I’ve adored many writers in my time. I’ve read and loved their books as they’ve taken me from the American West to the Regency ballrooms, and the medieval times through Georgian escapades. I would buy their books without bothering to read the back cover blurb because I trusted them. Trusted they would deliver a story and characters I could immerse myself in thoroughly for hours of reading pleasure. I preferred some books more than others, which is completely normal, for every book can’t elicit the exact emotion.
Then one day I bought and read one of their books and was left…less than satisfied. Something in the book didn’t work for me. But hey, every author can’t deliver, what I consider, stellar reads every time, right? Next book is sure not to disappoint. My instant-buy author has only failed me this one time. They won’t fail me again. I’m sure of it.
Unfortunately, I’m proven wrong because next book doesn’t work for me either. What’s going on? Have they lost their mojo? Or maybe I’ve changed–something in my tastes have shifted? I go back and read one of their older books. Perhaps, I’ll discover it’s not as good as I thought it was. Nope, I read several older books and the magic is there. I’m just as captivated as I was when I read it the first and second time before.
I decide I’m once again going to give my much loved author the benefit of the doubt. Two strikes doesn’t put you out of the game. I’m sure the next book will have all the elements that drew me to her books to begin with.
And the next book…? Sigh, another strike. What on earth is going on? Why isn’t she writing the kind of books I love anymore? Do I continue buying her books and pray that she’ll write the stories I’ve come to expect from her? When should I throw up the white flag and cry ‘Uncle’?
Have you ever had this happen to you–your favorite author starts writing books that you just don’t like? Whatever magic captivated you before is gone? The story, the characterization is different, and not to your liking? How many ‘duds’ do you permit before you stop buying their books completely?
[poll id=”19″]
**Two answers permitted.
Argh! I’m right there with you, Bev. This has happened to me a couple times, and I stop buying their books and rely on reviews and the library until they come out with a winner again.
It seems to me that it takes a hellova lot of talent and skill and magic sparkle dust to get published, but less so to remain published once you’ve built up a brand. After all, if thousands of people are willing to keep you on auto-buy, why would a publisher drop you for someone untried? This is why I love reading debuts and newish authors.
This might be really controversial, but I wonder if writing is like any other job. You love it at first, but after awhile it becomes a paycheck, or something you don’t put all your effort into, or something that just doesn’t stimulate you any more, or something that’s frustrating without the added excitement of maybe getting published. Maybe that’s what’s coming out through those later books. I’d love to know authors’ opinions on that (without hating me if I’m completely off-base!).
Wow this is something I’ve often thought of myself Bev. For me after the third book, I stop buying them and start going to the library. I wait for that one book to be release that has the same magic in it.
Sometimes I wonder if the authors get so caught up in trying to push out books that they forget to perfect the craft that has made them so successful. Or are they taking advice from the publishers and straying from what they used to do. I don’t know.
Often these days a lot of my auto buy authors have styles have changed, leaving me equally frustrated. Since this seems to be some reoccurring theme, I finally ventured off to find new authors. And this past year I’ve found some real gems.
Samantha, what are some of those gems? I’m always on the look-out!
I’m so far behind in my TBR pile sometimes I don’t know if one of my auto-buy authors has written a “stinker.” In that case, I’ll keep buying because I don’t want to miss one I might not be able to get later. If it’s an author I read the minute I get the book (even if I don’t have time and really should be doing something else) and I’m disappointed, I might still buy the next one, but I won’t be in such a rush to read it. Beyond that, I don’t have the time or the money to buy blindly. I’ll do some research, read some reviews, make sure I really want to read the book before I buy it. Luckily, most of my auto-buy authors continue to write phenomenal books. 🙂
I’m a mix of opinions on this…if it’s a series, I’ll tend to finish out the series and then give them another shot with the next book. I can’t say I usually quit reading the author, but I will quit buying and wait on the library to give the author’s newest a shot.
Here’s my caveat. If the author used to write sexy books and that was one of their greatest draws, and then they start writing these mild (heat level-wise) books, I just stop reading. Period.
They get one more book, and then no more until the reviews say things are back to normal. And it has to be a reviewer I know and follow.
It depends on the author, really. There are some authors who I have liked (mildly) and enjoyed (mildly), but one true stinker and they’re out. There is one particular author I adore–I have read some of her books thirty times–and haven’t loved her last 4. But I’ll keep buying. Because the chance of something transcendently perfect is still there, and that happens so rarely I’ll just keep on hoping.
I also have this problem (or OCD) of wanting to finish series. So that creates a dilemma for me when an author keeps producing duds. I’m also like the previous poster in the fact that I own a trillion books so I keep purchasing them to continue the series, so by time I realize that they are no longer an auto buy author for me, I wasted quite a few dollars. Its such a toss because once I like an author, I really try to support them.
As for some of those gems Katrina, I like Tessa Dare and Sherry Thomas to name a few.
Courtney, I have one of those authors. I keep buying and praying. I know I need to stop but I haven’t yet. She is the author that inspired this particular post. But I think I’m at the end. Next book should be the deciding factor.
Hi,
For me it’s two strikes and the instant buy is done. I then turn to reading excerpts. This thing happened to me for Karen Hawkins “MacLean curse series”. I read the first two books and they were just a bummer compared to her other books. So i’ve stopped buying her for awhile till the series is done.
To me though, it’s always worth giving an author a second try because there is always going to be a few duds in a batch of great works. You can’t hit home every time. It’s always worth giving it another shot unless it’s clear your pitcher has lost their throw. ^^
I had this happen to me as well, with quite a few authors. I’ll generally give two books, but if the two are connected, and the next one isn’t, I’ll usually give it a try. Sometimes it’s just a series that isn’t working for me, so I always come back to check out the next unrelated book. I always read blurbs and friends’ reviews before I buy anyway, so that’s not a huge issue for me.
Occasionally, I will come back. I gave up Carly Phillips after several books just weren’t working for me. I came back to her with her new Lucky series, and so glad I did. I loved all 3 books. So yay Carly!
But there are others that I just shake my head and think, “What on earth happened?”
This hasn’t happened to me yet! I hope it never does!
Julie Garwood was my first romance author. I read, reread, and kept everyone of her books. I couldn’t wait until the next one would come out. The it did and wasn’t an historical, it was contemporary romantic suspense. I was so upset I didn’t read another one of her books for years. I have since read her new genre and she is as good as ever. I just really liked her historicals and wanted more of them.
I’ll give them another shot but I’ll start paying more attention to reviews. If they continue in this direction, then I’ll just put my name down for the library loan. Especially, if the author is now a hardcover release.
There are just too many awesome authors and series out at the moment.
I have ONLY a few (that can be counted in one hand!) authors that are an auto buy. Some have at least one book that disappointed me, but that doesn’t stop me from buying them.
I have read other authors where some of their books were working for me and some weren’t. In this case, I usually go to the library AND when I do love their book, I buy it. I still love rereading my favorites and would love to keep them in my collection.
Oh, and when I do read a blurb from an unfamiliar author, I usually go to the library and read one before actually buying, just to be sure.