An interview with Nina Pottell, Books Editor at Prima Magazine and consultant on Between the Covers - find out how many books she's sent to review per month, and what makes a novel stand out...
Nina sounds awesome and surely "The Book Reviewer Who Works at the Hairdresser's" is a romcom we need to see in print ASAP! I can see it now... So engrossed in a novel that she leaves a customer's dye on too long and their hair turns green! (Which clearly doesn't happen in Nina's real life, but hey, let's hear it for poetic licence). And it leads to meeting the handsome but somehow annoying love-interest, etc etc, onwards to the happy ending!
Book reviewers are awesome! My most recent novel is reviewed in the new issue of People's Friend and I'm so chuffed! It is wonderful when a book reviewer chooses your book to trumpet when they're faced with tottering stacks. Thank you, book reviewers everywhere!
Awesome interview today. Thanks! I especially liked the advice to authors: "Be nice. Be kind. Be genuine. Be supportive of other authors.... Build relationships with local bookshops.... Don’t do social media if it feels forced." Social media feels forced every day for me, even posting on Substack. I have to fight the urge to give up. I have a Bluesky account, and it's still empty after a year. I'm thrilled to see a professional editor with advice I've never heard anyone say. Exactly the opposite. Perhaps the fact I will never have a substantial social media presence isn't the end of my career as a writer.
That is a fantastic peek under the covers of a magazine book reviewer, thank you both! You have lucky clients, Nina, at your salon, getting their pick of the unwanted review copies.
I guess this leaves me and my medieval mystery series x2 in the tenth circle of Dante’s hell reserved for novels that are not about the Tudors. Such is life. I’ve been growing my hair since covid and it’s just brushing my waist.
"I read both physically and digitally. I think my huge dislike of bind ups is known amongst publicists, so I would rather be pitched a PDF or Netgalley widget as opposed to putting something in the bin!"
"bind ups" – that's a new one on me! (I've worked in publishing since the 1980s). I never imagined that a magazine book reviewer would have a parallel existence as a hairdresser. Can I guess which is better paid?
That’s a good point at the end about saying thank you. I used to review books and was inundated with requests from authors but I always made my own choices and never got a thank you from anyone, even if I wrote a rave review for a book that really needed the publicity. Reviewers are only human and like to be acknowledged for what they do.
Whaaaaaaatttt??? That's so rude of them! I always try to say thank you to reviewers, because I really appreciate the fact that you've 1 chosen the book to review, 2 spent time reading it, and 3 spent time writing the review, and then 4 spent time sharing the book love. ❤️
Congratulations on the new job, Phoebe - brilliant news!
Can we expect a future post about the musical chairs of editors and jobs?
What fascinating lives some people lead! Well and jobs they have too, for that matter. :) Really, really interesting interview, so thank you Phoebe.
Thanks for reading!!
Nina sounds awesome and surely "The Book Reviewer Who Works at the Hairdresser's" is a romcom we need to see in print ASAP! I can see it now... So engrossed in a novel that she leaves a customer's dye on too long and their hair turns green! (Which clearly doesn't happen in Nina's real life, but hey, let's hear it for poetic licence). And it leads to meeting the handsome but somehow annoying love-interest, etc etc, onwards to the happy ending!
Book reviewers are awesome! My most recent novel is reviewed in the new issue of People's Friend and I'm so chuffed! It is wonderful when a book reviewer chooses your book to trumpet when they're faced with tottering stacks. Thank you, book reviewers everywhere!
So lovely! And great book idea :)
What a lovely comment! ❤️
We couldn't do it without reviewers like you! ❤️
Awesome interview today. Thanks! I especially liked the advice to authors: "Be nice. Be kind. Be genuine. Be supportive of other authors.... Build relationships with local bookshops.... Don’t do social media if it feels forced." Social media feels forced every day for me, even posting on Substack. I have to fight the urge to give up. I have a Bluesky account, and it's still empty after a year. I'm thrilled to see a professional editor with advice I've never heard anyone say. Exactly the opposite. Perhaps the fact I will never have a substantial social media presence isn't the end of my career as a writer.
Thanks for reading!
That is a fantastic peek under the covers of a magazine book reviewer, thank you both! You have lucky clients, Nina, at your salon, getting their pick of the unwanted review copies.
Thank you for reading!
My clients love it!
I guess this leaves me and my medieval mystery series x2 in the tenth circle of Dante’s hell reserved for novels that are not about the Tudors. Such is life. I’ve been growing my hair since covid and it’s just brushing my waist.
Floor length when?
Cassandra C xxx
Nina sounds like the best hairdresser ever!!
She comes highly recommended!
"I read both physically and digitally. I think my huge dislike of bind ups is known amongst publicists, so I would rather be pitched a PDF or Netgalley widget as opposed to putting something in the bin!"
"bind ups" – that's a new one on me! (I've worked in publishing since the 1980s). I never imagined that a magazine book reviewer would have a parallel existence as a hairdresser. Can I guess which is better paid?
Fascinating insight. Thanks Phoebe and Nina.
Thank you for reading!
Another fascinating interview, thanks Phoebe. Some great advice here from Nina.
Thank you!
That’s a good point at the end about saying thank you. I used to review books and was inundated with requests from authors but I always made my own choices and never got a thank you from anyone, even if I wrote a rave review for a book that really needed the publicity. Reviewers are only human and like to be acknowledged for what they do.
Agree! Thanks for reading!
Whaaaaaaatttt??? That's so rude of them! I always try to say thank you to reviewers, because I really appreciate the fact that you've 1 chosen the book to review, 2 spent time reading it, and 3 spent time writing the review, and then 4 spent time sharing the book love. ❤️
So lovely!
Ooh, fascinating!
Thank you!