book blog – READING WITH KT

November 13, 2020January 31, 2024

How to Get Free Advance Reader Copies of Books from Publishers

One of the trickiest and most taboo topics in the book community is free books: who gets them and how.

This blog will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about requesting books from publishers.

How many followers do I need before I start requesting books from publishers?
Who do I contact to request ARCs of books?
What do I say to the publisher when I email them?
What kinds of expectations will the publisher have of me once they have sent me the ARC?

One thing I do want to acknowledge before I begin: it can be tricky if you’re based outside of the UK or US for you to get your hands on Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) or proofs of your most anticipated releases, and depending on where you are based, it might be virtually impossible. However, “nothing ventured, nothing gained”, so don’t let this deter you. Publishers are also becoming more open to sending review copies to readers across the world, though I think they still have a way to go. While living in Scotland and Iceland, I have been successful at securing ARCs by exercising the advice I give here.

So let’s get into it and let me tell you all you need to know about requesting copies of your most anticipated reads.

August 25, 2020January 31, 2024

The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim [Review]

This is a riveting, highly enjoyable read centred on the experiences of a Korean American woman, Margot, and her mother, Mina, a first generation Korean immigrant.

Told through these two narrators, we flip between 2014 (Margot) and 1987-8 (Mina) as we piece together the story of Mina’s life, in the aftermath of her sudden death.

August 25, 2020January 31, 2024

An Interview with Nancy Jooyoun Kim, Author of The Last Story of Mina Lee [Blog Tour]

August 23, 2020January 31, 2024

The Residue Years by Mitchell S Jackson [Review]

Set in Portland, Oregon in the 1990s, The Residue Years is Jackson’s autobiographical novel of coming of age in a neglected neighbourhood.

We have two narrators (which you’ll know if you follow my reviews, that I love in a novel): Champ and his mother Grace. Grace has just completed a drug treatment program and is now trying to manage her addiction, find work and get custody of her children. Champ has dreams of purchasing his family’s old home and wants to do right by his Mum and brothers. In a world of few opportunities, selling drugs is the only way Champ feels he can achieve his dreams.

August 12, 2020January 31, 2024

Bezoar and Other Unsettling Stories by Guadalupe Nettel, translated by Suzanne Jill Levine [Review]

Bezoar and Other Unsettling Stories is a collection of short stories from Mexican writer, Guadalupe Nettel, translated from the Spanish by Suzanne Jill Levine. Nettel is a prolific writer who has had her work featured in both Spanish and French language publications. Bezoar and Other Unsettling Stories is Nettel’s most recent work to be translated into the English language, published by Seven Stories Press.

July 31, 2020January 31, 2024

Transathon | Brilliant Books by Transgender, Non-binary and Genderqueer Authors

In July, I took part in a readathon called Transathon, which encouraged readers to seek out and celebrate books by transgender, non-binary and genderqueer authors.

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of hate speech directed at transgender people online. As part of the literary community, it seems to have been particularly rife.

I believe it is always important to seek out stories from people whose lives are or have been different to your own.

At this present time, as a cis woman, I think it’s especially important that I use this space to uplift the voices of transgender and non-binary people and that I make a conscious effort to champion and celebrate their written work.

July 21, 2020January 31, 2024

17 Books by Women in Translation From the Arabic Language

August is Women in Translation month; a month to celebrate women whose work has been translated from languages other than English, into the English language.

This year I wanted to take some time to celebrate work by women who are typically underrepresented in the translation field.

According to a 2018 Diversity Report, this includes women who are writing in Arabic.

The Arabic language is a Semitic language which is spoken by approximately 422 million people, including those living in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and other parts of the Middle East.

LitHub describe Arabic literature: “There is perhaps no other literature so closely allied to the history of its people as is that of the Arabs.”

In recent years, Arabic fiction has been receiving some much-deserved attention and celebration.

With Jokha Alharthi’s Celestial Bodies winning the International Man Booker Prize in 2019 and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction drawing more and more attention from a global audience every year; Arabic fiction could be set to be the next hot literary trend.

With that in mind, here are 17 book suggestions for women in translation from the Arabic language; to read during August and beyond.

July 17, 2020January 31, 2024

Women in Translation | 6 Book Recommendations

The month of August marks a celebration of Women in Translation: female writers whose work has been translated into the English language.

If you don’t know where to start with looking for recommendations, I’ve compiled a list of great books I’ve read by women in translation.

I loved reading all of these and would love to put them on your radar, if you’ve not yet heard of them.

I’ve included a range of literary fiction, historical fiction and crime/mystery/thriller on this list, so hopefully you find something that piques your interest.