I think I’ve already stated that I don’t particularly like to blog. The idea of having to come up with interesting things to say every week, whether it be once a week or five times a week is…well daunting to say the least. My world of writing is, well, just not THAT interesting. However, others have interesting things to say, not only about themselves, but about their work, the craft, they have opinions about the books they read. With that in mind, I’ve come up with Excerpt Thursdays.
What is that you ask? Well, for myself, I know that sometimes the back cover blurb isn’t enough to completely hook me. For example, I had nothing to do with the back cover blurb for my book, Sinful Surrender, and I’m almost certain most authors have little to no say in the matter. It’s all marketing. Which is not to say they don’t do a great job, but sometimes parts of the plot the author would like to convey to the reader doesn’t quite make its way into the blurb. However, a really ‘hookable’ excerpt combined with what I already know about the plot will definitely move me to purchase a book.
So that’s the purpose of Excerpt Thursdays, to hook you. To make you say, I’ve got to have that book. I’ll be posting 2-3 ‘hookable’ excerpts every week and you’ll be the judge as to whether it’s enough to compel you to buy the book or begin the anticipation dance for the book to hit the stores. On the other hand, it may just leave you cold. What do you think? How much can or does a ‘juicy’ excerpt influence your book buying decision?
[poll id=”2″]
Authors, if you’d like an excerpt of your book featured here on Excerpt Thursdays, please contact me at historicals at smittenbybooks.com.
1. The book should be fairly current (as in within a year of release or re-release date).
2. The excerpts are limited to 500 words with an additional paragraph to set the scene should one be required.
3. Genres welcome are, of course, historicals, contemporaries, and paranormals.
4. Please supply image of book cover.
5. Currently, I’m taking one excerpt per author every 2 months. This rule doesn’t apply if you’re writing under 2 (two) separate names.
In other news, for those looking for the winners of Lori Brighton’s debut, WILD HEART, I’ll be picking the winners tonight at 10:00 pm EST. And Katiebabs is stopping by tomorrow so make sure you stop by.
Bev, this is such a wonderful, generous idea! I love sneak peeks into books and think they’re pretty effective. Can’t wait to read what others write!
Thanks Maggie. 🙂 The first three, I must say, are pretty good. I know there’s one book that jumped up on my TBR list.
Yes, whenever I stop by and post, it’s a great day indeed 😛
I think a excerpt Tuesday is a great thing. It is a hook that will grab the reader who will want to read more.
Another thing to look forward to on Thursdays, I can’t wait!!! I think the excerpts are a great idea, the only down side I can see is that I’m going to want all the books, and I won’t have enough in my book budget to get them. LOL
I found it hard to vote, b/c I wanted to say two different things. 1) Excerpts may not be a good indicator of the rest of the book, but 2) they are THE way I finally decide whether to purchase a book.
I first have to have heard about the book, obviously, and something has to have drawn my attention enough so I’m actually holding the book or looking at it online. But after that, it’s 100% the excerpt that makes me buy.
Actually Kris, you can pick 2 answers.
This is a great idea Bev and I am looking forward to it I do love having a huge TBR pile LOL
Have Fun
Helen
I remember when almost all the books I read had a small except in the front of it.
Do many publishers still do that?
When scanning the shelves in the bookstore those influenced my buying quite a bit.
Chloe, I’m right with you. That was a huge factor in my decision. Some books still have them. I know Zebra does that still and Harlequin category still does.
Hi Bev, I went with may sway me a little. I worry about spoilers when it comes to excerpts. I’m the type who never looks ahead or peaks at the ending. I’ll def check here to see your excerpts though. Thanks, Sue
I’ll admittedly only read long excerpts some of the time. I have this thing that i like to wait till i have the book in my hand to start. I usually only read the excerpt on the back or at the very beginning of a book. I like to be surprised in other cases. ^w^
Sounds like a great idea.
I look forward to this on Thursdays!! Thanks!!!
Bev thank you for mentioning that Zebra has excepts in books.
At one time I was reading Zebra Historicals exclusively that must be why I thought all Romances used to have them. lol
I think it is a wonderful item. I love reading excerpts, and more than once I have bought a book based on that.
I love excerpts that give me a sense of what the book is like. I enjoy reading the first chapter of a book, but then it confuses me and I think I’ve read the book before. So I’d rather have an excerpt rather than just the first chapter. Many times I’ve been mildly interested in a book, read an excerpt and then just had to have the book, so they certainly work for me.
I’m glad you are doing this. Some of the blurbs on the back are simply awful. For instance, I knew LOTS of people recommended Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ books, but every blurb I read on the back left me not caring to read the book. I’ve since read two of her books and she’s a great author but I’m still rather turned off by her books’ blurbs. I’ve also have occasionally wondered if the people writing these blurbs even read the book! Same with the graphic artists for the covers. Oh, well.
Excerpts are a major deciding factor to me as to whether I will buy a book or not, so I think Excerpt Thursdays is a fantastic idea! Looking forward to it! 🙂