Into the Fire

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Book News: Read all about it!

 

                                   
Books

 

Really. Tell me. How do you want to hear about a good book to read? Are you a review reader? Are you a store browser? Do you scan your favorite authors' blogs for their recommendations?

 

  
Ebooks

Are Facebook,Twitter, Amazon, or Goodreads your sources for books? How do you want them presented to you? This is the gist of marketing, and no one seems to have a universal answer that works to sell or promote books – at least not novels. The tendency is to cram them down our throats, to force authors to sell, sell, sell, promote, promote, promote, until the saturation point of seeing the book again is aggravating. The only newsletters arrive conveniently when there's a new book release.

What sells you on a book? 

 

Father, we need to know how you want us to do these kinds of things. Your way is all that matters. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

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8 responses to “Book News: Read all about it!”

  1. BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ) Avatar
    BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ)

    It’s still word of mouth for me, which is going to come either from: the limited # of blogs I read (I used to read several now I’ve cut down to 2), a book that comes up in an email conversation, say on the ACFW Loop (though this is rare on the loop since all that’s marketed is, of course, romance, but I do tend to find non-fiction when mentioned on the loop).
    I do not do Goodreads, never use Twitter. While technically I’m on FB, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an interesting book surface there. I don’t go to various sites to read reviews (occasionally on Amazon), I can count on one hand and have fingers left over the # of times I’ve visited an author website.
    Since I am extremely cynical about the preferred genre and instead have to go to the suspense category for readable books, I’d say most of the books I’m enticed to read are promoted either from here or The Kill Zone, which are the only two blogs I actively read that are writing related.
    Even so, I read waaaaaaay more non-fiction than fiction. But even non-fiction is largely word of mouth.

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  2. BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ) Avatar
    BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ)

    P.S. I’m signed up for one or two author newsletters, but the truth is, I’m always so rushed for time, when they arrive in my email box, I press delete without reading and move on.

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  3. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Sounds like you’re well-disciplined with your time, Brenda. Wow. I’m so honored to be one of the two blogs on writing you read – especially when The Kill Zone is the other one.
    I was wondering how you selected your novels because I know it’s tough to find what you’re looking for.
    Author newsletters can be a waste of time, both theirs and ours, but I’m sure there are those who truly look forward to them.

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  4. BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ) Avatar
    BK Jackson (@BKJacksonAZ)

    I would think it’d be hard to write an author newsletter. On the one hand, you don’t want it to be just an email alert hawking your next book, but by the same token, if you try to provide additional content, you write into the buzzsaw of time because people don’t have time to read it. It’s really a no-win situation.

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  5. Linda Avatar
    Linda

    I find great books through groups on Shelfari, and through author blogs. When I love an author, I read their blog, and when they recommend someone, I check them out. I subscribe to some “Free for the day” sites, and search Amazon and B&N frequently, but my favorites are almost always from the first two I mentioned. I found you through Sibella Giorello, and am SO happy! You two are amazing Christian writers, and you inspire me so much. I wish you could write a book every day!

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  6. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Wow, Linda, thank you! I’m amazed by your comment. Sibella is truly a great writer. Love, love, love her work. Raleigh Harmon is one of my all-time favorite characters.
    Good to know how you find your books. You use multiple sources, and I find it interesting that you use your favorite authors’ recommendations. I also do that occasionally, depending on the genre.
    Thank you for taking the time to comment, Linda, and for blessing me!

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  7. Maxine Thomas Avatar
    Maxine Thomas

    I tend to go to my favorite authors first: Karen Kingsbury, Kristin Hannah, for example. If they have nothing new then I check out recommendations on Goodreads. As an author and blogger I try to spend my free time writing, not reading, but there are days when I have that thirst for a good book…

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  8. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I read a lot even when I’m zeroed in on writing. I’m more selective now, but I still usually always have a novel goin’ on. Haven’t used Goodreads for selections.

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