Online Interview

I haven't been around lately because I am so caught up in a network marketing course. I don't even have time to write. However, I was asked to give an online interview. I thought you might like to see it.

The interview is up. Here's the exact link: http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com/2008/09/interview-with-sue-durkin.html. It'll be the top post on the blog (http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com) until Wednesday (when a review for another book is scheduled to be posted).

I look forward to chatting with you on the blog this week.

Sue

Sue,
I was wondering what happened to you. It appears you are getting good publicity. Your answers reveal excitement about your work. I think that has appeal.

Great publicity, Sue. You come across as an eager, sincere person.

Enjoyed your interview, Sue! Thanks for sharing.
Connie

I enjoyed the interview, Sue. Congratulations, and good luck with your book marketing course.

In the interview, you mentioned you’d love to know what attracts readers. I can tell you what draws me to a book.

First, it depends on if I’m picking up a favorite author’s new book or if I’m browsing. But after a few disappointments, I now go through my little routine with every book, which I’ve found is quite common with many readers:

1) The COVER

Covers attract me. A good one, and I know 'good' is subjective, will prompt me to pick up the book while I'll ignore a drab one. I know that's not always a good thing, but that's the way it is for me.

Speaking of covers, I hate covers with photographs of people. Too often they remind me of series romance books. I’m not slamming series romance, but their covers, in my opinion, could benefit from an overhaul in design.

2) The tagline and back cover text-or blurb. Not the blurb from other writers, but the mini-synopsis, and I read to see if the storyline sounds like one that will hold my interest.

3) I ALWAYS read the first page to see if the author’s style meshes with mine. Most of the time I don’t have a problem, but occasionally, the author’s particular syntax has a jarring effect so I’ll put it back.

Ultimately, the story and the way it’s told is still the most important deciding factor. I didn’t used to be so picky, but now that cover prices have skyrocketed almost as much as gas, I’m more selective.

How wonderful, Sue!

Well done Sue! I can see why you haven't been around much but I 'm glad you're back!

Brenda,
what appeals to you when you see a book is interesting. I never consciously thought about that, but in retrospect, I'm sure it was the cover. Second is the mini-synopsis.
I like your tact of reading the first page of the book to get an idea of the writer's style. That also proves why the first page must be a grabber, not only for the reader but more importantly to the would-be publisher.

Someone, can't remember who or what organization, did a study of
browsers at a book store and they found that the average reader did
about the same thing. They'd select a book, read the back cover, then
read a bit of the first page. I believe this process took, on the
average, of about three minutes before the reader replaced the book on
the shelf or decided to buy it.

Three minutes. So we have less than three minutes to entice a reader to
read more. I'd written more about what I've learned, but didn't want to
hijack this thread any further. Perhaps later, when I get back from
some errands, I'll start a new thread if anyone is interested.

Do it Brenda.

Very natural, very cool interview! I hope to see many more of those with you in them around the Internet.

I'll tell Oprah you're ready for the big time the next time I see her.

Malcolm