Very informative and helpful post, Terry. I read this post with great interest as I have always wondered about my own back covers. Thanks for being on two or three of mine! You are a master at this.
A mine of thought-provoking information, as usual. Thanks! To your question at the end: if I haven't already decided to buy the book, usually based on reviews, then I definitely read the story summary. For me, it's the key piece of information. I like finding authors I haven't heard of and exploring, but need to avoid genres that don't work for me and see something different in the story. Your latest would have made me reach for my wallet if I weren't already waiting for October.
Love this post. I read the back cover, the first page, the endorsement blurbs AND the acknowledgements when browsing in a bookstore for a book. Book reviews are still the driving force for my selections though - I read widely and rely on lots of book reviews to help me make my selections. The Marionette sounds intriguing! I look forward to reading it.
In a bookstore: I'm attracted by a great cover (first). Author's name; interesting/colourful design; title (less so). (Your covers are great. So "graphically curious"!)
In a library: The spine of the book needs to do the same.
Then I flip thru the pages. The font has to be decent or it gets re-shelved.
Then, the back cover:
I want to see an author's picture. I don't know why.
I want to know a bit about the book. 3 sentences. Clear.
Superlative-filled endorsements by a review organization? Useless. However a pithy commentary by a Canadian astronaut?....put that on the Front Cover!.. oh wait, you did.
I love the draft example, for The Marionette.
Often the Author's Photo is never-changing. I think that a Spy-vs-Spy/Boris Badenov picture of you (dark sunglasses; fedora) would be a good addition to the back cover. It would be a signal to followers that 'this is going to be another fun read'; kinda like an 'inside joke'; another connection.
Finally, I can hone it down to a single word, that connected me to a Terry Fallis book: "satire".
"If I like a writer who has blurbed the book, and their words describing the writing and/or the story pique my interest or parallel my own tastes, I am definitely more likely to make the purchase."
I actually try to let nothing influence me, so I avoid reading any synopses or reviews until after I read the book. But I'll admit, a blurb from another writer I like will definitely sway me.
Almost always though, if it's a book I'm not sure of, I'll read the first page or two. That's the make-or-break for me.
I hear you, Graham. I know several writers who believe each book is a piece of art that needs to stand completely on its own, with no outside influences. Some writers I know refuse to read the author bio lest it colour their view of the novel in some way. I even know a writer who would rather the author's name not appear on the book. Fascinating.
For me, it's more about the enjoyment of a book. I like to read it "fresh". Not only does the story unfold the author planned, I find myself too in my head if I'm waiting for this thing from the jacket blurb to happen or if I infer from the jacket blurb that they're in no real danger in this scene because some other plot point has already been revealed...
For the record, I'm not militantly against book blurbs or reviews or anything like that. It's simply a personal preference!
This post and its links to others have given me more than sufficient leads to other novels I’m looking forward to reading thanks to your, and other author, endorsements 🤗.
Exactly! My proofreading skills were clearly lacking this morning. I blame the Australian Grand Prix that I watched last night until the wee hours. It's fixed now on the site. Thank you!
Very informative and helpful post, Terry. I read this post with great interest as I have always wondered about my own back covers. Thanks for being on two or three of mine! You are a master at this.
Thanks for your own contributions to the back cover copy of others! Much appreciated. (e.g., Mark A. Rayner of Donovan Street Press).
A mine of thought-provoking information, as usual. Thanks! To your question at the end: if I haven't already decided to buy the book, usually based on reviews, then I definitely read the story summary. For me, it's the key piece of information. I like finding authors I haven't heard of and exploring, but need to avoid genres that don't work for me and see something different in the story. Your latest would have made me reach for my wallet if I weren't already waiting for October.
Thanks, Jack.
Love this post. I read the back cover, the first page, the endorsement blurbs AND the acknowledgements when browsing in a bookstore for a book. Book reviews are still the driving force for my selections though - I read widely and rely on lots of book reviews to help me make my selections. The Marionette sounds intriguing! I look forward to reading it.
In a bookstore: I'm attracted by a great cover (first). Author's name; interesting/colourful design; title (less so). (Your covers are great. So "graphically curious"!)
In a library: The spine of the book needs to do the same.
Then I flip thru the pages. The font has to be decent or it gets re-shelved.
Then, the back cover:
I want to see an author's picture. I don't know why.
I want to know a bit about the book. 3 sentences. Clear.
Superlative-filled endorsements by a review organization? Useless. However a pithy commentary by a Canadian astronaut?....put that on the Front Cover!.. oh wait, you did.
I love the draft example, for The Marionette.
Often the Author's Photo is never-changing. I think that a Spy-vs-Spy/Boris Badenov picture of you (dark sunglasses; fedora) would be a good addition to the back cover. It would be a signal to followers that 'this is going to be another fun read'; kinda like an 'inside joke'; another connection.
Finally, I can hone it down to a single word, that connected me to a Terry Fallis book: "satire".
Thanks for the thoughtful and generous comment.
I always read the back cover! If it does not intrigue, I’m unlikely to buy… And thanks to this post, I’ll be buying several
more shortly! 🙂
"If I like a writer who has blurbed the book, and their words describing the writing and/or the story pique my interest or parallel my own tastes, I am definitely more likely to make the purchase."
I actually try to let nothing influence me, so I avoid reading any synopses or reviews until after I read the book. But I'll admit, a blurb from another writer I like will definitely sway me.
Almost always though, if it's a book I'm not sure of, I'll read the first page or two. That's the make-or-break for me.
I hear you, Graham. I know several writers who believe each book is a piece of art that needs to stand completely on its own, with no outside influences. Some writers I know refuse to read the author bio lest it colour their view of the novel in some way. I even know a writer who would rather the author's name not appear on the book. Fascinating.
For me, it's more about the enjoyment of a book. I like to read it "fresh". Not only does the story unfold the author planned, I find myself too in my head if I'm waiting for this thing from the jacket blurb to happen or if I infer from the jacket blurb that they're in no real danger in this scene because some other plot point has already been revealed...
For the record, I'm not militantly against book blurbs or reviews or anything like that. It's simply a personal preference!
Cover copy is a huge part of my decision to read or purchase a book!
Thanks Terry!
This post and its links to others have given me more than sufficient leads to other novels I’m looking forward to reading thanks to your, and other author, endorsements 🤗.
Thanks, Rob. Hope you're well.
"So how writes the back cover copy?" I suspect should read "So who..."
I usually blame autocorrect!
Exactly! My proofreading skills were clearly lacking this morning. I blame the Australian Grand Prix that I watched last night until the wee hours. It's fixed now on the site. Thank you!
I am glad to help. It is a small thing I can do in return from the enjoyment I have had from reading your books.