Final Question
Yesterday’s winner - Karen T. Congrats!!! Email me with your address, and I’ll get the book out to you.
For those sick of questions, I’m also blogging at Access Romance’s All A-Blog today.
For those ready to answer and waiting for one more chance to win Viva Las Bad Boys!, here’s today’s question: so does anything work for you, or do authors only need to write a good book?
Let me start with the second part of the question first. I call this the Shannon McKenna phenomenon. Shannon writes for Brava. She lives in Italy. She doesn’t go to conferences, or do online chats or do a great deal of promo as far as I can tell. She has a website, but it’s usually not updated (notice how her News blurb is from February). She’s on the Brava author website, but I don’t think she’s all around the internet as many other authors are. She writes for one publisher and doesn’t write 10 books a year - more like 1 or 2. She’s also wildly popular and her books hit bestseller lists and Bookscan. She’s doing something right and not doing promo. So, what’s the explanation for that?
What works for me and what doesn’t:
1. I don’t click on banners - ever.
2. I don’t read excerpts on author websites.
3. I don’t buy or not buy books because of reviews, but I do pay more attention and look into books after reading reviews.
4. I don’t collect bookmarks or promo knick knacks (except pens because, really, we can’t have too many of those), but I do look at bookmarks when I get them and think they’re cute.
5. I don’t attend author chats on sites. Frankly, I usually forget about them.
6. I tend not to go to author signings, though I plan to get better at that since I like to support authors when I can.
7. I love to browse around a bookstore. I look at covers and read blurbs. If a book is on the New Release table or turned out, I notice and look. Many times I then buy.
8. I look at ads in the Sunday book review sections of newspapers (our household gets 3) and enjoy RT for the articles, ads and to see what’s coming out.
9. I enjoy author blogs and have purchased books because I enjoyed particular blogs.
10. I expect author websites to be reasonably updated and always want to know what’s coming up and if an author made a new sale.
11. I try new authors all the time. If I liked the first book, I wait (impatiently) for the next and have a general idea when it’s coming out.
12. If someone I trust or like or an author I enjoy says XX book is good, I’ll get it. But, cover quotes, “RITA AWARD” or bestselling author stamps don’t mean much to me. I’m guided much more by covers and cover blurbs. Those book ads on blogs don’t work for me at all, but a recommendation that feels more like the blogger has a connection to the book does work
That’s me. You?
July 21st, 2006 at 8:24 am
I never click on banners.
I don’t read excerpts either, because I know I can’t read the whole book at that time, and what’s the point?
I do hear about new authors in much the same way you do–mentions on blogs, seeing the books in the bookstore, or hearing about the book through other writers.
Covers are the number one attraction for me, but the book needs to have a good blurb, and a good first two or three pages before I’ll buy it.
I don’t get RT, so never use that. Mostly, it’s word of mouth or catching my eye at the bookstore.
I will look more closely at a book if a reviewer that I trust writes a good review, and often will buy it.
Gee, sounds like we have the same book-buying habits!
I wonder if there’s a difference in how non-writers choose to buy books…
July 21st, 2006 at 8:31 am
HelenKay, I usually pick books up the same way.
Colleen, I was just wondering the same thing!
July 21st, 2006 at 8:44 am
Colleen - Just wanted to tell you I love the cover for your January 2007 release, THE REST FALLS AWAY. Very nice.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:02 am
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July 21st, 2006 at 9:38 am
Shannon McKenna is an excellent example of how some books don’t need any help to support them beyond their own merit. I also think she’s an example of what word of mouth can do. She’s heavily recommended by customers to other customers and her name comes up when people ask for people who “write like” Linda Howard and others. (And personally I’m still trying to figure out what I have to do to get a copy of that damn book as an ARC. I mean really, who DO I have to cozy up to?)
I’ll get you my answers on all the rest of your questions after work.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:13 am
Hey, HelenKay! I don’t know if the trackback links work from blogger through wordpress, so I just wanted to give you a heads up that I’m asking folks your questions on my blog. I agree with you about a lot of the things on your list, but I DO pay attention to author excerpts on websites and I’ve never read an ad in a paper in my life.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:53 am
I won’t buy a book without reading an excerpt. Other than that, ads, etc., may draw my eye and put the author name and book title in my mental file cabinet, but I don’t ever go looking for that book. Most of the books I’ve bought the last 2 years have been because of blog recommendations.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:07 am
I don’t click on banners. I do read excerpts on author websites. I don’t buy a book just because of a review I’ve seen, but it will make me go find an excerpt of it and read more about it. I do collect bookmarks and I love promo items. I do enjoy author chats. I don’t go to many book signings. I go to the bookstore every weekend. I could spend hours in there. I do bring my list with me and only buy from that. If I see something else on the shelf, I write it down, go home and read more about it and then maybe it will go on my list for the next trip. I don’t look at the newspaper book section but I do subscribe to RT. I like author blogs. I do visit a lot of author websites but find many not up to date. I try new authors too and if I like the book, I always put there next book on my TBB list. A lot of the books on my list are from recommendations from my net reader friends. These usually come in the form of private emails. One other form of promo that I like is contests. I’ve found many new favorite authors after winning a book that I might not otherwise have tried.
July 21st, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Sheesh, HelenKay! I’m an obsessive-compulsive marketer, and you’re my worst nightmare! How can you be totally impervious to all my efforts??
I know several successful authors who don’t believe in much marketing, and think it’s all in the hands of booksellers, marketing reps and other higher-ups. I fear they may be right, but I like to feel like I’m in control of SOMETHING, so I market anyway.
Ann
July 21st, 2006 at 12:31 pm
To pick a new author or buy a book, I rely mostly on word of mouth. Anytime someone recommends a book, I write it down in my day planner.
If out of suggestions, I ask a bookstore employee to recommend a read.
When that doesn’t work, I browse how the author writes. Without recommendatons, I only read a page and then make a decision whether to buy or not.
July 21st, 2006 at 2:06 pm
I mostly go to author websites and browse the bookstore for the books I buy.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:26 pm
I know what authors I prefer and stick with them whenever they write a new book.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:27 pm
I go to the library and also consult publishers weekly and the lists in the library.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:28 pm
I visit bookstores regularly and then go on amazon weekly.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:29 pm
I look through various book websites as well as author’s websites to see what is new.
July 21st, 2006 at 5:59 pm
I HAVE to read excerpts to get an idea of the author’s writing style — if it is a style that appeals to my taste. Some covers will grab my attention but I still have to check out the excerpts. I would not buy on cover appeal alone. I love promo items especially ones that can be used - pens, letter openers, mugs, t-shirts, etc. I think it reminds you of the author and their books everytime you use the item. I like contests because they sometimes turn me on to new-to-me authors I might not have tried otherwise.
July 21st, 2006 at 6:09 pm
That actually pretty much sums me up, too.
Although, I do read excerpts from books, if they’re available.
July 21st, 2006 at 7:37 pm
I like to read back blurbs to see what the story is about. Of course I cant wait for my favorite authors books to come out - so that is my #1 reason for buying a book. I am not influenced by banners, or award stickers.
July 21st, 2006 at 7:40 pm
I did the clicky thing. Dont know if it worked. And I almost forgot, I really do like an author’s website to be kept up to date and I do attend signings.
July 21st, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Here’s what works for me:
1. Become a favorite author and continue to write good books.
2. Keep your website updated with current releases, upcoming releases and exciting excerpts. And yes, a contest always helps if you’re trying to increase readership because that’s way I find a lot of new authors.
3. I’m not much into the promo items but I agree with you about the pens. I can always use more of them.
4. I do read reviews, particularly if it’s a new author I’m considering trying out, but I don’t buy a book based on the reviews because I’ve found too many of them to be misleading.
5. I read the back blurbs on books.
6. I check out the best seller lists at the supermarkets and online.
7. I’ll attend chats if they’re my favorite authors or a round robin author chats and publisher chats…especially if they’re giving out prizes. LOL
8. I browse the bookstores and visit the library.
9. I read excerpts posted on lists because I can get an idea about the writer’s style, particularly when they’re a new author I’m considering.
10. I also go by word of mouth from friends and family.
July 22nd, 2006 at 9:55 am
From a reader standpoint, I use a variety of methods. What I don’t do: I don’t click on banners, and I don’t like to read excerpts unless I’m still not sure about the blurb, then I might want more info to see if it’s worth my time. Bestseller lists and awards don’t mean anything to me.
Word of mouth is huge, it really is. I just started JR Ward’s books, and I am loving them. I don’t know why I waited so long, but so many people I know have raved about them, so finally I started reading them, and wow. Amazing.
If you are going to have a website/blog, please keep it updated. It doesn’t have to be everyday or even every week, but regular updates make a huge difference. I just visited a blog for someone who hasn’t posted since the beginning of June, with no mention of being on vacay or sabbatical or anything, so of course I’m not going to leave a response.
Ayreann mentioned a very significant one: keep writing good books. Quality over quantity. Write what you would read and give each book your full attention. This is the most effective way of gaining, and keeping, readers.
July 23rd, 2006 at 8:43 am
I buy often as a result of word of mouth. Or at least put in on my list of books to check out. I have a process in regards to online book buying. First, I’ve heard about it somewhere. I’ll go to the author’s website (if you’re blogging it — please put up a link!) and read the blurb. If the blurb sounds good, I’ll read an excerpt, if it’s available. If it’s not, it’s no big deal. I’ve never refused to buy a book because I couldn’t find an excerpt.
Sometimes, though, if it’s a recommendation from someone I really trust, I’ll skip all that and just go get the book.
I try to remember to go to author chats, but I usually forget. If it’s a choice between dh taking me out to Sonic for a milkshake or a chat — I get the milkshake.
Regarding chats, though — I’ll go if they’re part of a workshop or class or if they have a specific topic they’re going to discuss. I love those. I feel like I’m getting double duty out of them.
Our local paper has a romance reviewer — isn’t that cool?! But she’s fixated on Nora Roberts and historicals. She seems honest enough and I take her word into account when I go book shopping.
But aside from her, I rarely read reviews before I buy a book. I do it backwards. I read the book, then go hunt down the reviews and see if they agree with me.
July 24th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
I love reading book reviews. Except for those of my favorite reviewer in the Oakland Press (in Michigan), I find most newspaper reviews are only done on well-known writers. Now I look up reviews on the Internet after I’ve read a book. As a previous writer wrote - to see if they agree with me.
I do read excerpts on writers’ websites and the blurbs on the back of the books. I also buy books of favorite writers because I have high expectations for their newest works.
I read a book every two days or so, and these methods help me choose. Books are my biggest expense for recreation.
You must be so pleased with your success as a new writer. Good luck in the future.
August 1st, 2006 at 11:33 am
Received the info to be able to find the Reply Message. Still not sure if I did it okay. However, I will go back to see if my reply was posted. Thank you for guiding me in the correct directions. Thank you Again.
January 16th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
jonny8