What Makes You Buy That Book?
The other day, while cruising some author web pages, I analyzed what I enjoyed the most from their web pages. I’ll admit I’m as guilty as the next person at liking slick, well-designed pages that draw the eye, yet don’t clutter the mind. Web pages that opened with a great flash presentation really drew my attention. Some of the websites I enjoy utilize interesting animations, trailers and just plain cool stuff. Okay, so just plain cool stuff isn’t a technical term, but you know what I mean. Here are some of the sites I find very intriguing:
J.K. Rowling’s fun and sumptuous site is a feast for the eyes.
Dean Koontz’s hysterical sense of humor comes across with the talking Odd Thomas and Trixie the dog interfaces.
Anne Stuart’s dark and deadly looking presentation starts out with a scary “welcome, my darlings.”
Beverly Barton’s site begins with a well-done, movie style trailer that really grips the attention.
Allison Brennan’s site starts with a trailer that is spooky and definitely grips you. It tells you if you don’t know already that this author specializes in the dark and gritty.
Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston have a combined website. One of my favorite things on their website (and I love their books) is the Rogue’s Gallery where they flambé reviewers who have crucified their books. I say when an author is feeling bad about getting a horrid review, they should stop by the Rogue’s Gallery and feel much better. You can be a NY Times bestselling author and regularly get trashed.
Carla Neggers has a neat opening sequence of animation at the top of her site, and I thought the whole “theme” she has running through the site is neat.
That being said, I occasionally poll readers (including other authors) on what website designs draw attention and make them want to read more. What about you? When an author advertises to you, the reader, what kinds of things nail your attention? If you’re at all like me, I tend to follow an author once I like them. And I don’t mean like a stalker (evil grin). If I enjoy their work, even a poor website won’t deter me. Yet there must be things that draw you to try a new author you’ve never read before. What does it for you? Word of mouth? Great cover art? Blogs? Web designs? Blurbs? Come on now. Fess up.
What about a cover is likely to catch your attention and make you think it might be the kind of book you’d like to read?
