I very nearly dismissed one of my favorite authors because of the “just like Laurell” blurbage on the cover. I’m glad I gave it a chance (after being forced to do so by mr. xandra who ordered me to ignore the blurb). Mr. Xandra was right–this author =/= LKH.

It’s not an actual author quote, which I could take or leave as a single opinion, but more like a suggested classification, almost. As an author myself, I’m not sure how I feel about having a quote like that myself. On the one hand, I realize that it can be an effective sales tool, but on the other, I don’t want to be seen as derivative, a clone, or a “wannabe.” I like to think I have my own unique style.

Anonymous – oh jeez, cry me a damn river. Authors bitching about bad reviews is just so last week, don’t you know? Gerritsen’s poor widdle feelings and her angry supporters are old news. Move on, people.

As for DAM and her endorsing…I will admit seeing her endorse any author gives me a slight “ick factor” feeling because after seeing what she’s done for a 3 star review, how honest can she be?

I picked up Kim Harrison’s works based on the story blurb alone. If it sounds like it appeals to me, I buy it. If the blurb doesn’t catch me, I’m not buying no matter who says it’s great.

I usually read the reviews of the book and if the book blurb is good then I’ll pick it up.

Currently I’m reading Ann Aguirre’s book Grimspace and I am loving it. I read a summary of it in the Ro-Times but didn’t pick it up until I saw it discussed either here or SBTN (can’t remember where.) All I know is I’m glad I picked it up.

On the line of great author quotes from a book jacket my favorite quote is the following from Elizabeth Peter’s last Vicki Bliss novel.

“This time Elizabeth Peters has gone too far. The woman has been annoying me for years. She’s a fairly good writer, actually, and this is probably her best book. Per usual it’s funny and exciting, but this time she has gone overboard on the romantic stuff in flagrant imitation of me. This is actionable! I shall demand a share of the royalties!” – Barbara Michaels, author of Houses of Stones (and tons of other great books.)

You may know that Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels are both pseudonyms for Barbara Mertz. And a new Vicki Bliss novel is coming this summer!

I do pay attention to books that other authors say that they read out on their own personal websites. I have come into some really great books that way. Looking at Karen’s Rose site, lead me to Brenda Novak and hers led me to Cathy Ridgeway’s books. I have had the best luck that way.

Sometimes Amazon had led me to some really good finds, like if I am looking a book I bought then they have the books that other’s have bought like this one link. I will look at the reviews take it with a grain of salt and go to the half price book store and try them out. That way I am not out too much money and may find a great book.

My two cents on the Tess G. thing. I think that Tess should have just rode out the storm in a teacup and known that it would have passed without closing her forum. Because all that did was hurt her fans. I took her comments as they were presented as a tongue in cheek comment and didn’t give it a second thought. Keri

The point behind author endorsements or those “review blurbs” that are on the book are a kind of subliminal “come on.” In other words; someone read the book and took the time to make a remark about it. The theory goes that if someone went to all that effort AND praised the book, it should be worth buying :-).

I agree with another poster on this board — I can’t stand it when all of those blurbs take the place of a book’s summary.

And I’ll agree with a good swath of writers on this board — I tend to ignore the author blurbs (and reviews, for that matter). I’ll go with recommendations or familiarity with the author.

Now, as an author myself, there’s a little bit of gratified egoism in seeing nice comments about myself in print, LOL. But I’m not decieving myself that scads of people are going to buy my book simply because so-and-so wrote three complimentary lines on the cover.

I treasure the comment that one book store owner told me: “I have yet to see my store overrun by groups of readers demanding the book that was reviewed in this morning’s paper.”

Kinda makes you think…

Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t. I use blurbs as a “heads up” and then I go from there.