Are you encouraged to buy a book if it has several endorsements from other authors? Or, is it the blurb that helps you decide?
Are you encouraged to buy a book if it has several endorsements from other authors?
Or, is it the blurb that helps you decide?
Not really
Blurb. It seems every book now has multiple author endorsements.
@Monique That’s true
@Susan and if I read one more blurb that says “For readers of Gone Girl and Girl I’m the Train…” I am going to puke ?
@Monique I completely ignore that now. I have read some brilliant books that have been likened to GG, yet I didn’t even finish GG
@Susan SAME HERE. Both were 2 of maybe 5 books I just could NOT finish
@Monique I feel the same about books that promise a stunning twist. It’s not a twist if you can see it coming a mile off and it’s never stunning. After you with the bucket…
It’s the blurb. I always read blurb if I like that I get the book.
Just the blurb for me @Susan. Great question x
@Audrey For me too
No, I tend to read the blurb and read a few pages to see if the quality of the writing meets my approval.
Neither. It’s the quick summary and/or the back copy. What seals it for me is the first few pages, if I can get at them. If I’m impressed with the prose and the voice, I’m in.
Agreed.
It’s usually a recommendation from someone who likes the same things I do.
@Kath same. That’s how I got into Chris Carter and now I’m hooked!
Blurb…. but if I think the title and cover is poor I probably won’t even get to the blurb.
@Ali I often wonder if I’ve missed out on some great reads because of this.
Very likely – I’m sure I have, but so many publishers are churning out the same kind of covers because they say the retailers want a certain look. However it’s the reader that sets the pace – not the retailer….
@Ali I don’t want books with a similar cover. I know it doesn’t make much difference reading on Kindle , but it has to appeal to me to buy it in the first place
Absolutely! When I’ve commented positively about a title and/or cover on here it’s because I really…. really LOVE it!
People often are PAID for endorsements, so I put no stock in them.
Er, not if they’re authors, they’re not. They get sent proofs from the publisher, read them and if they like them they give a quote. No payment given. If you’re talking about non-author quotes, however, I couldn’t say.
@Mike I’ve wondered about that!
@Paul GOOGLE IT. It has been a practice for years to pay other authors for their endorsement.
@Mike I never get paid or pay for them, and I’ve done and had loads.
@Susan It is true. You can Google it. It is a well known practice that has been around for years.
So my first hand experience vs Google…
I’m sure it does happen, but I’ve not experienced it as common practice
Agreed @Paul. My book jacket endorsements from the media are NOT paid for. They are sent ARCS of the book and you hope they condescend to read and review. I’ve also given jacket reviews for authors when asked for by their publishers and done it freely. I can’t imagine their response if I asked for money to do it. As far as I’m aware it’s illegal to pay someone for such things.
I’m sure it has happened, but I have never actually heard of someone paying an author for a blurb. I promise you, as a recent debut, that there is huge pressure on new authors to ask experienced “big name” authors for blurbs. And the amazing thing is that many of them are willing to read, but always with the caveat that they won’t blurb it if they don’t like it. I’ve been blown away by the kindness and supportive responses from authors who don’t know me at all. I’ve realized as I have hustled for blurbs, those big name authors are, of course, also huge readers.
@Mike Publishers DO NOT pay anyone to blurb a book. I’ve done lots. We get an advance copy, that’s it
Publishers absolutely do not pay authors for quotes. They send proof copies out to us and ask if we might take the time to read them and then possibly send back a quote, if we like them. Authors read a lot of other authors books and try and quote to support their work but there is no payment involved. Somebody might be claiming this somewhere on Google but I know a lot of authors, publishers and agents and I can tell you that it is rubbish.
I have to say I don’t know a single author who has ever been paid for a quote.
I’ve never heard of an author being paid for a quote. I certainly haven’t!
Absolute ballbags! No reputable publisher would pay for an endorsement. (And a disreputable one would likely sushi the money on ads)
For new to me authors if a cover doesn’t grab me then I dont get any further but for authors I already know and enjoy I will buy it regardless of any reviews or what the cover is
@Melanie I have favourites that I buy without reading the blurb
@Susan sometimes I will pre-order without any knowledge of what the book will be about simply because I like their work. Have been disappointed a couple of times but won’t mention any names ?
@Melanie I’ve not been disappointed yet!
Depends on who the blurb is by.
The blurb. But the cover and title attract me first.
The blurb and the first few paragraphs.
It’s the blurb, then the first few pages for me. Download a sample is the best thing amazon has ever done…
I like endorsements, but know how they work. So I prefer quotes from review sites. But ultimately decide based on the back cover synopsis and how the first chapter reads.
The blurbs from other authors don’t really do anything for me. The book description may convince me to purchase a book if I’m on the fence.
I don’t bother about endorsements, I prefer the blurb
Blurb and cover. Endorsements are only ever going to be good so I take them with a pinch of salt.
Blurb for me not bothered who has endorsed it to be fair
Interesting thread. Even if you don’t actually read the endorsements, would you have doubts about a book that didn’t have any?
@Dave Nope.
@Dave nope I would still read if the blurb grabbed my interest and there were no endorsements what so ever
@Dave no – I frequently don’t even notice them!
@Dave Yes, I’d be very curious and wonder why nobody had endorsed it
@Anne I would assume the author is relatively new, published by a smaller press, with few connections. If the author is relatively new, sadly the chips are stacked against he/she when it comes to my purchase whether there’s author blurbs or not. (I say this as a new writer myself, but I understand this is an obstacle). The other two items frankly I don’t care about.
That was sort of where I was coming from. That, with endorsements the norm now, not having them says there are (negative) reasons for that.
I don’t necessarily think of those things as negatives. If the book sounds interesting and the writing is compelling, I literally do not care if Stephen King thinks it is “gripping”.
@Tony I’m the same. I do get genuine quotes, but for all I know, hardly anyone cares!
@Tony I work with many small presses who publish debut authors and they get author blurbs.
Check out Orenda or Muswell. It’s all about having a good publicist
@Anne yes but whether the book has author blurbs or not means nothing to me as a reader.
@Tony and I’m the opposite
I didn’t have a PR budget for my digital first debut, & I don’t think other authors with that model have endorsements either. I wish I’d known whether I could seek an endorsement myself before it went to print, as I now know a few I could probably ask. Perhaps before the next run (if there is one…) Thankfully I have some decent reviews on Amazon.
A very interesting question, Susan. I was once offered £900 to write an endorsement of a book I hadn’t read. I was flabbergasted to say the least. I refused as I felt it was cheating the readers but my point was more the fact that someone thinks my opinion counts. What I read isn’t the same as what I write, not by a long chalk. I don’t like them one bit!
I’ve never been offered money to write one, now I feel cheated… 🙂
@Paul there are some big names who endorse lots of books in their genre and I often think, how do you have the time to read all those books? It’s conning people!
@Conrad that is very interesting!
@Mike have you read this?
@Conrad as I said to Mike earlier, I’m sure it happens, but I’ve secured some fairly big names to endorse my latest and they’ve all done it for free after reading a proof. I guess it depends on who you’re published by, or who they ask, what genre etc.
@Paul the offer of money came from a very shady literary agent………. I’m sure most endorsements are genuine and free! As usual, authors are surrounded by sharks looking for an opportunity to cash in.
I’ve endorsed a few but always read them first!
@Judith my point exactly ha ha! What if you were asked to endorse a book by an established author, you read it and don’t rate it? That would be tricky.
I once approached Stephen King to endorse mine and he said yes. Then of course I woke up….
@Judith you could always find someone called Steven King and see if anyone notices!
Martina Cole gave one of my books five stars. I haven’t checked out the reviewers profile because then I can convince myself it’s the real queen of crime.
Prior to the release of Scream Blue Murder I sent the book to both @Matt and @Mason, asking them if they would read it and offer a positive quote if they felt they could. Both were kind enough to do so. The notion of paying for or being paid for quotes is disturbing.
This thread is reassuring for us debut authors and those with digital first contracts who don’t have anyone to endorse their books.
Just take a punt, Louise. There are plenty of authors out there who are happy to help. We all know how hard it is to get any recognition at all when you start out.
@Louise Members recommendations go a long way in many of us choosing a book
I’m a little confused as to why my publisher never approached anyone for an endorsement on mine. I do know a few well-known authors. But if it doesn’t make a difference to the reader, then I shouldn’t be bothered about it.
@Louise I thi k it does to some readers. If their favourite author likes a book they might try it. Who are you published with if you don’t mind me asking?
@Louise Hope this thread has helped x
HQDigital, an imprint of Harper Collins. And I’ve just had a short print run, so thought they might ask before going to print.
I’m onto my sixth book and never had anybody endorse mine! *starts to blub*??
@Louise funny, I’m with killer reads (hc) an they’ve pulled out all the big name stops. Maybe it’s an editor thing…
It’s also an eye opener for us readers..
No, I’m not encouraged to buy a book because of other author endorsements. For me, it’s either the blurb or recommendations from friends.
@Dee that’s just what I was going to say
genre, price, author, cover, stars in that order. I don’t think other author’s recommendations even figure on my list.
mine is something like – author, sub-genre, word of mouth, cover, book description, price. *I think*, because I’m not so sure we are as self-aware as we think, when it comes to what works to make us purchase a book. I know I must be truly pessimistic, because I tend to only look at negative reviews. 🙂
@Tony I’ve often done that
I read the blurb if that grips me I buy I never work off recommendations. I have actually found some great Debut authors on the 99p daily deals. If I loved the book I follow the author for further books.
I work off recommendations. It’s just not going to be some other author’s quote on the back copy. (Don’t these always sound like the canned banter you get at a concert?) Recommendations from reading friends who I share reading DNA with are golden. As for price, I seldom pay hardcover prices. Reasonable trade paperback prices I’m willing to pay ($15 USD and below). eBooks I expect to take the place of mass market PB pricing ($6 USD and below). And free and 99cent, ebooks I skip unless they’re promotions for authors I already know and enjoy OR have come highly recommended by friends. These bargain bin priced books tend to just clutter my device and never get read (excepting the cases I just mentioned)
A author endorsement doesn’t usually do it for me unless I k ow that authors reading g tastes
I like either the cover or the blurb to jump out at me to then go on to read the blurb. I decide from that.
I buy from several factors…
Recommendations
Group authors
Blurb
Cover
Endorsements sometimes…
I don’t particularly like when a book says for lovers of certain authors etc.. I think that sometimes devalued the authors creditability. They should be able to sell their books because they are a great writer not because they are like a previously published author
“the lovers of certain author” is a mistake I made with my first book. I listened to advice about ad copy, and forgot something I’ve tried to use in making my decisions… which is to consider myself as the consumer and how any of this makes me feel. I’m turned off by the “if you like ___, you’ll like ____” stuff, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t on the back cover of my first book :(. It’s a learning experience for sure…
@Tony It’s difficult because on the one hand you want to listen to publishers advice and trust in them that you will be successful but on the other you want your own work to be given its own credit
I am my publisher, though. So I only have myself to blame. Oops.
@Tony Oh! Lol… at least you learnt by it! Lol
I buy because I like the author .
Do you ever read debuts, Sandra?
@Louise I do occasionally but usually ask the librarians for their opinions.
The cover first, then the blurb ?
I look at author ( like most of us have fave authors and ones we read everything by if can), cover, blurb, if in a series, if a new author etc, if one of my fav authors then will take notice of their comments but otherwise no
Authors recommendations have never influenced my purchasing any book, in any genre. For some reason, I could always hear the rustling of folding money in the background.
Even when real money isn’t involved. It smells of I’ll rub your back , if you’ll rub mine.
Or in the case of Mr King and Mr Bach, rubbing your own back
Then there are the authors who do it free because they genuinely liked the book!
By the way, I’m available for back rubbing…. 🙂
So is the general consensus that to try a new author the cover has to stand out and the blurb has to be spot on? I’d be intrigued to know what else might convince someone to pick up a book by an author they’ve never tried before.
I hate admit I do judge a book by the cover. If it doesn’t “catch” my eye I won’t even bother flipping it over to see what it is about.
@Paul for me yes deffo the cover ( a good title that catches the eye and might sound weird but a short snappy title) and blurb about the book
@Mark ta. The hardest thing I always found about my self published books was getting the blurb right. Far harder than writing the bloody book…
@Wendy Agreed! Shame they’re so hard to get right.
Paul, not the same but when I do a review I can go on for ages but on Amazon when they ask for a short sentence to sell your review to readers I am like mmmmmm and spend forever thinking what to put!!!
That back cover blurb — impossible to get right. LOL
@Paul … If your struggling to write the blurb, ask a beta reader to write it with you. As a reader they will pick out the important parts that need mentioning.
@Mark same process though! I’ve honestly spent days staring at a screen trying to get a blurb just right. Best thing about being published? My editor does my blurbs now!
@Paul My tip was one my editor told me lol
No doubt some enterprising soul will read all this and start offering a “professional blurbs” service for only half the price of a Caribbean island…
@Paul I find this very interesting as I’ve seen it mentioned many times that some authors feel it is easier writing a book than the blurb. It can actually make or break a book can’t it?
@Susan very much so. My worst selling books are the ones I couldn’t get the blurbs right on.
@Paul for me the blurb has to be quite short and therefore it must be difficult to write. If a blurb goes on too long I’ve actually lost interest and think I be half way through the book! ?
@Susan yeah, if amazon has to offer ‘try a sample’ on the blurb, the battle’s already lost…
@Susan I agree! Long blurbs are off putting.
I would be interested to know what the cover that stands out looks like…what catches your eye in today’s book covers? I have to admit that crime fiction covers tend to look very “samey” to me. If the author writes Private Investigator fiction, I’ll generally give he or she a look…and then, yes, the book description is important. Then I’ll look at the first couple of pages…if he/she has a compelling voice, they will usually get a sale.
Look at @Ali‘s book Blood List. I love her cover!
@Jo a refreshing change
Just thought I should say that you guys are awesome. I should definitely come here more often!
@Paul for me, I usually open a book to any page and read. If it intrigues and is easy reading, I give it a go. By easy reading, I mean the likes of Len Deighton, John Sandford, Harlan Coburn etc
@Keith good to know, I sometimes do that too.
you know what I don’t know, I havent been in the situation to look for a book to read as I so many on my tbr pile!
How do you decide which one to pick off the pile? 😉
now theres a question, i tend to look at them and hope for the best…
Both
Not me However I find Amazons recommendations uncannily accurate
About the only time an endorsement will catch my attention is if it name-checks a favorite author’s style or sensibilities. For example: “Fans of _________ (insert name of favorite author) will like this book.” It doesn’t guarantee I’ll get the book but it will definitely get a second look.
I can’t say it’s ever swayed my decision to by a book. Generally, the recommendations come from the author’s friends in the business or authors who are from the same publisher. ?
ok..But before you were an author…and maybe just wanted to have a good book to read and browsed around a bookshop or maybe did your shop at a local supermarket and saw a book isle…what would grab your attention about the book?
@Diane, the cover and then if the blurb drew me in that would seal the deal. ?
@Mel that great. Thankyou….and if it is by an author that you have read and loved previously…it’s a great big bonus and a no brainer! xx
@Diane, definitely ?❤️
You swayed me to Linda prather and her Catherine manns series hehehe. Just by talking about them
@Sean, I did indeed xx
Make my own mind up
I prefer a recommendation from someone I know and trust
It’s the blurb and the 1st chapter. Especially the latter.
I hate blurbs — they’re paid to say nice things. I use independent reviews e.g. NYT
@Randy No, they are absolutely not paid.
Decent publishers don’t pay
If somebody you know and whose judgement you trust says it’s good, that’s usually a good endorsement.
@Paul: not if you have totally different tastes it isn’t.
Very true.
i took the “judgement you trust” to include shared tastes
Not to sound rude but I don’t go by recommendations and I don’t read reviews until I have read the book. I read the description and if I like it I buy it
Blurb has to get my attention
Cover and blurb for me too
I notice the cover, but blurbs and forwards are bigger influences.. if I am familiar with writers, et al blurbing and their
sensibilities .. they may also be even more of an influence..
The storyline description
The first thing that draws me is the cover and blurb.
If it gets great reviews then it’s a no brainer for me. #sold #excited
Cheese and biscuits, large glass of wine fire on bliss!
Always the blurb… Or the author if I know them.
Reader recommendations encourage me more than anything, although I do think the author recommendations make the books more visible on social media sites. Covers catch my eye, blurbs make me read the first page, and I go from there.
The blurb and reader recommendations and if I read the first page and it catches me and makes me want to read on.
I find many of them meaningless. Trace it back and they’ll usually share the same agent or publisher.
I usually go by the blurb. The recommendations only work if they tap into what I’m looking for. Saying that I also buy books when I’ve heard or read an interview with the author and they’ve hooked my interest. Friends recommendations also work.
The blurb.