An informal straw poll today:
What motivates you to purchase
(in a bookstore or online)
a book by a new-to-you author?
Personally, I rely heavily on professional reviews. After a book is already on my radar, I’ll look to Amazon or Goodreads but not before.
I am aware this limits my chances of discovering a slew of fine indie authors. But because the length of my TBR list still exceeds the amount of time I have to read, relying on professional reviews acts as kind of reading gatekeeper.
It’s been a long time since I was in a bookstore and selected a book solely on the cover and cover copy alone. I used to do this quite often. Since my local book store is relatively small (but wicked awesome!), these days I usually arrive with a book in mind. If the store doesn’t have it, they order it for me.
Wicked Good Books, Salem, MA (borrowed with respect from Facebook)
I also pay attention to blurbs—those pithy promotionals usually written by one author for another that appear on book covers and in ads. Here’s the interesting thing. A blurb is as likely to dissuade me from buying as it is to inspire me to pull out my wallet.
Blurbs are often cliché-ridden with expressions like page-turner and unputdownable. When I read one of these, I assume the author providing the lines was unable think of anything original to say, or worse, never bothered to read the book at all—an immediate red flag. A hackneyed blurb turns me off immediately, and if it’s provided by an author I respect, I lose a little respect for him or her as well.
If, on the other hand, the blurb is fresh, authentic, and sincere, particularly if it includes words like unpredictable, original, or haunting, I’m immediately intrigued.
.
How about you?
What moves you try a new author?
VR BARKOWSKI 
Audible’s Daily Deal has introduced me to new authors that intrigued me or books that tweaked my interest. The New York Times Book Reviews which are emailed to me have gotten me to reading new authors. A&E’s Longmire tv series intrigued me to try and then get hooked on the Longmire mysteries.
All of which gives me little hope for my new book just out. Sigh. I need to have Miley Cyrus do a selfie with me in it! Ah, no. Some prices are too steep even for book success! 🙂
LOL, Roland! Speaking of Audible, I love the way their site is laid out by categories. It’s clean, straight forward, and very browse-friendly. The images are large enough to appreciate the covers, and you get the pop-up descriptions/ratings without having to click on anything. I’ve actually bought print books I saw first as audiobooks on Audible. The site is very different from Amazon where everything is compressed. Throw in the Geico and Comcast ads they’re now running, and I find Amazon way too cluttered to browse.
I ignore blurbs as they all sound the same. I see one and usually just glance over them now.
I agree, Pat, they do sound alike. I suppose that’s why I pay attention when I read one that’s out of the box. They’re few and far between, though.
I purchase books by new authors all the time! If the cover catches my eye and the blurb sounds interesting then I’ll get it and read it. 🙂
I would like to read more new authors, Chrys. I think because I prefer print, debut authors in particular are more difficult to find. Many authors (both indie and traditionally published) are digital-only these days. 😦
That is a reeeeeally cool-looking bookstore!
For bookstore purchases, I usually have a particular book (or books) in mind when I go in the door, but I also like to browse the bargain tables. If a book on the bargain table captures my eye with a good cover, has an interesting title, and an intriguing blurb, I’ll give it a go. I’ve discovered quite a few new (or at least new-to-me) authors that way.
At the library, I’m game to try just about anything. The librarian is really good about recommending books I might like.
Even when a book is free… as in through a Goodreads giveaway, or through a freebie kindle deal, I’m kinda picky. You’d be surprised how many authors write come-ons for their giveaways that are riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. That’s a big fat red flag for me.
I’m also willing to try a new author upon the recommendation of friends, or through great reviews in the newspaper. And I’ve read a lot of books by fellow bloggers.
Yes! I used to love to shop the bargain tables, too, Susan. That’s how I first discovered Ruth Rendell a zillion years ago, the writer who inspired me to pick up a pen. The library is another great resource I neglected to mention. I get the majority of my audiobooks from the library and often try new authors. Not only is it free, I don’t even have to leave home. 🙂
Cover, title, and flap copy. Those all have to pass. Then the first paragraph. If I’m hooked with that, I’ll buy. If not, I’ll read on for a page or two. If I’m not hooked by then, it goes back on the shelf.
Beyond that, sometimes I’m turned off by little things. It could be names. Or locations. Or time periods. Whatever. If I am, nothing else much matters. I’m on to something else.
Oh, forgot to say … when the book is by someone I know, all the other goes out the window. If it sounds like something I’ll enjoy, I buy it. And sometimes I buy even if the book goes at the bottom of my TBR list. Is that horrible?
That’s not horrible, Carol. That’s supportive!
Like you, I was a cover, title, flap-copy girl until we moved to Georgia and lived in a town without a bookstore. Suddenly, I had to get creative. But I agree, the rules are completely different when I know the author.
First, the premise of the book has to speak to me in some way. Then it comes down to price. Since I do most of my reading on my ereader, I’m looking at free. Or maybe a 99-cent bundle with a title or two that sound worth it. If I’m on the fence, then I’ll check reviews.
Oh, and what Carol said about knowing the author. I’ve bought many a book from fellow bloggers that I follow. Mostly I still have to be pulled in by the premise, but I’m more likely to trust those authors.
That’s interesting, Liz. Unless I’m on the move, I don’t read digital. That’s unfortunate because digital books are less expensive and take up less physical space. I wish I could fall in love with my e-reader, but after owning three Kindles, it doesn’t seem likely to happen.