Reviewing Policy

I'm always humbled when authors approach me to review their work. That being said I do have a few policies.

1. I only review print copies. No ebooks, epubs, etc. I want a physical copy because I roll old school.

2. I need at least 4 to 6 weeks to publish a review. Usually, it's way sooner than this, but I like to have some cushion in case I have a backlog.

I post reviews to my blog, goodreads, librarything, pinterest, and amazon. In the past year I have received over 70 books from publishers for review and about 12 books directly from authors. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Erin Cataldi​

Positive Feedback From Authors:

"I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful review and the terrific postings. Because of friends like you, the book is starting to get a lot more buzz. I appreciate it so much." - Anthony Eglin - The Blue Rose, winner of the Prix Arsene Lupin for France’s best mystery novel of 2006

"Excellent. Thank you so much! I appreciate it, greatly. A nice review. When my next book comes out, I will send over a copy!" - Monique Roy - Across Great Divides

"Thank you so much for the great review, I hope you enjoy making more recipes from the book." - Adam Pittaway-Hay - Live to Eat

"Thank you so much. I really appreciate that you took the time and effort to write such an amazing review! It is very encouraging for me and will help me to work harder at my next story." - Alisha Nurse - The Return of the Key

"Thanks so much for the kind review, and also for reading the story so quickly. I know you have a lot of choices, and I really appreciate that." - John Horst - The Mule Tamer

"It's good to hear from you with such fab news, thanks! I appreciate your time and 4-star review!" - Elle Boca - Unelmoija Series

"What a lovely review, I'm so glad you enjoyed it :) ... Thanks for taking the time to check it out and review it... it's a great encouragement as I try getting people to actually read it! I almost miss slogging through the painful attempt to write the damn thing!" - Neil Hughes - Walking on Custard and; The Meaning of Life

"I was delighted that you accepted my book and I really appreciate the time and effort you put into reading it and writing the review, which perfectly sums up the book and made me smile ear to ear. Thank you!" - Daniel Garrison - Drifting in the Push

8 comments:

  1. Hi Erin,

    Happy New Year! I hope you are well. My email inviting you to read my latest book due out February 1, 2016 (I'm holding a review copy for you) just bounced. What is the best way to reach you?

    Best,
    Elle Boca

    ReplyDelete
  2. Subject: book review request or whatever feedback or assistance you are willing to provide.

    Title: A PLACE CALLED SCHUGARA
    (Multicultural/literary fiction; 133,000 words; 520 pages)
    Published by: Line by Lion Publishing, Louisville, Ky, [NOT a vanity/subsidy/participation press]

    Dear Avid Reader,

    I believe that, since you are addicted to well-written words with meat on the bone, you will like A PLACE CALLED SCHUGARA--a lot. It contrasts the ennui and despair of late Twentieth Century America with the caring culture of "Mabouhey," an island in the Caribbean.

    Here's what Dr. Richard Hanson, Professor Emeritus (English), University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire
    has to say about A PLACE CALLED SCHUGARA:


    A PLACE CALLED SHUGARA offers an interesting variety of unusual characters, from
    frustrated and unhappy Midwesterners to shrewdly enterprising Caribbean natives
    whose colorful patois is entertaining and delightful. Three of those characters--a
    jaded academic from Chicago, a desperate factory owner from Ohio, and an
    opportunistic insurance investigator from New York--are drawn to a place that
    lovingly welcomes the three misfits. None is actively seeking spiritual rebirth as the
    story begins and each has his own reason for traveling to the little island, but the
    serendipitous result for all three is essentially the same: a renewal of life and spiritual
    wholeness among the inhabitants of a loving community that lives in a place called
    Schugara. Along with its cast of colorful characters the novel also contains a memorable
    blend of rollicking humor and poignant emotion, qualities that will linger in the memory
    of every reader.



    Synopsis:

    A Place Called Shugara is the story of three Americans who come together on the Caribbean island Mabouhey at a place called Schugara. Travers Landeman, an Ohio businessman, escapes a failing marriage and a failing business. Mourning the suicide of his nephew, he flees to Mabouhey, where he fakes his death. Joe Rogers, owner of The Yellow Harp bookstore in Chicago, leads a group of amateur archeologists to Mabouhey. He finds a pre-Columbian treasure, a jeweled mask dating to the Arawak era. Albert Sidney McNab, a private investigator, is hired by the Atlantis Fidelity Insurance Company to search for Travers. Travers discovers his nephew’s diary, which tells of his nephew’s sexual abuse by his parish priest, Father Art. He feels obligated to return to his former life to bring Father Art to justice. Joe, who has his own axe to grind with the Atlantis Fidelity Insurance Company, persuades Travers that it is better to leave that task to Albert. Albert consents, for the love he has found on Mabouhey, a woman named Esmerelda, matters more than the money he may or may not get from Atlantis Fidelity. Albert, Esmerelda, and the mask go to the United States. Father Art is beaten to death in his jail cell while awaiting trial. As United Nations Ambassador of its newest member nation, the Commonwealth of the Island of Mabouhey, Mrs. Esmerelda McNab has the mask auctioned at Sotheby's, despite protestors from Columbia University who denounce the sale as "cultural genocide."


    Please view SCHUGARA's website: http://sites.google.com/view/schugara
    or schugara.com The book's cover is on this site.

    Please let me know if I may send you a copy (paperback or electronic file) for your review consideration.

    Maximum respect,
    Joe English

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Erin, I have an historical fiction that I hope you might review. Please let me know if you would like more details. Best regards---Jim

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm writing to request a possible ARC book review for my YA Multicultural Fantasy that's set to be released in February.

    Title: Kingdom Cold
    Genre: YA Fantasy
    Length: 60,000 words
    Release Date: February 14th, 2019
    Series or Standalone: Standalone

    Synopsis:
    Attempted murder, that's how sixteen-year-old Princess Charlotte's engagement starts. It seems like the only thing she has in common with Prince Young of Vires is their mutual discontent.
    When her kingdom's attacked, Charlotte's parents renegotiate her hand in marriage to a handsome stranger with a sinister plan. With the people Charlotte loves dying around her, and her kingdom's future at stake, the only person she can turn to is the prince she betrayed. But, should she save her kingdom or her heart? One must fall.

    I have a paperback ready to send you if you're interested.
    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was wondering if you would be willing to review and/or promote either a newly-published (March) Christian fiction novella, Heaven Shining Through, or Wisdom From a Father, a collection of essays reflecting two facets of my complex life -- faith and family. It was released last month. My writing is always filtered through the lens of Judeo-Christian values and largely based on 40 years of marriage raising five children. I currently live in Dover-Foxcroft, ME.

    Book Title and Genre: Heaven Shining Through, Christian Fiction/Relationships
    Release Date: March, 2018. Self-published through Xulon, 64 pages
    Synopsis:
    Samantha is dreading her return home. Throughout her life, she had a rocky relationship with her mother – and now her mother is all she has left.
    Through a nostalgic look back, Samantha recognizes the presence of God in an ordinary life. She learns more about herself as a wife and mother who has had her share of sorrow and blessings.
    As her faith increases, she is able to see her mother through new eyes, leading to reconciliation … and is reminded of that every time she sees Heaven Shining Through
    NOTE: Samantha (the lead) is strong willed and had a lot of dates, leading to some confrontations with her mother. She was equally strong in her resolve to remain pure. There is a scene when she and her boyfriend make love; however, the focus is the aftermath -- the remorse, the regret by both Samantha and Chad. They do get married and live a rewarding, faith filled life. It was that faith I was trying to promote in the book. No matter what, God loves us and forgives us. Honestly, the book was not intended to be a "Christian" novel, but a novel everyone could enjoy without an overt Christian message. I intentionally did not want to preach to the choir. This is a story of reconciliation and self-awareness. And it does deal with the sometimes messiness of life.

    Book Title and Genre: Wisdom From a Father, Christian Non-Fiction
    Release Date: November, 2018. Self-published, 160 pages
    Synopsis:
    Wisdom From a Father is a reflective look at life, segmented into chapters. The 52 essay chapters include reflections on life, love and family. All are written from the heart, sometimes seriously and sometimes with a touch of humor.

    If interested, please let me know about your procedures. Hard copy or Kindle copy available upon request. The covers, my bio and launch press releases are available to help introduce me to you.
    Website/blog/social networking links:
    https://www.facebook.com/wisdomfromafather; https://wisdomfromafather.wordpress.com/; @joesiccardi (twitter);
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39704566-heaven-shining-through
    Thanks
    Joe Siccardi

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello, Erin, thanks very much for your Goodreads review of "David - Savakerrva, Book 1"! One thing, though - sorry to ask this, but could you possibly copy/paste the review onto the NEW version of "Book 1" that was just published a month ago? My first version of "David - Savakerrva, Book 1" came out in 2017, and I revised it - and released a Book 2 - just a few weeks ago. And also - are you sure you just read Book 1, and not Volume 1? Volume 1 contains both Book 1 and Book 2 and runs about 600 pages. Regardless, I very much appreciate your written feedback, and you made my day and night! Any questions or other feedback, I can be reached at LBROWN@SATURNV.EARTH Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dear Erin,

    I'm writing to tell you about my new literary fiction novel, The Bird that Sang in Color (1/17/21, 359 p.) This book has received stellar reviews from various literary book blogs, individual reviewers, and Midwest Book Review.

    Part family drama and part self-actualization story, this is about Donna Greco, who in her teens, subscribes to a conventional view of success in life and pushes her freewheeling, artistic brother, Vincent to do the same. However, he refuses to conform and she harbors guilt for her supposed failure to ensure his happiness until she discovers a book of sketches he made of his life, which allows her to see his internal joy and prompts her own journey of living authentically.

    I would love to send you a free copy in exchange for a review. Thank you very much for your time, and I look forward to hearing back from you at your earliest convenience.

    Warm regards, Grace Mattioli
    http://gracemattioli.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Erin,
    My name is Erminia Cilliers. I am a former attorney, current primary school teacher, mother, wife and now first time self-published author. I am extremely excited about my book, but honestly also a little nervous about the marketing process.
    I am seeking a review for my book Affirmations For A Mentor: Positive Affirmations on Confidence, Happiness, Health and Wellness for Mothers to Embody and Teach. I have recently relocated from South Africa to the Italian Riviera, more specifically Sarzana.
    I truly believe that my book will give the intended inspiration for mothers (and women in general) to be fantastic role-models. I have taken famous quotes from legendary figures that have inspired me and elaborated on each quote to create unique affirmations. I am such a believer in affirmations and the process of writing this book was unexpectedly the best therapy I have had.
    I really hope you could make some time to read my book and write a review on Amazon at your earliest convenience. If you are interested I am of course more than happy to send you the required paperback to read and review. Herewith the book’s Amazon link:
    https://www.amazon.com/Affirmations-Mentor-Positive-Confidence-Happiness-ebook/dp/B097K91CHQ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=12N9SN5W7NQYA&dchild=1&keywords=affirmations+for+confidence&qid=1624611416&s=books&sprefix=aff%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C256&sr=1-2
    Thank you for your time.
    Ciao for now😊

    ReplyDelete
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