DESI BOOKS REVIEW GOALS
The goal of Desi Books Review is to provide interesting ways to approach and engage with particular books; to explore what the writer has aimed for and understand whether they’ve achieved it. It is not to tell readers whether a book is good or bad or provide a summary. For more, see this manifesto for literary criticism at Poets & Writers.
Books by writers of South Asian origin are certainly given review space at many venues, including those that aren’t desi-centric. Occasionally, however, there is what Maxine Hong Kingston has described as “cultural misreadings”, no matter how well-intentioned the reviewer or the editor might be. At Desi Books, we want to place our books within our particular literary traditions (Anglophone and regional language ones; local and diasporic ones) and explore related sociocultural, historical, and political interpretations in an accessible manner for a general audience.
WHICH BOOKS TO PITCH
The books must be traditionally published. Apologies, but no hybrid or self-published books at this time. Genres supported right now: adult fiction; literary translations; creative and narrative nonfiction, graphic works, poetry collections. Apologies, but no cookbooks, self-help, business, gardening/home decorating, religion, kidlit, young adult, romance, or horror at this time. NOTE: This isn’t about being non-inclusive but about focusing on present, limited areas of knowledge and expertise with limited resources. As Desi Books grows, it will be possible to bring on experts in other book genres and compensate them.
Desi Books will always welcome books from big publishers as well as independent, traditional presses.
While approximately 70% of the reviews will be for new books (published within the last six months max), at least 30% will always be dedicated to backlisted books (published more than six months ago) or literary essays that look across a writer’s oeuvre or a particular theme or subject. Some books require a certain time and distance before we can do them proper justice.
WHO CAN PITCH REVIEWS
A majority of the reviews will be commissioned but pitches can also be submitted. Desi Books is a small, growing venue with limited resources. Reviewers who’ve already published at professional venues are preferred. Please include links of previously-published reviews in your pitch (see below) as reference.
The desi community of writers and reviewers is rather small. Many of us know each other. Please avoid pitching books where you’re friends (or enemies) with the writer. If unsure, be upfront about any connections or potential conflicts of interest in the review pitch. If you’ve accepted any favor or compensation from a publisher or author to blog or share or otherwise write about their work, please do not pitch a review. If you’ve already blurbed a book, please do not pitch a review for it.
Please ALWAYS send a review pitch rather than the entire review at first. See below for what to include in the pitch. NOTE: Longer literary essays may be commissioned at different rates separately.
HOW TO PITCH REVIEWS
Pitches can be sent by reviewers using this Google form. If you’re a publicist or an author looking to get your book reviewed, you can send review requests here. In both cases, please contact at least THREE months before the book’s release date if it’s a new, upcoming book.
Simultaneous review pitches are fine but, if your review is accepted elsewhere before you get a response, please email to withdraw your pitch.
Some general notes for the review text if your pitch is accepted:
- keep to a 700 minimum and 1000 maximum word limit
- include the title, author, publisher name, country of publication, publication date again under the byline at the top
- include a proposed one- or two-sentence summary of the review under the byline at the top
- when using quotes from the book, include the page numbers in parentheses
- write the review in an accessible versus an overly scholarly way and for a general audience
- although we all bring our personal tastes and cognitive biases to our reading, a professional review should be about more than our personal response to a book (note: also this is not a bibliomemoir essay, which is a valid and lovely literary genre in itself)
- include your one-paragraph author bio at the end of the review text
- avoid four-letter or swear words
- avoid italics or other odd fonts for non-English words
- avoid these and similar book review bingo words whenever possible 🙏
TIMING AND COMPENSATION
Please allow at least ONE business week for a response to a review pitch. Given limited resources, while all pitches will be read, only those accepted will be sent responses. Please do not send follow-ups as all pitches will definitely be read and considered, just not responded to. You can always pitch a different book.
If a review pitch is accepted, a contract will be sent for signatures, etc. It will be valid for two years in case you’d like to pitch more reviews during that period.
All reviews, once submitted, will go through an editorial process before publication. However, please proof-read for typos, grammar, punctuation, etc., before submitting.
At this time, there is a $50 honorarium per review. Payment will be done via Paypal within ONE business week of the review’s publication. No invoice is required.
Reviews will be published on the Desi Books website for a limited period of time. After that, there will be a migration to a very economical monthly subscription model.
If you have any other questions not answered above about Desi Books Review, please contact here.
NOTE: If you like the work being done at Desi Books, you can leave some appreciative feedback and sign up for the free, weekly newsletter. And please share this with other readers who might be interested. Remember: A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.™
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