Books and info …

• Posted in About Books, On Writing

So several days ago, I posted about some of the book blogs that I like. Since then, I’ve been thinking about where folks go to get information about books.

Mostly, I learn about upcoming releases by visiting book blogs or reading magazines like Romantic Times. But what about after that? Where do you go if you want more information about a book or author?

Most folks would probably say that they go to an author’s website to get info on their books. But you know what? I hardly ever look at an author’s website. It’s just something that I never think to do. Instead, my first stop is usually Amazon. Why? Well, to me, Amazon isn’t just a place to buy books — it’s more like a giant database, with covers, release dates, similar books, and more. The same thing goes for the Barnes & Noble and other bookseller websites. Sometimes, I’ll look up books on Goodreads, but really, I use Goodreads as a database to keep track of the books that I’ve read, rather than to get info on other books.

I’m weird, I know. LOL.

I wonder if folks do the same thing that I do — look everywhere else but an author’s website for information. I try to have quite a bit of info on my own site about my various book series, characters, worlds, frequently asked questions, and more. But sometimes, I wonder if anyone ever reads any of the info. Do people even want that much info? Or are excerpts and a book description enough?

Yes, Virginia, these are the things I think about … 😉

What about you guys? Where do you get your book info from? Authors’ websites? Amazon? Goodreads? What do you like to see on authors’ websites?

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24 Responses to “Books and info …”

  1. Sabrina says:

    I like to visit the author’s website, goodreads and especially fantasticfiction.co.uk to get info on a book.
    I love that the fantasticfiction site gives you a good overview over an author’s entire work and they are mostly up to date.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Sometimes, I’ll look at Goodreads to see how other folks have rated a book or to browse through the reviews and see what others have said about a book. I’ll have to check out fantasticfiction.

  2. Julie says:

    I think it’s important for an author to have a FAQ section on their site. I ask lots of questions. I often track down an author via twitter or GR to ask them questions after I read their book. But I don’t want to ask a question that has been asked a million times…so before I stalk the author, I’ll check their FAQ page (as long as they have one). Character info is useful too for those like me who have BBFS (Book Brain Fart Syndrome) and who seem to forget vital information moments after finishing a book. It’s nice to refresh ones memory before starting the next book in the series.
    As for checking on books, I use GR a lot to see my friend’s ratings and read their reviews, I go to Romantic Times’ site and I check Chapters.Indigo and Amazon. Or I just ask on twitter and get bombarded with answers. lol

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I have some FAQs up here on my various series. I hope those are helpful for folks. I’ve taken to asking questions on twitter too, especially since I follow so many authors/bloggers. Chapters is another site I’ll have to check out …

  3. Bridget says:

    I go to only two places – the author’s website for info and excerpts, and Amazon for reviews by other readers. If the excerpt is interesting and the book has decent feedback, then I give it a shot.
    Also, I have to mention that I love Gin’s story. Give me more Owen – yum…really, more Owen, please. Anyhoo, your website rocks, too. In my bitty opinion, it’s right up there with Ilona Andrews site. Clean, attractive, informative, and easy to navigate.
    Thank you for the awesome reads – can’t wait for Tangled Threads…another chapter to preview might help, though. 🙂

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      If you like Owen, then Tangled Threads should make you very happy. 😉

      And thanks for the nice words about the website. I think the designer did an awesome job, and I appreciate them!

  5. David7118 says:

    I work for a library and it’s amazing how often I use Amazon to find books for customers who only remember a character or two from the book. I find I also use Amazon for my personal use since it shows reviews, pub dates, and often even an Inside Look at the book. But I do like to go to author’s web sites for information such as FAQs, behind the scenes info, short stories, etc. Another helpful site is kdl.org and their What’s Next database which allows you to look up a book or series title or author and see all the books in the series in order. Very helpful!

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I know what you mean. Most of the time, I use Amazon more for information than for shopping. I haven’t heard of KDL. I’ll have to check that one out too …

  6. Liz says:

    The author’s website is definitely the first stop for me. The info I’m usually looking for about a book is the series order, a synopsis, an excerpt, and info on what’s coming next. When a site is simple, well organized, and has that stuff, I’m satisfied. When there are extras, like on your site, I’m thrilled.
    But an amazing number of authors don’t have those things, or have horribly organized sites. I second Sabrina, fantasticfiction.co.uk is a great site for that basic info, and if I’m not looking to purchase I’ll often turn there before Amazon. I do use amazon, but it can be tricky to determine the order of a series especially if it’s older and/or the number isn’t in the subtitle. I was actually just thinking about this- I don’t know how I’d redesign amazon, but their layout really drives me nuts when I’m trying to browse for a new book or author…

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I know what you mean about trying to read a series in order. I wish publishers would put the series numbers on the book spine. I think Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine series are numbered like that. It would definitely help me when I’m browsing in the bookstore and can’t look something up on the computer …

  7. Indigo says:

    I do the same thing. I’ve found more information on authors and their books, through book sites than anywhere else. The only other exception would be author interviews on book reviewing sites. More often than not I’ll discover a new author that way. (Hugs)Indigo

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I didn’t mention that, but author interviews are another good way to learn about new authors/books. That’s why I like book blogs so much — they offer reviews, interviews, news, and more features.

  8. Sally says:

    I usually go to either Amazon or Goodreads for the summaries of books I think are interesting. Goodreads, I like because sometimes their summaries are more indepth than Amazon and they are a gazillion reader reviews so I can easily scroll down and check out what other people think.
    There’s also this blog, https://bookseriesreviews.blogspot.com/ which reviews books and also does a list of what books will be out soon. Your book is fifth on the waiting list! I find the list there useful since the genre there is for urban fantasy and such. It’s a good way for me to find new books within the genre to read too.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Cool. Thanks for the link. I hadn’t heard of that site. I’ll have to check it out. But that does sound like it would be handy for keeping up with various series.

  9. Erin says:

    I go to amazon to find books out of the blue. I like that their search engine finds things similar to my style from my past purchases as well. I go to Goodreads to track the books I’ve read, and to compare books with my friends. I don’t usually use that site to find books, although I’ve just started to write reviews for the latest books I’ve read. (I don’t think many people read them…I know I don’t read anyone’s unless it’s automatically updated on my home page there.)

    I only venture to an Author’s website, after I’ve enjoyed two or three books from that Author. I love reading behind the scenes, and the added stories. I also like to see the personality of the writer, because it’s fascinating to see how different the tones of their work is compared to them. (It also gives me more than just a name to like!) If I see that the author enjoys the same books I do, I take their recommendations to heart which brings me full circle back to Amazon to look up those titles…lol.

    I recently did have going to an author’s blog backfire on me though. The Author is very negative towards life and doesn’t enjoy any of the writing process! (every other post is to complain about how much they hate writing, how much they hate editing and so on…venting is ok, but every post?!) It makes me wonder why they chose to keep writing full time. The author is also very quick to judge the people who comment on the blog. I don’t like high and mighty people, and so it now leaves a bad taste in my mouth whenever I see books by that person. I really don’t want to support someone that doesn’t really want to be a writer! Siiiigh.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I like clicking on Amazon too. Sometimes, I just go from book to book to book … and end up with 20 new titles to add to my wish list. LOL.

      I interact more with authors on Twitter than anywhere else these days. It seems like everyone’s on Twitter whereas not every author does a blog. I always wonder what the next big social media site will be …

  10. Anna says:

    Forums, message board, blogs, and fans’ responses to authors’ blogs have led to the discovery of authors. The question of “what are you reading” gets the ball rolling. This leads to research on Amazon and Goodreads where positive, negative, and mediocre reviews are read. Next is a trip to the author’s website to check out her booklist, character or book information, and yadda yadda yadda.

    I’ve had fantastic luck with Nalini Singh’s Blog. This has led to the discovery of Lois McMaster Bujold, Maya Banks, and Meljean Brook. If her endorsement is on the front cover of a book I will purchase it, which is the main reason why I purchased your Elemental Assassin series, along with word of mouth on forums and blogs. Other well-loved authors of mine are inconsistent and I get the feeling their publishers encourage them to endorse new authors.

    Debut authors touch a soft spot for me. If their blurb is interesting and the book cover is sharp I will buy their book. Yes, I’m a shallow book cover lover. lol

    Used book stores, libraries, and bookstore coupons are also incentives for trying a new series/author. Inexpensive ebooks are another lure. Hardbacks are a no go. A new author has her first book in hardbook. It has a nice cover but the price it too steep.

    As for authors’ websites, book lists with blurbs are nice. A FAQ section prevents wasted time searching for answers. Deleted scenes, extras, or bonus stories can make a fan’s day. I also like when author’s list their favorite books or have links to other author’s they recommend. Anywho, I’ve gone on too long. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      That’s cool that you found me through Nalini’s endorsement. Nalini is really a great person and an awesome writer.

      Oh, I’ve been known to be suckered in by a cool cover too. LOL. Or if it seems that everyone is buzzing about a particular author, I’m more likely to pick up their books too.

      You know, I didn’t even think about putting a list of my favorite books on my website. I might have to do that someday, just as a fun extra. Thanks for the idea. 😉

      Right now, some of my favorite authors are Robin McKinley, Donald Westlake, Robert Parker, Kresley Cole, Alex Flinn … it’s a long list. LOL.

  11. Jill says:

    When I have a question or am wondering when or if a book is coming out I will go to the authors website, otherwise I go to Amazon a lot. I don’t like to read too many reviews of a abook I haven’t read yet so I will only skim them and look at the ratings, and if I already bought the book I won’t look at anything until I read it so I can form my own opinion.

  12. ELF says:

    HI Jennifer,
    I use Amazon also but as a reviewer, I get to see a lot of new titles that are upcoming so I wander around the review site and look them up there as well. I am also active on Goodreads and I use my local libraries (fortunately I have two different systems that I can use which makes the selection even better!) and browse through bookstores whenever I pass one (what can I say, it’s a serious addiction). I was recently at the RT convention and your name was dropped frequently as one of my favorite new authors! You should be gratified to know that a lot of the people that I spoke with had either read and enjoyed or had heard good things about you (deservedly so). I am ashamed to admit that I don’t visit your site very often but I do read your newsletter and really appreciate all of the tidbits. Sometimes it depends on the mood I am in, if there are questions that I have about characters’ backgrounds, I will visit the author sites and it is great to have little short stories to whet our interest and make us find the novel(s) that the characters are part of. Thanks for the great reads thus far!

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Cool. Thanks for the shoutout at RT. I appreciate that. I wish I had been able to go to the conference. Maybe next year …

      And yes, books are a serious addiction. But in a good way. LOL.

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