QUEEN Countdown Day 9
"Either you trust us or you don't. Make up your mind."
It's October 9th, Day 9 of our QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS release countdown!
Days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS: 18
-723523.jpg)
We are counting down the days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS, book #4 of the Tairen Soul quintet. Each week, I'll be choosing winners to receive an autographed copy of QUEEN, so don't miss out!
There are two ways you can win!
(1) Join the CL Wilson Announcement List. A winner will be drawn from the announcement list each week.
(2) Read the daily countdown blog here on Blogging the Fading Lands, and post a response to the "Question of the Day". Each Tuesday, I will choose a winner from the posters for that week. For each daily blog that you respond to, you earn one chance to win. (Multiple comments to the same blog still only count as one "chance to win".)
Once you post a comment, email feyreisa@live.com with your
(1) name,
(2) mailing address,
(3) email address, and
(4) the name you posted under (please sign your post if you post as "anonymous")
If I do not receive your information, your response to today's blog will *not* be entered in the weekly drawing.
Only one entry per person per day will be counted. Personal information will remain private, will only be used to contact the weekly winner(s), and will be discarded thereafter.
Where/how do you typically discover new authors?
It's October 9th, Day 9 of our QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS release countdown!
Days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS: 18
-723542.jpg)
We are counting down the days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS, book #4 of the Tairen Soul quintet. Each week, I'll be choosing winners to receive an autographed copy of QUEEN, so don't miss out!
How to Enter!
There are two ways you can win!
(1) Join the CL Wilson Announcement List. A winner will be drawn from the announcement list each week.
(2) Read the daily countdown blog here on Blogging the Fading Lands, and post a response to the "Question of the Day". Each Tuesday, I will choose a winner from the posters for that week. For each daily blog that you respond to, you earn one chance to win. (Multiple comments to the same blog still only count as one "chance to win".)
Once you post a comment, email feyreisa@live.com with your
(1) name,
(2) mailing address,
(3) email address, and
(4) the name you posted under (please sign your post if you post as "anonymous")
If I do not receive your information, your response to today's blog will *not* be entered in the weekly drawing.
Only one entry per person per day will be counted. Personal information will remain private, will only be used to contact the weekly winner(s), and will be discarded thereafter.
Question of the Day:
Where/how do you typically discover new authors?
posted by C.L. Wilson at
6:01 AM
43 Comments:
I usually will go to my favorite author's websites and check out their recommendations, or I will go to some blogs and look for recommendations. I also browse in book stores for any books that catch my interest.
I find recommendations from many sources. I ask friends and family about their favorite authors. I also check out book discussion boards, author blogs, and best seller lists.
-Jilly
I used to pick up ALOT of anthologies. That way I found new authors and got a taste of their style, to see if I liked them.
Then Joy of Joys I signed up for an authors yahoo group. And OH boy those people can recommend and recommend and... whew. within a few months I had a 40 page spreadsheet of authors and books and series in reading order!
OOOOHHHHH and you gotta try this website. You type in any authors name and it generates a list of like authors for free.
http://www.literature-map.com/
Honestly I usually just pick up a book thats cover catches my intrest. I also go with recommendations of my friends and family. But for me, a snazzy cover will make me buy a book and if I like the author i will buy everything they write.
I usually just pick up something that catches my eye... That's how I found your wonderful books! And, the Dark series by Christine Feehan. What lucky finds!!!!!! Yeah me!!!!
A lot of the times I find new authors by their excerpts in a book of an author that I already like. Excerpts are nice because they also give you a glimpse of the writer's style, and are usually of a similar genre to the book they are found in.
Then again, I am pretty shallow because pretty covers catch my eye fairly often.
I go with blurbs after a cover catches my eye and recommendations from reader/review blogs that I have found have similar taste to mine. I also find new authors in anthologies,too.
I love finding a new author I like with a big backlist so I can stock up on reading material (like I will ever run out?!?)
I chat with the chatelaines.
When I was younger, it used to be the other titles/authors listed by the publisher at the ends of the books I read. Nowadays, it varies - if I have time, I browse amazon.com/ca or chapters.ca and read the reviews on titles that catch my eye or more rarely, it's recommendations from friends.
well i always take recommendations from friends and family (since they know me the BEST!:) also a super fabulous cover that catches my eye enough for me pick it up and read the back of the book. and last my not least...my own favorite authors recommendations.
I usually find them as curiosity strikes, usually from (I hate to admit this) cover art, or peeking at a few pages; also from recomendations from friends, or as a professional, when new authors are suggested to me, by other authors or *sheepish grin* a company recommendation. That said, if I like what's been recommended to me, I'll pass the recommendation on. If I don't, or if the book somehow offends me (you'd be surprised) I simply won't. I have to like/love what I've read to pass it on.
I find new authors in several ways. Usually I simply spend hours browsing book titles and summaries either in the store or online. I also pay attention to the names mentioned by my favorite authors or read excerpts that are in backs of books.
My friends are usually how I pick up on new authors. We have a pretty good knack for finding good books to read and share! But sometimes I just happen to stumble upon authors by luck. I've been to bookstores/libraries and picked up books based on title or cover alone!
I got into your books via a excerpt in a Christine Feehan novel, and since I have a personal interest in winged cats- I was hooked and ferreted out the first book the next day at the bookstore.
I am a strong believer in loyalty. Once I like an author, I keep my eye out for anything they write, and I pick that up whenever I have the opportunity (and the money). Since I am constantly looking out for their names, I also pick up things they are associated with.
I once picked up a book I never would have looked at twice because there was a rather lengthy review from Anne McCaffrey written on the back of it. Occasionally when I am checking in on author’s homepages, they mention an author or a book they read recently, and if I see it somewhere, I’ll buy it, too.
I also buy books that have key words in the title. Things that attract me are “crystal” or “glass” or “hair” as well as some others. I am very attracted by good covers, and good blurbs on the back. Also, if I am going through a used paperback bookstore and I notice that there is a series, and the first two or three (or five or what have you) are ALL THERE, I will buy it if I have even a modicum of interest.
After reading one book by a new author, if I like him/her, I will buy more. If I REALLY like him/her, I will scour the stores looking for older books. If it is part of a series, I will buy the others, regardless of how much I liked it. Just because I like having them all there. Maybe I didn’t like it, but someone else may want to borrow it from me, and at least I can loan them all of the series. I like to own all the books by a particular author. If they have a lot, they get their own shelf.
I also take plenty of recommendations from other book readers. Whether it is from a list on Amazon, or a romance or sci-fi thread or blog, or whether it’s the cashier at the bookstore. (And those threads and lists on Amazon are a very SERIOUS source of new books and authors for me, since people love to make recommendations.)
Sometimes I do searches for specific categories (like retold fairy tales, or Nazi concentration camps, or something else random), then I go get the books that people seemed to really like.
Also, my husband is an avid book reader, and sometimes I discover new authors under my bed. Their books, I mean. (And he pretty much follows the same recipe as above for discovering new authors, except that he has different things that attract him, so we get a really wide selection of choices.)
Some authors I've had others recommend, but mostly, I find new authors by seeing a book cover that catches my eye, usually at Walmart since they're cheap.
I also look and see which authors Barnes and Noble has the most of (Terry Brooks, Mercedes Lackey, etc) and see if I can find one of their books at the library or a used bookstore to try them out. I figure if B&N has multiple copies of books, they must be pretty popular.
April C
I am a Barnes and Noble fiend! In store and online...I browse and check out the latest releases and often look at the recommendations. Then I check out the author's website...and look at all of the other books they've published.
-Sherri
It depends. Usually, I'll take advice from people who suggest it, or I'll see someone reading a book and I'll like the cover...it comes from many places.
I look for recommendations from people I trust. Those people might be on Twitter, on an author chat board, or working for a publisher. My friends and family aren't big readers or don't share my taste in reading, so I get almost nothing there. I like being kind of a human literary map and making recommendations for customers based on favorites, but few people ask.
Since I am a very avid reader (I typically go through 15-20 books a month) I am always on the lookout for new books. I have learned that well composed covers do catch my attention, but the story inside doesn't, so what I do if a cover does grab me is sit and flip open the book to about page 50-75, and read a few pages. If I am going, "oh my, what happens next?" I get the book.
Another thing that captures me is the title of a book. That is how I found the Tairen Soul books, as well as Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. When going through a bookstore, and there are so many books to choose from, all lined up in a row, an interesting title does tend to jump out at you.
I also take recommendations from friends and family, who always seem to have such good taste in authors too. (Thank you Mom for introducing me to Johanna Lindsey's Malory series, and my lovely boyfriend for getting me hooked on the Wheel of Time series.)
Also, doing searches for topics and genres I enjoy help open up worlds of new authors. I was doing a research paper on Egyptology back in school, and I stumbled upon Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series, which is a great historical, yet fictional, murder mystery series, and one I never would have picked up if I didn’t come across it in my studies.
One thing I always do to a new book I get, regardless of how it came to me, is read the first 50 pages. It was something I learned back in elementary school, that I still use to this day. (You can’t always judge a book by its cover or summary on the back, they can be misleading.) If I cannot get into a book by then, usually I will not get attached; however, it gives the author a chance to reel me in and get the plot going to suck me into their world.
Hey Stephanie! Woot woot for WoT! The Gathering Storm comes out on 10/27 also, so it looks like there's TWO books I have to get that day.
A lot of the time I discover new authors from my Mum, although I've also found new authors by picking up a new arrival at random from Forbidden Planet/ Borders and skim-reading the first few paragraphs...
If I can't put the book down at that point then it's off to the checkout for me so that I can read and re-read at my leisure.
I find new author in the back of some of my favorite authors books, or I look p their recomendations. Sometime I just troll around the bookstore.
Angie - that http://www.literature-map.com/ was the cooliest! :) People who read me read Joan Johnston - who knew? We're worlds apart, literally! LOL.
All you cover-lovers...Oh, me too! I am a magpie. Flash, glitter, and a gorgeous over will draw me in every time! It won't make me *buy* the book - but will make me pick it up. (And a bad cover will make me *not* buy a book. Oh, so sad. I know the one has zero to do with the other, and I know authors have no say over their covers.)
Friends and family are hugely important as recommenders for me. My sister Lisette turned me onto Christine Feehan (for which I am eternally grateful). And I found out about a LOT of other authors from my favorite authors' discussion loops.
Sunset - I've already told you privately, I love the way you think :)
Cassandra - I have often wondered about bookseller recommendations. I was always too shy to ask. (Even when the bookseller came up to ask me if I needed anything.) But I've met some booksellers - vivacious, outgoing, you-can't-help-but-love them women who do an incredible job at hand-selling books. I was recently at Lora Leigh's Readers' Appreciation Weekend, and dozens - dozens! - of new readers came up to me with 1-3 books in hand, because the bookseller at the retreat was so enthusiastic about spreading the word. (Bless her!)
I know as a kid (when I was so voracious about my reading habits) I was too impatient/shy to order books either. Then I discovered a bookstore where the manager (A romance lover too) set out a notebook with coverflats and release dates and signup sheets. I could preorder all my favorite authors and got to the store to get my books the day they came out - HEAVEN! :)
i find new author by word of mouth from friends or from recommedations at the back of a book I am reading. I have only just began following reviews.
Darlene w
Most new authors are recomended by friends but do also get some from browsing thru the bookstore when something catches my eye.
Mak...
When in a bookstore, I browse and read the back covers (never pay attention to front covers much). For my Kindle, I check out the recommendations from Amazon and also check out the discussion forums. I will often download samples of books to see if they are what I would like.
I found Cheryl's books in the grocery store book aisle, so I keep my eyes open now everywhere I go just in case I can find another winner like her!
I usually pick up books that have interesting covers or story lines. If I like the book, I will try to get more books by the same author. Also, I search the Amazon site. If you look for books by authors that you like, the site will make recommendations of other books that may be of interest.
-PW
I'll search a genre of a book, see what authors are recommended at the back of a book I really like, and I will go on a author's myspace or website and see what other authors they recommend.
I usually find new authors when my mother picks me up new books from the store. If I like it, then I pick up other books by that author at the store or at library sales.
My sister works at Barnes and Noble so I usually hear about new authors fromo her and her friends who work there also. But I also like to just sit in the aisles and pull down books that interest me.
-Katie
I get recommendations from a few different sources. In the instance of finding CL WIlson, I found her in the back of a Feehan novel. Other times, i walk around the library or bookstore until a book catches my eye and then my fav way to get a new author is from a friend.
Usually through sites like romance junkies, sometimes through anthologies, win some, and recommends from different folks online and not that I read the same things as.
Normally, my friends tell me about a book they are reading and so I go check it out. Sometimes I just browse through Barnes and Noble, waiting to see what book will get my attention.
Typically it's either when I'm raiding a friend's bookshelf on Shelfari or scanning through reviews on Amazon... *shrug* Sometimes it'll be an excerpt in a book. Not sure if this is too late? *sigh* Crazy day!
Patterson1219
Friend's recommendations, sometimes from reading a story in an anthology, pub/author newsletters, blogs, just about any book place on the next, lol, if something catches my eye.
I am several yahoo groups ranging anywhere from anothrs to books and we discuss everything and anything that includes new authors, series, types of books. Plus I have recently joined a couple review sights where I do some reviewing, but mostly just add to my tbb list, and tbr mountain. LOL
Note to participants: I am posting today's blog early as I will be out most of the day at my writers' group. I will therefore continue to take Day 9 comments until I return from that meeting, so if you didn't have a chance to post on Day 9's blog, now's your chance!
~Cheryl
Ok as lame as this is:) I get new book recommendations from social networking sites lol. Twitter,facebook,myspace, goodreads. Either from new author's profile or from others saying they are reading something new. Sometimes I will find new books from review blogs, and it doesn't even have to be a good review:) Sometimes someone saying "this isn't my cup of tea" will have me going "oh reall?" So, I think i've been incoherent enough for this post:)
Hi Cheryl,
I get a lot of new authors from browsing future releases on amazon. Also from visiting blogs and word of mouth. I love trying new authors!
I have my favorites and I watch who they recommend. I also go to a website I found where her interest are very similar to mine and I pay attention to anything she recommends as I've found her to be an excellent source. The website is http://www.leontine1976.blogspot.com/ and by the way she actually found a picture of the fifth book of your series and posted it to her blog. It's truly beautiful artwork. Thank you Cheryl.
This is a really cool question and the answer is everywhere! I read blurbs. I join authors' newletters, newsgroups and read blogs and of course check their websites. I view the "related books" (usually about 17-20 titles) attached to a book I am looking for on Amazon. I review the new books online at my local library. And last but not least, I talk "books" with my friends all the time.
I typically find new authors by reading on-line reader reviews mentioning other authors, amazon.com's "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" section, on-line excerpts, and occasionally flipping through a book that I find interesting at the bookstore.
I'm big into the first couple pages, whether they're interesting and engaging or not. I'll also flip randomly through the book to see if the book has a consistent flow.
I'm a sucker for happy endings, so if I'm worried about whether or not the book will end well, yes, I'm one of those people who goes to the last page. I try to read as little as possible, just enough to find out if it's a happy or sad ending.
I don't think I'll ever get over "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." I totally should have read the end of that one first. I hated reading the ending and kept hoping that it would end happily(sigh).
Hey all - I am back from my writer's meeting (oh, was it fun!) so now, I'm closing Day 9 to further "enter to win" comments.
Comment away, if you like, but posts after this aren't eligible for the Tues drawing.
cheers
Cheryl
Post a Comment
<< Home