I was wondering how many of you are influenced by the internet when it comes to book buying. Authors have a big task in front of them when a book is released. We have to decide where to put our marketing dollars and our limited time. I’ve been told that a good way to get free publicity is to guest blog. So, I’m curious what blogs you read and from those blogs have you ever purchased a book?
I’ll give a copy of one of my backlisted books to one poster.
See you next time around.
Karen
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I definitely have bought books due to the use of the internet. I have had the pleasure of discovering new authors and their works as they guest on blogs of authors and groups I am familiar with. It is hard to keep up with new authors or authors trying other genres and I cannot always spend enough time in bookstores do find new writers I may wish to read, so I rely on employees in bookstores and friends or relatives for information, but mostly I use the internet and newsletters various authors and groups send out. As you can tell I definitely read Access Romance on a regular basis, also PlotMonkeys, Nalini Singh, Michele Hauf, Fog City Divas, Alison Kent and Romance Bandits just to name a few. It is a great way to learn more about various authors, their books, information on writing a book and a great way to interact with others that have the same interest.
by Shari C
on October 17th, 2007 at 7:32 am
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I too have discovered many new authors via guest blogging and other reader or writer recommendations. Loved the now defunct Mary Gardner’s Readers Recommend.
Other blog sites that I frequent in no particular order:
Romance B(U)y the Book now with Lifetime
Brava authors
Jill Shalvis,
Alison Kent,
Riding With the Top Down
Plotmonkeys,
Running With Quills,
FreshFiction,
WriteMinded
The Soapbox Queens
Grand Central Cafe
E Harlequin
The Goddess Blogs
Dishing With the Divas
I’ve definitely bought books after visiting a website. I would strongly recommend guest blogging and giving away free books. I’ve purchased many author’s books after reading their free one!
by Laurie
on October 17th, 2007 at 8:49 am
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I have definitely bought books I’ve seen on blogs. I’ve found so many new authors to try this year. Some of the blogs I read are: Plotmonkeys, Write Minded, Jill Shalvis, Alison Kent, Romance Banditas, Romance Novel Tv, Fog City Divas.
by Stacy S
on October 17th, 2007 at 9:09 am
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Actually, most of my recommendations I get from Blogs. I like the Avon Authors Blog, the Brava Blog, along with “The Juanty Quills”. I get some great recommendations from many of them!
by Sharmi
on October 17th, 2007 at 9:56 am
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Well, I don’t remember about blogs in particular, but in general, I’ve gotten all my romances after the first couple I ever picked up from some sort of mention online. Either from author sites, people’s lists on amazon.com, anywhere. .. so I’m sure blogs are included as well. LOL 
Lois
by Lois
on October 17th, 2007 at 10:34 am
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I like these blogs:
Tess Gerritsen
Allison Brennan
Michelle Rowan
Stephanie Bond
The author’s blog does influence my decision sometimes in buying the book. If the author has a rude or nasty personality online it also influences my buying their book or not. I don’t think authors realize that they need to be careful with their online persona. I’ve met quite a few nice authors so it’s always nice to get to know them and hear about their books and what went into them writing them.
I do think online publicity helps, as long as it isn’t overly pushy. I admit I am turned off when authors mention their ‘’sales numbers”, ”amazon rank”, or if they push us to buy their book the first week.
I understand that’s what helps their numbers if you buy it the first week, but at the same time, it’s a bit of a turn off to be pushed to buy it. If your book has a solid storyline and is of interest to me, I’m going to go out and buy it. I don’t need to be told WHEN to buy it, that’s my decision as the reader.
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Besides this blog, I often check the blogs of specific authors I enjoy and check out their recommendations of authors they like. This has actually become a key source of new authors I’ve discovered and bought their books. I think it is a great way to learn about authors and more recs than ever before/could have possibly just by print.
by Allison
on October 17th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
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I usually get recommendations from Amazon. Fog City Divas and Write Minded are a couple of blogs that I visit regularly. They give you a heads up on who is releasing what.
by Jane
on October 17th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
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I’ve bought books I have seen in blogs and found some new authors, too.
by Minna
on October 17th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
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I have bought books from authors who have been guests on a couple of blogs. One is from romance readers at heart and another is from romance reviews today. Both have authors who talk about their books and leave excerpts.
by Maureen
on October 17th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
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I ‘ve purchased quite a number of books I’ve read about on blogs. The latest one is Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh, who is also a new author to me.
by Estella
on October 17th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
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I have purchased some books based on learning about them on blogs. Some of my favorite blogs are Access Romance, Nalini Singh, Writeminded,Lauren Dane, The Bradford Bunch, Romance Bandits, Midnight Moon Cafe, etc
by Cherie J
on October 17th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
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I love when I visit some of my favorite blogs and there is a guest blogger there. Many times I have discovered new authors this way and also find many new releases that I normally wouldn’t have known about. So yes overall I like it when they have guest bloggers.
by Teresa W.
on October 17th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
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yes blog everyday, very much influences me. like looking at the new authors coming out.
by kim h
on October 17th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
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Hi Karen,
I,like many of the others here, have discovered authors I didn’t know anything about until they guest blogged on a blog I frequent. Of course, my TBR books are growing rapidly, but hey you never know when we’ll get a huge snow storm (and where I live, we are past due-ugh).
by Laura J
on October 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
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I am not really influenced by blogs or internet in general…. I read the back cover and if I like what I read I buy the book!
by Lila
on October 17th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
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I am definitely influenced by the internet when it comes to buying books. I read the blogs here on AccessRomance and on the author’s website.
by Linda F
on October 17th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
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Blogs are very important and I have discover many authors that way! but I don’t know if they influence my purchases!
by Nathalie
on October 17th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
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I am here, so I guess blogs are important to me and I like to know more about a book before I buy it and blogs happen to give me more info on the books 
by Lily
on October 17th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
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For me, seeing authors blog about their books has an affect on me. I remember the book. If the book is of interest to me I check it out myself. And the more I see it around on other blogs the more I want it. And I will get it!
by Sue A.
on October 18th, 2007 at 12:15 am
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I often check the blogs of specific authors I enjoy and check out their recommendations of authors they like.I love when I visit some of my favorite blogs and there is a guest blogger there. Many times I have discovered new authors this way and also find many new releases that I normally wouldn’t have known about. So yes I like it when they have guest bloggers. I would strongly recommend guest blogging and giving away free books. I’ve purchased many author’s books after reading their free one!
by Emma
on October 19th, 2007 at 10:48 am
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I check quite a few blogs. I visit this blog, The Good, the Bad, and the Unread, and Dear Author to name a few. I definitely have purchased books based on blurbs and excerpts that I’ve read on blogs. Reviews are a factor too. Almost all the information that I gather on books and authors is online. When I go to Amazon.com or to the bookstore, I generally have a list of what I want to buy already made up. I also keep upcoming books on my Amazon wish list to help me remember all the upcoming releases I want to purchase. So for me, the internet is a very important source of information.
by Zara
on October 19th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
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Thank you so much for this info. It’s priceless. Let me ask you another question. What do you like to see on blogs besides giveaways? I’ll do another book giveaway because I understand your time is valuable. Sue A, you are the winner of my backlisted book. Please send snail mail. All the best, Karen
by Karen
on October 19th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
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If you’re talking about a new book then I like to know the plot line and something more about the characters.
by Maureen
on October 19th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
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I’ve been reading the comments on this question and it’s been an education. My first romance novel, Shadowed Knight,
is coming out in December at Samhain and I’m trying to learn all I can about how to connect to potential readers. For me, the internet is such a wonderful tool — just being able to create a website with excerpts, etc. is terrific, because it’s like a “brochure” for the book that’s literally available worldwide. And I’m learning so much about fans of this genre, just by going to sites like this, including how large and varied the romance novel community is. I’ll be back! (By the way, if you want to see a really handsome male, go take a look at who I get to pose with in my author photo. Taking this picture was a lot of fun.)
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wtg sue A. I do like how the authors tell u where they get inspriaration for their books
by kim h
on October 19th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
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Congrats Sue A!
Karen,
Blurbs and excerpts or just a little synopsis from you about your book is the most important thing to me. Those are the things that really draw my attention to the book and make me want to know more. 
by Zara
on October 19th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
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Blogs provide me with information about the books, the research, and I enjoy seeing photos of places where the author has travelled to do vacation or do research. I find it fascinating and interesting.
by jenna
on October 19th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
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Besides blogs, I almost always go to a “Coming soon” section. I also like knowing what each book is about (past releases and new releases). One other thing is keeping the site updated. I will check to see if an author will be in my area as well since I like to meet the people who write the books. And finally I like to see links to other author sites that you would recommend. I have discovered so many new authors and books that way that I would never have tried if it wasn’t for that recommendation.
Congrats Sue A.!
by Laura J
on October 19th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
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I enjoy the Bio’s page on the authors site. I also like reading about the characters, blurbs for the books even excerpts, favorite links, blogging, Appearances & Interviews.
Hugssss
LindaH
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On the blogs HMM…anyting about the writing process. Alison Kent gives wonderful insights into what goes into the final product!
Just info/stuff that happens in the author’s life to make the author seem more real/normal. Jill Shalvis & Suzanne McMinn always have funny things to report about their families, vacations and everyday life.
by Laurie
on October 21st, 2007 at 5:28 am
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http://pamzi.com/replica-watches/map.php
