked out Publishers Weekly review requirements, but I probably should. Kirkus and LJ rules may have also changed since indie authors are getting to be more main stream then they used to be.
Anyone out there have any updated information on getting reviews from the folks as an indie author?
For Publishers Weekly, you have to mail them two physical copies of your book, and wait three months to hear from them. I tried and got a rejection letter. They say they receive thousands of books each month I think, so very few make it through, especially those of indie authors.
Good to know, Shana. Did you try Kirkus or Library Journal?
Similar experience with PW. They started advertising free reviews, so I submitted my book online and waited (and waited and…) then received the rejection. Such a tease.
If they could just tell us right away, it wouldn’t be so bad. The waiting is the frustrating part. I would guess they have limited staff looking at many book that they get requests for.
Did they require you not to publish to the public while you wait to hear from them?