Freelance book and product reviewing
As an experienced and regular reviewer of children's and adult non-fiction books, CDs, games, health/beauty products, websites and other items, I've written hundreds of reviews for various publications over the years.
Clients for reviews include Baby Hampshire magazine, Baby Surrey magazine, Baby London magazine, Yoga Abode, Berkshire's County Child magazine, Scholar magazine, HolisticShop, SaveOK, BookPleasures, Free Pint, BookLore, Crescent Blues and Absolute Write.
In the past I worked for Associated Media's UK Plus search engine, reviewing hundreds of websites in the lifestyle categories, plus I was a contributing editor to It's On The Net magazine and BriefMe.com. I wrote website reviews for the entire links section for HolisticShop.co.uk and have written reviews of shopping websites for NetClearly.
Baby Hampshire, Baby Surrey and Baby London magazines
These quarterly regional parenting magazines are aimed at families with children aged 0-4 years old in the Hampshire, Surrey and London areas respectively and I currently write the book review and multimedia pages for each issue. This covers books aimed at babies, toddlers and young children, plus DVDs/CDs/games, and titles of interest to parents.
See below for links to recent examples of reviews.
Various children's book reviews:
Flossie Crums: The Enchanted Cookie Tree
Lulu's Loo: A Delightfully Interactive Potty Training Book
The Adventures of Scratch, Sniff and Mr Smith: The Search for Stinky Pond
Bedtime: A Slip and Slide Book
Oliver Who Travelled Far and Wide
Books for Parents:
The True Diary of a Mum-to-Be: A Pregnancy Companion
Staying Sane: 99 Ways to Stop Yourself Going Mad When You Become a Mother
Poisonous Plants: A Guide for Parents and Childcare Providers
Top Tips from the Baby Whisperer: Sleep
Save Our Sleep: Helping Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night
Other reviews:
Animal Parade Stacking Boxes: Alison Jay's Nursery Collection
Fresh Design Blog and Cosy Home Blog
I run occasional book and product reviews on my home and interiors blogs, Fresh Design Blog and Cosy Home Blog. Examples include:
Interflora's Designed to Order Service (Fresh Design Blog)
Stitch! by Cath Kidston (Cosy Home Blog)
Little Book of Heirloom Christmas Tree Decorations by Jenny Stephenson (Cosy Home Blog)
Decorated Cookies: Twenty to Make, by Lisa Slatter (Fresh Design Blog)
A Girl's Guide to Decorating by Abigail Ahern (Fresh Design Blog)
1000 Home Ideas, by Stafford Cliff (Fresh Design Blog)
Tin can openers on trial (Fresh Design Blog)
Live is Sweet, by Hope and Greenwood (Fresh Design Blog)
Berkshire's County Child magazine
Between June 2003 - October 2004, I was book review editor for Berkshire's County Child magazine, reviewing a selection of titles for children (from babies to teens) and parents in each bi-monthly issue.
The following is a typical sample of the book review pages:
Book
Reviews, September 2004 (556 Kb)
I also regularly did various other review pages for the magazine, such as children's toys, Christmas gifts, holiday products and Easter gifts. Some examples are below:
Natural
Remedies for Common Ailments (530 Kb)
With many people turning to natural remedies to help common ailments, we look at products that are particularly suitable for babies and children. By Rachel Newcombe.
Scholar magazine
Review editor for Scholar magazine, a quarterly publication for families of children at independent schools. Covering books aimed at 4-13 year olds, plus games, gadgets and films.
Book
Reviews, Summer 2005 (1.07 Mb)
Books,
Games and Gadget Reviews, Summer 2005 (1.42 Mb)
I'm always on the lookout for new books (particularly baby/toddler and titles for parents) for review and am happy to receive relevant details. I'd prefer to receive the details first in the body of an email (no attachments, please) and will then let you know if I'm likely to be able to review it.
As well as writing the entire links directory, I've also written independent reviews of books, CDs and other products for this online retailer. Examples include:
Books:
Reiki and The Seven Chakras, by Richard Ellis
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, by Richard Bach
Thank You Angels! By Doreen Virtue
Is It Me, Or Is It Hot in Here? By Jenni Murray
Interpreting Dreams A to Z, by Leon Nacson
A Dancing Star, by Eileen Campbell
The Complete Book of Colour, by Suzy Chiazzari
CDs:
In the Presence of Angels, by Jan Yoxall
Cindy Hurn: Relax...Let Go
Asha: Music For Love
Various Artists: A Woman's Voice
Other:
Creativity Cards, Louise L. Hay
Job Success Cards, Louise L. Hay
Forgiveness Cards, Louise L. Hay
SaveOK
A money-saving guide to shopping produced by Red Apple Publishing. The first handbag-sized issue was released n November 2004, distributed free with the Saturday Mirror (it later became Zing magazine). I reviewed various 'hot' products, such as perfume and unusual gifts.
What's
Hot: Perfumes (B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful, BPAL and M&S)
(806 Kb, 2nd page on .pdf)
What's
Hot: Original Gifts (The Gift Gourmet and Lush) (806Kb, scroll down
to third page on .pdf).
Occasional reviewing for this Canadian-based book website:
The Princess and the Pekinese, by Trisha Adelena Howell
To Oz and Back, by Alexandra Eden
I Know I'm In There Somewhere, by Helene G. Brenner, Ph.D
Rosie Snowdrop Wants a Passport, by Henrietta Hawkins
Therapeutic Yoga, by Dr. Ali and Jiwan Brar
Smart Man Hunting, by Liz H. Kelly
Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, by Jenna Glatzer
Outwitting Writer's Block and Other Problems of the Pen, by Jenna Glatzer
Seeing Colour: It's My Rainbow Too, by Arlene Evans
Reviews for Other Publications
Energy Medicine for Women, by Donna Eden, with Dr David Feinstein
The Non-Designer's Web Book (2nd Ed), by Robin Williams and John Tollett
Net.People, by Thomas E. Bleier and Eric C. Steinert
The E-Commerce Question and Answer Book, by Anita Rosen
It Shouldn't Happen to a Journalist, by Tess Crebbin and Kathleen
Detox Handbook, by Dr. Jennifer Harper
Need a Reviewer?
I'm happy to undertake reviewing work for print or online publications, from reviews of single items, to whole pages, occasionally or on a regular basis.
For example, if you'd like to include one or two pages of reviews in your magazine, but don't want the hassle of organising it each month, I offer the perfect tailor-made package. I'll source appropriate books, review them, organise any relevant giveaways or competitions and arrange for book images. You receive the completed written pages and accompanying picture files to lay out how you wish, ready to publish and in time for your deadline.
Many of my previously published reviews are available for reprint at competitive prices.
Please get in touch, by email or phone (07801 944 978) to discuss your reviewing requirements.