A note for those wanting their book reviewed

In these years of self-publishing many books reach a literary editor’s desk which would be of great interest to a limited audience, which have little appeal for a general publisher.

Anything sent into The Irish Catholic will be considered for review; though the Books Editor cannot enter into correspondence about why a title might be turned away.

But self-publishers should always supply proper contact information. Don’t give the editor more work, or he will get bored with you. They should always give the price of the book, in euros and sterling – this paper circulates all over the island, including Northern Ireland, which they should always bear in mind is in the sterling zone. Look and see how our reviews are laid out.

That price should also indicate whether it is with or without postage, and also whether the title is on offer on a regular website, such as Amazon. Also, the thirteen number ISBN should be given correctly (though it may not be used in a review). It is better to give an email address, as mobiles and landlines present other difficulties.

If the editor has to find out all these things he may take a very negative view of the writer’s seriousness.

Also, if say you have written a parish based it is likely to appeal to readers far beyond that parish. There are those in the wider world who find parish pumps and what lies about them of the greatest interest.

And finally, to fulfil legal obligations copies of your book should be deposited with the National Library of Ireland, Trinity College Library and the other Irish copyright libraries. This is the law. Also, a copy should be sent to the agent for the British Library who is based in Trinity.

Writing may well appeal to amateurs; but publishing should be approached in a professional business-like manner.

Books for review should be addressed directly to ‘The Books Editor’; those addressed to The Editor will go elsewhere and be delayed.

Correction

Peter Costello writes in the October 2 review ‘What the Constitution says about our Head of State’: The office abolished by the 1937 Constitution was the role of Governor-General, which had been much reduced in status by the government in any case. The Office of Lord Lieutenant (‘The Viceroy’) ended in 1922 with the Treaty and the introduction of Governor General.