Review Policy + FAQ
Review Policy
I review books that have "captured" me in some way. I'm not a big fan of giving star ratings - sometimes deciding what rating a book should get is a bit too much like splitting hairs! That said, I'm always happy to find new books and authors, so feel free to contact me if you have a review request. I am happy to accept PDFs, hard copies and ARCs.
Send your review requests to:
Please do keep in mind that I like books that capture me in some way, so to impress me with your request. (Tell me a bit about your book and make me want to read it.) I am interested in a variety of genres but do not usually read crime, erotica or biographies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you?
I am a writer, book critic and poet, in that order. Originally, when I started this site, it was intended to promote my work and my journey as a writer. However, a love of books, the comics pages and amateur photography soon took over and this website morphed into a celebration of my love of Literature and the Arts. As far as qualifications go, I have a BA (Hons) in English Literature, do the odd bit of freelance journalism and have independently published a number of novels, which you can see on the side of this blog. I also have a day job that keeps me busy.
In case you are wondering, my favourite authors are Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Anais Nin, Tim Winton, Janet Fitch, JK Rowling, PG Wodehouse, John Marsden, Virginia Andrews and Richelle Mead. A bit of an odd mix, but that's the way I like it.
My favourite daily comic strips are Garfield, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbs and the Phantom.
Finally, I may own a very average camera, but that does not stop me from posting pictures on this blog.
I am a publisher/publicist/author and I'd love to quote your review? Which name should I use? (It's a little confusing ...)
I am a writer, book critic and poet, in that order. Originally, when I started this site, it was intended to promote my work and my journey as a writer. However, a love of books, the comics pages and amateur photography soon took over and this website morphed into a celebration of my love of Literature and the Arts. As far as qualifications go, I have a BA (Hons) in English Literature, do the odd bit of freelance journalism and have independently published a number of novels, which you can see on the side of this blog. I also have a day job that keeps me busy.
In case you are wondering, my favourite authors are Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Anais Nin, Tim Winton, Janet Fitch, JK Rowling, PG Wodehouse, John Marsden, Virginia Andrews and Richelle Mead. A bit of an odd mix, but that's the way I like it.
My favourite daily comic strips are Garfield, Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbs and the Phantom.
Finally, I may own a very average camera, but that does not stop me from posting pictures on this blog.
I am a publisher/publicist/author and I'd love to quote your review? Which name should I use? (It's a little confusing ...)
Either Kathryn White, Blogger (or you may call me a book reviewer or influencer,) or you may use review to Kathryn's Inbox, which is the name of the blog and all of my social media.
Why does your blog and social media have such a weird name?
It was intended to represent all of the weird and wonderful things that were either emailed to me or came across my screen or found their way to my desk.
Which days do you post reviews, photographs etc?
I try to update the content on here daily or at least every second day. I have two recurring posts each week:
Monday: Around Adelaide. Focuses on Art in my home city
Friday: Friday Funnies. Usually something related to daily comic strips or a comedy television series.
Other days of the week I post book reviews or semi-regular features such as Off Topic or 1990s Nostalgia as I see fit.
Are you paid for your reviews?
I try to update the content on here daily or at least every second day. I have two recurring posts each week:
Monday: Around Adelaide. Focuses on Art in my home city
Friday: Friday Funnies. Usually something related to daily comic strips or a comedy television series.
Other days of the week I post book reviews or semi-regular features such as Off Topic or 1990s Nostalgia as I see fit.
Are you paid for your reviews?
No. My reviews are made up of books that are part of my personal collection, or ones that have been given to be free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review. I do not and will not accept payment for a review.
Are you a part of the Amazon Affiliates Programme?
No. Sponsored links just aren't for me.
Why are there no star ratings on your reviews?
The book reviews on this site focus on the book and, sometimes, its background. All of the books on here have captured my imagination in some way. I would rather discuss the book with you, inspire you to read and/or to read your comments about the book and my review. I add stars to my reviews on Goodreads and the Reading Room, because I understand that is an important feature of those sites.
Why are there no star ratings on your reviews?
The book reviews on this site focus on the book and, sometimes, its background. All of the books on here have captured my imagination in some way. I would rather discuss the book with you, inspire you to read and/or to read your comments about the book and my review. I add stars to my reviews on Goodreads and the Reading Room, because I understand that is an important feature of those sites.
Do you accept books from indie authors?
Yes. As an independently published author myself, I am aware of how few opportunities there are for indie authors to have their books read and reviewed. While I cannot accommodate every review request, no preference is given over whether the book is traditionally published or independently published. A good book is a good book, regardless of the medium the author has used for publication. I've read some brilliant independently published novels, some terrible traditionally published novels and vice versa. Refusing reviews from independently published authors, or, conversely, only accepting books from independently published authors is not going to make me appear any more or less intelligent and my thoughts on any book reviewed on this site any more or less valid.
That said, all blogs have a basic theme and all reviewers have different tastes. All reviewers have only so much time to spare and can only say yes to a certain number of reviews. I decline requests on the basis that the book is not a good fit for my blog. Sometimes I accept books and discover as I start to read that they are a not a good fit. I encourage you to read some of my reviews and see if your book is similar to some of the books that have been reviewed here already.
Yes. As an independently published author myself, I am aware of how few opportunities there are for indie authors to have their books read and reviewed. While I cannot accommodate every review request, no preference is given over whether the book is traditionally published or independently published. A good book is a good book, regardless of the medium the author has used for publication. I've read some brilliant independently published novels, some terrible traditionally published novels and vice versa. Refusing reviews from independently published authors, or, conversely, only accepting books from independently published authors is not going to make me appear any more or less intelligent and my thoughts on any book reviewed on this site any more or less valid.
That said, all blogs have a basic theme and all reviewers have different tastes. All reviewers have only so much time to spare and can only say yes to a certain number of reviews. I decline requests on the basis that the book is not a good fit for my blog. Sometimes I accept books and discover as I start to read that they are a not a good fit. I encourage you to read some of my reviews and see if your book is similar to some of the books that have been reviewed here already.
A final note to indie authors. I have found that some independently published authors seek to contact as many bloggers as possible when looking for reviews in the hope that one or two will accept their request. It is my experience that you're better off contacting a smaller number of reviewers who accept independently published books in your genre. Don't waste your time or anyone else's by contacting a blogger who specialises in say, romance when you write sci-fi simply because it is the first blog that happens to come up on google.
Finally, a great initiative is this hub that has been set up on Booklover Book Reviews for authors seeking reviews--it only take a minute to fill the form out:
http://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/booklover-hub-authors-seeking-reviewers
Dear Kathryn S. Inbox. We [company] would like to advertise on your blog?
I've forwarded on your request to Kathryn S. Inbox. She says thanks but no thanks.
Dear Friend, I am Mrs Blake Bianca and I have been suffering from ovarian cancer disease and the doctor says that I have just two days to live. [And so begins a long request on transferring large sums of money via Western Union ...]
Dear Ms Bianca, I am truly sorry for your illness. I'm unable to help you transfer large sums of money at the moment, but rest assured I have sent a card and some flowers to the hospital. My friends and I are also hard at work, knitting a bright and colourful rug for your hospital bed.
Comments
You've been nominated for The Versatile Blogger Award!
http://jaylt.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/the-versatile-blogger-award/
~ JLT