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E-books are hopping hot! That’s not new news. I have a kindle myself and love it. I also have several books out in e-format.
While surfing through some book sites, I wondered what drew readers in this new world to buy a book? It’s not like they’re in a bookstore, walking by the displays, scanning the shelves, and running their fingers over the spines. So, on a reader board, I asked the question. What draws you to a book?
I had a great response. Readers are great. Tell them you’re an author and need to know something and they step up.
A few told me they read reviews while others said they go on recommendations from friends. Then there were those who said they never go on friend recommendations because they’ve found in the past their friends had different tastes. Some buy an author because they’ve heard a buzz about the book—they might not know where the buzz came from, but there had been buzz.
After much discussion, back and forth, the overwhelming majority agreed, the top two reasons they look at a book, even in the cyber world, are the title and the cover. And the reason they buy a book is they were intrigued by the blurb and or enjoyed the sample chapters.
If you’re a writer, you’re a reader. So readers, do you agree with the readers on the board? How do you find books in the cyber world?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Readers Speak
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The blurb and excerpt are the main selling points for me. And yes, sometimes a title and/or cover catch my eye enough to get me to read the blurb and excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI mainly buy eBooks from fellow Roses. From time to time I go on Amazon and see if my favorite authors, like Jill Shalvas, has anything new out. So, for me, it's a combination of blurb, excerpt and do I feel a conneciton with the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Autumn, I enjoyed this post. I used to buy a book based on the book cover and title. No more as I got stung with lousy books too often. Now I buy a book only if I like the back cover blurb AND the first pages. The blurb tells me if it's the kind of book I will enjoy and the first two pages reveal the author's voice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Stacy. An interesting cover is what catches my eye in the story or on-line. On the kindle, the covers are B&W and not as eye-catching. That is what brought about this question.
ReplyDeleteMany times the subject matter will draw me in. If I'm in the mood for a good ghost story or a lively historical. Then I'll flip through the first couple pages and see if the story captures me.
ReplyDelete(...connection to author
ReplyDeleteVonnie, I heard that to. Readers do find new authors through chats and blogs. So doing the cyber appearances are important. So glad I don't have to get out of my PJs for them.
Mona, You're so like me-- it's the cover and title that make us pick up the book. Can you imagine the great books we skip over because of blah covers?
ReplyDeleteJennifer, Are you saying taglines are what draw you to pick up a book and read a blurb?
ReplyDeleteGood question, Autumn. I buy books from word of mouth, favorite author, authors I know and want to support (like TWRP authors or various loops of which I'm a member). In this challenging book-buying age of e-books, when I look at someone's book from my traditional enfluences I just mentioned, if I'm on Amazon I now look at the "those who purchased this book also purchased...." And sometimes I buy a book when I've gone in to "tag" an author's work.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, "those who purchased this book also purchased...." was also mentioned by a few of the readers. Great feature at Amazon. Does B&N have that? I have to look.
ReplyDeleteSo a sale buts you on front stage when a reader is looking at another author. Hmmm
Fascinating post, AJ. Thanks for sharing and doing the work to get this information. Great job!
ReplyDeleteLiz
Thanks, Liz.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy books by word of mouth. I am an author as well as a reader and the first thing that catches my eye is the cover THEN I read the blurb and it has to catch my interest. But if the cover sucks I don't open it. OH, I forgot, the title is what grabs me at the same time as the cover art!
ReplyDeleteditto! I go for title, cover, blurb. And then I read the first page or two. If I'm drawn into the story, I'll buy the book.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is key. I blog about what I read every Sunday and post photos of the books splayed open to show both front and back covers.
ReplyDeleteI hunt out authors I know and like. For someone I haven't read before, it's cover and blurb. I can't think of a time when a title hooked me.
ReplyDeletePatricia, I spend hours thinking about my titles and envisioning my covers, because that is what grabs me. Like a look across a crowded room.
ReplyDeleteEbooks are the wave of the future! And you just never know how things will work out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping over and chiming in Karen. I just posted on your fabulous blog. http://www.karenkatchur.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI love your exercise tips. They motive me to move more than my fingers.
Really, Layla? What's your url? I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting! Thanks for sharing, Autumn! For me, the cover catches my eye, then it's up to the blurb and first few pages to peek my interest.
ReplyDeleteJannie,
ReplyDeleteCovers are what makes me look at new authors too. And buzz. But the blurb and pages are what makes me hit the buy button.
Usally title and cover go hand in hand. I find it interesting you don't consider the title too much.
Thanks for chatting with me today.
I agree, Mary. Having your book found a bookstore are like being found in a pond, but in cyber-space it's like being found in the seven oceans.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate my readers. I truly do.
Hey, Melissa. So far it seems the majority are saying cover is the first element in finding a new book. No mentioned reviews. If that is true, why do we as writers worry so much about them? Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteAutumn, fascinating information, thanks for this! These days I tend to go by buzz, but only because the Rubies have so many fabulous books out and we have great guests on our blog, but one day when I have more time to read... :) Very interesting that readers still look at covers on the ebooks.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too, Diana. Many go to Amazon or B&N first and scan new releases and then open their e-readers. They download several books at a time too.
ReplyDeleteI buy books for many reasons. It may be a favorite author, a title or premise that sounds interesting, a review that made the book sound like something I'd enjoy...or books by people I know. Or it could be fellow Avalon and Wild Rose Press authors. I also like a variety. I finished a humorous light paranormal recently by and author I love, now I'm reading a category romance by and author I also love.
ReplyDeleteHi, Roni. As authors we need to cross our ts and check our I-s, because readers make the decision to look and buy a book in many ways. Thanks for popping over today.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm shopping for a book, I look first at the author, then the cover and blurb. I'd like to support all my fellow authors, but there's only so much time in the day, so these days I'm more selective. I read Evil's Witness and was totally blown away by the story, the characters, and the quality of the writing. I'll be first in line to buy other books by this author.
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks, Sue. That is so nice of you to say that. You made my day.
ReplyDeleteAJ, I agree with the readers. I'm a visual person, so it's usually the cover that grabs me first, whether online or in a bookstore. Then I read the blurb and I try a sample, even if it's an author I normally buy.
ReplyDeleteGreat question!
The blurb and excerpt are what draw me in, especially if I've never heard of the author. But a great title and cover will at least bring me in to take a look.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Misty! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan, that is what I'm hoping for with my new cover for In The Presence Of Evil. A look and a read. Thanks for stopping by.
I first notice a book because of the cover, then the title, then I'll read the blurb. If I don't like the blurb, I won't read the book. I don't always go by friends' recommendations because we have different tastes. I try to buy books by fellow Roses. Now that I mainly read romance, I know the ending will be happy, but if a book isn't a romance, I'll read the ending. If it ends unhappily, I won't buy it. Good post.
ReplyDeleteWow...what a question and just look at these responses. With my ereader I use the old method of searching their recommendations like new releases NYT and darn if they are so not what I would read. I spend hours looking at editor and reader reviews but even those can be slanted. What I'm down to is name recognition and downloading samples to read the first few pages.
ReplyDeleteIt's obviously a question even the most savvy big houses are trying to learn. Great post.
What a great question. I always buy from reading an excerpt. If it's not available on Kindle, I'll check the author's website. The cover, title and blurb don't matter so much. I have to like the writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Cari, Karen and Bev and ccommenting.
ReplyDeleteCari, I can see why you read ends of non-romance books. I like my HEA too. I've ditched books because I didn't like the ending.
Karen, Buzz gets me to look too. I might check the author's website and read excerpts there before putting it on my check out list. Even though I have a kindle, I still lurk shelves.
See, Bev, you and I think alike. Another reason to have a killer website.
The book jacket is the most important thing that grabs a readers vision. The comments on the back, the little notes like Time Travel, or Historical. That's what does it for me.
ReplyDeletePlot first, reviews second. Plot usually wins.
ReplyDeleteAlison Chambers