AustenBlog Job Opening: Book Reviewer Wanted
AustenBlog is looking for one or more individuals willing to read Austen-related books and write reviews. Books will be provided by the publishers; if you want to write a review for a book you’ve purchased yourself, that’s fine, too. (We are only interested in reviews of books that have been released in the past few months.)
Those unwilling to be constructively critical need not apply. You don’t have to be snarky (though it helps), but if all your reviews are the literary equivalent of “it has a nice beat and you can dance to it, I give it an 85,” we’re not interested, as such don’t-say-anything-if-you-can’t-say-anything-nice nonsense does not serve our readership. Just be honest! If you love a book, tell us; if you hated it, tell us. Generally we structure our book reviews as follows: an overview hinting at good-or-bad in the first paragraph; specific likes and dislikes; whether Janeites will enjoy it (this is very important–something might not be to your taste but others might like it); wrapup with pithy bon mot. Be careful to review the book and not the author. 
You must be willing to be edited, both for style and substance, but we will give you final approval of any edits before posting if you like.
We can’t pay anything other than free books and Internet fame (or infamy as the case may be). The author maintains all copyright and is free to submit a review elsewhere as well; we ask only for first publication for reviews of books that we provide.
Submit a sample review of a Jane Austen-related book to editor AT austenblog.com. Let us know if you would prefer to review fiction, nonfiction or both. Length is unimportant; we are looking for quality.
August 14th, 2006 at 9:29 am
I should love to give it a go! I will make it a point to get a sample review to you this week Mags.
August 14th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
I’d love to do it, but would the publishers be willing to send books to Europe?
August 14th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
I’m also interested, but it may be a week or two before I can write up a sample review.
August 14th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Sylvia: probably not, and that’s a good point.
The reviewer will ideally be located in the U.S.
August 14th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
And I laugh at what would be thought of a Bronteite Austen critic! *cackles*
August 15th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Would the publishers be willing to ship to Canada?
August 15th, 2006 at 11:31 am
Hmm…not sure about Canada. Probably not, since customs is involved.
Sorry, I know we have an international readership.
August 15th, 2006 at 11:34 am
Sigh.
August 15th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
How often are books to be reviewed - once every week or month, for instance? And for how long does the gig last? Is it temporary of indefinite?
August 15th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Not a regular gig; I don’t ask for books generally, the publishers write to me and offer them, and I don’t have the time or energy to read them all. I thought I’d spread the love a little.
I get offered four or five a year right now. I’m hoping to get more than one person willing to do reviews so if one person doesn’t have time or desire, I can ask the next person.
And as I said, if you purchased a book and are moved to review it, that’s cool, too. Really, we would take reviews from any reader as long as it is well-written and not obvious astroturf, and if we don’t already have too many for one particular book/play/whatever.
August 15th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Ideally US…? That is just mean. We do read Jane Austen here in Finland too
August 16th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Alas… (another sigh from Canada)
August 16th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
Sorry ladies–if I hear from any European publishers, perhaps!
August 21st, 2006 at 2:47 pm
I’m quite interested in becoming a book reviewer for you, and I do live in the US. But I have two questions:
1. Would the sample Jane Austen related book review need to be on a book that was published very recently?
2. Is there a specific due date by which the submission needs to be made?
August 22nd, 2006 at 1:02 am
1. Not necessarily. Don’t drive yourself nuts over it.
2. No date. Seriously, don’t make yourself crazy or neglect other things.