The How and Why of Book Reviews

Book reviews offer gold to authors, representing one of the best ways to market a book. Even ten reviews on Amazon will add significant credibility to your book and place it above poorly formatted and badly edited books. Readers also find reviews on Goodreads valuable, and many look for their next book on this site. Goodreads costs nothing to join and leave reviews. In comparison, Amazon expects you to spend $$$ on its site before you can review (currently, this means AUD $50 in the last 12 months). Other helpful places to leave reviews include blogs and book retail sites.

Sadly, obtaining reviews proves surprisingly difficult. Giving away advanced reader copies doesn’t guarantee that readers will actually write a review for your book – a disappointing reality. 

As Australian Christian authors, we have an advantage over the thousands of US Christian authors. We can leverage our smallness to get to know each other and support our fellow Christian authors. Commendably, many Christian authors buy their friends’ books. I’ve seen writers leave the Omega Conference bookstore with an armload of books. However, if they never read or review the books they buy, they only offer their friend a token financial gift, roughly the cost of a cup of coffee. Imagine if ten people supported them by writing a review, and each review encouraged just two people to buy the book, suddenly they would have sold twenty copies.

The Instruction of Jesus

Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). If we want other Christian authors to support us, we need to support them. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by reading and reviewing books. This doesn’t function as a “tit for tat” system where I’ll write a review for you if you write one for me. Jesus said this as a general way of treating others, not a pay-back system when someone treats us well.

Book reviews don’t require long or complicated formats. A simple four-sentence book review looks like this (many other simple templates exist online):

The Four-Sentence Book Review

1.         Introduction

Include the title, subtitle, name of author, genre, and setting (or location of author for non-fiction).

2.         Overview

What happens? Mention the overall theme.

3.         Evaluation

What did you like or dislike about it? Identify strengths and possible weaknesses.

4.         Audience

Recommend the type of audience who would like the book.

A Fiction Example

Australian author Barbara Hannay sets her romance story, Second Chance Family, in Townsville and the Atherton Tablelands in northern Queensland. The story explores the developing romance between Carrie Madden, a widow with two teenage girls and an eight-year-old son, and Ben Galbraith, a bachelor from Scotland with a banking background. The major strengths of the story include its descriptions of the Tablelands and its exploration of how past unwise decisions influence the present, which make for an intriguing read. While I found the romance a little drawn out, it will appeal to romance readers.

 A Non-Fiction Example

American Pastor Levi Lusko's latest spiritual growth book has the rather long title, Blessed Are the Spiraling: How the Chaotic Search for Significance Can Lead to Joy Through Life’s Shifting Seasons. Through the book, Lusko tells the story of his own midlife crisis, which led him to confront many issues from his past, including his parents’ divorce, a pornography addiction, and an excessive desire for success and recognition. I appreciated Lusko's honesty and the many lessons he shares about learning to trust God more deeply. Though the book aims to reach men in their late 30s to early 50s, I did gain some insights for myself.  

If you stick rigidly to this structure, your review may sound stilted. Also, if you write a lot of reviews, they will start to sound the same. So use your creativity and editing skills to add your personal touch.

Screenshot of some of my Goodreads book reviews from Christian authors

A Common Concern

What if I don’t like the book or find lots of errors? If you have received the book as an advanced reader copy, let the author know and gently tell them why you feel unable to write a review. I have read books I dislike, but have reflected on whether others would enjoy them and/or may not notice the errors. In the four-sentence book review, only one sentence focuses on your opinion, so consider highlighting one positive aspect while remaining true to your values. Including a small criticism doesn’t reduce the value of a review. For example, in my fiction review above, I mentioned that I found the romance a bit drawn out.

As Australian Christian authors, we all benefit from visibility, credibility, and word-of-mouth recommendations. Yet, writing book reviews remains one of the most powerful and effective ways we can support one another. 

[Featured Photo from AAGraphics on Pixabay]

Author Bio

Susan Barnes, author of 10 Blessings of God, holds a degree in Christian ministry and writes to renew the mind and stir the soul. She has over thirty years of experience in pastoral ministry, serving alongside her husband, Ross, in various roles. They live in Bendigo, Australia. 

Find out more about Susan at:
My Website | Facebook Author Page | Amazon | Books2Read | Goodreads

CWD DNA

by Jeanette O'Hagan

Christian Writers Downunder - Who are we? What do we stand for? What do we offer?

CWD has been going since 2009 as a Yahoo Group, then as a writers' blog and Facebook group since 2010. I joined in 2012. I still have a clear memory of being invited into the group by the lovely Paula Vince (who I'd recently met at the World Word Conference - the progenitor of the Omega Writers Conference).

Both the conference and joining CWD transformed my writing journey - in terms of networking, mentoring, encouragement and friendships.

Over the last couple of years, CWD has highlighted and interviewed some of our members (e.g. Meet Our Member posts on Thursday). So far we have interviewed 52 great writers, editors & illustrators out of our more than 1100 members. We're a diverse bunch, from different backgrounds, different life experiences, different genres and different writing goals, but all with a love for Jesus and for writing,  and are connected in someway to Australasia.

Since 2009 (and the very first blog post in 1 September 2010), we've published an anthology - Glimpses of Light. We've become an affiliate group of Omega Writers (along with our sister group Australasian Christian Writers). Our members have published or are on the journey to publish or just staring out, writing their first pieces. They have won prizes, taken workshops, organised retreats, book fairs and conferences. We still have a writers' blog (i.e. this one) and, though the Yahoo group is long gone, our Facebook group remains a supportive place for Christian writers from Downunder.

In 2014, our previous fabulous coordinator, Nola Passmore, wrote about the aims and mission statement of CWD:

"Through the CWD Facebook page and the bi-weekly blog, we seek to encourage each other, provide tips, share prayer points and circulate news relevant to Christian writers."

She then goes on to propose our mission statement.

CWD's mission statement:

To glorify God with our writing

As Nola says:

"This doesn’t necessarily mean that every piece we write has a specific Christian message." 

While many CWD writers write Christian fiction, many of us write for the secular market. Whether explicit or implicit, our fiction and non-fiction is influenced and undergirded by our Christian worldview, by Christian values, themes and choices. How this plays out will read differently for each of us as God has gifted us and led us on our own faith journeys.

As Nola reminds us, it's not just what we write but how we live that glorifies God.

"Honouring God in our writing also means that we endeavour to live a life that is consistent with His Word (e.g. demonstrating a servant attitude, ethical behaviour, love, forgiveness, patience, perseverance, generosity, gratitude)."

Christian Writers Downunder wishes to glorify God through affirming Christ and faith in him, and by providing a community of grace and generosity. This means holding to what is true while respecting each other in humility and grace even when we disagree, recognising that we are all fallible and, on occasion, mistaken, and in constant need of God's grace and provision.

To develop our God-given creative gifts.

Nola says:

 "God has given each of us gifts to be used in building His Kingdom, including creative gifts such as writing.  However, we still need to hone our gifts to be the best we can be at our craft."

Christian Writers Downunder aims to help Christian writers, editors and illustrators to develop their creative writing gifts through practical tips and encouragement on the bi-weekly CWD blog. And through celebrating achievements and providing opportunities to blog and contribute in different ways. Posts on Writing Craft on Genre or Marketing help our members to hone their skills, while inspirational blogs inspire and encourage members to 'fan the flame of God's gift within you.' (2 Tim 1:6)

To encourage other Christian writers 

1 Thess 5:11 exhorts Christians to encourage each other and build each other up. In fact there are 59 'one another' verses in the New Testament, showing how important Christian community is.

We don't need to see other writers as competitors, rather we are stronger together when we support each other.

We can encourage other fellow writers, editors and illustrators by:

• sharing our own journeys (including the hard parts), 
• cheering each other on, celebrating each others' victories, commiserating & praying when things get tough. 
• answering questions & sharing our acquired experience
• providing constructive, balanced and honest critique as beta readers and critique partners,
• buying (or borrowing), reading and reviewing others' books (on Goodreads, Amazon, our blogs) - especially those in our genres or target audience, 
• recommending (or buying) other authors & books to our fans, friends and family, 
• praying for other writers and writing groups, 
• mentoring less experienced writers or sharing great resources we've discovered,
• being supportive and interactive on social media - through commenting on blogs, liking pages and posts, replying to tweets etc 

Christian Writers Downunder aims to encourage its members through the bi-weekly blogs - inspirational and practical posts from our dedicated blog team, Meet Our Members posts & the Highlights posts that celebrate the achievements and diverse journeys of our writers. 

The CWD Facebook group is also a place of encouragement - a forum to ask questions, to share your journey or your tips or resources. Share Wednesday provides an opportunity to interact with other CWD members and to support them through social media and in other specific ways.

The blog and FB page act in tandem, like two hulls of a catamaran - to provide knowledge, support and encouragement to our members.

Working together with other Christian writing groups

Nola concludes:

"The goal of encouragement doesn't just apply to individuals, but to our support of other Christian writing groups.  We all have a part to play, just as Paul and Apollos each had different roles in partnering with God (see 1 Corin. 3:5-9).  Let's work together as a community of Christian writers, editors, publishers and illustrators; knowing that we can achieve more together than alone.)"

Christian Writers Downunder has been delighted to work with and support other writing groups. In particular Omega Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. CWD has done this through cordial relations with the different admin and the cross-posts with ACW and Omega Writers. Each group has a slightly different focus and provides different things  - together we work for God's Kingdom (not our own) and pray that Christian writers will be encouraged and strengthened and published.

How did you hear about CWD? What has been your experience? What do you like best? Are there things you would like to see more - or perhaps - less of?' Let us know what you think.

Jeanette O'Hagan is currently the coordinator of Christian Writers Downunder. She works along with a great team - Mazzy Adams, Sue Jeffrey, Kirsten Hart and Paula Vince.

Recent Local Author Meet and Greet

by Raelene Purtill

The Moreton Bay Regional Council was formed in 2008. Until then, it was known as Pine Rivers. The little gallery in our suburb is still called the Pine Rivers Art Gallery.

It was there on Saturday June 24 that the first Moreton Bay Local Author Meet and Greet was held.

Following my recent post (and confession) about being a conference junkie, networking meet ups like this are exactly what I enjoy.

The resident artist at the gallery that week was Marg Bennet. She presented a talk to our gathering on her display called ‘Morning Glory.’ This is the name given to a cloud formation seen in Northern and outback Queensland. Its presence attracts glider pilots who ride the associated winds. As well as Marg’s beautiful textiles, the audio-visual images taken by one such pilot, were the back drop to our writers meeting.

So, among the clouds, children’s author and blogger, Jenny Woolsey hosted the inaugural Author Meet and Greet.

Each writer presented themselves, talked about their work and then we mingled and networked over morning tea.

I have always found the writing community in Brisbane to be friendly and supportive. People genuinely care about each others creative journeys. The numbers present that morning reflected this.

Writers there ranged from aspiring to emerging, from traditionally published to indie or self- published.

Hebrews 10:25 encourages us to not give up meeting together and while this refers to gathering as Christians. I also think writers can be encouraged in the same way. Have you thought about organising one for your area?

This post follows from my own recent ‘Confessions of a Conference Junkie.’

Don’t forget to sign up for the Omega Writers’ Conference in October in Sydney to meet up with their lovely aspiring writers and authors.

From the feedback received, these meetings will continue.

The next Moreton Bay Meet and Greet will be in October.

Contact Jenny at her website jennywoolsey.com

If you would like ideas about hosting one in your suburb, please get in touch.

Images from Raelene Purtill c 2017

Raelene writes as R.A. Purtill.

Raelene enjoys all sorts of creative writing but short stories have been her most successful medium. Her current work in progress is a novel length fantasy/fairy tale with steam punk tendencies and Christian themes.

She facilitates a local writing group and is a member of the Writers Anthology Group, the editorial committee which oversees an annual anthology in the Moreton Bay shire. She loves connecting with other writers through workshops, retreats and seminars.

Her virtual world is a life in the northern suburbs of Brisbane with her very understanding and long-suffering husband and their three young adult children.



You can connect with her at:

Web: rapurtill.com
Facebook: R.A.Purtill – Writer