Vicki Hendrick's Day

That's right! Cruel Poetry is one of the best noir books written this year. My review of her book will appear in the June issue of FMAM - Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine

The following is borrowed from Anthony Neil Smith's excellent Crimedog One

Vicki writes: "In an attempt to get extra publicity and favor from agents and editors, I'm trying to do a "best seller" day on amazon.com. I'm asking anyone who would like to buy my new novel, Cruel Poetry, from them to please do it on May 25, this coming Friday. I'm told that if even 20 people buy on that day, that it can push the numbers up to make me a “best seller” and get my book recommended more for special offers. Who really knows? Anyway, I'm giving it a try since it's been 5 years since my last book, and I would really like to see if I can get noticed this time, in hopes of being able to sell another book in the future. I also have the reprint of my first novel, Miami Purity, with a foreword by Ken Bruen and an afterword by Megan Abbott, available now at amazon.com. The two books together won’t get you super-saver shipping, because they only total $21, but what a bargain, eh?"

So here is the link. This is a great investment in reading pleasure. While you are at it buy a few extra copies as gifts for your friends......
http://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Poetry-Vicki-Hendricks/dp/1852429275/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9159172-8682250?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179787474&sr=8-1

Bloggers as Reviewers

I was reading the LA Times Opinion section this morning regarding bloggers as reviewers.

In this piece titled, Not Everybody's a Critic, Richard Schickel writes "Sure, anyone with a blog can express an opinion about a book, but true criticism is more than just an opinion." He goes on to talk about who reviewers are and what it takes to be a serious reviewer.

I review books, both here and for ezines and print magazines. I may not live up to Schickel's standards, which I find admirable, but I feel that I have the background to review.

So, I'm curious, what do you, the reader and the author, think are the qualities that make a reviewer more professional? Better yet, what makes a reviewer article worthy? Notice, I didn't say opinion!