Mona

Have a great Sunday everyone.

For me, I tend to go for books with an intriguing synopsis on the back cover. That usually works 70% of the time for me.

I used to go for contests all the time but nowadays, I tend to read a couple of recommendations but I don’t always look at blogs. For me, I am wary because some blogger’s tastes don’t necessarily match my own. Other times, they are so fanatical, I don’t know if the book is truly good or if the eagerness to tell me about the author actually makes me want to go the other way.

I’ve also been blessed w/a couple of free reads that have been very pleasant surprises for me.

If I’ve heard the author mentioned somewhere. If the book is shelved next to an autobuy (Go, Julia Quinn!) and something about it catches my eye. Color, author’s name, text, title. I’ll read the back and think about it. (But picking up a book and carrying it around the bookstore doesn’t mean I’ll end up buying it. Money matters and if my conscience starts grumbling it’s the unknowns that get ditched.)

What gets me to BUY a book by an unknown author?

When I buy new I tend to play it safe. Recommendations. This summer, mostly from DA & SBTB. Recommendations by authors I like (but not solely). Buzz. Enough mentions and eventually I’ll have to find out what the fuss is all about. Free reads. (Picked up Julia Quinn and Lois McMaster Bujold because of free reads. Not to mention Tor authors.)

When I buy used, I try out everything that looks interesting since I can always return what wasn’t to my taste. (And get some of my money back.) But when I find something I like, I’ll go back and get the backlist, used or new. And look for new releases.

Contests:

I’ll enter any contest where there’s a chance of winning a book. Unless it’s too complicated. Or I’m not eligible for entry. (I truly hate US-only contests – there are readers across the ocean also! We have money! We buy books!)

Can’t help out much on the marketing, being across the ocean. Mentions on blogs I visit, reviews, contests, interviews, etc. help me find out you exist. Enough mentions and I’ll sample your work.

I usually try books that other readers with similar tastes have recommended. There are a core group of readers/bloggers that I can depend on to give honest reviews. Those are the ones I pay attention to.

What can authors do? Have decent websites with excerpts of the books. If it’s a series, general background info on the series and character bios are always helpful. The short stories are a bonus and can give a new reader a chance to “try out” the author’s style of writing. Also with so many blogs, forums, etc. an author’s online presence is important. Giving online interviews and chats are a wonderful way to connect with readers and get the word out about new releases.

I found out about your books on a reader’s forum and it is one of my favorite series.

I like to enter simple contests… send your name and we’ll draw a number…or contests that ask you questions about characters or events that have occurred in the authors other books.

Marketing ideas…..hmmm I can’t think of anything that has leaped out and grabbed me in the literature world. I simply like visiting blogs or review sites to see what other readers enjoyed or visiting the authors site and joining up with their newsletters to keep abreast of the current and future books as well as free excerpts.

Mona

Knowledge of an authors’ previous work usually is the reason I pick up a book there after. If I read you before and enjoyed it there’s a great chance I’m getting the next book you put out. LOYAL if I love you!

I try not to pick out by cover because as others have stated, they tend to start to blend or look to much alike. EX. Jaquelyn Frank and JR ward.

I like scavenger hunts as far as the contest are concerned but will enter any book contest if its an author I love. Buzz campaigns are my favorite since if you are one of the lucky few chosen to read an ARC, you are then able to blog your review wherever you can to spread the word. Marjorie M Liu has done this with her Dirk & Steele paranormals and I always try out for those when the opportunity arises.

When it comes to promo, the best thing to give away is a book by that author(ARC is always lovely, especially signed). I also am really loving how some authors will give a book with either jewelry or candles inspired by their books. Stella and Audra Price do this with theirs and I try to never miss those contests.

I hope I helped some.