Book Reviews

The success of V!VA List depends on every contributor playing their part in promoting the book, and now is the time when promotion really needs to ramp up a gear. Book reviews are an important way of spreading the word and drawing attention to our unique, online community created book.

Step 1: Create Contacts

Compile a list of contacts who you know who work in the media, or who know of through your network of colleagues and ex-colleagues, family or friends, who may be interested in reviewing the book for publications for which they work. Think media, especially travel media.

Step 2: Contact the Contacts

Contact the people on your list to see if any of them would be interested in reviewing the book. We’ve made it easy with a form letter- all you have to do is fill in the blanks! Then, send or email the letter, along with the press release, and ask them if they want to write a review for their publication.

Note the contact details of those who are interested: name, job position, publication name, mail address and email address. Some reviewers have very specific requirements for book reviews. Record the details, and include them with the contact information.

Step 3: Send us the Contact Details So We Can Send Them a Book

Contact V!VA with the details of the reviewers and the their individual requirements to review the book. Include all the details listed above in your communication. Send the details to editors(at)remove-this.vivatravelguides.com

Step 4: Books Mailed

On receipt of your email, V!VA will send a copy of the book to the reviewer. V!VA will confirm with you the date that the book has been dispatched, for follow up purposes.

Step 5: Follow Up

In most cases, it is worthwhile to follow up with the reviewer to ensure that they received the book. In some cases reviewers frown on this, so it is important to understand the reviewer requirements upfront.

Printable version of How to set up a Book Review

Other Important Promotional Activity

Now is the time to spark the interest of the local media (newspaper dailies/weeklies and local radio), by sending a copy of your piece from the book and the press release.

See if the newspapers will publish your V!VA List piece (if they agree, they must also credit the V!VA List website, your name, book title, and original title of the piece). If they won’t republish your piece, maybe they will agree to do a short write-up about you in the paper. Many local papers have a section about how people from the area are making strides.

The local radio station may give you an interview and/or allow you to read your piece on-air.

Contact your alumni organization’s publications and give them news of your success.

If your family and friends enjoyed the book, why not ask them to review it online?