teaperson writes “The Christian Science Monitor‘s book editor, Ron Charles, reports on two new programs from Kirkus Reviews, which will let publishers buy placement in new publications. Self-published authors can get a review for $350.
The second new product is Kirkus Reports, set to appear early next month. It highlights titles that the editors feel are the best lifestyle books (health, parenting, personal finance). But to be included in this free e-mail newsletter for magazine and newspaper journalists, publishers must pay $95 per title.
Ron will NOT be selling his reviews.”
A terrible model
already in use by Foreword Reviews. OK, here’s another one of my hypothetical questions…is there NOTHING today that can’t be bought? Granted it’s a tough time for publishers, but even so, they have to consider why they are doing what they do. If the answer is “profit” than the paid for review is the way to go. If the answer is critical analysis of forthcoming titles, then they should abandon that model.
“is there NOTHING today that can’t be bought?”
Good question. Might even be “insightful” if you pay me a small “moderator’s fee.”
Re:”is there NOTHING today that can’t be bought?”
Thanks anyway, but I’m not in the market for a “grumpy librarian”. Now if you know of any cheery, helpful and generous librarians…
Re: what price vanity?
The article says it all, really. It’s so hard to believe that if I hadn’t read it with my own eyes in The Christian Science Monitor, I might not have believed it.
Sorry to say, birdie, that it does seem that very few things today are not for sale… Maybe there’s a short story, a novel, or play…no better yet – an opera (think light opera) – in this somewhere!? How about if we put our self-publishing heads together and write one up…surely $350 is a small price to pay for getting our names, and of course, our creativity out there? Let’s see if we split $350 by…
It also reminds me just a bit of a PAC, does it you? 😉
Re:”is there NOTHING today that can’t be bought?”
They charge WAY more.