Affaire de Coeur

[erastes]

Two things:

1. They aren't receiving enough/ANY? copies of m/m romances to review. I applied for the review position but they tell me that they simply don't get any of this genre. What's going on, guys and girls? Why aren't you sending to them? I know they didn't used to review m/m but they sure do now!

2, They are in desperate need of a reviewer for erotica that isn't GBLT - please apply to Louise at AffairedeCoeur AT comcast DOT net

Comments

[jmsnyder.livejournal.com]

Hmm, perhaps no one is submitting books to them because their website doesn't make it easy to figure out how to request a review?

[jourdanlane.livejournal.com]

I second that. And? They don't make it easy (time-wise) to request a review without buying an ad.

From their website:

"*We will not accept submissions less than three months prior to the date of publication unless it is associated with an ad.

We do not review books after publication unless it is done in association with an ad."

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Pay-to-play is the standard with RT, though, isn't it? This may be something we need to talk to our publishers about. I wonder if A de C might be willing to consider an m/m issue if several publishers of m/m took out ads featuring cover thumbnails of the books sent for review... If A de C publicized such a thing I'll bet they'd sell a lot of copies.

[jourdanlane.livejournal.com]

Well, true. I realized that after I posted. I think I've gotten spoiled with the number of online review sites that don't charge. ;-)

An m/m issue would be a great idea, IMO. Definitely something I'd talk to my publisher about!

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I think part of the problem is that so much of our writing is ebook to POD, and their deadlines make it nearly impossible--they want review copies weeks ahead of publication date--hell, my final proofreads are usually a week or so ahead. I wouldn't trade that for the near-instant gratification (I guess print-only writers are accustomed to the long wait from acceptance to publication) but it'd be nice if A de C could take that into account.

[m-barnette.livejournal.com]

With one of my publishers I don't even get solid release dates, I know it's about to come out when I get an edit. It means I'm a -week- from the release date. How could I get a book to A de C before publication that way?

I agree, a big group of pubs should hit them with ads. Places like Manlove Romances, Torquere, Mojocastle, Dark Eden Press and Loose-id.

As far as 'print only' authors, I've waited as long as a year for e-pubbed books to come out, and up to 3 for print titles. It's the not knowing when a book is coming out that's the hardest.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that. I've only dealt with one publisher, Linden Bay, and they're very good about letting writers know what's going on. I guess that's the advantage of being with a relatively small publisher, but I think it's also that Barb & Lori are conscientious.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Good point, I'll point that out to the woman who got in touch!

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I sent them a copy of Ransom, after LBR asked them about it (I think it was after the Eppies last year) and as far as I know either they never got it or they never did anything with it. I sent it first class and it was not returned.

[cleverthylacine]

...they want a reviewer for hetero erotica, or they want a heterosexual reviewer?

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

don't ask, don't tell...

Most of the time it's a waste of review copies.

[kimnik.livejournal.com]

I've never sent anything to them or any other review mag or site that didn't specifically ask for GBLT, Yaoi or M/M books. Partially because they don't get reviewed and partially because I'm not sure that M/M readers ever buy those magazines.

And even though Blind Eye Books is not POD, we still rarely have a MS sitting around for four months prior to publication. I mean, I guess we do have one uncorrected proof right now, but it's just barely four months out.

But speaking of reviews do you have any favorite review sites that you think would be interested in looking at SF/F?

I have some books to give away.

Re: Most of the time it's a waste of review copies.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Even Standish was available 3 months out, from finished ARC to print was about four-five weeks, I think.

I do understand her pov a bit, because she says that with a printed magazine they have to impose deadlines - BUT they manage shorter deadlines - AND reviewing after publication for people who buy advertising, so why can't they do that for some of the others? Perhaps have a hat and pick 10 or so from the hat and they get reviewed after publication

Is it m/m sf/f? Rainbow Reviews definitely cover that, but I'm really not au fait with the sf/f market...

Re: Most of the time it's a waste of review copies.

[kimnik.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I understand their position too. They don't want their magazine to constantly be 4 months behind the times.

Re: Most of the time it's a waste of review copies.

[valkovalin.livejournal.com]

Send the books to me - I'll review them. I'm have a fairly small review site so far, but I review GBLT, Yaoi, and M/M books, and I love SF and Fantasy.

My site: http://www.obisidianbookshelf.com
My email: obsidianbookshelf AT gmail DOT COM