Did you know that you can get your book reviewed in newspapers nation- and maybe world-wide? Yes, I know that many newspapers are scratching their book review sections. Some of them still review only books coming from major publishers. But newspaper columnists pretty much have carte blanche when it comes to what they write. And many of them will review books related to the theme of their columns.
Here’s what I suggest, if you have a nonfiction book, surely you can find newspaper columns focusing or touching on the topic of your book. There are columns related to cars, parenting, education, pets, health, fitness, food and cooking, finance, history, travel, business, art, entertainment and more. You might find columns focusing on fashion, spirituality/religion, technology and/or photography, for example. If you have a book on the subject, you’ll probably find a newspaper column to match.
Below, I’ve listed links for newspapers worldwide. Check out the newspapers in these directories and discover which ones have sections or columns related to your book’s topic.
You may have to get creative to land a review. For example, come up with a good hook that will entice the writer for a summer fun and recreation column to review your book on how to help your kids get the most out of summer school. Perhaps you can convince a columnist for a business column or a finance column to review your book on family budgeting. Your book of animal stories might be a good fit for many newspaper pet columns. And if your memoir features recovery from a brain injury, for example, you might get it reviewed in a health column.
Most novels have nonfiction hooks that can be used to land book reviews in newspaper columns. I know an author whose novel is set within the world of agriculture. It’s possible that she could get reviews in farming or business columns across the states. A novel with a chef as a main character or one that mentions a certain dessert throughout might be a good candidate for a review in a foods and cooking column. A young adult fantasy series might interest those writing columns for teens in doing a review. I’m sure that the Cat Who mysteries were reviewed in a few (or many) pet columns.
Your assignment for this Sunday—a very hot one here in Southern California—is to locate newspaper columns suited to the theme or topic of your book and making a plan to contact the columnists.
Wait, some of you are thinking this might be more trouble than it’s worth. You’re still waiting for your book to be noticed on the bookstore shelves, at your website, at Amazon… How’s that workin’ for ya? Come on, think about it—who’s your audience? Where are they? Would your audience possibly read a column related to the theme of your book? Sure they would. Is there any other way you can think of that you can approach this particular audience—folks who read the hometown newspaper in Santa Barbara, CA; Canton, OH; Fallon, NV; Emmett, ID; Jackson Hole, WY; Wenatchee, WA; Hammond, IN or Sandy Springs, GA, for example? Or even New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago… Give it a try and let us know the results. I love hearing about the results.
If you’re having a problem finding the right column or you’re not sure how to decipher your book’s hook, let us know—we’ll help.
http://newspapers.com
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com
http://www.thepaperboy.com
http://www.50states.com/news
Hello Bob,
I’m not sure there is a list of columnists who write about military issues, but you can do a search to find out. Or you may have to create your own list. Here’s how: Use one of the directories below to locate newspapers with appropriate columns. It could take a while, but it should be worth the effort.
Use the newspaper directory links in this post.
There are also military magazines. Locate them through Writer’s Market–maybe Literary Market Place (both available in the reference section of your local library.
I hope this helps. Good luck,
Patricia