Some musings on book reviews and GOD'S BANKERS

I just learned in the past few days that The New York Times notified Simon & Schuster that God’s Bankers will be reviewed next Sunday, March 22.  It is like being told that you will be publicly graded in front of the entire class, from a reviewer still anonymous at this moment.

At least the NYTBR is set.  I am not certain yet whether I will also get a daily NYT review at some point.  A number of my previous books got covered in both the Sunday and daily.  But friends and colleagues who are published authors will commiserate with me when it comes to the angst of waiting for major newspapers and magazines to review a book.  Those reviews are often how many readers find out that a book exists.  And of course raves can help it fly off the shelves.

Unfortunately, some key newspapers and periodicals have sharply cut back on their book sections.  While record numbers of books are published, an ever-smaller number gets reviewed every year.

Some papers gives a heads-up to the publisher about whi…