Comments on: Adopt-an-Author

By: Em

Em — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:48:17 +0000

I adopt books, not authors. But if I like the author’s writing, I tend to buy his or her back list and keep a lookout for new books (and if I really like the story, sometimes I buy them in different editions, if the covers pretty). A few authors are auto-buys in HC, but most in PB, especially unknown (to me) authors; I don’t think I give allowance for first books, partly because I usually don’t know if it’s the author’s first book or not when I (first) read/buy it. I also plug the ones I like wherever I can.

I suppose I tend to adopt TV shows as well (e.g., Supernatural, Firefly, etc), but also only after I’ve fallen for them, and even then, I tend to wait and dither before actually buying the DVDs – I get the same way about buying HCs or new-to-me authors; I’d rather try them out first by getting them used or through the library. If they were less expensive – like the $3.99 debut ones Robin posted about above – I’d be more inclined to buy them new.

By: rebyj

rebyj — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:36:31 +0000

I also buy michelle rowens! I dont know her but she’s great. I’ve reccomended her to several people to buy new and not wait to find used. bitten and smitten was great!

J.R. Ward and P.C. Cast both are authors I buy and reccomend others to buy new.

Carrie Vaughn is also an author i like to support. her books “kitty and the midnight hour ” and “kitty goes to washington” are great! (new one due out in april!)

i will buy used books usually when i run across an established author who has several books in a series, then i want them all NOW so finances demand that i buy them used.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:28:19 +0000

I tend to buy most romances I read. You would think that I would never need to go to a bookstore since I work in a library and have to be there anyway. However, I am in a small town so we don’t have the funds to buy every book every patron wants. In fact, we have not had an increase in our book budget in years. I don’t get people who move here from big cities and can’t understand why we can’t get everything-seems like it would be obvious that small town=small library budget. We depend on donations for almost all of our romances. Therefore, other than maybe Nora Roberts or Sandra Brown if I didn’t buy them I would never get to read them.

By: Dear Author.Com | Drop an Author, Adopt a Blogger

Dear Author.Com | Drop an Author, Adopt a Blogger — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:13:42 +0000

[...] Buying one hardcover instead of two paperbacks, according to Sanderson, is truly supporting the author.It’s perfectly acceptable in the writing world to make pleas for money. If I, the reader, don’t buy new at exactly the right time, the author might not be able to write for a living and give up their day job. They may not be able to put food on the table, clothe their children, afford that Kia (even though its a buy 1, get 1 free). If readers truly care, authors say, readers will buy new, buy hardcover, buy 2, adopt an author. [...]

By: Imelda

Imelda — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 21:58:08 +0000

Here’s an idea, which is something I adopted recently. Every time you go to buy a book by an old-faithful author, buy one by someone you have never heard of at the same time.

It’s not exactly ‘adopting an author’ but it stretches your mind (which is why I did it, initially) and those random sales might just be what pushes that author into book sale – another chance to become somebody’s ‘old faithful’.

My success rate is mixed – but it is fun to try new things, and it keeps me out of a reading rut, which has to be a good thing for me and the authors I read.

By: Vikki

Vikki — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 20:39:26 +0000

Initially, it’s the story that needs to sell itself to me – not the author. If the blurb looks good and my generic let’s-open-on-a-random-page -and-see-what-it-says trick piques me, I’ll buy it. And if I enjoy it, I’ll buy more. Thinking about it, I’m flatly unloyal; I ultimately want to connect to a story, not a writer.

By: Cassidy McKay

Cassidy McKay — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 06:14:37 +0000

I’ve found many authors I hadn’t known of before. To be honest, I buy the books if they interest me. I live way out in the boonies, and the nearest library is 45 minutes away in town.

However, if I find an author’s books that have impressed me, I am much more likely to buy their books again. Clear as mud, right? LOL

I truly hope my readers feel that way about my books, too.

Cassidy McKay

By: redwyne.com » Blog Archive » Killing by Trade

redwyne.com » Blog Archive » Killing by Trade — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 03:32:27 +0000

[...] A little adopting and a touch of lovers of reviews. [...]

By: Shiloh Walker

Shiloh Walker — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 19:45:22 +0000

Hey Sylvia I frequently do this already. It wasn’t exactly a conscious thing, but when a book had something in it that called to me, even if it wasn’t 100% hit, I usually buy the next one new.

I have, and occassion, still do buy from USB but I save that for authors that have either mostly lost me and I’m just curious about this title or for backlists. But I’m not going to not buy new just because a couple of things didn’t click. The UBS and the library are for books that were almost misses.

Somebody mentioned no pity buys, and I don’t really think that was this is about. Seems to me it’s more in supprt of an author you think has something. Maybe that something needs polishing, but unless she continues to sell, that polishing isn’t going to happen. Is it your responsibility to make that buy? Of course not, but if you did like the book and want to see more from the writer, that’s not going to happen unless you and others buy her books.

By: Maria Duncan

Maria Duncan — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 14:45:53 +0000

I have an author who I ‘pimp’ all the time on my blog. Her name is Susan Lewis and she writes erotic thrillers. I don’t think she has poor sales but she’s not as well-known as I think she deserves to be. And I buy every book she produces when it hits the shelves, I love her