I’ve got this amazingly tone deaf email this morning offering us writing advice on Ryder. Heh. Today is just one of those days.
Yesterday Kid 2 moved to Austin in the middle of protests so it was a stressful day. Today the electrician looked at our flood issue and said he can’t do anything until an AC guy looks at it. The AC guy is coming tomorrow. Ten to one, he will tell us he can’t do anything until an electrician looks at it.
I’ve got a question for you.
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Thank you so much for your stories. “Other’s” should stop you how to write. This is your baby. We are all along for the “ooh’s” and “awe’s “. Appreciate y’all very much. Sure hope your able to get your housing woes under control.
If I’m reading a book in a series and at end of book an excerpt is given from a different series I’ll read it to see if I want to read that series also.
Today is a poopy day. I think I handled self isolation for a good chunk of time longer than most but the sad day depression has finally hit!
I like to browse Goodreads for new books (however I’m thinking that lately that website is losing credibility). I do read excerpts when I come across them but mostly I like to gouge a book by its reviews. Specifically its bad reviews. I love bad reviews.
On Goodreads lots of wannabe bloggers and book reviewers try to amass a following by reading everything then posting LONG awful reviews filled with Gifs and images and memes. The memes are mostly people acting absolutely crazy to illustrate their immense fangirling insanity which is good because I don’t associate with crazy people.
So I ignore the bloggers and the cultivated reviews because they just do it to get ARCs and internet points.
But the honest negative reviews hidden amongst all that are good to read. You can tell a lot when bad reviews all say the same thing.
You can also get a gist of what the popular fantasy fetishes are at the time too. All of a sudden in the top read categories are copies of all the same thing. Currently its magical divorced middle-aged women which I find a hilariously specific trope. There is also a LOT of reverse harem stuff going around too which is uhm… Frightening. And before all that it was dragon shifters, faeries, regular shifters, mermaids very briefly, vampires etc. etc.
Anywho all of this is what I look at when trying to find a new book to read. I cling to authors who stuff I have read before and know I like because lately I can’t find authors who write WELL. A lot of the books published recently seem to be fastfood type novels that are produced with the current flavour trend in mind and without much editorial support. I hate it and it has made me extremely picky to the point where I won’t read a book that has had less than a 4 star rating on goodreads and even this strategy is bad because you often find friends of authors giving books high ratings before they’re even published.
I could go on, there are so many different variables but it is safe to say you are one of my favourites and anything new you write I will probably read purely because you write well.
I read samples and snippets and sneer peek chapters. I like the glimpses at the possibilities. I am very mood driven in my reading and the samples often help me tag what is resonating for me right now. I have a tight book budget and storage space issues so I also use them to calculate the buy/borrow/ ebook / hard copy factors at any given time. Sweep of the Blade was my first real time experience with the serialization and I loved it and the generosity of the gift. (I am currently sucking up Ippos King oh so thankfully as I have waited an eternity for the stars to get back in alignment for it) Thank you for the novels, the shorts, the snippets and samples all! I appreciate them.
Has that Accessibility Tool Man been here this whole time and I just now noticed him for the first time???
He’s so useful!!!
@Joanne – accessibility man has been here a few months now here at the IA blog from what I remember.
the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been interpreted to include websites as well under its scope, and the Department of Justice kees touting the more recent Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.0 AA. The downside is with the range of devices, nuances of software in between them let alone the pre-existing code for said website, and lack of clear guidelines on specifically what is needed to be ADA and/or WCAG compliant has made it a confusing to navigate for most folks. There is no legislation that says specifically what those technical requirements would be. The touchstone guideline is to in good faith try to make your stuff more accessible, and the WCAG has a checklist of questions to help you along. So to that end, there’s been a range of tools, widgets, etc. to try to help with aspects of that (to varying degrees of efficacy). I’ve seen “accessibility tool man” as you call him, starting to crop up elsewhere, including some e-commerce sites I frequent.
One of these days I would luv to see a post with the best comments from all of the “fan emails that tell you what you need to do” it might be a rolling on the floor laughing my hinnie off moment.
People are amazing.
I read reviews on blogs and Goodreads to find new stuff. I autobuy IA, Briggs, Singh, and other established authors I like… And try to checkout their website/newsletter freebees, every so often.
Tbh, I mostly go for Kobo, since it usually has the highest number of pages in an excerpt (or “preview” as they like to call it)
So, someone offered House Andrews (unsolicited) writing advice.
I am laughing so hard now. I know it’s not funny, but really I cannot help myself.
I try to imagine what it must be like to live your life with that absolute, unshakable confidence -that you are sooo smart, soo talented, that you know House Andrews’s business better than they do.
Must be awesome. I really would love to try it. Just once. Just for a day :))))))))
I’ll read excerpts from favourite authors on their websites, fav authors are always must buys so it’s just whetting my appetite.
New to me authors I will try samples of from ebook stores.
So the answer is both for me.
I have to admit it:
I read everything.
so yeah, I read the samples, even if I know I’m going to buy the book (and even if I know I’m not)
What can I say? I’m a word whore
Hope the day ended on a lighter note. I will add my amazement to that in the previous comments that people think they need to offer writing advice, especially when you so kindly offer insights to others on this subject.
Also hope the flood/wiring issue gets resolved and not just discussed among the various technicians.
As an addendum to my vote:
Love it when you post a snippet or add a sample chapter to your book. It reminds me of the amazing book that will soon be available and usually make me re-read the previous books in the series too (if I have the time or can deal with sleepless nights).
The samples on Amazon I usually go to for books you recommend here and I haven’t read the author before to get a feel for the book.
I sometimes read a sample from Amazon if it’s an author that I haven’t read before. Frequently, this leads to buying. Like some of the others in here, if it’s an author I regularly read I generally just buy the book. Occasionally, I’ve come across an author who wrote several series, but only one of which I’ve enjoyed. In that instance, I might try a sample first if they have a new series out.
Yes or No to the survey was too simple for me. I do read excerpts when I know the full book is available or coming soon – within a month. Otherwise, it is too frustrating to get hooked and then wait. Patience is not my biggest virtue.
I am a voracious, if not compulsive, reader so of course I read excerpts because, you know, words-on-a-page, but if you are wondering how it factors into a buying decision, like others here, if it’s an author I am a fan of, I will read it just because it’s something they wrote, but if it’s an author new to me, I absolutely rely on the sample to decide if I buy.
For an unknown (to me) author, I will also read amazon customer reviews. Reviews indicating a lot of poor grammar or excessive cursing make a story (no matter how great) unreadable for me. The grammar errors interrupt my reading flow and the cursing frustrates me, since I’m side tracked into pondering the character’s (and author’s) lack of imagination.
It’s a quirk, I own it.
We have a saying in Australia, the ” Tall Poppy Syndrome”. People who try to cut down a tall poppy because they feel jealous and threaten by their success. Ignore them, you and Gordon are wonderful writers. I just love all your books and and enjoy reading “Ryder”. I have enjoyed how Julie has evolved and how she is giving back to a young girl like Kate gave to her. By the way,I’m so grateful you have spell checker. I’m the worst speller. I once heard someone on a program say if you close your eyes and imagine a door your standing in front of and you have a paint brush and red paint, you write door on the door and you can see it in your mind the word door, you are good at spelling. I couldn’t even imagine the door, let alone write door on it.
I read excepts an sample chapters on Amazon Kindle. If I end up like the book, I research the author. Once I find the authors website, I read about their books and read the excepts they provide to gage if I will pursue reading this new author. If I fall in love, then I devour all the books they have written lol
Ditto…I do this for authors with whose work i’m not familiar…to check them out before purchase or searching them at the library. IA, Roberts, Briggs, Evanovich….I just buy or rent.
I’ll read an excerpt if the author provides it because I figure they know what will give the flavor without spoiling the book.
As to the other, I’m just reading “The Death of Expertise” by Tom Nichols and he talks about the modern phenomenon of people spending a couple of hours on the internet who now think their opinion is as valid as someone who has spent years in the field.
My favorite part so far was about a student at an ivy league school arguing with his professor. The student finally said (essentially), “I suppose your theory is as good as mine.” To which the professor replied, “No. My theory is much better than yours.”
I try to avoid excerpts but I do visit a few author sites. If its there I’ll read it. But I try to stay off Amazon and B&N because I have little self control and will buy things.
I selected no, but more accurate would be “very rarely.” Sometimes, I’ll read a sample chapter of a “next book” in a series that I’m a little undecided on. Very rarely I’ll read a sample for a new work from a known author. As a general rule, though, I don’t go the sample chapter route, especially not to decide on a new unknown.
New authors I read via Kindle samples, and I also like Kindle for publisher sampler collections and Tor extended sneak peeks. My eyes manage Kindle readers better than tablets, so they are always first choice.
But I do read website/newsletter excerpts for 5-10 authors and the occasional can’t-wait-for upcoming release. Though I prefer when they email out the samples as attachments I can then send to Kindle (Naomi Novik did this with A Deadly Education – I wasn’t sure I’d want to read it – but now the wait for pub. is killing me).
-Thank you so much for Ryder!-
If I see a book on sale or recommended by someone, I get an excerpt for my kindle from Amazon. Sometimes this leads to me buying the book, sometimes I put it on a list for “something I might buy if I run out of things to read or if it goes on a really good sale”, and sometimes I have no interest (much cheaper that way).
For something I’ve preordered, I usually won’t read an excerpt on the author’s website, since I already know I’m buying it. …That said: For a book that I’m anxiously awaiting, I’ll usually break down and read any excerpts and sneak peeks offered by the author(s) on their website.
I can imagine a retired or unemployed English teacher or professor seeking work read a How-To on promoting themselves. That person acquired a list of writers, sent a shotgun advertisement and did not pay attention to the addressees.
I don’t read the samples – But not because I’m not a fan. It’s because I get too addicted/ invested once I start something! ???? Even with Ryder I’m making myself wait till it’s all finished because that’s just how I am wired!
Oh my, what a spicy image! It made me smile 🙂 Even though I would never drink coffee or an espresso on white linens – the fear of spilling is just too great
I do sometimes wonder why people need to offer unasked for advice. To offer it to two hugely successful authers is realy rude. Please ignore the occasional idiot and remember there are people out here who see that you have a new book coming out and just order it immediately ( whilst bouncing up and down yelling mine mine mine miiiine. ) Hugs to you and your kids.
I answere you query about reading exerpts in the back of books in the negative. It is because, if it is REALLY good, I want to have the book already. But I have read your exerpts for whichever Innkeeper book I found on your site. And I look back from time to time in case there is news of another Innkeeper book. I have started the Ryder series and will, as time permits, get caught up. I’m sorry someone dogged you about Ryder.
I am so sorry about your electrical, AC, whatever problem. It is hard to find out who has to fix something first. I live in the Austin area, but WAY up north in Leander. Sometimes tradesmen won’t drive up this far!!
Take car, we love you. And think Innkeeper!
For what it’s worth, I work in downtown Austin and have co-workers who have had the opportunity to join the protests over the weekend and observe closely. The protests have been, according to multiple people, peaceful and non-violent. The crowds are rowdy, they blocked traffic, yelled at cops, but were non-violent. So far this week (at least during work hours), I can personally attest that downtown Austin has been quiet and Mopac unobstructed, and I work right off of 7th street near I-35. I know this might not be much to ease your stress but sending well-wishes and prayers for continued safety and health for you and yours.
Hi. Just wanted to refine my vote in case you wanted the info — I don’t read excerpts of upcoming novels because I find them frustrating (I just want the whole book and don’t want to get started if I can’t continue) but I do read excerpts of serialized stories like Ryder.
It’s really fun by the way. Thanks for writing Ryder and sharing. And I’m annoyed for you that people are giving you writing advice on it.
Construction – Make friends (for you I imagine easy!) with a small business General Contractor. He/she is often better equipped to handle the small, irritating problems that undermine success of larger work. From organizing the “right” sub to directing the work according to the need and Code. He/she is qualified, licensed, insured, bonded and knowledgeable. A less knowledgeable person can increase the difficulty 10 fold. A GC is frequently less expensive than paying retail for the electrician and the A/C crews. And less bullsheet. I speak from experience. I know there are lots of bad stories, but I also know that there are many many good ones. Ones that are not heard at the dinner table for fear of losing that GC friend to a less scrupulous dinner friend.
Kind thanks for your work. Your writing has kept us entertained for some time and been a real gift during this pandemic.
I voted that I don’t read sample chapters.
But that needs a bit of clarification, because I do read on-going serialization like with Ryder.
I also will read a sample chapter of the next book that appears at the end of a book.
I used to try a sample chapter of a new author through the Amazon feature, but I rarely do anymore. I just buy the book. If the writing is bad, I don’t finish it, and I don’t buy another from the author. (Well, sometimes I even do that, if reviews indicate she’s improved.)
Laughing at the person who offered up advice on Ryder. But, was the advice bad? Or good? Or really bad? If the last can you share????
That wanna-be advisor is the sort of individual that makes mechanics and other such skilled workers post signs with an ascending scale of prices. Anyways, I’m loving Ryder even without any of my brilliant concepts being involved … (maniacal laughter breaks out in the audience at that.)
Best of luck with the flood control and to kid 2.
Hi, Ilona, first – a pox on those offering unsolicited advice, even with the best of intentions. When you want suggestions (like titles, or this survey), then you let us know and you get all the feedback you’d ever want or need.
In answer to your survey question:
Yes, I read excerpts on writer’s website
Yes, I read excerpts at retailer sites, like Amazon and Apple Books
I only follow three blog sites from authors directly and I love (LOVE) that you’re willing to post excerpts (like the serial for Sweep of the Blade and now, Ryder). I recognize these are at your discretion, while generating excitement in the community to purchase the final products.
I read excerpts at Amazon, although tend more toward the description and any reader reviews to inform me. Then, I’ll read a sample (is that what you mean by an excerpt?) on those that interest but I’m not quite sure about.
I also, thanks to your suggestions, read Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) and provide comments via Netgalley and, subsequently, Amazon.
I hope that answered your question.
Yes, I read excerpts on writer’s website (56%, 4,010 Votes)
Sometimes, only on your site, mostly hoping for an Inn keeper prequel.
Read “work work work” and then saw the guy in bed photo. Ha! Needed that.
If I hear of an author or see a book I am thinking of buying on amazon or in a store, I always google the author and see if they have an exert or a first chapter on their website to read. If they don’t then I usually don’t bother with the book, I don’t like going in blind.
A blurb just isn’t enough to judge whether I will be intrigued enough by a story, if I will like a main character or if I will like the authors writing style. I hate wasting time and money on a book that ends up on the dreaded ‘did not finish pile.’ By reading exerts I have reduced that pile massively in the last decade and am much more selective now about books I buy.
Your books are the only auto buy ones I have no matter the series or if it is a new world. I have a couple other preferred authors but there is at least one series or world in their collection of books I have decided not to read because the premise or exert just didn’t appeal to me. I like having that extra advantage when making a decision to invest time and money into choosing an authors books to read. There is something very considerate about giving a reader a first chapter or longish exert, it is generous and really gives the reader a chance to make an informed choice about whether to read the story or not. I also think it implies a level of confidence in their work. I always feel better about those authors who post exerts or first chapters.
I don’t read excerpts.
Because 1: I don’t think it’s really enough to get to know an unknown author.
Because 2: If I know an author, their past work I’ve read and the description of the story is enough.
Because 3: If a known author completely changes their writing (usually a famous author who becomes preachy) again, an excerpt is not enough to know that.
Because 4: If a known author changes their style or genre, but they’ve kept they’re story-telling ability, I don’t think you’d tell in an excerpt.
I only read sample chapters if the author is unknown to me, and the “back cover” info is intriguing . I have a list of auto-buy authors that I don’t bother with even reading the “back cover” info.
Of the two, however, the “back cover” info is the most important. If it doesn’t intrigue me, I won’t bother with the sample chapter.
Regarding the vote options: I selected Amazon for excerpts as my normal default but I daily check your site only for ANY book excerpts and funny blogs. I don’t know how many folks voted whichever way because of confusion. Wouldn’t everyone voting on your site be a BDH excerpt stalker and automatically be part of this group? ????
Grateful, as always, for everything you post here. You are the only authors that I read snippets from, so my vote of ‘Yes’ applies solely in your case. I have no self-control when it comes to your writing!
As for the unfortunate unsolicited ‘advice’… There is a psychological phenomenon called the Dunning-Kruger Effect, which boils down to this: The more incompetent someone is at something, the more awesome/competent they think are doing it. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10626367/)
Sounds like classic Dunning-Kruger to me 😉
Yes I read excerpts – on websites, amazon, wherever I find them. It’s like crack – it gets me all primed for the release and then I usually go back and re-read previous books to make sure I’m caught up!
I mostly read excerpts from author sites/newsletters, but if I’m considering buying from a new-to-me author, I will read the samples on Amazon or listen to the samples on Audible
Ugh, on the wires! I guess you’ve noticed the coming weather?
You know, maybe if you have yourself been a NYT bestselling author you might have some room to talk and make suggestions on improving writing, but even then, one should wait to offer feedback unless asked. Oi.
As to your poll question, if I’m already a fan of an author I typically read sample chapters of a book from their website, or from it being included in the previous book release. And if the author has made me aware of a sample on one of the book review sites, I will go read that as well. I don’t really follow any of the book review blogs, so the fact I’m a fan of the author already and was notified the content was there is critical to me finding and reading the sample.
If it’s an author I am unfamiliar with, that’s when I like to use amazon’s sample feature. However even then I have been burned a few times when the sample chapter showed evidence of promise and as soon as I started reading beyond the chapter I discovered that while the sample chapter had been carefully polished to a shine, the rest of the book was a big stinking turd that hadn’t even been properly edited and was riddled with typoes, grammatical errors, and contradictory information. I find that is an alarming trend I see in a some of the self published side of the industry: a percentage of authors trying to capture an audience and grab that cash. It’s sad, as it really detracts from the good content that is out there.
Love you guys! Just hoping to make your day a little nicer. If everybody was just a little nicer to everybody else the world would be a much nicer place. Stay healthy!
Bonjour, I just wanted to say that you are my absolute favorite English writing author! I love your books, love the way you write, the humour, the 2nd degree and whatever they say just remember to never take anything personnaly ????. “La critique est aisée mais l art est difficile” (Philippe Néricault).
Maybe I missed this topic, if so, someone please enlighten me. Why haven’t the KD books and the Innkeeper books ( actually any of your books) been made into movies? The movie theatres would have lines around the block.
The person on the email is an idiot. You know what you’re doing and you do it well! Anne McCaffery said in an interview that she had a bookcase with all her special go-to books for when she really needed them. You are on mine and have been since I discovered you. Thank you.
Contractors are like children sometimes. As a mother, you get the urge to grab them by the ears, sit them down, and say “Look! You play together well, or I’ll sit you in your corners and dock your allowance!”
Thank you for the gift of your writing.
So sorry about your house problems, renovations and works done by Bodgitt and Scarper are such a pain. Sending House Andrews writing advice? I hope their little cotton socks blacken and rot off!
I do read excerpts of new authors, just so I can check that the story is well written, I can’t tell you how many things I return unread as the style is just clunky and dire, the grammar appalling and they push my buttons by writing wracking when they mean racking. Wrack is seaweed, that nasty mediaeval instrument of torture that ripped joints and sinews apart is a rack, which is what you’re metaphorically doing to your brain if you’re trying to think of something. I’ll get off my soap box, sadly the season ticket to Hyde Park Corner is gathering dust at the moment.
I just recently read an excerpt of Martha Wells series about the Murderbot. It’s horribly expensive but hilarious and I bought the whole series and pre-ordered the next one. If you can imagine an android learning to pass as human by watching reruns of Star Trek…I did grudge the price, but thought, in the end, that she has to make a living and not all that many authors do from writing alone, so I should just step up and pay for my enjoyment.