Hello all! I'm sure its possible that you all have already seen the results of the most recent polls, which would be for our March reads, but here are the Official Results:

Non-GR Author Poll-- The Princess Bride by William Goldman

GR Author Poll-- The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan.

Congratulations Michael & Robin! :)

Woohoo!! Thanks all - I read Princess Bride awhile ago - but this is a great excuse to read it again! I won't be re-reading Crown Conspiracy but after reading it 10 - 15 times during editing - I think I remember the story well enough ;-)

So looking forward to it!

Wow - Congrats Michael and Robin - I read this book awhile ago and can honestly say it is one of my favorite all time fantasy books - I'm counting the days to Avempartha.

Thanks so much for all that voted for me - I really appreciate all the support and looking forward to hearing from about my book.

I'll say that from what I've read about the Crown Conspiracy, I'm definitely intrigued.....

Am looking forward to your book reading and discussion Michael.

These 2 books are for reading in March and discussion in April.

Whoops... You're right! Silly me!

A face2face book club leader had a great idea - we setup a paypal link where members could buy the book direct from us and get them signed. This works out real well because when you buy from Amazon or a bookstore they take 60 - 40% away from royalties. So we can offer a discount and still make out ahead. So...For those who are interested here is a link to order for $9.95 (17% savings).

Robin

That's really cool. I'll be ordering a copy when I get back to work this week.

I love The Princess Bride. I wasn't planning on re-reading it, but I'm still willing to discuss it. I also ordered The Crown Conspiracy from Amazon a few days ago, so it's on its way. :)

I just ordered "The Crown Conspiracy". My daughter should have a copy of "The Princess Bride". She's looking for it for me.

Oh I'm excited - I've had Princess Bride on my shelf for AGES and just haven't been inspired to get it down. Looking forward to it!

Also, I just went to the link to buy Crown Conspiracy and realized you're from Fairfax. I grew up in Manassas! Small world!

Hey Manassas is is one of our best "selling" areas - we've done 6 book signings there - 2 of which were stores asking us back ;-) I love Manasssas!

I ordered crown Conspiracy from Amazon and it came quickly. I enjoyed it- It's a fun sword and thief romp with two engaging characters.

Robin - how funny! PM me when you're going back to Manassas and I'll send my dad along!

Emily wrote: "Robin - how funny! PM me when you're going back to Manassas and I'll send my dad along!"
Will do .... the publishers are setting up the signing tour for book 2 now but some dates that are locked in...

April 4th, 2009 - Borders- Manassas, VA (11270 Bulloch Drive) noon to 2:00 pm

I have to update it but I usually have the signing dates online here.

I'm glad The Crown Conspiracy is on there as I plan to read that this month! I'm also looking forward to reading The Princess Bride in March. (So glad I found this group!)

Sarah, do we need to welcome you? Or have you been here for like a month?

I love these choices - The Princess Bride is an old favorite and I've heard great things about Crown Conspiracy

I just purchased The Princess Bride so I could be ready for it.

Trey wrote: "I just purchased The Princess Bride so I could be ready for it."
Did you get the 'Good Parts' version?
Unfortunately, I've heard so much about the Crown Conspiracy that I don't want to read it. It's almost an instinctive reaction, the more I hear the less I want. I didn't watch a single episode of Buffy until three years after the show ended, and that was because my boss told me it had some interesting philosophical points. I'm sure my aversion to G.R.R.M. is much the same, helped along by the fact that the books are dull. So I'm not saying it's always a good thing, just an emergency brake on my impulses.

I read The Princess Bride last year on a whim so I'm hoping I remember enough to participate in the discussions.

My copy of The Crown Conspiracy is in the mail and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Hi Chris! No, I've been here for about a month yes (good guess!) I said that because I'm still thrilled about this group, and the recommendations I've had since being here. :)

i can understand that. it's a good group......nice to meet you

I am also looking forward to reading The Crown Conspiracy! Robin, is Michael going to lead the discussion, or are you?

Michael will - but as I like to talk to people who read the book I'm sure I'll have some posts as well.

Haha Marc, I'm the same way. I didn't start watching Buffy either until about 6 months ago, then I flew through all the episodes. Everyone was like, "Where have you been?!" Sometimes, I just hear so much about something that I don't want to read it/watch it at all.

I loved the first few seasons of Buffy. And the one episode in the final year "Once more with feeling" (the musical was great) but I was disappointed in the last season - Buffy was just too depressed.

I enjoyed the musical the first few times, but the more I watch the more depressing it gets. It's a fun and glitzy way of bringing a lot of disasters and tragedies out into the open. The greatest demon in the Buffyverse has always been the truth. Season 6 is actually one of my favorite seasons, but 7 is not quite right.
BTW, for those who are interested, there is a Buffy board here on GoodReads, and the Buffy board on IMDB.com is the busiest one there.

I loved "Once More With Feeling". I even have the soundtrack! I agree with you Marc about the fact that it's pretty depressing, but I just can't help but love it.

Hmmm, how'd this thread get sidetracked onto Buffy? Oh, well--I'm a HUGE Buffy and Angel fan, and the musical was one of the best episodes. I also think "Hush" stands out as one of the best 5 episodes of the entire series. Buffy became such a cultural phenomenon that dissertations have been written on the show.

Lol - I blame Marc - but I certainly contributed to the hijack - back to the topic at hand Princess Bride arrived today - I've seen the movie of course and intersted to read the book. One of the few times I've seen the movie before the book.

I'm so excited about the March reads!! Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies but I've never read the book, so I can't wait to read it!
And The Crown Conspiracy sounds great too. I've already ordered it.

I just got The Crown Conspiracy in the mail and I'm looking forward to reading it!

I picked up Princess Bride yesterday. My daughter couldn't find her copy.

I started reading Princess Bride today -- I already read Name of the Wind -- and I'm pretty familar with The Crown Conspiarcy ;-)

Yay!! I've recieved both books this week! I'm all set for March. I've already started Crown Conspiracy a few pages and am really liking it!

Martyn wrote: "The polls here at GoodReads seemed to be dominated by just one or two books, often promoted by some people either with a vested interest or who shout the loudest. Why is that? Is it a case of 'foll..."

Hey Martyn,
I think it is more of the viral way in which books that people like spread. I can't tell you the number of people who have posted or emailed me that they have loved the book and have told someone else or passed the book onto friends and families. We are also fortunate in that many of the fantasy blogs have posted very positive reviews and selected the book as "A notable indie for 2008 etc). And that has helped find fans as well.

Most of my "real life" friends are not on GoodReads but I do consider myself fortunate that I've made a lot of GoodReads friends. It comes from what all friendships stem from - a common interest and enjoyable "conversations" on all types of books.

Don't get discouraged!! All new authors struggle with getting "mind share". But if you write a good book it will come. You just need to get a few people to read it and let the word spread.

Hmmm I came here to say I had read Crown Conspiracy and was looking forward to the discussion. I also will be watching Princess Bride this weekend (its on Bravo) and will try to read the book before the discussion to see if there are differeences.

As an aside..I'm surprised at the hostility Martyn...I have had a number of conversations with Robin here on GoodReads (all AFTER I read her husband's book) and I never met her or the author. I found out about the book through a friend and I must say I LOVED it.

Martyn,

You seem to be a mass of contradictions. You said: "Your comments have entirely missed my point, when the first part of your post is precisely what I was talking about."

You say this was not directed at anyone in particular but it is in the post about Crown Conspiracy and Princess Bride being selected - I doubt it is directed atPrincess Bride.

Then you accuse me of being sychophantic even though you say: "I suppose I too have a vested interest, but if nobody else shouts about them then who will. Which is it? Seems a bit of a double standard - it is okay if you are doing it but reprehensible if others do?

You seem to imply the book was selected because all my friends came and voted. There were 24 votes and only 3 of them are people I know (me, my husband, and a friend of ours who is on GR) Some of the other names I recogise are people I have had conversations with in this group and others. Quite a few of them are people I recognise as having read it and posted positive reviews who I've never talked to.

I was NOT trying to be patronizing - I was trying to be encouraging!! I know how hard it is and I just wanted to say - hang in there and keep at it.

Finally, you asked me why I don't promote your book - it is simple I have not read it! I have offered to read your book and give you my honest opinion.

It is not my responsiblity to promote your books. As a member of the Goodreads community my role is to read books and share my opnions of them with others. Look at my posts and you will see that I discuss ALL KINDS of books. In fact the posts that relate to my husband's works are probably in the neighborhood of 5 - 10% of my total posts.

There are other good reads authors (Leslie and Dee Marie come to mind) that I do promote because I have read and enjoyed their works. I even have a website where I promote 8 (for now more coming) GR authors in the fantasy genre. So I do promote others.

To sum up...I think authors should use GoodReads to tell others their books exist. The best book will not do anything if no one knows about it. But that is ALL you can do. The rest will happen or not happen based on whether people enjoy what they read.

I tend to vote for books I want to read, not books I've read. I rarely re-read a book and I use book groups to find new material. I belong to several reading groups and I do opt-out of reading books that I'm not interested in if I'm really time-crunched.

I don't remember if I voted for Robin's husband's book or not. However, if I did, it's because I really enjoy and respect Robin's reviews of other books and tend to agree with her opinions of books I've already read. That tells me that she and I have similar tastes. She also participates in several groups I belong to and she always makes meaningful contributions to group discussions. From what I have seen, she is always supportive of authors and their efforts to get the word out about their books.

I also only vote for books I have not read. While I do occasionally re-read a book, those are only the exceptional ones that I keep in hardcover and read once a year or so. I will participate in discussions of books I have read in the past (like the Princess Bride), but probably won't re-read the book just for the discussions.

I voted for the Crown Conspiracy because it was the most interesting selection in that poll. I research every book on every poll I vote on. I peruse first my friend's reviews and then a sampling of other people's reviews here on GoodReads. I look at the data behind the average rating (how many 5 stars rating, how many 4 star ratings, etc.) and I get a feel for whether or not I would enjoy reading the book. Sometimes, friends recommend them to me and that has a lot of weight with me, as I implicitly trust my friends' opinions.

I am a member of several book clubs/groups here on GoodReads, of which Robin is also a member. I enjoy her thoughtful posts and reviews.

Martyn, have you put any of your books into the GoodReads giveaway? I took a look at your profile page and clicked on each of your books. There aren't any reviews or ratings of them, so there's no way to tell if they're worth the time. The blurbs sound good, but I don't buy a book simply because of a blurb. I have to have heard about it. I'd suggest getting a few copies out there to people who are willing to honestly review them.

Martyn, I'm not sure if you know, but you yourself have two books on the GR Author poll which is starting tomorrow: Anywhere and Nowhere & The Fantastic Journey.

I've also started a thread for people to discuss the options available and "campaign" for their books.Feel free to join -or start- the conversation there to garner as many votes as you can. :)

Martyn: Like Jon, I tend to research all the books in the polls. I check Amazon for the ratings and to see if I can read the first couple pages. I also read reviews of each book on different websites. I always go with the one that I think sounds the most interesting and has the most potential. I remember doing a little research on your books a couple weeks ago, but there weren't any reviews here on Goodreads and there were only 2 reviews on one of your books on Amazon. Perhaps the best way to go about getting your books read is to participate in the Goodreads giveaway (like Sandi said). If you did that, people would post reviews and the word might spread. Robin was right; I choose most of the books I read based on what my friends/family/coworkers have read and loved.

Just got an email that The Crown Conspiracy has been selected as a semi-finalist for the 2009 ReaderViews Annual Literary Awards in the Fantasy Category

Wow, that is sooo great! Tell Michael I'm keeping my fingers crossed for TCC to win!

Thank you Leslie I will

Michael's book The Crown Conspiracy has been selected as a finalist for the 2008 ReaderViews Annual Literary Awards in the Fantasy Category