The SpeakEasy Code

Speakeasy gets books (and sometimes even music) from a variety of authors, publishers, prophets and pamphleteers. We seek it all: nonfiction and wild yarns; current events and pop culture; faith and spirituality. When you belly up to our literary bar, we serve folks interested in church, be it ’emerging’ or ‘missional’ or ‘organic’ or ‘ancient-future.’ Just as much, we serve folks who are spiritual-but-not religious, people would rather be in the wilderness or watching football to celebrate their Sabbath. What holds our diverse group of creators and reviewers together is a common passion for ideas – the earth-shakingly new as well as the tried-and-true; care for the form as well as the content. Our commitment to you is fresh, free books offered to you as soon as we get ‘em.

What’s your commitment to us? Here’s how it works…

First, you apply. Speakeasies don’t let just anyone in, you know. An application is not a guarantee of bootlegger licensure. No need to pace in front of your Inbox, though – we’ll let you know if you’re “in” or not within 48 hours of reviewing your application.

(And just so you know, all this prohibition-era talk aside – we’re not alcoholics, and we don’t just want gangsters applying – women and men from across the Christian faith spectrum (and beyond) are welcome; preachers and baristas, bikers and soccer parents, aficionados and teetotalers. Come one, come all. Kinda like Jesus said.)

Next, if you’re in, you’ll get no-obligation emails from us – around once or twice a month, sometimes more – letting you know when new books and albums are On Tap. We typically have 50 copies of any given item available, and they’re first-come, first-served. You claim your item by logging in and selecting it before it runs dry. If you request something, we ship (or email) it to you in a prompt manner (let us know if you don’t get it within 10 days).

If you select an item, you’re agreeing to blog about it (a 200 word review or more) within 30 days. We provide you the tools you need to make the books easy to speak about; you provide your honest opinion. (No political posturing required just ’cause it’s free: Speakeasies are free-speech zones.) You blog about it on your own blog (or online magazine, or podcast – your sphere of digital influence) and submit that link here so that the Speakeasy community – not to mention the publishers who sponsor these sorts of things – can benefit from your review. When possible, we even grant you unprecedented access to the author for interviews – you never know who you’re going to run into in Speakeasy.

Bonus points: Submit your review to Powells, Amazon, ChristianBook.com, or anywhere else you buy or talk about books. We’ll love you for it, and so will our partner publishers, who will keep serving you up great reads.

Finally, the FCC of the USA is requiring reviewers to say something like this at the end of their post:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

In the wide-open world of the Speakeasy, your word is your bond. We can continue offering you top-notch reads only if you keep your end of the bargain, submitting your honest review for all the world to see. Don’t worry – you’ll get friendly reminders when review-time is coming up for a book you’ve selected, and we understand that life happens, too – there’s grace. But we do have a “three strikes, you’re out” policy. If you don’t review three requested books in a row, we’ll have to discontinue your participation in the network. You can re-apply in six months.

Our privacy policy: We never sell, rent, or share your personal or blog information with authors or publishers – this all stays between us. When you write and publish your reviews, though, these may be shared with authors, publishers, and our social media channels. A win-win for you!

(Note: This doesn’t mean you have to review every – or even many – books we offer you via email. There’s never an obligation to request a book you don’t want to review; all you need to do at minimum to remain a Speakeasy member in good standing is review one offering per year.)

Okay, I know what I’m in for. Pour me a tall one!