by M. J. Joachim

As many of you may have guessed, based on the comments in some of the emails I receive, I get a whole lot of book review requests, and I'm happy to add all of them to my growing file of books to be read and reviewed. In fact, I'm currently on a self-imposed mission to read and review as many books as I can, to dwindle my pile significantly, since so many authors have been waiting only too patiently for me read and review their books.

I started one rather long book yesterday afternoon, and I'm almost finished with it. Plus I started reading another (children's) one to my granddaughter. We didn't get very far, because she preferred we hang out and play on the floor, but I did manage to read two whole chapters to her before that happened. Most of the time I read children's books to her while she's sitting and eating in the highchair.

I'm very happy to see so many authors taking time and doing their best to promote the work they've spent hours, days, weeks, months and possibly even years completing. I'm only too happy to help you succeed any way I can, even if that means being honest and telling you I wasn't too crazy about your book for one reason or another. I received some lovely emails over the years thanking me for doing just that, and it truly validates my opinion that honesty is the best policy when writing book reviews.

That said, let's keep it simple. If you want me to Review your Book, send me a mobi file of it. I don't need all the cover copies, and you don't need to spend precious time writing a detailed query letter to see if I'm interested. The easier the better for me, so simply include your book in a short and sweet email, letting me know you'd like me to consider giving it a review, and I'm all too happy to oblige.

Based on the amount of requests and books I receive, I definitely won't promise you anything timely, but I will promise I'll do my best to read and review your book as soon as I possibly can. That means life and family come first. It also means I need downtime as much as anyone else, and there are definitely times when I take a break from reading nonstop. I'm as human as the next person, and this is a one woman shop.

I read. I review. And I write. I'm currently working on a couple of indie books I'd like to self publish at some point in the future. The one project is huge, so it will probably a year...or two or three...before I finish detailing it for final publication. The other is a fun, fictional story. I'm not sure where it's coming from, but I'm having a wonderful time writing it. I'd be lying if I told you all I do is read the books that are sent to me. I spend a lot of time reading, a lot more than I ever have before, since so many indie authors benefit from my services. It's a pleasure reading and reviewing your books, so take heart. I'm in your corner and look forward to sharing my thoughts on what you have written with my audience.

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me. All the best to you and yours. Happy reading and writing everyone!

M. J.

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