Quick: a small non-poll

[kinzel]

A few questions for the readers in the peanut gallery:

Would you rather read:
a theme anthology
a year's best anthology

In a bookstore would you rather buy:
a new novel by someone you've heard of but never read
a new novel by someone you've never heard of

Would you more likely buy:
a novel set in a tie-in universe
a novel set in an original universe

The first thing you notice about a new author is:
the title of the book is good
the cover art of the book is good
the gender of the author

When it comes to cover blurbs you:
almost always read them
almost always ignore them
read them if they're by authors you like
always think they waste space
consider writing to the blurbers and ask them what were they drinking when they wrote the blurb, and where can you get some of *that*?

Do you go to book signings?
Elucidate above

Are you a member of the BTC -- that is, the Book Turners Club? Do you turn books by authors you like cover face-front in a bookstore?
If yes, above, will you do it for us RSN? Thanks!


Do you go to science fiction conventions?
If yes above, do you go because particular guests will attend, or for the general fun of it? Do you have a "home" convention?



For the writers:

do you think the audience for your work is:
mythical
average read-anything types
hardcore fans
geeks only
housewives in Iowa
your agent first, then your editor
the marketing department at B&N

And one last question...
do you listen to podcasts?

If so:
http://fledgling.fireheartfoundry.com/2007/12/19/fledgling-chapter-23/
the latest Fledgling podcast from Fireheart Foundry

Comments

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

Would you rather read:
a theme anthology
a year's best anthology

Theme, definitely. Half the time the "year's best" stories give me hives.

In a bookstore would you rather buy:
a new novel by someone you've heard of but never read
a new novel by someone you've never heard of

Either, although I'm more likely to buy an old novel by an author I've heard of but nver read.

Would you more likely buy:
a novel set in a tie-in universe
a novel set in an original universe

By "tie-in" do you mean Trek or Star Wars novels and the like? If so, never touch the things. If you mean, will I pick up the next Miles Vorkosigan adventure or Discworld installment? In a heartbeat. I'm very cautious about adding new authors these days, though, so they have to come recommended by someone who opinion I respect (or be on the free rack at the library).

The first thing you notice about a new author is:
the title of the book is good
the cover art of the book is good
the gender of the author

What my friends on LJ are saying about them (especially James Nicoll or Jo Walton).

When it comes to cover blurbs you:
almost always read them
almost always ignore them
read them if they're by authors you like
always think they waste space
consider writing to the blurbers and ask them what were they drinking when they wrote the blurb, and where can you get some of *that*?

Scan them to see who wrote them, snort derisively if the only one they could get is Anne McCaffrey.

Do you go to book signings?
Elucidate above

Sometimes, generally if it's an author I know personally or one of my childhood idols - and in the latter case, even if I find out said childhood idol is, well, the sort of person Harlan Ellison is.

Are you a member of the BTC -- that is, the Book Turners Club? Do you turn books by authors you like cover face-front in a bookstore?
If yes, above, will you do it for us RSN? Thanks!

I never mess with the book displays, but then I'm so rarely in bookstores. I do most of my book buying online.

Do you go to science fiction conventions?
If yes above, do you go because particular guests will attend, or for the general fun of it? Do you have a "home" convention?

When I can, and most of the time I never even know who the GoHs are. I'm up in air on whether my home con is Boskone or Readercon. I haven't made ReaderCon since Harlan was GoH, but that's cos DH prefers a more general-interest con, so we can never quite find space in the budget fort it.