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Join 30,000+ librarians, booksellers, and bibliophiles who use Foreword Reviews to find their next great read.
Foreword is a Folio-award-winning magazine, and the only journal exclusively dedicated to reviewing books from independent publishers, university presses, and self-published authors.
Our readers want to know about your book
Since 1998, Foreword has been the only review publication exclusively dedicated to reviewing books from independent and university presses. In print and online, our readership consists of a loyal trade audience including librarians, booksellers, rights agents, plus avid readers and industry professionals.
The importance of a vibrant indie press community cannot be underestimated, and our readers rely on Foreword as a trusted source of credible, beautiful book reviews and other services designed to give more visibility to indie titles and their publishers.
“I can rely on Foreword Reviews to introduce me to new authors and publishers that aren’t generally featured in other review magazines. The design and production of each issue is beautiful as well!”
—D., Denver Public Library
Reach a highly targeted audience of readers.
Annually, Foreword has a readership of over 30,000 in print and 1.5 million page views online. Our readers include librarians, booksellers, agents, and book enthusiasts across print and digital platforms.
These readers make book purchasing decisions directly from our pages and indirectly through their wholesale accounts at Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Bowker, Cengage, and many more.
Foreword’s Readership:
30,000+
Readers of our magazine including librarians, booksellers, and foreign rights agents.
2,600+
American Bookseller Association members who receive a copy of each issue of our magazine.
85%
Of readers order books as a direct result of seeing a review or advertisement in our magazine
"We receive Foreword Reviews as bookstore owners, and it’s very helpful to me when ordering, for sure. I think the main value is it helps me sift through the indies and draws my attention to highlights. It's a crowded field and I can do my best with an eye for good cover design and familiarity with authors, but I rely on the reviews in Foreword to give me more insight into titles I might otherwise miss.”
—J.P., Postmark Books
Feature your book in our magazine or on our website.
Featuring your book with Foreword Reviews exposes it to key industry decision-makers and engaged readers, boosting its visibility through our trusted reviews, key placement in our magazine, active social media channels, and prominent presence at major trade events.
Elevate your book's profile through several pathways in Foreword's print magazine and website, each designed to connect you with key industry professionals and passionate readers.
Foreword Reviews
Foreword Reviews offers in-depth evaluations of upcoming indie titles to showcase in our magazine, connecting authors and publishers with key industry buyers before books hit the market.
Clarion Reviews
As the first and most trusted fee-for-review service, Clarion offers authors expert critiques and industry-wide exposure, boosting their books' visibility to librarians and booksellers.
INDIES Book Awards
The Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award spotlights exceptional indie titles, connecting standout books with librarians, booksellers, and readers worldwide.
Digital Advertising
ForewordReviews.com, with its 1.5 million yearly visitors seeking the next great indie read, offers prime advertising real estate to connect your book directly with its ideal audience.
Print Advertising
Foreword Reviews, the premier magazine spotlighting indie titles, offers powerful print advertising options reaching over 30,000+ influential librarians and booksellers bimonthly.
“Foreword is vitally important for publishers because it provides a venue in which indie-publishers can shine. Foreword is vitally important for readers because it provides introductions to books they might not otherwise discover. And Foreword is vitally important for reviewers because it provides access to books that represent a diversity of voices and perspectives.”
—F.Y., Library Director at Indiana University East, Campus
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Foreword Reviews serves multiple important purposes in the publishing industry:
Discovery platform: Our primary mission is to discover and spotlight the best upcoming titles from independent and university presses. We act as a curator, sifting through numerous submissions to identify standout works that might otherwise be overlooked in the crowded publishing landscape.
Industry connection: We serve as a vital link between publishers, authors, and our readership of over 30,000 book industry professionals. This includes librarians, booksellers, and other key decision-makers who influence book acquisitions and promotions.
Exposure for indie authors: By focusing on independent and university press titles, we provide crucial visibility to authors and books that may not have the marketing resources of major publishing houses.
Pre-publication focus: We specialize in reviewing books before they're published, helping to generate buzz and interest in upcoming releases. This can be particularly valuable for building anticipation and securing early orders or library acquisitions.
Ongoing promotion through advertising: In addition to pre-publication reviews, we also feature indie books that have already been published through our thoughtful and targeted print and digital advertising campaigns. This provides continued exposure and marketing opportunities for titles beyond their initial release.
Quality assurance: Through our review process, we help readers and industry professionals identify high-quality works, serving as a trusted filter in the vast sea of published books.
Industry insights: Beyond just reviews, we offer our readership valuable insights into trends, emerging authors, and innovations in the independent publishing world.
Supporting literary diversity: By covering a wide range of genres and independent voices, we help promote a diverse and vibrant literary ecosystem.
Bridging gaps: We connect lesser-known but talented authors and small presses with a wider audience, helping to level the playing field in the competitive publishing industry.
In essence, Foreword Reviews aims to be a respected and influential voice in the independent publishing world, supporting the discovery, success, and ongoing promotion of quality books that might otherwise struggle for recognition in a crowded market.
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A professional editorial review offers several key benefits for authors, especially those in the independent publishing space:
Credibility: A review from a respected source like Foreword, Clarion, Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, etc., lends authority to your book, helping it stand out in a crowded market.
Objective feedback: Professional reviewers provide unbiased, constructive critique of your work, offering valuable insights for improvement. Even critical reviews can provide valuable feedback for enhancing your writing skills and future works.
Marketing material: Positive quotes from reviews can be powerful tools for book promotion, useful for cover blurbs, social media, and advertising. Our Clarion review service provides three important elements to be used immediately in your marketing efforts: The Money Quote, The First Paragraph, and The Star Rating.
Visibility: Many booksellers and librarians rely on professional reviews when making purchasing decisions, increasing your book's chances of reaching shelves.
Library acquisitions: Due to recent concerns about book bans, many librarians now require 1-2 professional reviews before purchasing a book. These reviews help librarians ensure the content is appropriate for their patrons and defend their acquisition decisions if challenged.
Reader confidence: Potential readers often look for professional opinions before committing to a book, especially from lesser-known authors.
Industry recognition: Reviews can open doors to literary awards, speaking engagements, and other professional opportunities.
Discoverability: Professional reviews are featured in industry publications and databases used by librarians and booksellers. These key decision-makers rely on reviews when ordering books through major wholesalers like Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Bowker, and Cengage, significantly impacting your book's chances of being purchased and stocked.
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Foreword Reviews covers upcoming independent and university press titles across all genres. While we feature a diverse range of books, we also have a structured approach to highlighting specific genres:
Editorial Calendar: We maintain an Editorial Calendar that outlines which genres we're planning to showcase in each issue. This calendar helps authors and publishers align their submissions with our themed focuses. See our current Editorial Calendar here.
All-encompassing coverage: Despite having featured genres, we review books from all categories in our general review section in every issue. This ensures a wide variety of books are covered regardless of the issue's theme.
Upcoming releases: Our focus is on forthcoming titles, so we're particularly interested in books that are soon to be published.
Independent and university presses: We specialize in titles from independent publishers and university presses, rather than the Big 5 commercial publishing houses.
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Submit your book at least four and a half months before its publication date. Once you have completed manuscripts or advance reading copies (ARCs) ready for reviewers, send them our way.
PDF files are preferred, and can be sent to our book review editor at ebooks+magazine@forewordreviews.com
Hard copies may be sent to:
Book Review Editor
Foreword Reviews
12935 SW Bay Shore Dr., Suite 380
Traverse City, MI 49684We look forward to seeing your books!
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Include a detailed tip sheet with: publication date, title, subtitle, title description, ISBN, author name and biography, publisher, price, page count, binding, and distribution plans.
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Yes, PDF files are preferred and can be sent to ebooks+magazine@forewordreviews.com
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Foreword’s magazine has a readership of more than 30,000 librarians and book professionals.
70% of readers share their print copies with colleagues, and 50% save their copies longer than three months.
85% of our readers report ordering books as a result of seeing an ad or review in the magazine.
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No, while the editorial calendar lists featured genres for each issue, all genres are covered in the general review section of every issue.
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Submit your book for the issue that corresponds to its month of publication, regardless of the issue's listed features.
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If your book isn't selected for a Foreword Review, which is highly competitive with over 1,000 submissions per issue for only 100 spots, you have an excellent alternative in Clarion Reviews. Clarion is Foreword's fee-for-review service specifically designed for indie and self-publishers.
Clarion Reviews offers:
Objective, 400-word reviews including a star rating for deserving books
A team of over 100 qualified reviewers
Critiques of all aspects of your book
A 4-6 week turnaround time
Posting of your review on Foreword's high-traffic website (with your permission)
Distribution to major book industry partners like Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Cengage, and Bowker
This service provides you with valuable marketing elements and helps connect your book with booksellers, librarians, and readers, even if it doesn't secure one of the limited Foreword Review spots. It's an excellent way to gain professional feedback and industry exposure for your independently published work.
Discover how a Clarion Review can help your book—learn more here.
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Yes, absolutely! Even without a Foreword Review or Clarion Review, you can still gain visibility for your book through our powerful paid digital and print advertising options.
These advertising opportunities allow you to showcase your book to our audience of over 30,000 librarians, booksellers, and industry professionals.
Our targeted advertising platforms in both the magazine and on our website offer effective ways to reach potential readers and decision-makers in the book industry, helping you to promote your work and increase its visibility in the competitive independent publishing market.
Reach your target audience through our advertising options:
Website: Connect with over 1.5 million annual visitors, including librarians, booksellers, and book enthusiasts. Explore digital opportunities.
Print magazine: Engage industry professionals and avid readers through our respected publication. Learn about print placements.