Discussion: My Experience Beta-Reading | March. 2017

The first book I ever reviewed was for a self-publishing author. The second book in her series was releasing soon and she was looking for reviews. At the time I was just beginning my Facebook Page, I did not have an actual blog, I posted reviews on my Facebook Page, Amazon and Goodreads. So, I was ecstatic when I received an email from an author looking for someone to read her book for review. I was offered an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of the first and second book. I hadn't really know this author, she was just starting out as an author and was just trying to get her name and books out into the world, pretty much like any other author.

I read both books in a week! The series sucked me in. I became very invested in the series and the author was a sweetheart. She gave me my start and that will never be forgotten. So when she started writing the third book, I was asked to be a beta-reader. Basically, I received an unedited copy, read it and gave back any thoughts I had and any changes I felt needed to be changed, grammar, punctuation, etc. I loved it and realized I wanted to do this more. I continued reading this series for this author and soon was receiving recognition from other self-publishing authors. I was reviewing books and reading books on my own and leaving my reviews on every social media platform I had.

Then in October. 2013, I received an email from an author to help promote her first book. I participated. I review the first book and beta-read the second book. This author now is a bestselling author and is very well known. Since then I have beta-read for a bit of different authors and have reviewed many, many authors. I started reviewing for self-publishing authors and about a year later started requesting books from publishing houses. Since I started this, I have become pretty well known with publishers and started being sent books for review instead of just requesting them. I am well tied in with Random House and St. Martin's Press. I love working with all these authors, both self-publishing and traditional, and seriously feel so lucky. I have always been a reader, coming from a line of women who are big time readers, but to be able to read for authors and publishers is truly amazing and wicked awesome! I love what I do.