For publishers and authors this is the million dollar question: What makes a reader select a book? Logically, the person best able to answer would be the reader. I decided to start with myself. So, what makes me choose a book to read?
I've discovered my method of selection is basically the same whether I'm online, in a bookstore, or on Amazon. I receive newsletters from several epublishers regarding new releases. With the click of a button I can see cover, author name, and blurb, even read an excerpt. If the cover art catches my attention, I'll read the blurb on the back. If I like the blurb and the subject matter, I'll read the excerpt. If I like that, I purchase. My Amazon purchase method is a little different. In that case I already know what I want and simply search and buy (or place on the wish list for someone to buy for me). I generally won't buy fiction in a brick-and-mortar store. Those are the places where I browse for research books.
So...what about you? How do you choose a book? Comment here today and be eligible to receive a free download of my paranormal erotica, INTO THE LAIR. I'll select the winner at the end of the day. :)
I'm looking forward to your responses!
Caitlyn Willows
www.caitlynwillows.com
Mar 13, 2008
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16 comments:
Hmm... I generally go about the same way whatever the method.
Cover art catches my attention? Check. Title too? Check. Back blurb makes me excited? Check. Read a random page in the book - does it give me the tingles? Check. BUY or WISHLIST :)
Being a design student, personally the cover is really important to me. If there's the slightest bit of pixelisation, I'm turned off faster than you can say book. If the colours are horrendous and don't match, nada. If it's not evocative, they get zilch from me. It may be the slightest thing, but I'm picky as heck, which drives me mad sometimes. But I need it for my job lol
It really depends some books I'll buy just for the author i have a fav author list and i usually preorder all fav author books months in advance.
Then i others that i buy just for the covers alone a unique cover will get bought over a bland boring one everytime. Then i have friend that recommend books so of course we have to buy them.
Then there are the books where an author sends out an email saying they have a new book out those ones i often buy as the author is actually personally trying to pitch their work.
In a store I'll often buy by title if the blurb on the back cover sounds good .
so for me i buy for lots of reasons there isn't just 1 reason that i'll choose to buy a book for
Hi Caitlyn!:-)
A good title with a great story hook is what first pulls me in. An evocative cover helps, too. My final step is to read the excerpt (or, if in a bookstore, the first few pages). If I like what I read, I buy.
Sharona Nelson, http://www.sharonanelson.com
Author of "Cover Me"
Basically the same, but I don't look for the cover so much, though a really bad one can put me off a purchase. I actually like the title to grab me first, then I'll look at the blurb and genre. Some genres I'll pass on right away without even reading further.qmn
When it comes to the bookstore the first thing I look for are the authors I collect. If I have all of theres, then I might do a quick title check. I have to say the covers all start to look the same to me, so it takes a really unique one to catch my eye... but if the title is good (I like interesting fonts and colors)I will pick it up to check out.
Thats when the cover becomes more important, because a bad cover will make me put it right back down. Then if the blurb on the back is good I like to read the excerpt on the inside. I can usually tell at that point if I want to get the book or not... but if Im not sure, I read the first page. Every good book should be able to catch you on the first page... even the first sentence.
For e-books, it's all about the excerpt. I have picked up books that normally I wouldnt look at (totally out of my normal genre's) totally out of the excerpt.
And I agree that for Amazon, I already know exactly what Im looking for. :)
I usually buy books by authors I'm familiar with, but I try new authors when I've read a good review, liked an excerpt I read or had a personal recommendation. I don't pay much attention to covers.
Cover art usually catches my attention first. Then I check out the back of the book blurb. I don't really like excerpts. I'll read them if I'm entering an author's contest and it's required to get the answer, but sometimes this can cause an author to lose out on a sale. Why? I read alot. When I'm shopping in a B&M store, I'll usually skim the first page or two to try to figure out if I've read the book or not. If I recognize what I'm reading, I'll put the book down. Why spend money on a book I've read? I'm sure there have been times that I've put a book down because I recognized what I'm reading from having read an excerpt.
The books on my wishlist are usually books that I found via an authors website or newsletter.
At Amazon, I often use the "customers who bought this item also bought" suggestions to get ideas on other books I might like.
Well I tend to have a long list of auto buy books - authors who write series' that I want to continue so I go for them first. If however I am after new genres or authors then I do the same as you - read newsletters and blurbs etc. although cover art isn't always what catches my interest.
I would browse more often in bricks and mortar shops except the hubby hates me doing that as I can disappear for hours when I do :D
What first makes me buy a book is the author's name, if I've enjoyed the author in the past, I'll purchase more of their work. If it's an unknown name to me, I'll read the blurb on the back, read an excerpt if possible, if I like, then I buy or wish list it.
In bookstores I usually first look at my favorite authors, when I want something new I look at the covers. I've got some "not-so-great" book but not often. On Amazon I often look at listmania,there I can find some new author or genre
Today was also my errand day. I've just gotten home and am reading through the comments.
I have my auto-buy list as well. Sometimes this means my TBR stack gets even higher than it already is. Then I'll grab one of my tried-and-true fav authors off the stack and I realize again how much I love that author's stories. It's a great treat!
At conferences we also have a lot of free books come our way. I've found some great stories and authors that way. Generally speaking, if I've loved their story I'll automatically buy the next book. :)
Caitlyn
www.caitlynwillows.com
If I see a cover that catches my eye I will check out the book and read the blurb. Newsletters help also. If there is an author that I really enjoy I will always check out their newest books. I have a few authors that I will just buy their next book without even knowing what it is about.
I also like to read excerpts since if I am not sure about a book that gives me a feel for the book and I can usually tell if I will like that book or not.
I belong to several Author's websites. How did I get there? I liked one of their books. From their websites, I find other Authors and research their websites. Reading excerpts on their websites sometimes makes me want to buy the book. Also their contests introduce me to books I would not have known about and have to have. Then I want all their books. That is how I found you. I also am on several publishers newsletters where I learn about more books. When an Author puts links on their sites to other authors, I check them out. This I enjoy very much. Also I pass on books to my friends to read to introduce my favorite authors to them. Book Clubs also help me read about a book before I buy it and may peak my interest. Now I never would have read Mary Higgins Clark had not an English Teacher introduced my daughter to them. She insisted I read one.
Cover art catches my attention but I've found that cannot be trusted all the time. You might miss out on a good book because of it. So I find reading websites, excerpts, and other authors are my best means.
I usually check the new releases on my favorite epublishers. I also check my favorite authors sites. If I have received a newsletter with info a book that is interesting I will mark it down or if seen it being discussed on my reader/author groups. When I am browsing the title, cover, or blurb catches my attention and I will either buy it right away or investigate further with an excerpt.
And the winner of a free download of INTO THE LAIR is Christina.
Christina, please email me at caitlyn@caitlynwillows.com and let me know which format you'd like, and I'll send the ebook your way.
:) Caitlyn
www.caitlynwillows.com
Cover art will lure me in. Blurb and excerpt (or browsing if I'm in a bookstore) will reel me in further.
If I've heard a friend say it's good...a really good way to get me reading.
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