A few questions...

[sleigh]

Since I'll be starting to promote IMMORTAL MUSE very soon for its March release, I wonder...

How and where do you generally find out about new books? What usually intrigues you enough to buy the book?

Comments

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

I often find out about new books from blogs by authers or reviews by fans, through Goodread's "the authors you follow just published new things" feature, the weekly new book feature on Scalzi's blog Whatever, and sometimes, though rarely, in emails from publishers (the signal to noise ratios on those are so high I often don't read them, and frequently unsubscribe after a few months).

I also find out about books through award nominee and winner lists and nomination discussions.

Right now I'm about ten times more likely to buy a book if it features characters of color and/or non-western cultures, or is by a writer of color. If it's sf or fantasy I'm looking to see that something is new or innovative compared to what I've read before, and I'll often read reviews or peek-inside previews, if available. In bookstores, I will read the first paragraph or so. If it doesn't grab me I put it down.

For authors new to me I'm strongly influenced by amazon.com ratings. I'd say I'm unlikely to buy something with less than a 3.5 there.