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kinzelA 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
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
Answers to a quick non-poll
2007-12-20 15:26 (UTC)a theme anthology
a year's best anthology
***It depends on the theme, and whose definition of Year's best. I look at at the editor, first. Both, at times. Themes, more recently. Although I did pick up "Best of Jim Baen's Universe" and have not regretted it in the least.
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
***It depends on the title, and what I've heard of the unread author, and from whom. Probably the former, but it depends.
Would you more likely buy:
a novel set in a tie-in universe
a novel set in an original universe
***Original, please. Unless by tie-in, you mean "an author's extension of their own universe." Not a media tie-in. I don't watch much TV. See "notched hearing," below.
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
Title. First page. Cover art is nice, but I've seen some really awful art on some very nice bookds.
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*?
***I do read the first page if the title sounds interesting. By "blurb," I assume you mean author quotes. If so, only by authors I like, or truly dislike. But I faithfully read the paragraph or two back cover copy that might give me a hint about the flavor of the book, if written well.
Do you go to book signings?
Elucidate above
***Only rarely. Last book signing I went to was when Nebulas were in Chicago, and we were, too, for something unrelated. Bagged autographs from some favorite authors, and then went to lunch with others, who we are on a Christmas-and-birthday card basis with.
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!
***Yes, and I have.
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?
***Almost always general fun. We can't afford the time travel far for particular authors. Have done so a couple times when particular authors come to the Midwest, but rarely. Home is ICON. The original one in Iowa, not the huge one on Long Island. We've each been concom for that, at different times.
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
****Oy! I am a housewife in Iowa! For a peculiar, skewed version of "housewife."
It depends. For technical writing - pays the bills- my audience is both geeks and the average person who's interested in a particular subject. Not hardcore fans only. For fiction, I sure hope it's average people, because otherwise the sales will be flat, flat, flat.
And one last question...
do you listen to podcasts?
Nope. Sorry. Notched hearing. Digitized speech is particularly irksome unless the general volume is obnoxiously high.